Welcome to the Pursue You Podcast, where we are empowering you to continually reflect, design and pursue who you were created to be so you can give the gift of your best self to your family, community, and business!
Leadership is a big word. There are so many types of leaders, levels and styles of leadership. Most of the time these conversations come about with regard to how one might lead other people. Today I am discussing how leading myself first has positively impacted my ability to lead others. I explain how it has shown up in my life and my business with the hopes that you will recognize the power of leading yourself first in your life.
I share my background in business. I began my real estate business beginning at age 22. My team began to grow with more agents and more administrative staff. I got to a point where I was working in the business, helping buyers and sellers, negotiating, etc. AND doing a ton behind the scenes, too, keeping the lights on, crunching numbers, etc. It was wearing on me and, if I didn’t make a change, it was going to affect my clients, too. I realized how much of my day I was being reactive instead of purposeful. I had to get out of production and start working ON my business. And then, I had to cut the excuses and take a hard look at my leadership. Is my leadership allowing my business to succeed or equipping it to succeed? If people are coming into my world, that is a huge responsibility. I need to give them the best opportunity to grow and prosper. That is my motivation. That is my fuel to lead myself first.
[12:45] I share a step to begin the process. Be honest with yourself. Be humble. My coach shared a quote with me: “Performance equals potential minus interference.” Do not be in your own way.
[14:53] Consume content on development and leadership. I started to make a serious commitment to professional development. There are so many books, podcasts, etc. at your fingertips! In Episode 22, I discussed Accidental Diminishers in leadership. John Maxwell’s book Leadershift is another great example that struck me. I had to make this a priority and put it in my schedule.
[18:08] I share another step: Thinking time! I am reading a book called The Road Less Stupid, by Keith Cunningham. His entire book is on this point. Taking the time to sit and think is something I used to think was a waste of time. It is, in fact, the exact opposite. Some questions that are very simple: What is working in my life? What are my priorities? What do I want on my bucket list this summer? He shares many more.
[20:12] The final tactical piece is conversation time. We start with our consumption, then thinking time and now conversation time. I have really grown to value conversations. In her book Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott discusses how the conversation is the relationship. How do we prioritize this? Be purposeful about having them. When I was so busy and was not leading myself, I was not prioritizing checking in with people or supporting people. Nothing is more important than these conversations because nothing is more important than these relationships.
[25:23] I chat about discipline. This process is simple, not easy! Leading yourself first means putting all of these pieces together by being disciplined and making them an important part of your life. When you lead yourself first to create a tailwind, a ripple effect for every single person you come into contact with.
I leave you with a question, “What is one thing I can do to take the first step to leading myself today?” The better you lead yourself, the better you can lead, influence and positively everyone that crosses your path.
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