I think about leadership a lot. a whole lot. One reason is I am a leader. Another reason is I am passionate about leadership. I firmly believe that teams, groups and organizations rise and fall on leadership. Admitting that fact is why I am so passionate about this lifestyle, we call leadership. I am passionate because I believe every team, group or organization deserves capable and competent leadership. I believe that the stronger the individual leader, the stronger and more successful the team or group.
Therefore, it is my contention that before the group or team can flourish, the leader must flourish. And the way that the leader flourishes is by understanding that leadership is personal. In other words, the leader while building up the team and the leaders around him or her must also invest in their own personal development. A flourishing leader understands that they can never lead where they have not already been. A flourishing leader takes seriously the development of their body, mind, soul and spirit. They understand that their lives must serve as an example worthy of emulation. They understand that their team becomes a reflection of its leadership. And they understand that as they become more competent in leading that the team will become more confident in their leadership. This creates a win-win situation for both the leader and those they seek to lead.
What I have discovered is that those who excel in the arena of leadership, those that flourish are those who understand that leadership is personal and who are committed to investing in their personal growth through an intentional, systemic program of personal development. They flourish because they are intentional. They are deliberate. And they are honest with themselves. They continually assess where they are physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Leaders that flourish are those who are intentional about developing their physical bodies, strengthening their emotional life, investing in their mental development and cultivating their spiritual lives. They are seeking balance in all four domains but always willing to develop any areas that might be lacking. And they take this aspect of leadership seriously.
If you aspire to flourish as a leader, I encourage you to honestly evaluate where you are in each of the four personal leadership domains—body, mind, soul and spirit. Assign a percentage of where you are in that domain and then create a plan to intentionally and systematically attack any areas of deficiency. You will soon discover as I have that as you grow your own competencies, the confidence your team has in you as a leader will grow.
To Your Flourishing,
Paul D. Flowers, Sr. 