Course 2, Discussion 2: Lead by example
Great Leadership, unsurprisingly, starts with yourself!
Practice what you preach. Lead by example. I am sure all of you heard these phrases. But why are they so iconic?
Because the journey starts with the first step and you are the person who is taking the initiative to lead -- Start a journey! So, you are the one who needs to take the first step before expecting others to do it.
To start with leading yourself, close your eyes and visualize two people: someone who inspired and encouraged you to be like them, and someone who discouraged you to be not like them.
Then, write down the good qualities of the person who inspired you as well as the qualities of the second person. You do not have to be specific with the details. Just a bulleted list.
Now, compare the list to yourself. Note the good qualities you have, the bad qualities you have, and give yourself a rating on a scale of 1-10. What we just did is identified your strengths and weaknesses and what you need in order to lead yourself. This allows you to create self-awareness.
Self-awareness is key to leading yourself in the right direction. But, leading yourself is not easy. Just being self-aware isn't enough. It's igniting the spark but not enough to catch the fire. To catch the fire, you need to be persistent with your practice, which is regular reflection. Be consistent with monitoring your efforts and holding yourself accountable.
You can't effectively lead others until you know how to lead yourself. That happens through Self-Observant Leadership: when you deeply understand your identity, compare it to your reputation (how others experience you) and then make meaning of the observations, and choose to adapt.
Exercise:
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
✒️ Respond to one of your peers in this thread
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@Hope
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
From this exercise I learnt that its important to lead myself before I can lead others. Its also important to understand your team, where the weaknesses and advances lie! Motivate the team and push them to succeed. Don't mention others members or competitors as this can dampen the teams productivity.
✒️ Respond to one of your peers in this thread
I will do when a peer arrives :)
@LlamaLizz I love the leading yourself before others! Great way to put it!
@LunaHere
Agreed that motivation is key. So many heavy handed "leadership" strategies are brutal and don't seem to work.
@LunaHere i agree with you on mentioning other competitors when trying to do a team building exercise, as it can sometimes hamper growth as the focus is on others than oneself , though it can be helpful at times to take inspiration
I like the idea, of leading yourself, and becomertable. Before you lead others
Wonderful!!
That's such an amazing way to put it!
@Hope
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
I learned more about my morals and what I like vs dislike in a person. Helps me see who I should surround myself with to help my mental health.
✒️ Respond to one of your peers in this thread
Aight!
@TheFantasticPengua
Great Answers!
@TheFantasticPengua
I agree these are important factors as well :)
@TheFantasticPengua what a great habit to use In Your life!
@TheFantasticPengua Great job
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
I learned that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and we work together to build a strong system and whole. This is how 7cups works.
@CallumCares421 Thats nice :)
@CallumCares421 love this
@CallumCares421
I agree that we all need to work together.
I agree with this totally!
@Hope
You can't effectively lead others until you know how to lead yourself.
@sunnySea4551 This is an excellent point. Thank you for sharing!
@Hope I learnt more about myself the good qualities and the bad qualities I have.
@NanditaB Can you share some of those qualities?
@Hope i had a hard time picking just one person that inapires me. I tend to take many admirable qualities from many different people!
I learned that it is really difficult for me to rate myself. I also realize that I am my own worst critic, and I often see myself differently irmore negatively than others do.
@purplelady568 it's good that you were able to learn these types of things. Sometimes we all are our own worst critics. But look at you becoming an amazing leader through this program! I'm so proud of you ❤️
@JasmineFlower222 that is such a sweet idea. I.love how you turned it into a positive. Thanks for the encouragement!
@purplelady568
Yes it is easier to recognise, your negative points, it is others who see our positive ones
@Hope
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
it is important to lead myself before i can lead others.
im kind and caring
@Chloe1644 That is soooo true! I bet you would make an amazing leader, if you are not already. To be kind and caring are 2 very beautiful qualities.
@Chloe1644 absolutely that’s one of the first things I thought of as well.
@Hope I learned that it's important to know yourself and be self aware in how you tackle situations to become a powerful leader. Being consistent is key in continuing a great journey to be a leader.
@JasmineFlower222 yes, consistency is very important! Agree.
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
Qualities I think a good leader should possess:
Be a good listener. Yes, good leaders know how to talk to people but they should also be able to be a good listener and hear people.
A good leader should also have integrity and just be trustworthy!
A good leader should also be someone who thinks of others before thinking of themself and would be what I consider a selfless person.
There are, of course, many more qualities but I find these ones to be the most important traits.
What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
Through the exercise, I learned that to be effective as a good leader one must possess many great qualities. They do not have to be perfect but their heart should be in the right place. I consider myself to possess some qualities of a good leader but I know that I can always improve. One day, I hope that I can lead by example.
@YourCaringConfidant
You will lead ❤️
@YourCaringConfidant Great answer 😊
@YourCaringConfidant I second that, we can always improve and it's okay to fail to do so.