Leading with passion & heart
Life is full of opportunities to connect with people who inspire us. But you need to have that window open to see what is there🤔..
I’ve been fortunate to meet many inspiring people during my career, and now that I have more time to network outside of a single organization, I am so thankful for having this opportunity.
Two very influential figures in my life are my mother and her best friend. They’ve taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, empathy, and living life with passion when you are fortunate to do that (which has not been all life for these champions).
Lessons from Lifelong Leaders
My mother and her best friend, both in their 70s, were once highly appreciated managers at a insurance company in Sweden.
Despite facing personal challenges that would have completely broken many, they remain two of the most positive, curious, and empathetic people I know.
Their qualities; curiosity, incredible listening skills, humor 😂, generosity, and a love for life—have deeply influenced my own approach to leadership and life💗.
These women are living proof that leadership isn't just about traditional career advancement within the organizational hierarchy; it’s about leading with kindness and passion & leaving a legacy that you can be proud of.
Their way of leading in life & their friendship (spanning over ≈50 years !!), has shown me the importance of nurturing relationships and staying true to one’s values.
Working with Passion
I do think that passion fuels success. When you’re passionate about your work, you’re not just doing things on autopilot, you’re seriously engaged.
I am on a journey but I have already felt how my inspiration, energy & curiosity take new heights when I am working with people and projects that align with my values & interests. I feel like I’m not just solving problems; I’m contributing with value and driving meaningful change.
Every freelance opportunity I’ve had has come through networking and personal connections. This highlights the importance of building genuine relationships in your career.
Networking is about more than expanding your professional circle; it’s about connecting with individuals who might see things from new angles and bring fresh perspectives into things. Or someone that bring you pure education or a true energy-injection. Very enriching 🤸!
Networking: Building connections with authenticity
Networking has been crucial to my freelance career. It’s not just about attending events or adding connections on LinkedIn, it’s about building relationships that gives value in both directions. Here are a few tips for effective networking:
· Attend Events: Fall offers numerous opportunities to connect. Ask google or open ai on what events or conferences there are in your field this fall 🤖!
· Engage in Online Communities: LinkedIn is an obvious platform and there is where I also find other communities that fits with my interests and passions.
· Be genuine when you network: Authenticity builds trust. I am a strong believer of the fact that the best networks are the ones you build when you approach people and organisations with a genuine interest.
· Offer Value: Whether it’s sharing insights or making introductions, offering value is magic 🪄. How do you want to be remembered: as someone who “bothers others” or as someone who “brings value” ?
To summarize...
In my view, leadership is about more than just career success, it’s about leading with empathy, curiosity, and passion both in our private and professional life. My mother and her best friend (and others!) have shown me the power of these qualities.
If you’re passionate about what you do and you make the effort to connect with others, you’ll find those moments of joy and happiness more often than if you close the doors to the exciting world and people out there.
Take this fall as an opportunity to try something fresh, meet new people, explore a different perspective and try to lead with passion. Whether you’re attending events, diving into online-communities, hiking a mountain or reconnecting with an old contact, remember that every interaction is an opportunity to build meaningful networks!
Bonne chance!
