You Can’t Lead Others Until You Are a Leader of Yourself | Modig Leadership

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day tasks of leading a company and forget about the most important part of the job: being a leader. No one can follow you if you’re not willing to lead yourself first. It’s time to take a step back and focus on becoming the best leader you can be. 

We say all the time here, “You can only give, or get, what you have for yourself.”  If you aren’t leading yourself well first, you certainly aren’t the exceptional leader you may think you are.    So let’s dive in to help get you started.

Being honest with yourself is one of the most important leadership qualities you can possess. It’s also one of the most difficult. Why? Because it requires you to constantly check your ego at the door and stay committed to making decisions based on what’s best for the team and/or organization, not what’s best for you. When you’re honest with yourself, you’re able to step back and objectively assess your strengths and weaknesses. This allows you to put your ego aside and focus on building a strong team that can achieve great things. It also allows you to have the tough conversations that are necessary for effective leadership.

When you’re not honest with yourself, it’s easy to become defensive and avoid difficult conversations. This can lead to an unhealthy team dynamic and ultimately prevent your team from reaching its full potential. So if you want to be an effective leader, start by being honest with yourself.

Without goal-setting, leaders lack a clear sense of purpose and direction. They may achieve some successes, but they’re likely to be random and uncoordinated. In contrast, leaders who set goals and then develop action plans to achieve them are more likely to be successful. 

Why? Because goals provide a framework for decision-making, help to prioritize activities, and keep leaders focused on what’s important. When leaders develop the habit of setting and achieving goals, they build momentum and create a track record of success that can inspire others to follow their lead.

One of the most important leadership qualities is taking responsibility for your own actions. Leaders know that they set the tone for their team and that their words and actions will be closely followed by those they lead. That’s why taking responsibility for your own actions is so important – it shows that you’re willing to stand up and be held accountable for your words and deeds. 

When you take responsibility for your own actions, you’re also setting an example for others to follow. You’re showing them that you’re willing to be held accountable for your leadership, and that you’re willing to put the needs of your team above your own. Taking responsibility for your own actions is an essential leadership quality that will help you build trust and respect within your team.

No matter what challenges or obstacles they face, the best leaders never give up on themselves or their team. They maintain an unwavering belief that success is always within reach, no matter how difficult the journey may be. This doesn’t mean that they’re naive; on the contrary, they’re well aware of the difficulties ahead. However, they choose to focus on what’s possible, not on what’s impossible. 

When faced with a set-back, they see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. They know that each step forward, no matter how small, is one step closer to their goal. So if you want to be a successful leader, remember to be patient and never give up on yourself. After all, leadership is about inspiring others to achieve the impossible. And that starts with you believing in yourself.

All of these tips boil down to one main idea: you have to lead yourself before you can lead anyone else. You can only give, or get, what you have for yourself.  Get honest with yourself, set realistic goals and stick to them, take responsibility for your own actions, and persevere through setbacks. These are all qualities that can be learned and developed with the help of a leadership training program from Modig Leadership. If you want to learn how to become a better leader – for yourself, your team, or your company – contact us today to schedule a training session. We promise you won’t regret it!