More now than ever, as Monique Valcour puts it, "leading well requires a continuous journey of personal development."
In other words, successful leaders choose a willingness to take the time to engage in regular self-reflection to increase self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and to deepen relational empathy (other-awareness). Prioritizing what I call "strategic stops" for the purpose of engaging in these vital personal development practices.
Leaders can no longer isolate themselves in the "corner office." They cannot delegate reflection, thinking, and relationships. They must get to know themselves and their people,
what motivates them,
what their strengths are,
what their personalities and temperaments are,
what their hopes and dreams are,
what their backgrounds are and how that shapes their present experience.
Success in today's world is determined more than ever before by how well a leader works with and interacts with self and others.
The true joys and impacts of leadership come when we "leave the airport bar" and embrace the wonders, diversity, and multi-dimensional world that we "flew to" when we said "yes" to being a leader.
