A First Step Leaders Must Do to Effectively Lead

A First Step Leaders Must Do to Effectively Lead!

by Doni Landefeld, Ph.D., ACPEC

What happens when inspiration collides with affirmation? Short answer… embrace the opportunity and instinct and act!

As we prepare to roll out a new Hiring and Selection service in early 2024, I was inspired to revisit why it’s important to “Lead Yourself First©” to effectively lead others and drive desired results. Then I attended a 2-day conference and much of this time for developing CEO mindsets was devoted to knowing thyself to grow into a more powerful business owner. A couple of weeks later, a conversation with a colleague took me on a deeper dive into “Know Thyself” to effectively lead others. And then today, in a meeting with a prospective client, the concept of leading yourself to lead others came up again.

Coincidence? No, because it’s true, the first step to being an effective leader, whether you’re the CEO or just emerging into leadership, is to know yourself. When you understand yourself, you can effectively manage and lead yourself. This drives inspiration. And in order to influence for impact, a leader must inspire. We call this “Lead Yourself First©” and it’s all about mastery of personal leadership. Echoing what I shared earlier on a call with a prospective client, performance and well-being are not mutually exclusive. You can only give your best when you are your best and part of that is understanding what makes you tick.

In our soon-to-be-revealed Hiring and Selection Service, assessments are used to glean as much information as possible to determine the right fit for a candidate within an organization. Assessments are the best way to gather this wealth of data. More to come soon on the program we’ll offer and the assessments to gather how a person thinks, feels and is motivated to perform [in the workplace].

By understanding how you think, feel, and are motivated to act, you can predict and regulate the following areas:

1. Values – are the alpha and omega of aligning with your decisions and what motivates you to act. As a leader, it’s critical to understand your core values. When values are not aligned, it is a recipe for conflict, whether it is internal within your mind or external with those in your sphere of influence.

2. Strengths – the acid test of strength is something that is done successfully, repeatedly and happily (the latter because it upholds a value or two in some way and an activity is more likely to be successfully repeated when it is valued and enjoyed). 

3. Triggers/Saboteurs – we all have them and when you can name them, you can tame them. This is where our Positive Intelligence work is implicated. We must tame our saboteurs so they don’t rob us of our performance potential and sustained well-being.

4. Limitations – we all have these as well. And knowing where we’re at risk is crucial. Then it’s helpful to either delegate or outsource so time and money are not wasted.

5. Motivators and Preferences – to work within your genius zone, it’s necessary to understand what drives you and how you prefer to operate. From how you energize, to your communication preferences to how you make decisions and problem-solve, it’s essential to know your style and what motivates you.

There are many ways we can help you Lead Yourself First to Effectively Lead Others. From assessments to experiencing our transformational Positive Intelligence™ program to using our “Lead Yourself First©” interactive card deck, there’s an option for you and your team!

Interested in the white paper on how PQ can support your EAPs or are you ready to do something about stress for you and your employees? Schedule your complimentary strategy session here: