When we think about the emotional states these two words represent,  the answer is that it has everything to do with great leadership. And I feel pretty confident that all leaders who have found this blog post have had both goosebumps and butterfly moments in their life.

Butterfly moments

If you are a leader who needs to enter into a completely new situation, you are most likely required to step out of your comfort zone and into your growth zone. So instead of navigating your leadership with comfort and ease you are on the edge of your current abilities and there is a high level of uncertainty. This is the situation in which you are most likely to feel those butterflies flapping around in your stomach.

Growing leaders recognize this feeling and welcome it, because they understand that great learners make great leaders and that the moment they stop learning is the moment they stop being great.

Great leaders embrace the “butterflies” and actively seek out situations that precede them

Goosebump moments

For me, leading is serving and enabling others to do great work. The joy you feel when you enable someone you lead to deliver, perform and grow can give you goosebumps. I believe that one of the reasons many of us decide to step into the leadership arena is because when we do it well (in the eyes of the people we lead) we can experience a profound feeling of joy and happiness. That moment when we get things right as leaders can show up as goosebumps.

The amazing thing is that you can have a ‘goosebump moment’ without anyone noticing, but it is addictive as it fills a basic human need of contribution and giving beyond ourselves. I am sure that the leaders that have had a leadership goosebump moment know exactly what I’m talking about.

How about you?

• Did you feel butterflies this week? How often? Why or why not?
• When was the last time you had a goosebump moment? What can you learn from that moment?

Moments with butterflies or goosebumps are inter-dependent

These are all leadership moments

These moments with butterflies or goosebumps are inter-dependent and build on each other. The more you are willing to step into the butterfly moments the more you will experience goosebump moments and vice versa.

When you decide to step into the leadership arena – the feeling of butterflies and goosebumps can be a litmus test that you are on the right path.

Keep walking!