In personal leadership development, there are at least 10 concepts and skill sets that you need to master on the road to being a great personal leader.  Fortunately, all of these 10 concepts below are within your capacity right now.  It’s just a matter of how effective you are at using them and whether you will choose to elevate your efforts in making them important in your own life.

1. Master Those Emotions!

The energy in emotions (emotions) in our bodies has a role in that they teach us something.  When the emotion overrides our ability to respond with grace or to be in the wonder of the moment – they the energy in motion is present to teach us how to expand our capacity to feel and to embrace more fully. Emotions are here to teach us both to know what is, and to move us forward. Often this energy in motion is a by product of a thought that is too complex for our current state of awareness.    The skill set to master here is to learn how to expand your capacity to feel, how to choose what emotional state to be in (rather than just defaulting) and to have the flexibility and flow to use your emotions as a resource to move your forward, to inspire or do other great work at is in alignment with your values.

2. See the Future as Present

I thought a lot about making a point around seeing the future in the present – and I have decided this is a definite skill set of a personal leader.  Personal leaders take the view they see – and then use it to think beyond the present moment.  It’s one of the reasons they become thought leaders; this ability to see what others do not yet see and then share that vision.  In personal leadership development, it’s in seeing inward and then expressing from the awareness’s that come from that inward reflection.  The effectiveness that comes from seeing so well – is what you can learn from your own patterns and those around you – you can use for future effectiveness.

3. Create a hierarchy of your values and then choose to live by them

When we do not choose which values to live by consciously; we live “some values” by default.  They could be our parents’ values, values of our co-workers or values of our primary partners or relationships.  This is not a negative thing in itself  unless those values you are currently living by are not nurturing you. Consciously choosing which values are important and meaningful for you personally, will allow you align your own behaviours to them for greater fulfillment.

4. Get disciplined about your thinking

Mastering your emotions and getting disciplined about your thinking – are tied together.  Both are necessary to increase your level of development.  Getting disciplined about observing your thoughts – and even using key thoughts as replacement thoughts for old unresourceful thinking are two actions that are going to help your personal leadership development plan.

5. Learn something each and every day

The best lesson I was ever taught by a mentor – was to strive to take learning from every experience in a day and to recount it at the end of the day.   This orientation around learning and looking for learning has made a tremendous difference in my life – and I know it will in yours as well.  It’s leveraging this knowledge that will move you forward on your personal leadership development plan as fast as anything else.

6. Always look for ways to maximize your effectiveness

Being effective is a key measurable of your personal leadership success.  When you are effective – you are getting the results you desire – as well as maintaining elements of simplicity and joy.

7. Embrace abundant thinking and release any scarcity mindset from your noggin

The personal presence that comes from carrying out a personal leadership development plan – has a lot to do with having a mindset of  abundance.  So many masterful personal leadership skills have a level of abundance associated with them.
Key leadership traits like authenticity and courage too – are all rooted in an abundant mindset.   Scarcity thinking – creates fear and competition, neither of which is going to aid you to move forward with your plan.  In fact, scarcity thinking – will often just slow you down.

8. Find inspirational people to follow

Identifying inspirational people to follow does a lot of things for a personal leadership development plan.  It gives you a bar to measure your growth against – and these people who inspire you – will also give you the energy you need in times where you might struggle.  There is noting more inspirational that hearing exactly how someone you admire traversed a challenge.

9. Design your ultimate support system

Designing your environment is a key part of any personal leadership development plan.   People, places and things as well as structures and rituals are a key part of a plan that is built to support you on your  journey.  Identifying your ultimate support system will keep you moving even when you might be tempted to slow down.  We all need a little support sometime.

10. Get all your ducks in a row

Getting your ducks in a row is about creating a plan for your growth, creating a plan for measuring your behaviours – and having a system for addressing those things that go off track.  The bigger your desired outcome – the bigger your plan is going to be.   The number one mistake that most people make when goal setting in personal leadership – is keeping things too loosy-goosy.

Things are just too foggy.   So much better to be crystal clear about what you will see, do, and be and a clear definition of your self defined success. You can create a personal leadership development plan with the help of a trained leadership coach – or even
just begin by identifying small improvements you would like to make in your life.   Simply start or start simply.  Both will move you forward.