Many who are put in leadership roles don’t know how to, or have never been taught how to, lead themselves. This article will dive into what it takes to lead yourself and how it can introduce ways of leading others.
Imagine you are starting a new position or have been given the chance to manage and take on leadership opportunities. Many achieve this and gain valuable insights, diving right into learning how to lead others. This is a normal and exciting thing. Numerous individuals have been in this position and learned how to lead others in this way. What if I told you there is another piece of this puzzle missing in plain sight? One that doesn’t show up for some time.
Let's start with a quick history lesson. It is well documented that in Ancient Rome, Roman soldiers were able to ask citizens to carry their gear up to a mile. What this implies is that the same soldier carried their own gear beforehand. This isn’t a second-mile service article; this is about the first mile. You may be thinking, “OK, what are you getting at? We didn’t sign up for a history lesson.” That’s fair. Your challenge is this: how can you expect to lead others AND expect them to want to follow you, if you are not able to lead yourself?
Here are five practical steps and three best practices directing you in how you can start leading yourself. Not only will you grow and develop, but others will also notice something different about you. These principles are coined by Mark Miller, who started as a Chick-fil-A team member in 1977 and went on to serve as Vice President of High Performance Leadership for two decades. He is known most recently as a co-founder of Lead Every Day.
H.E.A.R.T.
Hunger for Wisdom
Best Practices:
- Design a Plan
- Enlist Mentors
- Learn Daily
Expect the Best
Best Practices:
- Choose Optimism
- Fail Forward
- Remember Wins
Accept Responsibility
Best Practices:
- Own Your Role
- Admit Mistakes
- Give Praise
Respond with Courage
Best Practices:
- Acknowledge Your Fears
- Embrace Risk
- Initiate Action
Think of Others First
Best Practices:
- Add Value
- Express Gratitude
- Serve Unconditionally
Resources to Learn More
Written by Kal Keiffer, L&D Specialist
References: Miller, M., & Gravitt, R. (2019). The Heart of Leadership: Becoming a Leader People Want to Follow (Quick Start Guide). CFA Properties, Inc. & InteGREAT Leadership.
