So much has been written about the qualities required in good leaders, but the question still remains – how does one get to that point?

In a room of 6 executives, the question was asked: “Who is the leader you most admire and what is the quality of that leader which stands out for you?” Interestingly, each person came up with a very different leader, each displaying a different quality. The only common thread was that each of the chosen leaders were authentic, comfortable with who they were and confident with what they could deliver.
There are many different styles of leaders and many different times and occasions which require different energies. The core of great leadership lies in personal development and this starts with seeking self-knowledge and awareness. It starts with some self-reflection:
• What are my greatest strengths and how can I utilise and build on these?
• How do I recognise my blind spots and emotional triggers?
• What is my worldview and how informed is it?
• What are my values and beliefs which I would never want to compromise?
• How do others see me?
• How would I like to show up in the world?
A good way to start a daily reflection is to consider what has taken place during the day/week.  What worked and should be done more often. What didn’t work and should be done differently in the future. A great way to reflect is to start a journal – just writing 3 pages a day can provide great insight into our way of being and answer many of the questions above. Some people find it easier to walk and reflect. The important thing is to find what works best and to start a reflective practice.