A couple of weeks ago, I was able to spend three days with the UNBC Timberwolves Men’s Basketball team as part of their annual team-building retreat (the retreat, by the way, was a great way to set the tone and expectations for the season – I think the team is going to have a very good year!).
One of my roles was to talk with the guys about personal leadership.
Every one of us knows someone (either personally or through the media) who had tremendous talent, but through one (and often more) bad decisions, their life and career became a train wreck. Why? Almost without exception, the mess can be traced back to poor personal leadership.
Our talk at the retreat covered a range of topics, but the core revolved around these four elements of personal leadership (there are more, but we had time for just four):
- Toughness
- Integrity
- Will
- Decision-Making
Toughness is seen in how you respond to adversity. Integrity is seen in how you live your life at all times and in all contexts. Will is seen in how you progress toward your goals. Decision-making is seen through the results of the actions that you take (or do not take).
Good personal leadership doesn’t just happen on its own. It takes wisdom, determination, and often a trusted guide. Let me leave you with two questions to ponder:
- If you could travel back in time and change one thing about your personal leadership, what would it be?
- If you could travel forward in time, what would you hope to see in your own personal leadership?
In terms of your own personal leadership, what next step do you need to commit to? Share it with a trusted friend or mentor, and embark on a journey of personal transformation!
Mark
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