Is it possible to connect outer success with inner serenity and balance? Is it possible to lead a productive, economically successful life while remaining coherent and authentic, and having deep, meaningful relationships with others? Yes! Through targeted self-leadership.
Leaders who can lead themselves well motivate their employees.
Without self-leadership, employee management is not possible. Because only those who can lead themselves should be allowed to lead others. Especially in economically challenging times, the success of a company depends on leaders who take a special position as role models for their employees and the general public. However, to be able to be a role model, self-leadership of one’s own person is necessary first.
While countless books have been written about employee management, there are hardly any publications that deal with the equally important topic of self-leadership. And few of these are practical. A pragmatic approach would be: How do successful managers actually lead themselves? How do they find their vision and actually implement it? How do they manage to balance between different roles and tasks?
Self-leadership is an art that can be learned.
Self-leadership means taking control of your own thoughts and actions to reach your goals. It starts with knowing yourself, being responsible for your actions, and managing your impulses. It’s all about working hard, managing yourself well, and using helpful methods. Successful business owners, CEOs, managers, and freelancers often use simple self-leadership techniques that work well in everyday situations.
This process requires three steps:
1. Self-reflection
2. Self-awareness
3. Self-regulation
Especially from leaders, it is expected that they reflect on their own actions, perceive themselves, and develop strategies for self-regulation.
These strategies must cover four dimensions of self-leadership if they are to be sustainable:
1. Strategies for successful goal-setting and willpower control
2. Strategies for motivation control and emotion regulation
3. Strategies for effective environment shaping and behavior adaptation
4. Strategies for relaxation, exercise, and nutrition
Self-awareness and systematic self-development are the basis for goal-oriented leadership.
The key to success as a leader and satisfaction as a human being is proactive and self-responsible self-development. Because those who can lead their “inner employee” can usually lead employees better.
