Many thanks to Miles Welch for giving us permission to repost his blog article. Miles writes a great blog called Developing Next Generation Leaders. You should check it out here: mileswelch.com.

Self-leadership is the most critical aspect of your leadership; it unlocks your ability to lead others. This is the first in a series of posts exploring the importance of self-leadership and the intentional strategies that enable you to be a focused, diligent and effective leader.

Self-leadership is a proactive process, where leaders first seek self-understanding and then use it to intentionally direct their lives.

My definition of self-leadership has three parts:

  1. A Proactive Process: Self-leadership begins with a freed-up mentality. You can’t lead yourself if you are stuck in a philosophy that renders you helpless or passive.
  2. Self-understanding:  God designed you on purpose: the more fully you understand your design, the more clearly you see God’s destiny for your life.
  3. Intentional Guidance: Self-leadership culminates in “on purpose” action. When you have a liberated mentality and a deep understanding of your wiring, you can thoughtfully adjust your life to align with God’s trajectory for you.

I’ll continue to unpack the details of self-leadership in the following posts.  For now, I want to motivate you with the rewards that come from the hard work of self-leadership.

  1. Self-leadership will set you apart from the herd.

Self-leadership will set you apart from the herd because most people live on accident.When you have taken the time to develop self-understanding and then intentionally move toward God’s destiny you will stand out from the crowd in a very good way.

  1. Self-leadership produces self-confidence and self-respect.

Self-leadership produces self-confidence and self-respect.

When you are self-led, your private moments build momentum toward public leadership. When you lack self-leadership, you know it and it undermines your confidence in public leadership.

  1. Self-leadership is how you learn to lead others.

You are your own greatest leadership challenge. As you grow in leading yourself, you become aware of where other people might be stuck. You can then draw from your own experience in growth to help them move. You can’t effectively lead others if you haven’t lead yourself.

  1. Self-leadership unlocks the door to long-term influence.

Self-leadership unlocks the door to long-term influence.

People might follow you because of your leadership title for a season, but eventually they will make the choice based on who you are. When you are self-led, people will stick with you because they trust your privately-won character.