A bit of leadership philosophy
Personal mastery is a discipline of continually clarifying and deepening our personal vision, of focusing our energies, of developing patience, and of seeing reality objectively." - Peter Senge (MIT system thinking guru who had a big influence in the field of learning organizations)
Mastering Personal Leadership is a crucial skill in life that has to do with how well we manage our inner environment under ever-changing (and often volatile industry) circumstances. It is therefore about learning skills to effectively deal with questions such as
- How can I live and integrate my values more effectively in my day to day life?
- How do I successfully transition into the distributed economy?
- How can I become more resilient and flexible with so many demands and priorities and constant pressure in my life?
- How can I bounce back from set-backs and failure?
- How can I stay calm and focused especially during times of intense stress?
- How do I identify burn-out, recover from it and prevent it in the future?
- How can I live a life where I flourish and thrive?
The importance and benefits of cultivating personal leadership
“Philosophy may begin in wonder and eventuate in understanding, or even, in a few instances, in wisdom, but along the way it involves a good deal of strenuous activity. This activity generally takes the form of dialogue.”
"Although it seems that people all over the world are very different, with very different values and practicing many different customs, we have discovered that our inner lives are subject to common sets of "laws" of human nature.
Each of us can tap into these laws to improve our lives. And by understanding what makes us all tick from the inside, and how we respond to things that happen from the outside, we can learn to connect better with ourselves and with other people - irrespective of whether we speak their language, practice their customs, or operate within their material conditions.
Great leaders across and time and cultures have tapped these same universal "laws" in shaping their journeys, in inspiring people of diverse backgrounds who have chosen to follow them, and even in winning over their enemies.
Personal leadership is for all moments. You do not need to wait for a special opportunity to be your whole self. You can operate as your best self in all moments, from the epic to the everyday mundane, such as taking the trash outside.
We sometimes assume that we lead others only when we have been given formal authority and resources to lead. In fact, life is inviting us to maximize our positive impact on people within whatever sphere of influence we have - small or large, formal or informal. In the decentralized world you lead by not waiting for permission, but by taking a stand for something that matters to many others.
The journey to greatness in life and leadership begins by seeking to operate at one's best, and then seeking to help others within our sphere of impact to operate at their best in all moments too.
The more we practice Personal and People Leadership in everyday moments, the more we prepare ourselves and others to shine in epic moments."
Extract from: The Principles of Personal and People Leadership, published by the Institute for Personal Leadership (June, 2013) with small changed by MaRi Eagar
Reflection/Contemplation
- What is your personal motivation for being a role model for personal leadership in the crypto and blockchain generation?
- Think about someone you admire. List five characteristics that make this person a credible role model for personal leadership?
Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.
-- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Practice: Technologies of Mind:
Watch and listen to Wes Cecil's Forgotten Thinkers: Goethe (A one hour edu-taining lecture on the life, thought and influence of Goethe. Presented at Peninsula College.