As part of the Cadence Leadership Manifesto I have also been thinking about Headwinds and Tailwinds. Something that we can relate in so many aspects of business and leadership.

We are more cognitively aware of the headwinds we face as barriers than the tailwinds that assist us. I’m a cyclist and I can definitely speak from experience. Battling in the wind on your own is no fun but often you arrive somewhere relaxed and much quicker as a tailwind has been like a hand on your back pushing you forward.

So our natural approach is to always focus on the headwinds first. However I’m going to do the opposite. Being mindful of the tailwinds help us to put the headwinds into proportion. So developing an attitude of thankfulness and mindfulness of those tailwinds helps to lighten our lives and those around us. It also helps to prepare us for when we face into the wind.

The attitude of gratitude is something to celebrate and tailwinds are just that – but also when we hit headwinds when I’m cycling in a group we work together, sharing the load and alternating who is at the front so that one person doesn’t get so exhausted that they can’t keep up any more.

So we approach headwinds and tailwinds with others, sharing the load of those headwinds, but also sharing the celebration and thankfulness of those tailwinds that have assisted us. Who are those people who have a had on your back, pushing you forward in your success? What are your tailwinds currently and how are they assisting you? How do you celebrate them?

If you want to have support in sharing those headwinds and tailwinds then find others to be around you in that process. If it would be helpful to develop that with you in coaching or as part of your team I’d love to talk so contact Alastair here