Lead Yourself... First

By: Betsy Buckley

Posted on 02/06/2012 - 4:41pm | From the Growth Strategy Blog

Many of us grew up thinking “Leaders are the people in charge”. YES… but regardless of hierarchy, title, years of contribution, age or rank, there is someone that every one of us leads.  Instead of whining about say-one-thing-do-another politicians, or complaining about those on the org chart above us, how about if we start exploring how we lead ourselves?

Every birthday, I reflect on how well I’ve held to my principles, challenged my goals, and, lived in harmony with my beliefs during the past 365 days.

Throughout this examination and as I begin to plan for the next twelve months of my own self-leadership, I examine three categories:

SEE. What can I do in the new year to “see” more broadly? How will I be more aware of how others are seeing their world--- and me in it? In what ways can I push myself to see new vistas, to explore new horizons? Where in the past year has tunnel vision held me back from growing, and, how can I eliminate that in the coming twelve months? 

 
“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be." - Marcel Pagnol, French writer 

FLEE. What habits or patterns would I be better off without? What can I pack in my “get it out of here” suitcase?  Maybe the deeply ingrained voice from childhood days, where my mother announced (albeit in a very sweet Southern voice): “There can be no fun, until the work is done.”  Perhaps the habit of procrastinating work that I’m worried about, or my feeling that I always have to be the one to make the decision? How about the “I deserve a cookie”, when the joy of that rich chocolate is fleeting on my lips but lasting on my hips?

“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts; put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!” - Bob Marley, Jamaican singer and composer

BE.  Ever hear someone sing: DObe DObe DO? If we’re not mindful, we fill our lives with so much doing, there’s very little time--- if any--- for just being. For taking a walk with the dog that’s more than his “duty” walk? For reading something other than The Economist, Vanity Fair or the 10 business blogs we’ve convinced ourselves are “daily duties?” Being is just that--- it doesn’t involve doing, but allows us to sit, outdoors by our favorite tree, on a meditation cushion, in a cozy chair with the cat and a cup of peppermint tea. Each year, I challenge myself: Try adding another 10 minutes a day to your “being routines.” That’s 5+ extra hours a month, more than 60 a year (and imagine what would happen if next year you added another 10).

“We are so obsessed with doing that we have no time and no imagination left for being. As a result, men are valued not for what they are but for what they do or what they have—for their usefulness.” - Thomas Merton, writer

This year, when you celebrate your birthday, think about how you want to enhance the way you lead yourself. Make some commitments, get an accountability partner and let us know… how did following this See, Flee, Be model make a difference for you?