I make it a habit to read constantly about what others are saying about leadership. I read historical documents and also what current thought leaders are writing. I make notes, blog my thoughts, and create processes to teach, based on concepts I develop because my own thinking is stimulated. Sometimes what I create is not related to the thought that inspired the creation. It’s not a linear process. We learn from everyone and from every engagement. We learn especially helpful things by observing our own journey.
Here are my processes for learning from myself – we all then become our own best leadership trainers:
Read your goals daily – Develop a leadership notebook and create a place to store your written goals.
Keep a journal – In your leadership notebook, create a journal tab. Reflect on your day and make summary notes. You can use a tool such as Evernote.
Record key thoughts daily – Make it a discipline to record your thoughts daily without exception. Don’t be lengthy. Create short summary statements that are easy to write and review. Record the key revelations.
Review weekly/monthly – Develop a routine of reviewing what you have written at the end of each week and at the end of each month. You are likely to be amazed at your own progress – or lack of progress. Either way, you gain clarity that is priceless.
You are your own best teacher – Be open and vulnerable, as well as honest. Write to yourself. Acknowledge your own shortcomings, as well as your victories. Be open to what you are seeing.
Don’t write a lot of stuff – Just jot down the key points – that’s it.
Record what’s important – You don’t really know what is important and what’s not. Just write what you think is important. You can cross it off or edit it later.
Set aside 15 minutes daily to write – The key concept is to calendar this item. Put down a time on your calendar to do this, or it will not happen.
Set aside 30 minutes on Friday to review and record – This extended time will help you define your overall journey, as well as the incremental steps.
Be faithful and think results – Faithful is showing up. Results is a mindset and focus.
Read your goals daily – I said this earlier. It warrants repeating. Be in touch with your passion for the goal. That makes it work.
That’s my routine. What’s yours?
Review my posts on what I learned from other leaders:
Lessons from Other Leaders:
Hugh Ballou
The Transformational Leadership Strategist
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(c) 2012 Hugh Ballou. All rights reserved.