First Rule of Leadership

FIRST RULE OF LEADERSHIP

Achieve Far More by Leading Your Self
BEFORE You Lead Others!

Contents

Part One: The Essentials…………………………….. 1
     1. Discovering The First Rule………………………... 3
     2. Learning to Apply The Rule……………………....13

Part Two: Awaken Your Leader Within………….. ...21
     3. Your Leadership Journey……………………….. 23
     4. People That Influence You……………………… 31
     5. Master Your Strengths………………………….. 35
     6. Make a Big Difference………………………….. 43
     7. Be Clear About Your Purpose…………………...55
     8. Get Serious About Growing……………………...63

Part Three: Great Leadership Using The First Rule.73
     9. Deploy a Balanced Attitude…………………….. 75
     10. Create a Great Impact………………………….89
     11. Navigate the Valley of Despair……………….. 105
     12. Let Go of Useless Attachments………………. 125
     13. Energize a Great Team Performance…………. 145
     14. It All Comes Down to This……………………161

Start Right Here

Think about your current leadership position and imagine yourself looking at your performance through a lens that has two facets. One side is showing you how well you are leading your team and your organization, the other facet is showing you how well you are leading your self on your inner landscape. As your mind reconnects the two images into your total performance, new insights start to emerge. Insights into what you can do to improve things for your team.

Here’s your first look through such a lens. I’m going to pose two questions for you to answer truthfully.

Are you and your team achieving all the goals you’ve set and are expected of you at present? (Leading others.)

Think about the evidence of achievement you have to support your answer. It helps to make notes.

Then move on to this question about you:

What are you personally doing to make sure that your team delivers the greatest possible performance? (Leading your self.)

Now think about the evidence of your thinking and actions that support your answer to that second question.

Did you notice how the second question holds you accountable and pulls you personally to a higher and more valuable place from which to operate? It tugs at you to think about how to deploy your own abilities far more effectively...to achieve the greatest possible performance, not just the achievement of your goals.

Now go back and answer both questions again, but this time start with the second. You will feel how your answer to the first question starts to change. This is you making the connection between leading your self and leading others. Your leader within is starting to consider how to realign your leader without for a far better performance.

Repeat the process a few times and reflect on the insights that come up. You may start to change the way you are leading your team. Don’t be surprised if it feels a little uncomfortable at first...your leader within is sometimes reluctant to change and take charge!

Enough questions for now. That was just an introduction. There’s much more to come.