Week 34: Eagle Source

Jan 20

The DNA Leadership Dance

Last week, we explained the Leadership Dance: moving out of our quadrant into another person’s, so that we might validate them and deepen our leadership in their life.

This week, we’ll look at the Dance from another angle: validating ourselves by recharging our batteries.

Moving into other quadrants - dancing - expends emotional energy, so we must get back to your own quadrant before we might possibly face “burn out”. Just remember, the purpose of recharging is not to stay in our own quadrant, but to build up the energy needed to invest in others outside of our quadrant.

Recharging

What does recharging look like to each personality?

The Much-Loved Monkey is validated and recharged by the approval and affirmation of others, being in the middle of groups of people, having fun, and sharing stories. If you are a Monkey, you must immerse yourself in environments in which you have fun and are surrounded by people who build you up. That’s how they validate themselves before going back into other quadrants. Dancing in the quadrant of the Competent Camel is where the Monkey expends the most personal energy.

The Leading Lion is recharged by getting big, important tasks accomplished, which helps you feel empowered. If you are a Lion, you must find a hill to conquer or a quest to lead. Once the Lion feels empowered and ready to conquer the next hill, it’s time to dance, by shifting to another quadrant to engage a different personality. The Lion expends the most energy shifting to the quadrant of the Tranquil Turtle.

The Competent Camel has a need for detail and order. They enjoy working in an organized environment. If you are a Camel, you need to place yourself in a structured, controlled environment, where you can check the boxes and systemically make improvements. The most challenging quadrant for the Camel is the one of the Much-Loved Monkey.

The Tranquil Turtle needs time alone in order to gain perspective and peace. If you are a Turtle, this could be a quiet time in your office or getting up early to have time alone at home. But like all the others, you have to leave your time alone and go to other quadrants. When you engage with the Lion, you will expend much energy, for the Leading Lion is your most difficult quadrant.

The Leadership Dance consists of moving in and out of our quadrant in order to lead others and ourselves effectively.

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others on both personal and professional levels?

Choose to do the Leadership Dance.

Successfully Resolving Conflict

What can we do to resolve conflict successfully?

First, make sure you understand the other person’s personality language.
Second, choose an appropriate setting for the conflict.
Third, listen actively to fully understand the issue.
Lastly, take personal responsibility for what you need to own.

Perhaps most importantly, people in conflict do not have to agree. The resolution to conflict centers around the ability to compromise not necessarily agree. This allows you to move forward to a successful solution.

Reflection Questions

Now, let’s take a minute and work on relationships with others:

1) Based on who you are, what other personality types tend to drain your emotional energy? What are the names of the people who hold those personality types?

Now, think about yourself:

2) Based on your personality type, how do you recharge your emotional energy? List three ways you can recharge yourself.

3) So that you can make a difference in the lives of those you lead, create a personal plan around how you will tangibly execute recharging yourself this week.