Inkling workshop

Two weeks ago, I attended Inkling’s Ignite program which is a two-day leadership workshop. It was an opportunity for me to learn some new skills on how to become a more confident and resilient leader, while still feeling comfortable being me.

There was a bit of preparation prior to the workshop, such as completing the StrengthsFinder exercise and asking our colleagues to complete 360 reviews of us. The results of my StrengthsFinder were really interesting, and I learned that 4 out of 5 of my top strengths are around relationship building.

The workshop was run by the fabulous and inspiring Gemma Munro. Over the two days, there were lots of exercises to get us reflecting on where we were in our career and in life. Some of the activities we did include:

• Looking at our strengths and how we were applying them in our day to day
  
• Understanding what the “lizard brain” is and how to manage it
  
• Discussing the qualities of a good leader and seeing how we could apply them in everyday situations
  

The two days were inspiring and empowering, but there were also times when these discussions were emotional and confronting. We had to dig deep and think about areas of our work and personal life we weren’t happy with, then come up with ways to address and make changes to them. While there were some challenging moments, what made it easier for me was that everyone was willing to share openly and honestly, and be supportive and encouraging to each other.

Some of my key takeaways:

• Focus on understanding and utilising your strengths rather than fixing your weaknesses. You’ll get a lot more personal and professional satisfaction from doing that.
  
• There is nothing wrong in showing vulnerability as a leader, and can be a sign of courage for others.
  
• People follow leaders based on their behaviour and the way they inspire them.
  

At the end of the workshop, I felt not only empowered and inspired, but also more reassured and confident about who I am as a person and leader.