Significant leadership is a cultivated arts. It all begins with leading one ‘self'. Reason being that at the center of leadership is the individual who more than anything else makes the difference.
Leadership success or failure begins with how the leader approaches self-leadership.
Dee Hook an authority in Leadership postulates said that we should invest 50% of our leadership amperage in self-leadership and the remaining percent should be divided into leading down, leading up, and leading laterally.
For the purpose of this post, I will be defining the following terms as it relates to this context;
SELF:
A person's essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.
LEADERSHIP:
Leadership involves making sound - and sometimes difficult - decisions, creating and articulating a clear vision, establishing achievable goals and providing followers with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve those goals.
SELF-LEADERSHIP:
Self-leadership is the practice of intentionally influencing your thinking, feeling and behavior to achieve your objective.
Basically, Self -leadership is about taking personal responsibility for our lives. Thereby impacting on Leadership of all levels when the occasion presents itself.
According to a research carried out by Susanne Cook a Leadership expert, a shocking 80% of people are not clear about what they want in life.
No clear purpose, no focus, no passion in life, no persistence to see things through, no discipline.
Just assume someone, with the above characteristics by happenstance finds himself in a leadership position , what do you think will happen?
Such a person will skyrock greatly and make notable impacts every step on the way.
Self-leadership is the first stage or level of leadership. For employees, Presidents, Governors, Ministers, Any position of authority you may think of, whether managers or ordinary subordinates, self-leadership is of great importance.
As a manager or any leadership role you think of, you receive very little or no supervision. This means you should be able to plan and set your objectives on your own, as well as influence your own self to follow those plans.
There is every tendency for your subordinates, to always agree to whatever you throw at them. Reasons being that they want to remain in the good books of the Leader. So our society today we see a lot of faulty decision made and implemented by leaders who are not grounded in leading themselves.
It's Important for us as youth, to cultivate self leadership first before launching out.
As lower level employee, you can never be sure the kind of management or leaders you will meet in the course of your career. Despite whatever leadership you may come across –whether laissez faire, democratic or autocratic – you should be able to exhibit self-leadership. Employers are always impressed with workers who can take great decisions on their own and are able to influence themselves to work effectively.
Self-leadership helps make the individual proactive, disciplined, and an independent decision maker. People who have no strong sense of self-leadership tend to feel they are not in control of themselves, often lack focus and get overwhelmed easily.
How then Is Self- Leadership Achieved?
Self- leadership can be achieved by
- Self Awareness
- Self confidence
- Self efficacy, and self regulation or self discipline.
Self-awareness: is about knowing your intentions and values, as well as knowing what can push your buttons and derail you.
Self-confidence: comes from knowing your strengths and abilities. As we take actions and develop skills, we become more confident.
Self-efficacy: is the belief that whatever comes our way, we can handle it. We can take the feedback, accept, adjust and advance. With self-efficacy we can be more creative and innovative.
For anyone most especially we the youth, intending to further develop our leadership capabilities, I strongly recommend, you work on the following:
- Self- confidence
- Self -mastery
- Self- responsibility
- Self-talk
- Self- control
- Self-belief
- Self-invention
- Self-motivation, and
- Self-discovery.
One thing I know is that when preparation meets opportunity, success is always inevitable.
Daily, be committed in always bringing the best version of your self.
It only takes one person to change your life and THAT'S YOU!
Self leadership is a journey, and the more self-leadership we attain the more successful we become, and the more successful we become, the more self-leadership we need.
When we successfully lead ourselves, we enhance our mind, expand our potential, and evolve to be the best we can be.
I believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself.”-Oprah Winfrey.
Never ever accept less from your self, always lead an excellent life, for a job applicant out there you may think it doesn't concern you, but I want to let you know you can start my priming your mind, develop the necessary skills that may be needed in the work environment.
I will love to conclude with this quote:
Those who mistrust their own abilities are being too wicked to themselves, discouraging themselves from doing what they should have been excelling in. If you are good at discouraging yourself, you can't be a good leader because leadership is built on inspiring others to face challenges.― Israelmore Ayivor.
