Self-Leadership: Your Calling Includes Being Self-Centered
John Maxwell said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” When I told John that I felt the weight of his statement, He replied optimistically that it also represents opportunity.
If everything rises or falls on leadership, practice self-leadership first.
3 ways to practice self-leadership:
#1. Listen for a calling.
Your calling is self-centered and other-centered. First, identify what matters to you. Second, focus on your natural inclinations. Third, determine what brings value to others.
Self-leadership isn’t snoozing in a hammock.
You won’t always be energized while you are fulfilling your calling. You’ll hear the hammock’s call. Meaningful work often taxes you. Reject ease. Do the work.
“He who toils with pain will eat with pleasure.” Chinese Proverb
#2. Aim at a target.
Busy leaders forget their aim.
Leaders don’t shoot aimlessly in the air unless they’re duck hunting. Aim creates vision. Think of vision in terms of doing good in the world.
What service can you deliver today? Aim at that. Keep in mind that projects matter, but people matter more.
#3. Look in the mirror.
Self-deception means you could be failing and not know it.
Self-leadership means you appraise yourself with greater rigor than you assess others.
- How much of your day is spent utilizing your strengths?
- Seek specific feedback. For example, “How frequently do you hear me asking two questions before making one statement?”
- Focus on outcomes, not intentions. What are you actually achieving?
- Evaluate your relationship with all direct reports. Notice the response of people when you speak with them. Watch body language. What do verbal responses from people say about their relationship with you?
Lack of self-awareness is dangerous for you and damaging to others. Read our book, “The Vagrant,” for insights on overcoming the danger of biased self-reflection.
Which idea in this post could you implement today?
What item(s) can you add to the list?
I think other aspects of self-leadership is owning what you don’t know and being willing to ask for help or guidance from a mentor.
Brilliant. Image building and pretending to know when we don’t is a waste of energy. Vulnerability is essential to self-leadership. Thanks, Vern.
As always, another great leadership insight today. One of the areas that I’m working to improve is asking more questions rather than trying to have all the answers.
Loyal Daily Reader,
Kelvin
Thank you, Kelvin, for being a loyal daily reader. In one way, asking questions sounds so simple. Yet, it’s challenging. It’s definitely worth it. I wish you success.
Self-leadership–your words and actions consistently align with your core beliefs and values. That gives you credibility.
That’s one powerful sentence.
This is great. Leadership begins with the rigorous self assessment that you accurately describe. First, I make it about ‘me’. And then, I’m better positioned to to model consistent behaviors and positively influence others. Great post!
Thanks, Tom. Turning the eye of assessment toward others is easy. Turning toward self-assessment takes courage, clarity, and vulnerability. The first function of leadership, according to Kouzes & Posner, is “model the way.” Self-assessment is at the beginning.
I have never gone duck hunting, but I suspect those that have are not shooting aimlessly into the air. They are likely aiming at where they expect the bird will be when the bullet gets there. As leaders, we are often in the position of aiming at a target only we can see.
Wonderful insight, Jennifer. I wonder if sometimes leaders create the target.