Meet The Power of Engagment Team

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful The Power of Engagment Team a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

The Power of Engagment, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Dr. Renee Meeks often says, “Life is a journey, not a destination. It is what you do while on the journey that matters most.” To find purpose, individuals can utilize the following concepts to stay motivated, focused, and resilient while navigating the Seesaw Effect:

Adopt a growth mindset: Embrace the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication, and perseverance. View challenges as opportunities for growth and learning rather than obstacles to be avoided.

Cultivate resilience: Develop the ability to bounce back from adversity, setbacks, or stress. Maintain a positive outlook, adapt to new circumstances, and persevere in facing challenges.

Set clear and achievable goals: Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. Track progress and stay focused, even when facing setbacks or distractions.

Practice self-care: Take care of yourself by engaging in activities such as exercise, meditation, spending time with loved ones, or pursuing hobbies. Stay energized and focused, even when confronted with challenges or setbacks.

Foster accountability: Hold oneself accountable for actions and decisions. Seek support from mentors or coaches, establish regular check-ins with colleagues, or maintain a journal to track progress and reflect on successes and failures.

By embracing these concepts, individuals can navigate the Seesaw Effect and achieve enduring success. While setbacks and challenges are inevitable, with the right mindset, tools, and support, individuals can maintain motivation, focus, and resilience while pursuing their goals and finding purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
The seesaw effect on leaders, which is the tendency to alternate between overly assertive and passive leadership styles, can significantly impact a leader’s effectiveness. While finding a balance between assertiveness and tolerance is crucial for leaders, understanding the root causes and consequences of the seesaw effect can also help leaders develop strategies for managing it.

One major consequence of the seesaw effect is its impact on decision-making. More assertive leaders may need to pay more attention to input from their team members, leading to suboptimal outcomes. Conversely, leaders who are too passive may need help to make decisions or defer decision-making to others, leading to delays and missed opportunities.

Moreover, the seesaw effect can impact a leader’s overall leadership style, as being too assertive can lead to an intimidating or authoritarian presence that lacks trust and engagement from team members, while being too passive can come across as weak or indecisive, leading to a lack of confidence and respect from team members.

Leaders must develop self-awareness and emotional intelligence and foster a positive mindset to manage the seesaw effect. This can involve seeking feedback from others, building a support network, and identifying triggers that lead to the seesaw effect. Additionally, leaders can improve their communication skills, collaborate with team members, and adapt their leadership styles to different situations.

This book explores the causes and consequences of the seesaw effect and provides practical strategies for managing it. Through real-life examples, case studies, and expert insights, readers will gain valuable guidance on overcoming the seesaw effect and becoming more effective leaders. By mastering the seesaw effect, leaders can build more cohesive teams, make better decisions, and achieve tremendous career success.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Our leadership journey has been filled with great advice and life lessons. The areas of knowledge that have impacted our leadership journey are building authentic relationships, giving back to others through service, understanding that the only thing constantly changes, and navigating the seesaw effect. Some of the most effective strategies for managing the seesaw impact include:

Building solid relationships: Leaders who take the time to understand and connect with their followers can build trust and respect, leading to a more balanced power dynamic. Leaders can build strong relationships by actively listening to their followers, seeking feedback, and being open and transparent.

Prioritizing well-being: Leaders who prioritize the well-being of themselves and their followers can avoid burnout and other negative consequences of the seesaw effect. Leaders can prioritize well-being by encouraging self-care, promoting work-life balance, and being mindful of the impact of their decisions on their followers.

Practicing self-awareness: Self-aware Leaders are better equipped to recognize the impact of their behavior and decisions on the followers and the power dynamic. Leaders can practice self-awareness by regularly reflecting on their actions and seeking feedback from their followers.

Encouraging open communication: Leaders who encourage honest communication with their followers can create a positive and productive power dynamic. Leaders can encourage open communication by actively listening to their followers, being transparent, and promoting a culture of trust and respect.

Creating clear expectations: Leaders who create clear expectations for themselves and their followers can avoid misunderstandings and imbalanced power dynamics. Leaders can create clear expectations by clearly communicating goals and expectations, setting boundaries, and being consistent in their behavior.

Leaders can effectively manage the seesaw effect by building solid relationships, prioritizing well-being, practicing self-awareness, encouraging open communication, and creating clear expectations. By being proactive and considering these strategies, leaders can avoid the negative consequences of the seesaw effect and create positive and productive leadership dynamics.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Dr. Gilliam-Parrish often says, “Shift your mindset to enable a mental shift.” She considers this a golden nugget of advice from her mentors. Changing your thought patterns and perspective to create new habits that lead to a positive and fulfilling life.” The Seesaw Effect refers to the systematic way of ups and downs that we experience in life caused by multiple factors, from personal choices to circumstances beyond our control. It is the ebb and flow of our personal and professional lives, the natural rhythm of success that we all experience. The Seesaw Effect is not only essential to understand but also vital to embrace if we want to achieve lasting success.

The Seesaw Effect reminds us that success is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing process. It is not a linear journey but a series of peaks and valleys. Understanding this pattern can help us navigate the highs and lows of our lives with greater ease and resilience.

Growth, progress, and achievement mark the phases of advancement and enlargement. During these times, we feel energized, motivated, and confident. We set ambitious goals, take risks, and stretch ourselves beyond our comfort zones. We may experience rapid success and significant gains, which can be exhilarating and rewarding.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Book Cover Design: Kylan Robinson, maximMedia (Atlanta, GA) Photos: Rod Williams (Memphis, TN) Creative Director: Teanna Gilliam (Memphis, TN) Library of Congress Control Number: 2023906411 Print ISBN: 979-8-9881252-0-4 E-book ISBN: 979-8-9881252-1-1 First Edition: 2023

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