The Odyssey of Self-Discovery: On Becoming A Leader

According to TraininngIndustry.com, the world spent about $366 Billions on various leadership development programs. Yet, there is still no consensus even on the basic question of “What exactly is leadership”. Too many leadership development initiatives rest on the assumption that the same group of skills or style of leadership is appropriate regardless of strategy, organizational culture, or business environment.

As I mentioned in my last post, the five minutes leadership survey indicates that while over 82% of respondents stated that they’d asked themselves why they wanted to be leaders, only 39% of their organizations ever asked the same question! It is consistent with the hypothesis that organizations do not spend enough time and effort in understanding what motivate their aspiring leaders: leadership development are mostly organization focused, rather than people focused. As a result, they tend to focus on leadership skills, rather than instilling courage and conviction to be leaders.

Until that we can close that 40% gap between what organization wants vs. what aspiring leaders need, you are not going to have a motivated team that people can bring their whole selves to work. This is especially true during time of change or time of crisis as we are currently going through the pandemic.?

At the same time, aspiring leaders need to take ownership of their own leadership development, rather than relying on companies or organizations for your development. No one else can understand your internal motivations for why you do what you do. Only you can chart your own unique path, control your own destiny, tell your own leadership story.?

The Odyssey of Self-Discovery: On Becoming A Leader

I decided to write this book because too many talented aspiring leaders are still struggling on their leadership journey. This book explores the intersection between the discovery of your personal leadership values and how your can align your values and strengths with organization objectives.

This book includes stories and insights from thought leaders, interviews with many executives, as well as my own experiences of triumph as well as struggle as a global business executive throughout my career. More importantly, I have had the amazing support from this community of quarter million followers who have provided many inspiration to the book. The book will include four parts:

Part 1?explores the basic concept of leadership as a responsibility vs authority, and how to develop your own leadership purpose through self-awareness.

Part 2?describes six common qualities great leaders have. ?

Part 3 includes scenarios and how the leadership principles could be applied.??

Part 4?includes the results and analyses of the leadership survey including the seven deadly sins and successful factors for aspiring leaders.?

If you have been reading my newsletter and found it informative, I am hoping this book will take your leadership to the next level and go beyond what you imagined was possible.

Pre-Sale Campaign: I Will Need Your Help

This book will be published with New Degree Press in January 2023, but I will start a pre-order campaign at the end of this month on July 29 to help cover the costs for publishing the book. Money raised will go towards the editing, cover design, layout design, copyediting, book launch and promotion efforts.

Bonus: Companion Book of Photography

As part of the leadership book project, I am also developing a photography e-book with 100 of my own photos along with quotes selected from this community including thoughtful leadership comments on my newsletter, personal leadership story shared along with the five minute leadership survey, or quotes from interviews I have conducted as part of the book project.?

The companion photo e-book is going to be made available exclusively for those who participate in the presale campaign on July 29. I have selected about 35 quotes for the book so far. Please continue sharing your inspirational thoughts about leadership in the comment section or my?website for a chance to be part of the book.

(Please join the 267,000 subscribers to my newsletter by clicking the?subscribe?button on the top of the article to be notified of new editions, and visit my Leadership?website. Better yet, please join the conversation by sharing your comments. Thanks.)