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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✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
This exercise has allowed me to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses, and to acknowledge that self-reflection is important to being a leader.
@Renjik8013
It's great to hear that you found value in this exercise! Self-reflection is indeed crucial for leadership as it helps you understand your strengths to leverage and weaknesses to improve upon, leading to personal and professional growth. Keep up the insightful introspection!
@Hope
what i learned:
I've learned to strive for excellence as a leader, keeping an open mind and welcoming suggestions for improvement, recognizing that learning and receiving feedback are invaluable for growth, and valuing care and kindness for everyone.
what i would like to learn in the future:
Solving problems, staying positive and hyping up the team, supporting everyone equally without playing favorites, thinking creatively and outside the box, showing love and care for everyone, sticking to the rules while giving second chances, remembering we're all learning on this journey.
@Hope I learned that i need to be able to be my own leader first, before trying to actually lead anyone. I need to have the belief in myself that i can rely on myself so that others will be able to too.
@gloomySunshine4673 yeah I think we are facing similar issues
@Hope
One of the things I found interesting about this video was how many things I relate to as a leader that were mentioned in the How To Effectively Lead By Example: 'To Do' List. Especially when it comes to support your team, be early (no on-time), and attention to detail. I also find it interesting as a person I do these things not just as a leader.
@Ivy229
I agree with these things. I thought the video was a great example of things as a leader, and loving lists, and how she highlighted the things about leaders in lists.
@Hope
What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
The person I looked up to was one of my professors, and she encouraged me to be a professional. She encouraged me to network with professionals, to get an advanced degree, and to use my writing to move me forward in my career. She encouraged me when I didn't feel capable.
I learned I was a strong writer, I have good organization skills, am creative, and good with people.
As I've never had anyone tell me not to be like them, but I was told to not be like a family member because of her behavior. As an adult, I know that they didn't like her because she had mental health problems. I didn't know that as a child or teen, but I do now. Remembering her now, I know she was a compassionate and loving woman.
@Hope
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
I have a lot of the same issues my mom has ;_;
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
I am able to do a great work and listen to others people to find the right solution to problems. I think it is very important because I am able to cultivate good relationships too.
@patientShell1003
No comments... Just supportive emojis 😎🦾🔔⭐
@patientShell1003 those are such valuable qualities indeed
@sky2Ocean20 You are a good leader.
@Hope
✒️ What did you learn about yourself through the given exercise?
I rarely show any leadership through my time growing and I will be blunt on that. That itself is what I am learning right now and I am glad to take these steps to lead myself before I lead others. Been too self-aware at times, not knowing what, where, or when to lead until joining this program. I believe, now, there is time for me to continue this exercise to become a better leader for myself.
@Hope I learned it´s important to keep seeking out of my comfort opportunities and practicing my public speaking skills. I learned that being caring and inspirational are skills I have that will support me and be beneficial in this journey
@Cynthialy
That's really wonderful and I agree that stepping out of your comfort zone is one of the key elements to start achieving something.
