Practice self-awareness, self-evaluation, and self-improvement. If we are aware that our manners - language, behavior, and actions - are measured against our values and principles, we are able to more easily embody the philosophy, leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do.
Interpretation
Self-awareness and evaluation help us align our actions with our values, which is essential for effective leadership.
This quote emphasizes that true leadership is not just about actions or tasks but fundamentally about being a person of good character, guided by self-awareness and the principles one values. Frances Hesselbein suggests that by evaluating our manners and behavior against our personal values, we can improve ourselves and better embody the essence of effective leadership.
In practice
During a leadership training workshop, this quote can inspire participants to focus on self-awareness in their leadership roles.
When people are speaking, they require our undivided attention. We focus on them; we listen very carefully. We listen to the spoken words and the unspoken messages. This means looking directly at the person, eyes connected; we forget we have a watch, just focusing for that moment on that person.
It takes courage for a leader to identify and confront self-imposed barriers, to put in place the personal strategies required to unleash the energy, innovation, and commitment to self-development.
Women are working for part or all of their adult lives now. The possibilities are limitless, but you need to prepare.
The real leader redefines or defines the mission in a very powerful way so that people understand it; it permeates the organization.
Leadership is not a basket of tricks or strategies or skills that you pull out. Leadership begins with the quality of the person.
Social-sector organizations have to be better managed than for-profit organizations... because they have no margin of error.
Because management deals mostly with the status quo and leadership deals mostly with change, in the next century we are going to have to try to become much more skilled at creating leaders.
We have to help others. I hope that some of the young players today understand that. It's not about them. The Man Upstairs gave them that ability to play, and play consistently, but he also wants them to open their hearts and understand that people need their help.
I am convinced that the best service a retired general can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit and to mothball his opinions.
If more women are in leadership roles, we'll stop assuming they shouldn't be.
Next generation leaders are those who would rather challenge what needs to change and pay the price than remain silent and die on the inside
Remember that mentor leadership is all about serving.
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