Why You Should Make Personal Development Part Of Your Leadership

Leaders often rely on the skills they trust the most—the things they know they do well. But if you speak to most successful leaders, you’ll discover that they’re constantly pushing themselves in new directions and learning new skills. They make personal development a priority—and if you aren’t doing the same, your leadership is not as effective as it could be.

Think of it this way: if you only keep repeating what you know doing what you know how to do, eventually you’re not going to get the results you need. And with no other resources to turn to, you’ll be stuck.

The only way to really get the best out of who you are and everything you have to offer is to make personal development an ongoing commitment. Make sure you are taking some positive action to improve yourself on a daily and weekly basis.

Here are some of the most important areas you can focus on in your personal development plan:

Keeping an open mind. I have heard leaders say “This is who I am, take it or leave it.” But the best leaders are open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. They’re constantly listening and learning.

Investing in yourself. As a leader you invest in your business, your customers, your clients. So why not invest in yourself? After all, you’re an important asset. Treat your personal development not as a self-indulgence but as something you do for the good of yourself, your team and the organization.

Embodying a positive attitude. The best way to evolve in your leadership is to maintain an attitude of positivity and possibility—to believe in yourself. If you know you can develop and change, you surely will. Attitude is one of the most important elements of growth and personal development.

Accepting responsibility. Too many leaders want to hold everyone accountable but themselves. But passing the buck is poor leadership that leads to poor results and harms your team. If you want to lead successfully, you need to hold yourself accountable for your own choices and development.

Acknowledging your weaknesses. Just as we all have strengths, we all have weaknesses. The better you can understand and acknowledge your own areas of weakness, finding ways to improve upon them and even leverage them into strengths, the better you will evolve as a leader and a person.

Don’t make the mistake of treating personal development as a to-do item, a box to check off and be done with. Think of it instead as an ongoing process in which every encounter and experience offers you a chance to do something better. Every step you take will open new directions for your leadership.

Lead from within: The only thing standing in the way of your becoming the best version of who you are and providing the best leadership you’re capable of is your own willingness and commitment. At the end of the day, the choice will always be yours.

#1 N A T I O N A L  B E S T S E L L E R

The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness

After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

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• How to Succeed as A New Leader
• 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
• 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
• The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
• The Deception Trap of Leadership

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