What is the biggest challenge you are facing as a leader? Based on my experience as a leader and from listening to other leaders I am suggesting that it is the ability to take care of ourselves. Reality is unless we pay attention to our well being we will not reach our potential and our influence will plateau.
For many of us feel that self care is selfish. Yet Jesus frequently escaped into the mountains to spend time with God. If it was important for Jesus perhaps I should reconsider.
What follows is a quote from an article printed in Leadership Magazine February 13, 2006, The Art of Self Leadership by Bill Hybels. (The emphasis in bold is mine)
The Art of Self Leadership by Bill Hybels
Your toughest management challenge is always yourself.
"Last summer I read an article that created some disequilibrium for me. The author, Dee Hock, challenged leaders to calculate how much time and energy they invest in each of these directions-people beneath them, over them, peers, and leading themselves. Since he's been thinking and writing about leadership for over 20 years and is a laureate in the Business Hall of Fame, I wanted his wisdom.
His recommendation: "We should invest 50 percent of our leadership amperage into the task of leading ourselves; and the remaining 50 percent should be divided into leading down, leading up, and leading laterally." His numbers bothered me so much I put the article away. But I let it simmer, which is my normal practice when someone messes with my mind.
While that was simmering, I read an article by Daniel Goleman, the author of the best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence. Since that book was released in 1997, Goleman has been spending his time analyzing why some leaders develop to their fullest potential and why most hit a plateau far from their full potential.
His conclusion? The difference is (you guessed it) self-leadership. He calls it "emotional self-control." What characterizes maximized leadership potential, according to Goleman? Tenaciously staying in leadership despite overwhelming opposition or discouragement. Staying in the leadership game and maintaining sober-mindedness during times of crisis. Keeping ego at bay. Staying focused on the mission instead of being distracted by someone else's agenda. All these indicate high levels of emotional self-control. Goleman says, "Exceptional leaders distinguish themselves because of superior self-leadership."
What About You?
Quiet yourself before the Lord then listen to your heart's answers to the following questions:
- "We should invest 50% of our leadership energies into the task of leading ourselves." Do you agree? Why or why not?
- What percent of your leadership energies are currently going into the task of leading yourself?
- Does this percentage include time to care for your body as well as your soul?
- What is the most important thing you can do to increase the percentage of time you spend leading yourself? Create at least one action step that will increase your percentage.
