LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE - Part 1: Personal Development and Leadership

BRE Breakthrough Elite Agent Insider/Leadership/LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE - Part 1: Personal Development and Leadership

Wednesday, May 08, 2024

Are you ready to take your leadership game to the next level? It all starts with you and your personal development. Investing in yourself is not only essential for your own growth but also for inspiring your team to greatness.

John Maxwell, the guru of leadership, emphasizes the importance of leading yourself first in his book "Developing the Leader Within You." By developing self-awareness, exercising self-discipline, and committing to personal growth, you become a better leader and a role model for others.

But, it's not just about reading books and attending seminars. It's about applying what you learn in your daily life. Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" highlights the importance of taking proactive steps to improve yourself, rather than waiting for others to change.

Personal development is a continuous journey that requires dedication and commitment. It's about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, embracing challenges, and learning from your mistakes. When you invest in yourself, you set the tone for your team to do the same.

Here are some practical strategies for personal development as a leader:

Self-reflect:

It's time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and identify areas where you can improve. But, let's be honest, it's not always easy to see our blind spots. That's where a coach can be an invaluable partner, helping us gain clarity and honesty with ourselves.

  • To cultivate a regular practice of self-reflection, it's important to schedule time for it in your calendar. This could be as simple as setting aside a few minutes each day or dedicating a longer block of time each week or month. By committing to this time, you prioritize your personal growth and hold yourself accountable for making progress.
  • ​To guide your self-reflection, develop a set of questions to ask yourself. Be honest and open to constructive feedback. Examples of questions could include: What went well today? What could I have done differently? What did I learn from this experience? These questions help you identify patterns in your behavior and track your progress over time.

  • Consider keeping a journal to record your thoughts and reflections. Writing down your insights and observations can help you gain clarity and hold yourself accountable for making changes. By making self-reflection a regular habit, you'll be on your way to unlocking your full potential and becoming the best version of yourself. Remember, it's never too late to start your personal growth journey!

Set goals:

  • Start by setting specific goals and creating a growth plan to achieve them. But, before you dive into goal-setting, take a step back to align your goals with your vision and purpose. As a leader, what do you want to achieve? What's your ultimate goal? Having clarity on your vision and purpose will help you set meaningful and achievable goals that will truly inspire you.
  • ​But, setting big goals can be overwhelming. That's why it's essential to break them down into smaller, achievable steps. This will help you stay motivated and focused, and allow you to track your progress over time. With each step you take, you'll build momentum and gain confidence in your ability to achieve your goals.​
  • Finally, share your goals with others. By sharing your goals with a mentor, colleague, or trusted friend, you'll hold yourself accountable for making progress. Plus, you'll receive valuable feedback and support that can help you stay on track and overcome any challenges that come your way.

Seek feedback:

  • ​Start by seeking input from other top team leaders. By learning from others' experiences and approaches, you can identify areas for improvement in your own leadership style. But, before you start asking for feedback, create a safe and supportive environment for open and honest communication. Emphasize the importance of feedback and encourage others to be constructive in their feedback. And, be open to receiving feedback yourself.
  • ​When asking for feedback, be specific about what you're looking for. For example, you may ask for feedback on your communication skills, delegation abilities, or problem-solving approach. This will help you receive more focused and actionable feedback that you can use to make specific changes and improvements.
  • ​Finally, take action on the feedback you receive. Use it as a guide to make changes and improve your leadership approach. By implementing specific changes, you'll continue to grow and develop as a leader.

Remember, personal development is a continuous journey. By seeking input from others, creating a safe and supportive environment for feedback, and taking action on that feedback, you'll become a more effective and inspiring leader.

Seek out diverse perspectives:

Start by seeking out diverse perspectives from people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. But, how do you do that? Here are some ways:

  • ​Join a professional association or networking group that includes people from different industries, cultures, or backgrounds. By attending events and meeting new people, you'll gain new perspectives and insights that you can use to improve your leadership approach.
  • ​Attend conferences or events that focus on topics related to leadership, diversity, and inclusion. These events offer opportunities to hear from speakers with different perspectives, attend workshops, and engage in discussions with other attendees.
  • ​Invite other team leaders and brokers to share their insights and perspectives. By doing so, you'll gain new insights into their work and ways of thinking.
  • Learn from successful leaders. There's much to be learned from the experiences and insights of successful leaders. Consider reading biographies or memoirs of successful leaders in or out of the real estate industry. Listen to podcasts or interviews with successful leaders to learn about their approaches and strategies. Attend speaking engagements or workshops led by successful leaders.

Remember, seeking out diverse perspectives and learning from successful leaders is a key to personal growth and development as a leader.

Develop a mentorship or coaching relationship:

Are you looking for a valuable way to gain insights and guidance to enhance your leadership skills? Consider learning from a mentor or coach who has experience in your field.

