You Have to Lead Yourself Before You Can Lead Others — How to Master the Art of Self-Leadership As entrepreneurs, we can get lost in the demands of the business and need to remember to take care of ourselves. However, self-care is crucial in self-leadership. When business leaders don't practice self-care, they become overwhelmed and burnt out, which means a decrease in productivity, creativity, and overall happiness.
By Roland Polzin Edited by Micah Zimmerman
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Self-leadership is about more than just being able to lead yourself. It involves taking care of yourself to optimize your personal and professional life, recognizing personal values and aligning them with business goals, organizing yourself, and being your best self.
Entrepreneurs are constantly on the go. Since we work long hours, we can get lost in the demands of the business and need to remember to take care of ourselves. However, self-care is crucial in self-leadership. When business leaders don't practice self-care, they become overwhelmed and burnt out, which means a decrease in productivity, creativity, and overall happiness.
Related: Why Self-Leadership is Essential to Your Success
Know yourself and your purpose
Becoming aware of your thoughts and emotions can be challenging, but with practice, it becomes easier. Meditation and journaling are tried and tested ways of becoming self-aware. By practicing meditation and writing down your thoughts, you can learn to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment, leading to greater self-awareness and insights into your behavior.
Once you have identified your values and purpose, you can align them with your business goals. This alignment leads to greater fulfillment and success in personal and professional life.
Related: 6 Ways Self-Leadership Can Help You Take Control of Your Life and Business
Take care of yourself
Leaders and entrepreneurs prioritizing their physical and mental health can perform at their best and lead more effectively. Self-care is not a luxury. Leaders and entrepreneurs who prioritize self-care set an example for their team and create a culture of well-being. Moreover, taking care of yourself leads to greater productivity, creativity, and resilience, allowing you to perform at your best.
When you ride a plane, one of the safety instructions is always "put your mask on first before helping others." The same is true in business. Leaders and entrepreneurs prioritizing their physical and mental health can better serve their teams and customers. Physical fitness means higher energy levels, reduced risk of illness, and better stress regulation. Regular exercise, healthy eating, and adequate rest are the foundations of being physically fit.
Mental well-being is just as important as physical health. Leaders and entrepreneurs prioritizing mental health can better manage stress, think more clearly, and make better decisions.
There are many strategies for self-care, and it is essential to find what works best for you. For one, there are plenty of ways to keep fit — you can participate in team sports, lift weights at the gym or walk for a few miles during the day.
Healthy eating — planning meals and eating whole foods — is equally essential in keeping yourself healthy. Finally, getting enough sleep and scheduled downtime can help your stress management.
Stress is a part of life, and chronic stress can lead to burnout. Fortunately, business leaders prioritizing stress management can prevent burnout and maintain well-being.
Related: How Self-Leadership Can Help Move The Needle Forward On Your Vision And Goals
Organize yourself
Organized leaders manage their time effectively, prioritize tasks and make better decisions. By being organized, we set an example for our teams and create a culture of efficiency and effectiveness.
Setting goals can help you stay focused and motivated. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Once you have goals, you can create a schedule that helps you accomplish all your weekly tasks.
Prioritization is crucial for managing time effectively. You can prioritize tasks by assessing the urgency and importance of each task, delegating tasks when possible, and breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable ones. Creating a schedule can help you manage your time effectively and avoid procrastination. You can create a schedule by blocking time for specific tasks, breaks, and even your leisure time.
Avoiding distractions is also vital. Distractions can derail productivity and waste time. You can prevent distractions by turning off notifications, setting aside time for specific tasks, and utilizing productivity tools like the Pomodoro technique.
Be your best self
Being your best self is a critical aspect of self-leadership. Leaders and entrepreneurs who strive to be their best selves can create a positive work environment, build strong relationships with their teams, and achieve their goals. Effective self-leaders possess certain qualities, like punctuality, honesty, openness, and consistency. These qualities are essential for developing a high-trust relationship with teams since they make you predictable as a leader: Being punctual demonstrates respect for others' time and shows a commitment to professionalism. Meanwhile, honesty and openness will prove that you have no hidden agenda and everyone is on the same page. Finally, consistency in behavior and decision-making builds a stable work environment without negative surprises.
Finally, supporting team members can create a culture of positivity and productivity. Leaders and entrepreneurs should provide resources, guidance, and feedback to team members when necessary. This goes both ways, though—building a support system of mentors, peers, and friends provides a positive feedback loop of guidance, motivation, and continuous learning.
Self-leadership is a habit
Self-leadership is not a one-off activity but a habit needing consistent practice. It is also crucial for optimizing your personal and professional life. Practicing self-care, knowing yourself and your purpose, organizing yourself, and being your best self are all essential components of self-leadership. By making self-leadership a habit, leaders and entrepreneurs can increase their productivity, creativity, and overall happiness, leading to more success in their personal and professional lives.
