Leading Self: start being the leader you need

Introduction

In a world that demands adaptability and resilience with so much change and uncertainty, the question often asked is: where are the leaders that represent me? I have faced this question too. The answer I found is to lead myself.

Leading self is the ability to understand, manage, and develop oneself in a way that enhances personal and professional growth.?

Understanding Self-Leadership

Self-leadership involves taking responsibility for your own actions, decisions, and well-being. It requires a deep understanding of your values, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. Here are some key components of self-leadership:

1. Self-Awareness

This is the cornerstone of effective self-leadership. It involves recognising your emotions, thoughts, and behaviours and understanding how they impact yourself and others. Begin the journey to understand your own character, your strengths, and your values so that you are clear what it is that you stand for and represent in life.

2. Goal Setting

Setting clear, achievable goals is a good idea to ignite your personal development. Goals provide direction and motivation. Using the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) can help in formulating effective goals that guide your actions. If you find goal setting difficult, try to articulate where you would like to see yourself in a year, 3 years, and 5 years so that you can then define a general direction that you should start to work towards.

3. Accountability

Taking ownership of your actions and decisions makes you more responsible for outcomes. This means acknowledging both successes and failures, learning from mistakes, and being committed to personal growth. One of my favourite sayings is “if you are not changing, you are choosing” which means that you cannot complain about a situation that you remain in and only you can change your life for the better.?

4. Non-negotiables

There are so many expectations placed on people from society but also from within each of us: we are often our own worst critic. We place such high standards on ourselves. Perfection is impossible - at least to achieve all of the time, so it is important to explore what it is that you will commit to upholding. This helps you to prioritise, achieve what is essential to achieve, and to learn to let go of things that, in the grand scheme of things, are not that important.

The Impact of Leading Self on Others

Leading self not only benefits you but also has an impact on others. When you exhibit self-leadership you can notice how it begins to influences others around you including family, friends, and colleagues:

1. Inspiring Trust

People who practice self-leadership are often seen as trustworthy and reliable. This inspires confidence in their social circles and work teams, establishing a culture of openness and collaboration. Why does this happen? Because they do what they say the will do. They don’t break promises to? themselves - so they won’t break promises to you.

2. Encouraging Development

When people prioritise their own growth, they are more likely to encourage the same in others. This creates an environment where continuous learning is valued, and other people you connect with feel supported in their own development journeys.When we rise, we rise together.

3. Enhancing Relationships

A self-aware individual can navigate interpersonal relationships more effectively, leading to improved communication, collaboration, and mutually beneficial outcomes. This enhances relationship dynamics and an overall better sense of belonging with the people you interact with. Relationships being shared here include friendships, romantic connections, as well as those we develop professionally.

Practical Strategies for Leading Self

To cultivate self-leadership, consider implementing the following strategies:

1. Uncover your strengths: If you know your strengths, regularly enhance them through self-reflection exercises like journaling. If you don’t know your strengths, I recommend VIA Strengths Finder to get some clarity on your character: there are also other tools that can be considered.
2. Seek Feedback: Actively seek constructive feedback from peers and mentors to gain insights into your strengths, areas for improvement and what others see you as standing for.
3. Wellbeing Practices: Engage actively in your own self-care. Once you start prioritising your own physical and mental wellbeing you will notice an enhanced focus and reduced negative stress.
4. Continuous growth: Pursue opportunities for learning and development, such as workshops, courses, or reading. If you lack clarity in where you need to grow or what you stand for you should consider engaging with a coach to help navigate this space.
5. Share experiences: Build relationships with people through networking or activities to form connections, share experiences, and gain insight into the perspectives of others from a broad range of backgrounds.

Conclusion

Leading self is an essential when we strive to establish a sense of control and to become the leader we need ourselves. By cultivating self-awareness, setting goals, and holding oneself accountable, you can not only enhance your personal growth but also inspire and uplift those around you. In an ever-evolving landscape, the ability to lead oneself is the foundation upon which our future is built. Embracing this journey can transform not only your life but also the lives of those you lead.

Learn more:

1. Leading self: The value of self-awareness in leadership (YEL2022) - IHF
2. VIA Institute on Character https://www.viacharacter.org/
3. The importance of self-awareness in becoming better leaders (YEL2023) - IHF
4. The Process of Self-Leadership: Establishing Yourself as Leader No Matter Your Role | International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership