The Take Away

What: I have learned a great deal about myself and the personal attributes that make up my leadership abilities through the course of this class. Many of the things we learned were strengths (such as emotional intelligence, values, socializing, etc) I had not previously associated with leadership qualities. Rather, they were simply parts of my personality that made up the whole of who I am. However, I understand now that these functions contribute to my overall leadership and how I interact with others.

So What: In a society that is becoming more and more dependent on technology and virtual networking, interpersonal skills will become a greater asset to future leaders. Those who possess the ability to connect with people, to influence them positively, and to inspire others will rise to the top of any organization they become a part of. However, it is important to stop and take a personal inventory from time to time to remind yourself of your ‘True North’ and make sure you are staying true to yourself.

Now What: As a perfectionist, I strive to be the best in every arena I enter. I have found that this is feature becomes a strength and a weakness. However, one of the key things I learned in this class is that there is no such thing as “the perfect leader.” Each person possesses different qualities and strengths that they can utilize to be a leader.

My key take away is that I need to focus on strengths based leadership rather than focusing on my weaknesses. When I received the results of the Gallup Strengths Finders test I immediately wanted to know what my weaknesses were. Dr. Pracht stated in his lecture that if we had received those results, many of us would have focused on those instead of building on the strengths we do have. That concept was a huge wake up call for me! I realize that I need to apply this concept in every aspect of my life. I have contemplated this since we took that test and have come up with the following action steps to continue this strategy:

Understand What's Important to Me – Self-knowledge is one common goal that will help me achieve personal success. So many people are hung up on somebody else's idea of what it means to be successful, and they are unaware of what is truly important to them. This is why it is so important to find your own ‘True North. ’We all have important role models and influencers in our lives who may have basic values that are quite different from our own. If this is the case, it's important to recognize that the discrepancy between what we have been taught is truly important and what we personally believe to be truly important is due to a difference in perspective. If we spend our time and effort trying to meet somebody else's idea of success, and ignore or belittle any conflicting messages from our own psyche, then we will find ourselves exhausted and unhappy. Realizing what is truly important to us is a major step towards achieving personal success.

Strive for Balance – Balance is about how you live your life and manage your relationships, both personally and professionally, how in touch you are with your values and how you are walking the talk. When your life or business is out of balance, nothing feels right. Finding the right balance in your body, your mind, your life and your business will help you clarify your goals and propel you toward them. Finding this balance will always give you the ability to find your center. When life and work are balanced (when you are centered) you act from a position of strength, judgment and sensitivity — and you can withstand challenges and setbacks without being sent off course. When you find your center, you have confidence: leadership naturally evolves.