There is all this talk about being a great leader of teams and companies. But can you lead yourself?
This is what personal leadership is about.
I’ve found that there are three critical areas that impact how you show and ultimately what you can achieve.
Growth Mindset
First of all, you need a growth mindset – one where you are always seeking to better yourself. Not just in technical areas but also soft skills – I don’t like the word soft as there is nothing soft about skills like leadership, communication, cultural intelligence. Without these “soft skills,” you will be very limited.
A growth mindset comes with healthy self-awareness. After all, you need to know where you so you can plot a course to where you want to go.
Many things start with the human in the mirror, and growth mindset gives you the ability to evolve and adapt so you can thrive, which is especially critical in an age where technological advancements are accelerating.
Self-discipline
You have the skills, but do you have the grit and determination to use them the right way to reach your goals.
There will be a time where you are in discomfort when you feel the tension or stress. And sometimes, that’s exactly where you need to be. An example of this could be taking part in a course that stretches our abilities or on a long hike toward a castle on the hillside. Neither is easy, but you’ll know it was well worth it once you get to your destination.It’s
Self discipline helps us apply the skills and will beyond what we find pleasant and into what is necessary. Self discipline is what helps us keep a steady course past our comfort zone and straight into the learning zone.
Self Care
With all the growth and hard work, we need to manage our energy levels, mind, and body so that we can keep going, creating what we would love.
Self-care isn’t just going to the gym a few times a week and drink four glasses of water. It’s about knowing when we need to sharpen the saw, so we can come back energetic and more creative.
It’s also to know when we can give ourselves permission to fail, to reschedule. To take a break. It’s to know when we need to hire a coach or see a therapist to help realign the metaphorical gears of our mind and soul.
Serving leaders often put others interest before theirs, but if you neglect yourself, you will not be able to serve as powerfully.
Ultimately it all comes down to balance. You need to adjust and course-correct continuously.
Be open to new information and insights so you can learn and grow and adjust after your failures.
You can learn about the latest programming paradigms and strategy frameworks, but you need to start at step one. Otherwise, you’ll be the weak link.
How can you develop your Personal Leadership?
Start by learning new skills and never stop. Spend at least a few hours each week reading.
Exposure yourself to new situations, new people and new cultures. Join a club or association and volunteer.
Take care of your health; make sure you exercise at least 30 minutes per day, four days a week. I did say, “at least.” Exercise should be like brushing teeth; you do it every day. It’s the best way to ensure you’ll live long to enjoy the fruits of your hard work.
How do you feel about your personal leadership? What will you do to improve it?
Great insights, definitions and deep understanding you have stated clearly above, thanks a zillion times. I would like to dive in more ”deeply” but yet simply on how I view ”Personal Leadership” as it singles out here to be the focus.
Personal Leadership:
All forms of leadership; types and styles are born-out of Personal Leadership. No leadership is devoid of self/ person.
Personal Leadership is the full expression of an individual’s existential experience here on earth or thereafter.
The totality of a human’s presence, through their mindsets, willingness, actions, desires, tastes, wants, decisions, creations, assignments, ambitions, dreams and ultimately life-mission creates impacts and influences that creates and defines personal leadership.
Personal Leadership justifies, validates and affirms the assertion that; ” everyone is a leadership” capacity, potentiality may differ.
Personal Leadership is organically and biologically inherent in the human attribute, and human survival instinct that is destined and predestined to exist through the happenance and serendipity of our faith.
Whose we are , Who we are, Who we will become, reveals Where we were, Where we are, and ultimately Where we will go. These explains the WHY and WHAT of our Personal Leadership.
Reference
Okun, D. A. (2016, October). Pre-pragmatic Perspectives of Leadership. In International Symposium on Chaos, Complexity and Leadership (pp. 279-297). Springer, Cham.
Thanks for sharing, Daniels!