A recent question from an entrepreneur “how can I lead and inspire others when I am feeling down?” sparked a journey of thought. All leaders have times when the sun has sunk below the horizon and their inner light is dim. So how is it possible to consistently meet the responsibility for leading others to the light?

Our role as a leader is to be inspirational, build confidence and provide clear direction – but it is also important to be authentic. The fact is that if you are feeling low, people around you are likely to pick it up and may appreciate your honesty about this rather than an insincere message of false positivity.

However, this sharing has to be done with caution. Moaning to your staff about not having enough money for wages is not a good idea. Nor is sharing with your client that you cannot remember why you started this business in the first place. Sharing some challenges that you have solutions for is okay but sharing that you want to give up is not.

The answer is to allow yourself the honesty to feel your true feelings and to express these to a trusted support team: a counsellor, family member or mentor. Then allow yourself some leeway to show vulnerability with others without losing your trusted status as their leader.

Leadership is not a single event, it is a lifetime journey and being in touch with your true feelings will allow you to build stronger, more honest relations with those who matter. Leaders who can do this well are highly regarded and respected.

PS… Next week’s topic – how to stay positive when everything feels like it’s falling apart.