Soar on Midlife’s Perfect Storm To Master Leadership and Life
Midlife Has Been My Favorite Period of Life — a Dynamic, Challenging, and Invigorating Age
My 40s and 50s were an incredible journey. Broadly defined as the period between the late 30s to the late 60s, midlife isn't just about growing older; it's a time for becoming bolder, gaining wisdom, and deepening connections with the core of who we are.
During my time coaching countless leaders through this stage, I've observed consistent patterns. These experiences have led me to understand midlife not as a time of decline but as a pivotal moment for radical leadership development.
The Three Winds of Change in Midlife Leadership
Midlife presents a unique nexus of "Three Winds of Change" — physiological, neurological, and parental — that profoundly impact your leadership style. This period offers a chance to reevaluate your life, shed long-held practices, and embrace a new leadership style suited to the second half of your career.
Physiological Wind of Change: This phase heralds physical transformation, but it's also a gateway to deeper self-awareness and a more reflective leadership style. As we recognize the longevity of our careers, we find renewed vigor, challenging the misconception of midlife decline.
Neurological Wind of Change: Midlife brings about shifts in our cognitive processing. While we might struggle with some details, our ability to connect the dots creatively and integrate information holistically is enhanced. This period is ripe for leaders to synthesize complex scenarios with emotional intelligence and strategic depth.
Parental Wind of Change: Personal transformations, particularly in our roles as parents, deeply influence our leadership style. As our children grow and become independent, our approach evolves from directive to more empowering and inspirational. This change in personal life can be mirrored in how we lead our teams and organizations.
The Midlife Leadership Crucible
Midlife presents a choice: cling to past leadership styles or embrace the winds of change. It's an opportunity to harness the depth of experience that comes with physical maturity, tap into cognitive insights, and adopt an empowering style that reflects our evolution.
Leaders in midlife are uniquely positioned to bring a balanced perspective to their organizations, blending seasoned wisdom with a renewed approach to challenges and opportunities. This period is marked by an increased adaptability, deeper empathy, and a visionary approach that balances immediate needs with long-term aspirations.
Six Leadership Traits of Midlife Mastery
The interplay of physiological, neurological, and parental shifts at midlife – the Three Winds of Change – acts as a powerful catalyst for the development of six key leadership traits.
Humility and Iron Will: In midlife, seasoned leaders' unwavering determination meets the humbling force of life's transitions. The fading of youth, evolving family dynamics, and deepening self-awareness forge a powerful blend of resilience and empathy. This mix of iron will and newfound humility shapes a leadership style marked by adaptability and a profound understanding of life's complexities.
Continual Rebirth: Midlife leaders, having navigated numerous roles from Entry-Level Employee to Executive and New Parent to Empty-Nester, grasp the impermanence of identity. This awareness makes the concept of continuous rebirth intuitive and achievable. Embracing this fluidity enables them to seize opportunities for personal and organizational reinvention.
Boundless Ideation: Midlife fosters a unique fusion of analytical and creative thinking. This hemispheric integration encourages leaders to transcend boundaries, fostering innovation not just within themselves but across departments and functions. It's a midlife development that transforms challenges into opportunities for visionary and collaborative leadership.
Total Ownership: As the brain's hemispheres integrate more deeply, leaders naturally develop a profound understanding of interconnected roles, driving a shift towards holistic, organization-wide engagement. It's a midlife gift – the ability to see and inspire the whole team's potential, transcending individual tasks to champion shared success.
Timeless Impact: The paradox of midlife - where the pressing sense of time running out is coupled with the recognition of a potentially longer, more impactful lifespan - creates a convergence of immediacy and long-term vision, profoundly shaping who we are as leaders.
Life Synergy: In midlife, leaders often realize that traditional growth fuels have been expended, leading to a profound appreciation for human connections. This awareness prompts a blending of personal and professional realms, and a steering away from high-stress, task-focused approaches, embracing a more fulfilling and balanced leadership style.