Three Minute Leadership: Going Beyond Yourself
To: The Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning
A recent Leadership Wired Blog, Traveling to Infinity and Beyond Means Leaving Self-Centeredness Behind, provides a beautiful and profound insight into how great leaders grow: “Reaching new levels of influence requires self-transcendence, or living beyond yourself.” Here are their thoughts on what “going beyond yourself” means.
1) Seeing Beyond Yourself – People who fail to “see beyond themselves” are usually selfish, insecure, or both. They’re hyper-focused on personal advancement, persuaded the world owes them a living, and convinced that they are indispensable to the fortunes of their team. They stand in sharp contrast to leaders who seek to understand the diverse perspectives of others, see the needs of people around them, and realize that success means sowing seeds that benefit others.
2) Growing Beyond Yourself – Growing beyond your present capacities starts by discovering your purpose, clarifying your priorities, and getting passionate about life. It continues by learning from others who can do more than you can do.
3) Giving Beyond Yourself – Our leadership takes off when, instead of recruiting people to our cause, we invest ourselves in their development. We have to give to others before we can expect to reap their support.
4) Gathering Beyond Yourself – Leaders don’t necessarily gather the people they want; they attract the people most like themselves. To surround yourself with great people, you need to work at becoming a great person. Self-development precedes team formation.
Arthur C. Clarke wrote: “The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible.” There is so much yet to be discovered in each of us on our magnificent journey – gifts, treasures, dreams and possibilities that can change the world. We have only to reach, to see, to grow, to give and to gather beyond ourselves to find them, and more… so much more. It is in your hands, in each choice and in each decision. Life is so very good.
Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!
Mike
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