Be the Best Leader You Can Be

Be the best leader you can be.

Isn’t that what you want to be?

Shouldn’t that be what every leader wants to be?

I know that is what your team wants you to be.

And I think they deserve that.

But I also think you owe it to yourself.

So how can you be the best leader you can be?

I’m a firm believer in the following: you can only be the best leader you can be if you know yourself well and you are aware of how you influence those around you.

So this is a two-pronged approach: knowing yourself and being aware of those around you. And we’ll start with knowing yourself first.

What do you know about yourself? What do you love to do? What gives you energy? What are you doing when you lose yourself and you forget time? Where do you find your flow?

Let’s start with writing this all down.

This is your path to knowing what you need to be at your best.

This is probably a multi-day exercise so start with what immediately comes to mind. Then over the next few days add anything that comes to mind—think of things that are both tangible and intangible. For example, you might identify financial security as well as knowing your boss has your back. You might also talk with your friends, family and colleagues because they will likely know when you are at your best or they will share other information with you which will help lead to finding your best.

When you are aware of these things, you will begin to make better decisions for yourself and you will be able to be at your best more often than not.

Doesn’t that sound like a much better place to be?

For me, I have my own list which is refined every once in a while...because we are not completely static. This list is like my anchor -- it keeps me grounded when I am making decisions. And my life is significantly better because of that.

There is something about being intentional here. We can intentionally create the kind of world where we can be at our best… for ourselves and for everyone around us.

And for me, this is leadership in black and white.

Photo: Tammy Brimner/TLBVelo Photography