Self-leadership

The concept

The term self-leadership was introduced by Charles Manz (1983, 1986) to describe the process by which people influence their own motivation and behaviour. He distinguished behaviour-focused strategies (setting one's own goals, self-observation, self-reward), natural reward strategies (finding enjoyment in the task itself) and constructive thought strategies (working with beliefs and self-talk).

In Managing Oneself (HBR 1999) Peter Drucker wrote that in today's world everyone must ask: what are my strengths, how do I work, what are my values, where do I belong and what can I contribute.

Areas of self-leadership

• Purpose and values - knowing why one lives and serves (see the leader's vocation).
• Priorities and time - distinguishing the important from the urgent (see Eisenhower matrix). Stephen Covey's third habit: “Put first things first”.
• Energy - sleep, exercise, rest, boundaries (see leader ecology).
• Emotions - self-awareness and self-regulation (see emotional intelligence).
• Growth - continual learning, seeking feedback, a mentor.
• Spiritual discipline - prayer, examination of conscience, sacraments.

Self-leadership and character

Stephen Covey begins The 7 Habits with the “private victory” (habits 1-3: be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first), which precedes the “public victory” in relationships. For the Christian tradition this is obvious: Saint Paul writes of disciplining himself like an athlete, “lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:27). See the leader's character, cardinal virtues.

Personal development and “Work Life Balance” are separate modules of the Akademia Przywództwa postgraduate studies.