Welcome back if you are continuing from Chapter One, and welcome if you are new. If you haven’t done the first step in this process, I would recommend you go and do Chapter One first.
Based on what you learned from the first exercise and, hopefully, the questions you answered, you now continue your leadership journey and will do a mini-audit on your leadership definition, your leadership strengths and areas of development and answer a few more questions.
This exercise is for new and not-so-new leaders. It’s worth the effort to stop and take a minute to find your own definition of leadership and do a mini audit.
As always, if you invest in yourself, the rewards will be unfathomable.
Chapter Two of Five
Exercise: Grab a blank paper sheet, journal, or other non-technology-based writing tools (here are some benefits you can read).
Based on the affirmative words that stood out for you in Chapter One, do you get any clues on what leadership means for you? If you were stopped right now and asked by one of your team members or your boss, “What is your definition of leadership?” what would your answer be?
You can always do an internet search on leadership definitions. However, in my experience, the best definitions are those that come from within. Use words that help describe the type of leader you want to be for others. Words from Chapter One will help you narrow it down.
Write out your definition of leadership. What does it mean to you? There is no right or wrong answer; this is not a test. The answer is what resonates with you and for you.
Bonus exercise
If you are really stuck, then a suggested extra exercise is this: Take the “negative” words you might have had in Chapter One and write out what an ineffective leadership definition might be. Then do the opposite and write out an affirmative leadership definition (using the opposite of those “negative” words) and see what comes out for you.
Now answer the following questions:
Based on your definition of leadership, how would you rate yourself out of ten? (One being the least effective and ten being the most effective). Hint: Answer the question with this in mind: Would I work for me?
What are your top three leadership strengths? What are your top three development areas as a leader? If you are not sure, sit with it. It will come to you. If not, this might be a good time to seek input from your team, colleagues, board or people close to you in your day-to-day leadership journey (not your partner or family member!).
What areas of your leadership performance and growth are you looking to get a better result in, and what would happen to you as a leader if these areas were developed/cleared? What is the payback to you, your organisation or your team if you developed into the kind of leader you want to be?
Write down your answers and go back to your day.
Until next time.
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