360 Degree Leadership Part 1 Lead Yourself First

Today I had the great opportunity to spend the day learning about leadership at the offices of GiANT IMPACT in Atlanta, GA. The course was based on John Maxwell’s book 360 Degree Leadership.

Over the next couple of days I will relate some of the key things we learned during today’s course.

Our class had a great time learning from our instructor and one another today. I especially enjoyed the interactive approach the course uses to drive home the principles being taught throughout the day.

During the course you learn how to:

Lead Up

Lead Across

Lead Down

Introduction:

Lead Yourself First!

• Regardless of your position in your organization you can learn to lead.

• Leadership=Influence, nothing more, nothing less.

Some the greatest misconceptions about leadership come from misunderstandings of what leadership actually is. Many think leadership is a position or title; others think leadership is dictatorship; still others think that leadership is a trait you must be born with. Leadership is influence, and everyone can influence and learn how to become influential.

Leadership Myths:

1. The Position Myth: I can’t lead if I am not at the top.

2. The Destination Myth: When I get to the top the I’ll learn to lead.

3. The Influence Myth: If I were on top, then people would follow me.

4. The Inexperience Myth: When I get to the top, I’ll be in control. Then things will be better.

5. The Freedom Myth: When I get to the top, I’ll no longer be limited.

6. The Potential Myth: I can’t reach my potential if I’m not the top leader.

7. The All-or-Nothing Myth: If I can’t get to the top, then I won’t try to lead.

The Five Levels of Leadership

Level 1-Position (Rights): People follow you because they have to.

Level 2-Permission (Relationships): People follow you because they want to.

Level 3-Production (Results): People follow because of what you have done for the organization.

Level 4-People Development (Reproduction): People follow because of what you have done for them.

Level 5-Personhood (Respect): People follow because of who you are and what you represent.

You must first lead yourself well!

• Manage your emotions

Good leaders know when to display emotions and when to delay them. You should not express your emotions for you own gratification. You should only share your emotions when it uplifts and benefits your team’s performance. Most of us display wrong emotions when angry, upset or frustrated.

If you fail to manage your emotions your people will fall back from you!

• Manage your time

People in the middle have the biggest challenge managing their time. They often don’t have someone to delegate things off to and they end up carrying a load that it tough to manage effectively.

• Manage your priorities

80% of your time-Work where you are strongest.

15% of your time-Work where you are learning.

5% of your time-Work in other necessary areas.

• Manage your energy

The ABCs of energy Drain

Activity without direction-doing things that don’t seem to matter.

Burden without action-Not being able to do things that really matter.

Conflict without resolution-Not being able to deal with what’s the matter.

• Manage your personal life

Success is having those closest to me love and respect me the most.

• Manage your thinking

A minute of thinking is often more valuable than an hour of talk or unplanned work.

• Manage your words

If you have something worthwhile to say, say it briefly and well.

If you don’t, sometimes the best thing to do is remain silent.

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