A few years ago, I spent three days with the UNBC Timberwolves Men’s Basketball team as part of their annual team-building retreat. One of my roles was to talk with the players about personal leadership.
Everyone knew someone with tremendous talent, but their life and career became a train wreck through one bad decision. It could be a professional athlete or a close friend.
But why did everything fall apart? Almost without exception, the mess can be traced back to poor personal leadership.
Our conversation at the retreat covered a range of topics, but the core revolved around these four elements of personal leadership (there are more, but we had time for just four):
Toughness
Integrity
Will
Decision-Making
Toughness is seen in how you respond to adversity.
Integrity is seen in how you live your life at all times and in all contexts.
Will is seen in how you progress toward your goals.
Decision-making is seen through the results of the actions that you take (or do not take).
Good personal leadership doesn’t just happen on its own. It takes wisdom, determination, follow-through, and often a trusted guide. Of the four elements I’ve identified, where are your strongest? Where are you weakest?
Let me leave you with two questions to ponder:
- If you could travel back in time and change one thing about your personal leadership, what would it be?
- If you could travel forward in time, what would you hope to see in your own personal leadership?
In terms of your own personal leadership, what next step do you need to commit to?
Share it with a trusted friend or mentor today, and embark on a journey of personal transformation!
