“He that would govern others, first should be the master of himself.” – Philip Massinger, English dramatist
Have you thought about what your life will look like towards the end?
If you’re reading this post, you still have some time left. Let’s focus on the now. Where are you headed? Are you living an intentional life on the path that is right for you? Who has determined that path? Another question is—are you leading yourself well?
Focus on Leading Yourself
When we think of leadership, our thoughts often turn to leading other people. We rarely, if ever, think about leading ourselves. What qualifies us to lead? Many studies have revealed that very few leaders are deemed effective at leading themselves or others. The term “leadership crisis” is often used to describe a prevalent situation in our world today—one in which many leaders are seeking to be served, rather than serving the people they have the privilege of leading. If we want to be effective as leaders, perhaps, as Philip Massinger says, we should first focus on leading ourselves.
Find the Missing Ingredient
As a student in exceptional business degree programs and as an executive with highly regarded companies such as Michelin, Inc. and Macy’s Inc., I rarely had conversations about or received training on the importance of leading myself. While my education and training were excellent, they focused primarily on effectively leading and managing others. There appeared to be an assumption that the most difficult part of leadership was leading others and assisting them in maximizing their potential. There also seemed to be an assumption that leading oneself was relatively easy and that we all should be capable of leading ourselves without help from others and without specific goals and focus in that area. It quickly became clear to me that most of us struggle to lead ourselves well, and that this adversely affects our ability to effectively lead others.
Learn from Your Experiences
In my first job after college, I worked with an employee at J.P. Stevens & Co. who was an older peer and mentor of sorts. He was so focused on his job that he lost sight of the other important aspects of leadership and life. He worked extremely hard, and was very committed to the organization and the people who reported to him. Unfortunately, he struggled to manage other priorities, including his time well. He was devoted to the company, but he did not have the same level of devotion to himself or his family. I watched him burn out—he “hit a wall,” which resulted in significant health and relational issues that adversely affected his effectiveness as a leader. He lacked confidence, was unsure of himself, and had difficulty delegating and empowering other people. In some ways, even though I didn’t learn everything I could have from this experience, I was fortunate to encounter it early in my career.
Make a Decision to Work Hard on Yourself
A clear understanding of how to lead yourself well, equips you to maximize your life and positively affect those around you. Another benefit is a renewed level of energy and focus, which could ultimately contribute to fulfillment and improved results in the organizations that you own, work for, or serve. There is a strong business case for following the advice of Jim Rohn, a great author and leader, found in this quote:
Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on the job, you’ll make a living. If you work hard on yourself, you’ll make a fortune.
The word “fortune” can cause us to pause because when we hear it, we tend to think of money. However, fortune can also be about peace, joy, and satisfaction with a life well lived. We should all strive to live by this insight, and we should also encourage those we love, lead, and serve to do the same.
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