  • ​Seek out a mentor or coach who has experience in our industry. Look for someone who has achieved success in areas where you want to grow or who has overcome challenges similar to yours.​
  • ​Establish regular meetings or check-ins with your mentor or coach to discuss your goals, progress, and challenges. Use this time to ask for feedback and guidance on specific issues you're facing, and to seek their insights on how to improve your leadership approach.​
  • ​​Be open to feedback and guidance from your mentor or coach, and use this feedback to make specific changes and improvements in your leadership approach. Remember that feedback is a gift, and by being receptive to it, you'll accelerate your growth and development as a leader.​
  • Learning from a mentor or coach is a valuable way to gain insights and guidance and accelerate your personal growth and development. So, don't hesitate to seek out a mentor or coach who can help you become the best leader you can be!

By taking responsibility for your own personal development, you can become a more effective and even inspiring leader.

Book Summary of "Developing The Leader Within You" by John C. Maxwell

Are you feeling inspired to take your leadership abilities to the next level? "Developing the Leader Within You" by John C. Maxwell is a book that is designed to help you do just that. This powerful book is packed with practical tips, inspiring stories, and proven strategies that can help you cultivate the leadership skills that are necessary for success in any context.

Maxwell's approach to leadership is grounded in the belief that everyone has the potential to be a great leader. As he writes, "Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another." With this powerful insight, you'll learn that leadership is not reserved for the few, but rather is a skill that can be cultivated by anyone who is willing to put in the work.

One of the key themes in "Developing the Leader Within You" is the importance of personal growth and self-awareness. Maxwell emphasizes that, "The first person you lead is yourself. The only person you can change is yourself." By gaining a deep understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses, you'll be empowered to lead with confidence and conviction.

Throughout the book, Maxwell provides practical guidance on how to develop essential leadership qualities such as integrity, vision, and communication skills. He also offers inspiring stories of leaders who have achieved success in a wide range of contexts, showing how these principles can be applied to any situation.

One of the most powerful sections of the book is on handling challenges and crises. As Maxwell notes, "The true test of leadership is how well you function in a crisis." With his guidance, you'll learn how to handle setbacks, overcome fear, and lead with grace and strength when it matters most.

​​With "Developing the Leader Within You" as your guide, you'll be equipped to set goals, create a vision for the future, and build positive relationships and cultures within your organization. As Maxwell writes, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." With the insights and strategies in this book, you'll be well on your way to becoming the kind of leader that inspires and motivates those around you.

Book Summary of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey is a groundbreaking self-help book that has transformed the lives of millions of people around the world. The book is based on Covey's belief that true success and fulfillment can only be achieved by developing a set of habits that are grounded in principles of fairness, integrity, and compassion.

The first habit, according to Covey, is to be proactive. This means taking responsibility for your own life and choices, and focusing on what you can control rather than what you can't. As Covey writes, "You are the programmer of your own mind, and no one else can take that responsibility from you."

The second habit is to begin with the end in mind. This means having a clear sense of purpose and direction, and aligning your actions with your goals and values. As Covey notes, "The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."

The third habit is to put first things first. This means prioritizing your time and energy based on what is most important to you, rather than getting bogged down in trivial tasks or distractions. Covey emphasizes the importance of focusing on what he calls "important but not urgent" tasks, which are often the ones that have the greatest long-term impact.

The fourth habit is to think win-win. This means approaching relationships and interactions with others in a way that is mutually beneficial and respectful. As Covey writes, "Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions."

The fifth habit is to seek first to understand, then to be understood. This means listening actively and empathetically to others, and seeking to understand their perspectives and needs before seeking to make yourself understood. As Covey notes, "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply."

The sixth habit is to synergize. This means collaborating with others to create something greater than what any individual could achieve alone. As Covey writes, "Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people."

The seventh and final habit is to sharpen the saw. This means taking care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, in order to maintain your energy, focus, and creativity over the long term. As Covey notes, "You have to keep your vision clear, or you're going to get lost in the jungle of life."

​​Overall, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is a timeless classic that offers practical guidance for anyone seeking to live a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Covey's insights and strategies have helped countless people achieve success in their personal and professional lives, and his message of principle-centered living continues to resonate with readers today.

Ready to learn more?  Schedule a 10-15 minute Zoom call with one of our Elite Agent Advisors to discuss your business, your goals, and your future, and see if the Breakthrough RE Elite Agent Adacemy is Right for you.

Ready to learn more?  Schedule a 10-15 minute Zoom call with one of our Elite Agent Advisors to discuss your business, your goals, and your future, and see if the Breakthrough RE Elite Agent Adacemy is Right for you.

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©️ 2024 Finley-RE: Coaching and Consulting | All Rights Reserved
1156 South Centennial Blvd, Suite B101
Snowflake, AZ 85937
Need help? CLICK HERE  to contact us.

All content, including but not limited to videos, tools, downloads, and any other materials shared within Breakthrough-RE Elite Agent Academy, a division of Finley-RE: Coaching and Consulting, is protected by copyright law. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Finley-RE: Coaching and Consulting. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of any materials from Breakthrough-RE Elite Agent Academy is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.