How to Ignite Fire

A Great post by Dan Rockwell.

The first job of leadership is catching a glimpse of who you are. Leaders who don’t know who they are end up defined by others and pushed around by position or title.

Don’t lose yourself.

Don’t get your hopes up. There’s no quick and easy way to figure out who you are. There’s no shortcut or conclusion either.

Freedom:

When you know and accept who you are:

1. Jobs don’t define you.
2. Arrogance doesn’t blind you.
3. Expectations from others don’t master you.

Through the fog:

Glimpses of the real you appear in the fog when you reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, joys, and frustrations.

Self-reflection:

Skills, strategies, and methods are machines punching out widgets until “you” bring them to life.
I found a three step self-reflection exercise in, “Lead Positive,” to help you find fire.

Step 1:
Complete this sentence, “When I am at my best, I am a leader who is ________.”

Now, complete the sentence four more times.

Step 2:
Complete, “If I were an even more effective leader, I would be ________.”

Other-reflection:

You’re blind to who you really are. Others help you see. That’s why you need step three.

Step 3:
Ask one or two of your colleagues to reflect on you and complete steps one and two with you in mind.

When (your name) is at his/her best, he/she is a leader who is ________.

If (your name) were an even more effective leader, he/she would be ________.

Fire:

Fire ignites when you bringing your true self to challenges and opportunities. Boredom dominates when you lose yourself to position, expediency, and expectation.

Leaders who bring themselves to challenges and opportunities engage in effortless effort.