There are many facets to being a great leader. One key element is self-leadership or the ability to lead yourself well. It stands as a ‘must-have’ for all leaders. This is the ability to influence and motivate yourself on an ongoing basis. Without this, you will struggle to lead and mobilize others toward a common goal.

Recently I was paging through a gift registry for a baby on the way. (My nephew and his wife’s first child, also my sister’s first grandchild.) There are so many things to buy in preparation for a new baby. Some things are critical to have, and others are niceties.

As I browsed through the registry, I saw all the must-have items on their list. Things like the typical crib, car seat, stroller, etc. I decided in favor of a must-have item for the baby.

Back to self-leadership, it’s a must-have for old and new leaders in any organization. It’s critical. Challenges that come from a lack of self-leadership show up in a variety of ways. For example:

  • Relationships with colleagues may suffer because of hidden personal failings. This only limits the team’s ability to get things done.
  • Personal thinking patterns can limit a leader’s ability to be objective about the people and the problems they face each day. This leads to poor decision-making.
  • The inability to handle money or budgets responsibly leads to shortfalls and not being able to get the necessary resources.
  • Being swayed by peer pressure rather than standing firm on your principles or convictions.

Leaders who actively pursue self-leadership are able to view themselves with objectivity. They are also able to manage or lead their own life with courage and consistency.

Self-leadership — A way of life

Self-leadership means you’re grounded and intentional in all you do. It’s knowing your values and what you stand for — what matters most to you.

I heard someone once say that self-leadership is a way of life. I wholeheartedly agree. You are either taking hold of your life and leadership or going with the flow, letting others lead you.

No one is going to do for you what only you can do. We can’t ask someone on our team to handle it for us. It’s ours, all ours. Self-leadership is a way of life that leads to a life that matters.

Why it matters

At our core, don’t we all want to make an impact? Especially with those we lead. Leadership is about influencing and mobilizing others. How can you effectively move others to action if you can’t move yourself forward? Leading yourself well gives you a path toward more effectively leading others.

It helps you reflect more objectively. When you know your strengths and the areas where you struggle, you can better understand how you respond and react to events. Whether your initial response is positive or negative. You’re able to adjust your behavior. Then, you can help others see, know and adjust their own behaviors or thought patterns.

10 ways to lead yourself well

  1. Know your strengths and areas where you struggle. This requires discovering your blind spots and acquiring an objective view of yourself. Ask a friend to help identify your strengths or leadership blind spots. This helps you know areas where you may need to develop.
  2. Discover and document the values you’ll live by. When a choice or decision comes up this helps guide the way forward.
  3. Align your thoughts, words, and actions with your values. Others are watching how you lead our own life. What kind of an example are you to your team?
  4. Take responsibility rather than blaming others when things are not going well. Own what’s happening in your life. If you need to, admit your flaws. You’ll be surprised at how this opens up conversations that deal with real issues, not surface issues.
  5. Discipline yourself – set priorities, take initiative. Life is directed by your daily disciplines.
  6. Set goals for yourself. Focus not only on the goal itself but on the process of getting there. Daily successes will turn into long term success.
  7. Exhibit courage by stretching yourself. Take action. Embrace those things that appear difficult or out of your comfort zone. If you hold yourself back because of some mindset that isn’t serving you well, it’s time to acknowledge it and let it go. This shows others you’re willing to stretch and grow as you ask them for the same.
  8. When you fail, embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
  9. Always be curious. Ask questions of yourself and others to open up new ways of thinking.
  10. Practice empathy toward others. Recognize life and leadership are a journey of growth for all.

Take it forward

Leaders are always learning and growing themselves. Join me in asking yourself these questions: How can I lead myself better? What choices do I need to make today?