Dear Leaders & Managers… this one’s for you.
An article dedicated to anyone holding a leadership role – Senior Manager, Team Lead, Project Manager, and even a Parent. ✨
Let’s explore why your body feels 60 while you’re only 30 – and how a mindset change, not medication, might be the cure. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs it today.The Morning Spiral
Imagine this. Your workday has just started. You enter the office. 😥
- First step in, and you’re already thinking: “I have a client meeting in 30 minutes. Has my team finished last week’s deliverables?”
- Second step: “I just hope today’s standup doesn’t turn into another battlefield. I just wish peace for once.”
- Third step: “Damn. I forgot about that meeting with the Business Head. What do I even say about my department’s roadmap?!”
- Sudden pause: “And my kid dropped my wife’s phone in the bathroom. Great. Will this day ever end?”
Just like that, your day begins in a downward spiral. You’re stressed, anxious, distracted. And the catch in all of this? Most of what you’re worried about… you don’t even have full control over.
Be honest: can you relate to this loop? I dare you to say NO.
The price we pay for anxiety…
We convince ourselves that being constantly anxious is the only way to stay on top of things.
But has that ever actually helped?
Has sending emails with a pounding heart made your team faster? Has micromanaging saved your deadlines? What has it given you instead?
- Hair fall.
- Dark circles.
- A wrinkled forehead.
- Burnout.
- Constipation (don’t deny it!).
Let’s call it what it is: a leadership style built on fear.
What we tend to do under pressure and the outcome…
Let’s be honest. Self-awareness is rare these days. No one wants to admit they might be the problem or the cause. Our own survival precedes the priorities of others.
And so, under pressure, we:
- Blame others
- Talk trash
- Misuse authority
- Threaten jobs
- Avoid accountability
Sound familiar, don’t they?
These behaviors don’t come from strength. They come from fear and dishonesty. And the outcomes are always the same:
- A toxic environment
- Micromanagement
- Low morale
- Anxiety
- Early aging – mentally, emotionally, even physically
“Easy to point out the problem. What’s the solution, bro?”
Those who know me personally will tell you one thing – I have this habit of connecting project management concepts to everyday life. And it’s not just a quirky observation. I genuinely believe that the principles we apply in managing teams and timelines can help us navigate personal challenges too.
Project management isn’t just about Gantt charts or workflows. It’s about solving problems with whatever tools, people, and time you have, and doing so with clarity and purpose.
Among all the concepts I’ve come across, Servant Leadership is one I hold especially close.
It’s more than a leadership style; a mindset that reminds us to stay grounded, create space for others, and lead with intention. It centres on what truly defines a great leader: respect, trust, courage, and psychological safety; values we often overlook, yet desperately need in both boardrooms and living rooms.
At its core, Servant Leadership is this: be there for your people. Whether it’s your team, your child, your partner, or your student — they don’t need a dictator. They need a listener. A guide. A protector.
A safe space where they are heard, appreciated, and allowed to make mistakes.
“So how does this kill my stress or help me teach my child a lesson?”
Before we apply it, let’s take a moment to truly understand what a philosophy means in this context.
A philosophy isn’t a rulebook. It doesn’t hand you a to-do list or set instructions. Instead, it offers a way of thinking that defines how you approach situations, people, challenges, and decisions. A philosophy shapes the lens through which you view the world. It’s about the values you choose to live by, the behaviors those values inspire, and the attitude you bring to every interaction, whether you’re in a boardroom or at the dinner table.
And that’s where Servant Leadership steps in. It promotes timeless values that influence your mindset and transform your impact on others:
- Active Listening: Be truly present. People generally just need to be heard.
- Service-Oriented Mindset: Ask your team (or family) with a genuine intention to serve: What do you need from me?
- Promote Self-Awareness: Help others see their importance. Remind them how their role contributes to the bigger picture.
- Coach, Don’t Control: Guide people toward growth instead of micromanaging their steps.
- Amplify Energy and Intelligence: Encourage others to share ideas and inputs; boost their morale. Let them know they matter.
- Make It Safe to Make Mistakes: Mistakes are part of life. What counts is creating an environment where people feel safe to admit, learn, and grow from them.
- Encourage Asking for Support: Oversights are way too common. What’s rare is the willingness to admit them and ask for help. Create a culture where seeking support is seen as strength, not weakness.
Let’s Try this in Real Life!
Scenario 1: A sick teammate delayed client work. 🤒🤧
You find out one of your team members fell sick last week, which caused a delay in deliverables for a major client. The deadline is still looming, and the client is getting restless.
Now, you could stress yourself out, get frustrated, and confront the team publicly during the standup. You could call out the delay and micromanage the recovery plan.
Or… you could pause. Hold a private 1:1 with that teammate. Ask how they’re feeling now. Tell them, “Don’t worry about the client, we’ll figure it out together.” Let them know their health comes first. Then, invite their thoughts: “What ideas do you have to help us get back on track?”
That’s leadership. And it builds trust.
Scenario 2: Your child broke a lamp while playing cricket indoors. Now the lamp is shattered, and your spouse is fuming. 👦🏻🙆🏻
You come home to chaos. The lamp is broken, your spouse is yelling, and your child looks frozen in guilt.
You could react immediately. Raise your voice. Punish the child. Escalate the tension.
Or… take a breath. Sit beside your child. Ask gently, “What happened?” Reassure them: “I’m glad you’re okay. That’s what matters most.” Let them know mistakes happen. Then, help them understand how to make things right, like saying sorry and cleaning up. And finally, use this as a moment to share a lasting lesson: always stay aware of your surroundings and stay cautious to avoid getting hurt.
That’s leadership, too. And it teaches resilience.
Feels worth trying, doesn’t it?
Would you agree that these behaviors feel more human, more effective, and more fulfilling?
The values of Servant Leadership aren’t just for managers or C-suite execs. They’re for anyone who wants to lead with peace, confidence, and clarity – in work or at home.
Try practicing just a few of these values this week. You will be surprised. They might just work better than those medicines promising to make you look younger again. 😉
Leadership isn’t about making people fear you. It’s about making people feel safe around you. That’s the trick. If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts, and maybe even your own stories.