Ever feel overwhelmed by the unending demands of running your team or business?

Like you’re a lap or more behind where you want or need to be for work and life to be matching your intentions?

You're not alone.

We all feel doubt sometimes.

Moments (and sometimes weeks) when answers aren’t simple.

When progress is slow or non-existent. 

When the burden gets heavy.

This is when self-leadership matters most.

“You won’t be a leader worth following if you don’t first lead yourself well.”

- Andy Stanley

The Ripple Effect

Our mood doesn't just affect us.

It affects the rest of the organization.

When we're stressed, our team gets tense and stressed themselves.

When we're optimistic, they are more relaxed and willing to innovate.

When we're focused, they’re more productive. 

When we're interested in them, they’re far more engaged and loyal.

More committed to being and doing their best.

Here are eight ways to level-up your self-leadership and bring your best:

It starts With Self-Awareness

Next time you walk into the office or login to your next meeting, pause and check how you‘re feeling.

What’s your mindset and how will that influence others?

To paraphrase Viktor Frankl...

“In the space between stimulus and response lies our freedom and our power to choose growth and happiness.”

Be the energy you want to attract.

On that note…

Manage Your Energy

Are you dragging through afternoon meetings?

Maybe struggling with decisions and productivity late in the day?

Sometime all it takes is to change your mind.

Other times it takes more.

Here's the solution:

• Recognize that your energy is a precious resource.

• Do your most important work when you’re at your best.

• Treat your renewal time like you would your biggest client meetings.  

• Build it into your schedule and protect it.

• Do more of what gives you energy.

• Weed out what drains your energy.

You’re more likely to be and do your best when you’re rested and energy is high.

Manage Your Communication

Ever wished your team would communicate more directly and successfully?

With you - and among themselves?

Good communication means understanding.

Not just sufficient telling or pushing-out information.

Check your own communication habits and set a great example:

• Listen (much) more than you speak

• Share your thinking, not just your decisions

• Admit that you don’t have all the answers

• Confirm understanding and ask for feedback

Your team will take their cues from you.

The example you set will become contagious

You’ll also be building better thinkers and communicators who feel more valued.

Making Better Decisions

Have you ever made a quick decision you came to regret?

We all have.

Here's what to do instead:

• Pause - and try to gain perspective without a sense of immediate pressure

• Ask these two questions: 

1. What would a good outcome be?

2. Who should have input and whose help would help?

• Rather than jumping to a decision, decide what would be a good decision-making approach 

Great decisions rarely require speed.

They require clarity and thoughtful development.

Manage Your Commitments

What follows our decisions is generally what we commit to.  

Have you ever said yes to something you knew you shouldn’t take on?

This is one of the most challenging things to master as a capable leader.

Next time you reach for your cape and boots to save the day:

• Consider your capacity and your current priorities before you say yes. 

• Set clear boundaries.  If it’s not ‘hell-yes’, it’s ‘hell-no!

• Strive to deliver completely on fewer commitments.

Consistency Builds Trust

Build trust through reliability.  

Not availability.

Your word should be your bond.

Especially with yourself.

Watch what happens with your self-esteem when you deliver on every commitment for a week. 

Or even one day.

Learn From Setbacks

Had anything fail recently?

Good!

That is where the real learning occurs.

Ask yourself:

• What role did my leadership play in this outcome?

• What assumptions did I make?

• What could I have seen sooner?

• What will I change next time?

Growth comes from reflection, not just experience.

Taking Action

Whether you’re a solopreneur or have a team of hundreds…

The challenge is not achieving perfection.

It's about making progress.

Here’s how:

Start small.

• Choose one area to focus on this week

• Commit to do better

• And keep that commitment - No. Matter. What.

What if you did that every week?  

How much better could your self-leadership be in a month?  

In six months?

By this time next year?

Make it a game, or better yet, a habit.  

How many weeks can you improve, in a row, without breaking the streak?

Every Sunday or Monday, pick the one you're committing to.

At the end of the week - score your progress.

Yes. No. Or Golden Buzzer?

Here is the truth about leadership:

Your greatest impact often comes from your smallest consistent actions.

Your team notices everything.

Especially how you lead yourself.

“Self Leadership always precedes team leadership” - Michael Hyatt

Looking Forward

Leadership can be lonely.

But it doesn't have to be overwhelming.

Start by leading yourself well.  

Your success, your self-worth, and your future depend on it.

Click here for 10 great quotes on Self Leadership you can use to inspire yourself and your team.

Want support on your leadership journey? Checkout the new:

Leading Successful Change SPRINT Course

Four simple steps you can do at your own pace to solve big problems, overcome underperformance, and make rapid, reliable progress.