Leadership Begins With You

Over the last few years I have been extensively studying leadership, both in the theory and the practical. I have read many books on the subject, especially John C Maxwell. However, it doesn’t matter how good a book is, it’s in the application that we learn the most about leadership. And it’s through that application that I am in full agreement with Maxwell when he says that leadership begins with you.

If you have done any type of leadership, then you will understand that great leaders set the standards of belief, the values and behaviour in their organisations. If you are a good leader, you set high standards and help others to reach them. Of course, bad leaders do the same thing, but take people in the opposite direction.

If, as a leaders, we are going to help move in a direction that is beneficial to all that follow we need to learn how to lead ourselves first, and it is the hardest thing to do. We can all talk the talk and tell people how they should behave, however, when it comes to walking the walk, we can all trip up. That is because it is easier to tell people what to do than to do it yourself.

A great example would be if you and I went to the gym together. If I was to train you, all I have to do is tell you what to do from the side lines. You, on the other hand, have to do all the physical work. So it is easier for me to tell you what to so than to do it myself.

The same applies to leadership. I can easily tell people what standards they should have. That takes no commitment on my behalf at all. However, that is not leadership, that is management. There is nothing wrong with management, and some people need it. And it is important to remember that while all leaders are managers, not all managers are leaders.

In order for anybody to be a leader in organization they need to be the example. That means people need to know what the standards are, and then we need to model them everyday. People also need to see that we are doing what we said we would. They need to see that their is a benefit from what we are doing. Then they will be willing to follow.

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. John C. Maxwell"

In my business there is a dress standard, as in many businesses. I let everyone know when they come into my business that they will be expected to dress in a professional manner. I then make sure that I dress to those standards. If I tell people to dress one way and then I dress contrary to that, two things happen. First they lose their trust and respect for me. Second, people will copy the way I dress. If I then need to address the people who have let their standard drop, it becomes very hard to tell them what they should do when I am not doing the same. In short I become a hypocrite. Plus I believe it is easier to have people follow you than to have to punish them.

However, in public, it is easy to show people what we want them to see. Behind closed doors that is another matter.

The biggest problem with leading ourselves is not when we are in pubic, but when we are alone. When we are out of sight of the world, we tend to cheat on the standards we have set. It is here that our self leadership is born. If you can keep the standards while no one is watching you will develop a mindset that will then carry back to the public world.

How do you do this? This is achieved by self accountability, monitoring your behaviours and recording what you did. This may sound daunting, but it is relatively simple. It will take to much time to explain it all here today. My best suggestion is to read a book called Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith. It had a big impact on my life when I read it and I still apply what it taught me today.

Just remember that if you decide cheat on your values and beliefs behind closed doors, people will find out. This is the message I was talking about in my recent article Association - A leader best friend or worse enemy. If I am a different person with different values and beliefs in private that I am in public than I am lying to someone. Either I am lying to my wife, and she will find out, loose trust and leave me, or I am lying to my business team, and they will find out, loose trust and leave me.

So in order to be an effective leader, I must set the example and ensure that I lead myself at all times. It may not be easy at first, and it does take a big change in mindset. However, as you allow yourself to be yourself always, your life gets better. You remove the conflict you have created inside yourself and you become a happier person and a better leader.

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to take control and learn to lead yourself. Show the people around you that you have morals and standards and that you would like to help them achieve the level. Model your expectations at all times both in public and in private. You will not regret that you the effort and discipline that it take. But you will regret the time you waste to do so.

Of course, there is more to success than just that. If you are serious about success, then maybe you should consider getting a mentor for yourself. If mentorship is something you are serios about, then click the this link MENTORSHIP and follow the instructions on the proceeding page. 

Terry Shadwell

Helping people help themselves so that they can lead a greater life.