If you can’t choose between the head and the heart, pick the heart and trust the head to find a way to figure it out.
Maybe this seems off topic for a leadership advisor. It’s not. If you’re leading without heart, you’re doing it wrong.
The heart is where you find love, soul, and inspiration. The heart is home to respect, esteem, empathy, humanity. It’s where we find our purpose and our passion.
The head is where we entertain logic, judgment, safety, and preservation. The head is risk-averse. It prefers you to progress at a moderate pace, obey the rules and customs, and avoid rocking the boat.
Motivation is created in your head.
Inspiration is created in your heart.
Your head also creates fear and doubt.
Your heart is fearless and certain.
A good leader will make time to strategize options. The head thrives here because it likes to solve problems – and usually does.
A great leader also listens to their heart – although most will credit their gut. They have an inner knowing, and although it may not appear logical or sensible to others, they pursue this “feeling” if only because it “feels right.”
Trust this feeling more often. Be open to input, feedback, and advice from others who may be more objective, so you have a complete picture, then proceed anyway. Lead with your heart and then let the head do its job.
Also published on Medium.