Self-Leadership Tips

Richard Leider suggested some tips on how to manage your self as a leader effectively.

1.The quality and depth of our leadership reflects itself in our relationships with our colleagues and followers; we must be clear about our values because they reveal who we really are as leaders.

TIP:  recognize your stress level.  Watch for the signs of stress-forgetfulness; chronic fatigue; sleeplessness; changes in appetite; increase colds, back pain etc., ask your friends whether they’ve notice changes in you.

2. We are not powerless in choosing our living and working conditions; we have choices and they are the secret of our power; the willingness to exercise our choices is the source of leadership energy.

TIP:  Gain control where you can.  A leader’s job includes stressful forces beyond your control.  Look for personal areas where you can take charge.

3.Real change come from changing our mental maps; high energy comes from a clear and passionate personal vision.

TIP:  Take a daily solo.  An absolute essential for clear pictures is to allow at least fifteen minutes a day to reflect on the big picture and to set or revise priorities according to it.

4. Leadership assessment is best done on the basis of our own complete records of what we do rather than anybody else’s partial, incomplete records.

TIP:  Do what you love.  We may burn up doing what we love, but we do not burn or rust out.  If you’re burning out, you may not really love what you do and may need to reinvent your job.

5. We must take inventory of our leadership talents if we are to profit in the future from the lessons of the past.

TIP:  Examine your job.  Keep a notebook for a week in which you jot down everything you naturally love to do and everything you intensely dislike doing at work.  Ask yourself honestly,  “How much time do I spend doing what I naturally love to do?”  Then focus on your strengths and manage your weaknesses.

6. We must decide personally by which criteria we want our leadership legacy measured.

TIP:  Renew a relationship with a mentor or coach.  Ask yourself, “Who are my teachers today?” “  Who is the first person I’d call for leadership advice?”

7. Reinventing ourselves is a lifelong and continuous learning process; we must become comfortable with the reality that satisfaction always leads to dissatisfaction.

TIP:  Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone.  Pursue a non-leadership position or anew task in a professional or community organization.  Risk and challenge can recharge your batteries.

8. We must establish solid support systems – a personal “board of directors”- that can carry us through the vagaries of change.

TIP:  Who are the people whose wisdom and personal counsel you value?  Who would you select to sit on advisory team for your personal life, work and leadership?

9. We must take risks to initiate courageous conversations that will keep us in honesty and creative face-to-face dialogues with our colleagues and followers.

TIP:  Busy leaders tend to over commit themselves.  Saying no and meaning it will reduce your stress and gives you back your sense of control.  Look over your schedule and choose to stop participating in activities that do not reflect priorities and your value system.

10. People are attracted to what is celebrated; celebrate the many face of celebration

TIP:  Lighten up.  Celebration is a building block process; notice the “baby steps” toward change by phoning, writing notes, and affirming your progress all year long.  And refind your smile if you’ve lost it.