To become a leader for others, first become a leader for yourself
- Transfer
I believe that the greatest truths of the universe are not somewhere outside, among stars or planets. They are hidden deep within us , in the greatness of our heart, mind and soul. Until we understand ourselves, we cannot understand what surrounds us. - Anita Morgiani “Dying To Be Me”
In order to move towards a better future, set worthy goals and successfully overcome obstacles, a person must, first of all, learn to manage his own life. Leadership often leads a long way. And in order to remain motivated and full of energy, people should become leaders for themselves.
Last week, I sat at a virtual roundtable with:
- Bob and Greg Vanurek of @TripleCrownLead , co-authors of Triple Crown Leadership. Bob was a CEO or senior manager at many public companies, and also taught leadership at the university. Greg co-authored three books and now teaches at the School of Business in Stockholm and at the Royal Technical Institute.
- John Baldoni , @JohnBaldoni , author of 10 books, including Leadership with a Goal . He is an internationally recognized business coach, author and lecturer. In 2012, Leadership Gurus International put John in 10th place on the list of world leadership gurus.
Based on our round-table discussions, I selected three key points that will help me begin my leadership journey :
1. Mind versus heart
When to listen to the voice of reason, and when to follow your heart?
Bob and Greg Vanureki: “The famous writer and teacher Parker Palmer revealed the essence of the“ heart ”when he wrote,“ that it is the center of human existence, a place where will and intellect, values and feelings, intuition and worldview - all merge together. This is the source of human integrity. And the courage to lead someone comes from the heart. ”
The heart embraces what inspires people, helps to overcome obstacles and makes you move to victory. The abilities of the mind are rationality and logic. He strives for order using managerial skills and tools.
The ability to use the abilities of the mind and heart is necessary for a good leader. When a leader faces a difficult choice, especially regarding an ethical dilemma, he will ask himself if this choice will be:
- Logical, “reasonable” with a certain risk / reward ratio (reason).
- Coincide with his personal values and the values that he shares with his colleagues (heart).
- Something with which he can live, if the choice is known to everyone (heart).
- Serve his partners, not his ego (heart).
Experience tells us that when the mind and heart lead us in different directions, following the second will be a wiser decision. ”
2. Leadership with a goal
What does it mean to lead someone to the goal?
John Baldoni: “The goal is a bottomless well from which leaders can safely draw to unleash the potential of their organization. Successful organizations, first of all, need leaders who know themselves; that is, they have an internal compass that leads them in the right direction. Many leaders never think about it. It is very important to spend some time to realize what you want to do, why it is necessary and how to implement your plan.
The leader’s goal serves as a guiding light that leads people in the right direction. She helps to create:
- vision - where the organization is moving;
- mission - which she performs; and
- values - which unite the team.
Leaders use a common goal to bring people together. ”
3. The power of selflessness
How to stay on course?
Faisal Hawk: “Hard work CANNOT be replaced with anything. Almost all successful people work harder than most can imagine. According to Business Insider: “Both athletes like Michael Jordan and company directors like Howard Schulz are all equally well known for getting up early and working to achieve their goal while the rest of the people are still in bed.”
I call it selflessness or SHADHONA. In Sanskrit, “SHADHONA” means “a disciplined movement toward the goal of one’s life.” I was born near the birthplace of Buddha. Sages and monks still argue about aspirations, dedication and duty. With my closeness to Eastern philosophy, I believe that we can only learn to manage our own lives when our dedication turns into discipline.
Based on the teachings of the Buddha, I believe that selflessness begins with:
- the right effort - you can’t easily pull a fish out of a pond;
- awareness - active observation and following the chosen path; and
- the right concentration - on positive thoughts and actions.
Although we cannot control everything only with the help of our willpower, we are able to rejectedly follow our life goals. And as a result, our dedication will make us better leaders. You cannot lead someone along without being an example. ”
As Stephen Covey eloquently put it: “Personal leadership is not a one-time action. This is a continuous process of working on ourselves, in which we must clearly see our goals and values, and make sure that our activities do not run counter to our worldview. ”
PS We recommend another article on the topic - How to stop being distracted at the workplace: 6 effective ways.
Translation by Vyacheslav Davidenko, founder of MBA Consult