Ludwina Dautovic - Revolutionising The Way We Live
“Success is never an overnight phenomenon and leadership is a like a mountain with no top.”
Ludwina Dautovic is the Founder and CEO of The Room Xchange, a platform that connects busy households with a spare bedroom, with guests who provide an agreed amount of help around the house - anything from domestics and gardening, to art, special interest skills, and business admin/other assistance in ‘Xchange’ for food and accommodation.
A win-win for everybody, The Room Xchange is revolutionising the way we approach accommodation, living and community in an increasingly busy and time-poor world.
Successful leadership is multifaceted and it begins with trusting my gut instinct.
There were so many valuable lessons in leadership that Ludwina discovered, so we thought it best to share them all.
Build solid, trusting relationships with your core team. Get to know your team and learn what’s important to them.
It’s okay to show your vulnerability as it gives other people permission to experience it.
Be yourself. Don't change to suit what you think people want you to be. Be consistently you, so you'll attract people who share the same values as you.
Be decisive. Make well informed decisions and make them quickly. Once you have all the information you need, make your decision then act quickly.
The opinions of others – unless you really trust and value them – don't count.
Leave a trail of goodwill. A simple handwritten thank you note, a message of appreciation, or an introduction, cost nothing and can leave a huge impression.
Prepare your mind for the mental gymnastics that occur in business, particularly in the start-up phase. Wearing multiple hats means you'll often ‘ping-pong’ from one level of thought to another. If you’re able to do this well, you’ll have greater mental capacity.
When difficult decisions need to be made, thinking through more than one possible scenario is empowering.
Make time for a hobby or passion that has nothing to do with work. For me, it's art. In my spare time I like to dig deep into my creative side. Exploring this part of myself also helps me in business. Painting relaxes my mind which sometimes helps in solving complex business challenges.
Get a good night’s sleep, every night.
Maintain your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Your body and your mind are the most important tools for successful leadership and success in business.
Learn resilience; exercise it like a muscle. The more you’re able to deal with, the stronger it becomes. The more you can bounce back from challenges, the better you’ll lead.
One of the many great things we love about women sharing their personal stories, is their willingness to offer support, to impart the often hard lessons and connect with other women to build everyone up to achieve great things.
Success is never an overnight phenomenon and leadership is a like a mountain with no top. Just because we learn these valuable lessons, it doesn’t mean we are done.
We’ve come to realise that leadership has nothing to do with getting to some devine place where we can place a flag and all of a sudden we feel amazing or complete; but rather its about recognising being a great leader takes effort, reminding ourselves of how far we have come, the valuable lessons we’ve learnt, and more importantly the gift it is to contribute and give back to others to have them shine.
Check out the Podcast The XChange Revolution - conversations with revolutionaries who are changing the way we live, work and play.
If you’re looking to make the most of the space you have at home and get a little help in return, then be sure to explore The Room Xchange, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and connect with Ludwina on LinkedIn.