Character: Self-liderage

• Character formation, part 2

Self-leadership

• Leadership is governing oneself, meaning one must lead themselves before leading others.
• It requires the ability to consciously influence one's own thoughts and behaviors to achieve goals.
• Exhibiting foresight, making good choices, and dedication leads to self-leadership skills.
• Besides goal setting, self-awareness is key for effective self-leadership.
• Self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of your character, feelings, motives, and desires.
• Self-awareness involves the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions align with your internal standards.
• Self-regulation involves controlling one's behavior, emotions, and thoughts to pursue long-term goals.
• Self-motivation is the ability to take initiative and action to pursue goals and complete tasks.

Significance of Self-leadership

• Self-leadership is the first level of leadership and is important for all employees.
• It enables leaders to plan/set objectives and influence themselves to follow those plans.
• For lower-level employees, it enables them to be effective and efficient regardless of leadership style.
• Self-leadership makes individuals proactive, disciplined, and independent decision-makers.
• Those lacking self-leadership may feel out of control, lack focus, and get overwhelmed.
• The achievement of organizational goals depends on the self-leadership of superiors and subordinates.

Development of Self-leadership

• Leadership is not an inborn trait, but developed through learning/training and sincere interest.
• Clarity of purpose is vital. The ability to set a vision is foundational to self-leadership.
• Without clear objectives, you risk following others' plans and getting stuck.
• Risk-taking is essential: challenge yourself with courageous tasks.
• Focus on success, not past failures, and take reasonably calculated risks relevant to purpose.
• Reflect on your life, which means allowing objective assessment.
• Compare the past to the present and future goals; analyzing yourself identifies flaws.
• Don't tolerate just anything; be intolerant of suggestions not in line with your vision.
• This intolerance extends to negative aspects of your nature like laziness or fear.

Influence

• If you influence and guide others, you are leading.
• Good leaders are defined by not only just skills and talents, but primarily his character and attitude.
• Everyone can influence, for good or bad; Leaders should guide towards good, with skill, wisdom, and compassion.
• Refusing influence and not taking a stand can lead to being easily persuaded.
• In general, there are only two choices one can make; to be the influencer, or the influenced.

Ways to Influence

• Logical: Tap into the people's logic.
• Emotional: Connect with the emotions of others.
• Cooperative: Involve collaboration and working together.

Secrets to Influential Leadership

• Know the people with whom you’re working.
• Ask questions and listen for answers.
• Seek and accept feedback
• When the three prior points are accomplished, you gain respect, then influence.