The Lead Yourself First Blog

  What does “idealized influence” mean? And why is this important for leaders? Leaders play a significant role in the lives of their workforce. Transformational leaders can affect the trajectory of an individual’s professional and personal life. There are many people who have profoundly influenced my thinking and decision-making throughout my career and personal history. […]

  As I work with leaders from organizations in the corporate world, small businesses, associations and all levels of government, what I consistently see is a collective desire to respond to on-going change and disruption with less struggle and anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated their concerns as they scramble to adapt to the unexpected […]

  Are you are leader who is comfortable taking risks, making decisions and keeping your ego in check? Great leaders possess the ability to harness these attributes at the appropriate time. Of course, not all decisions have equal weight or quality. The same is true in an array of circumstances that require leaders to evaluate […]

  By definition, inspirational motivation involves two key components. First, a leader must be clear about his or her vision. Secondly, a leader needs to express his or her vision in a manner that excites and drives higher levels of performance.  Over the course of my career, many leaders have asked “How do I inspire […]

  Reputation management has become increasingly important in the social media age. This pertains to the reputation of individual leaders as well as corporations. What does your workforce say about your brand and your business? Are you able to effectively leverage goodwill that you have worked to establish with customers and staff? These are key […]

  If you have experienced self-doubt, or too many occasions where you have allowed the negative voices to take over and limit your innovative potential, you can likely recall how those thoughts made you question your abilities…sending you on a downward spiral. Self-belief is the reverse of self-doubt.  As cliched as it may sound, we […]

  Transformational leaders possess the gift of finding solutions to complex problems by entertaining new ideas…and acting upon them. These leaders welcome innovative thinking and recognize the benefits of tapping into the brilliance of employees at any level of an organization, encouraging individuals to hone an entrepreneurial mindset. Above all else, transformational leaders clearly understand […]

How would you describe some of the greatest leaders you have met or worked with? What were the traits you admired the most? If your aspirations include honing your leadership capabilities, it is likely that leaders from your immediate or distant past have left an indelible impression. I can still vividly recall my first encounter […]

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting every aspect of life and business at unprecedented levels. Thousands of people have died, many hundreds of thousands have contracted the virus and potentially millions may already have either been in contact with an infected person but have yet to be diagnosed. Individuals in all walks of life are seeking […]

If you have had experience working with a leader who genuinely gets to know his or her people, sets the standard and follows through in his or her communication, you have indeed been fortunate. Empirical research in many sectors of industry confirms that consistent actions and behaviours on the part of leaders earn the respect […]