The Only Thing You Control Is You
Management vs Leadership
Google “define: management” and the following definition is returned:
The process of dealing with or controlling things or people. “The management of elk herds.”
People are not elk herds. Often, we feel like we are “dealing with” people. Humans can be a pain sometimes, for sure, but neither “dealing with” or “controlling” them seem like acceptable options if we’re looking to bring out their best.
This definition makes it clear that management is for things, not people.
Baton Pass believes leadership is the “killer app” of IT Management skills. When leadership is properly developed, everything else falls into place.
Leadership development, however, is not a strict template that works exactly the same way for every person. Each will have unique strengths, weaknesses, and challenges along the way, so it is incredibly important that leaders acquire a mentor, the right mindset, and customizable methods that fit their situation and goals.
Who Can You Control?
The answer is obvious - YOU.
You are the only person you can control.
Great leaders refrain from trying to control other people, but they exert a high level of control over themselves. In other words, they are incredibly disciplined. In fact, it’s this self discipline that often draws others to want to follow them.
Simply by exerting control over the one thing you actually can control, you take your largest step toward becoming a recognized and sought after leader.
How Do You Control Yourself?
The best way to create the momentum of capability and confidence necessary to effectively lead others is to create a vision for, and exert control over, something small in your own life. It’s important that the thing you work on makes life better for you, even if it’s in a tiny way.
Sometimes, people are able to get promoted into great positions or have some of the trappings of success in life while their personal life and habits are a mess. It’s unlikely, however, that people in this situation are truly effective leaders, and they are never impacting the environment or the people around them at their highest ability.
Here are the personal practices most highly successful leaders have mastered that display their discipline and magnetize others toward their leadership:
Personal Goal Setting and Vision
Productivity Management
Spiritual Needs
Sleep
Fuel (Food, Water, Vitamins)
Exercise
Focus Training (a Non-Spiritual Form of Meditation)
Reading
Listening
These are the items we help our IT Leadership Mentees integrate into their lives in the first module of our online curriculum.
Module 1 is a life-changer.