Poise: The Leadership Attribute that Everyone Deserves a Little More Of
When asked about the things that I value the most in leadership, my first answer is almost always Poise. This answer is often met with questioning looks and quick, under the table, Google searches of the definition of poise. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of the word poise, is a beautiful ballerina dancing effortlessly across a stage to the beautiful sounds of a string orchestra. However, I am not a ballerina and I definitely do not have a string orchestra traveling around behind me. Poise is more than just an appearance; poise is a life skill that we all have the power to use.
Google and Merriam Webster provide a variety of definitions of the word poise, and truly the definition of what poise is, can be different to each of us. One common thread winding through each of these definitions are themes of balance and composure. In our lives, we all deserve balance. Balance between positive and negative, joy and sadness, confidence and doubt, conflict and cooperation.
We need all these things in our lives to exist in a balance with one another. Without doubt, we become ignorant. Without conflict, we become stagnant. Poise is the attribute that we all carry with us that helps us to find this balance when we face challenges that cause an imbalance in our lives.
Poise allows us to find balance in our lives that creates an atmosphere ready for progress.
Poise is the skill that reminds us to remain calm in the face of a disaster. Poise keeps our head held high and our hearts feeling open when experiencing feelings of frustration with a friend. Poise gives us the power to speak our mind confidently, while being gracious of other’s points of view in a difficult conversation.
As leaders in our families, schools, and communities, it is fair to say that each of us is often faced with difficult or uncomfortable situations. While we as leaders are capable of taking on these challenges, poise is the tiny and mighty tool in the back of our toolbox that can allow us to approach a situation with composure, even when it feels like everything is a disaster. We don’t have to dance effortlessly across a stage with a full string orchestra to be poised, we can be poised in every conversation, every class, every basketball practice, and every interaction that we have with others.
Poise is the polish of leadership. No matter our role, age, appearance, or experiences, we can all use a little bit of polish to help us shine in this world. Whether this is our first year in FFA or our 50th year supporting the organization, we can all use poise to find balance in our lives and create a place that we all can feel at home.
With love,
Ashley Chandler
Kansas FFA President