#2 What I’ve discovered about self-leadership
Self-Leadership Series 1 – # 2 What I’ve discovered about self-leadership
This post shares some of what I have learned about self-leadership along the way and how it is the foundation for both our wellbeing and making our greatest contribution.
I did not ever set out on a deliberate path to explore and understand self-leadership but alas that’s what much of my personal growing and learning has specifically been about. It has also become, the central focus of much of the leadership development work with my clients.
What I write and share here is the sense-making and clarity about what I have discovered about self- leadership derived from over a decade of intense personal and professional learning and have now practised for many years. I share it here in case what I have learned may act as a signpost or inspiration for wherever you are on your own self-leadership journey. I also share it because when we are consciously practicing self-leadership, by default, we take caring of ourselves, each other, and our precious planet. Is there anything more important than that right now?
What I have discovered about self-leadership
Some of what I have discovered along the way about self-leadership is that:
- We are each responsible for our own evolution and growth. Period;
- Learning about ourselves and growing our effectiveness is a lifelong process that takes focus, commitment, and a choosing in each moment, where we focus our attention;
- Establishing routines and habits that support our ongoing personal learning and wellbeing is vital;
- Unless we are intentional about our own personal learning and development, life will continue to drive us rather than enabling us to shape our own reality;
- When we grow and evolve, we light the path for others; and
- If we want to play our part in contributing to the health of our families, communities, friendships, and the planet then self -leadership is non- negotiable.
My commitment to my own self-leadership is a way of life now as essential as eating, sleeping and breathing. It is never a ‘set and forget’. It requires ongoing attention and conscious action and what that entails in any day or week, morphs and changes as I do.
I know now that there is no destination point to arrive at. Just an invitation to ‘be’ in life as consciously as possible and to discover and leverage our vast and wondrous internal resources (they are waiting patiently for us to call them into action)!
It is only through activating self- leadership that we get closer to the truth of who we are and from that place be truly in service of our greatest contribution.
Wherever you are in life and on your self-leadership journey, this series is as an invitation to gently and courageously move a little closer towards self.
The third post in this series will explore why self-leadership matters.
This post is an excerpt from my draft book Activating Self Leadership.
