As a leader, I need you to pay a considerable amount of time to mindfulness and being self-aware. The reason this is so important is because I want you to take personal inventory of your strengths and weaknesses...then move 100% in the direction of your strengths. Therefore, because strength recognition is so important in leadership (and life in general), we need to take a quick look at the keys to developing this skill:
1. Commit to Being 100% Accountable
- Once you make the decision to chase after your strengths, you're going to need to take a little personal inventory. This can be difficult, but you need to be honest with yourself and really dive deep assessing your strengths and weaknesses. If you have difficulty evaluating these traits, ask those who know you best to give you real and honest feedback. They need to be unafraid to hurt your feelings at this point...it's vital that you know the truth.
2. Decide to Bet on Yourself
- Now that you have a working list of strengths and weaknesses, you need to throw the liabilities out with the trash. The areas that you struggle no longer get to define you! It's time to bet on yourself, and that means moving completely in the direction of your strengths! Life is short, and the struggle for your attention is real...quit giving your shortcomings any more than it deserves.
3. Passion Overcomes Intent
- We all have good intentions. Unfortunately, intentions don't amount to much in life and success. There is an intersection between our strengths and our passions that is the sweet spot of success. Becoming self-aware gives us the opportunity to chase after that intersection, but you have to be willing to go after it. Make the first step today towards action...dreaming without action is debilitating.
4. Pay the Price
- Self-awareness as a leader means understanding that sacrifice is not only inevitable but beneficial. Leaders must go first, because you can't lead someone where you've never been. But if you're leading in the capacity of your strengths and your passions, it will not always be easy...but it will always be worth it. If you believe in the purpose, you'll pay the price without hesitation.
There is a reason why meditation is such a common thread among top leaders and successful entrepreneurs. There must be a decompression mode where we can take personal inventory of who we are and properly align our purpose and passion. This will probably look different for everyone, and you need to find your own variation of your quiet time, but make it a priority in your life.
God made you for a specific purpose...He's never made a mistake or an accident. Your growth in self-awareness and dependence on Him will help you find that intersection of strength and passion that He designed you for. I pray that you're going to drop that weakness...pick up your strengths...and start walking down that path today.
-ABB