How well do you really know yourself? One of the first basic laws of leadership is that you cannot lead others until you lead yourself! So I ask the question again, “How well do you know yourself?” Let me ask the question slightly different, Think about a major crisis that you have faced in life. Now ask, “Who was I before the crisis and who am I now after the crisis?” Asking the question this way brings me to two key thoughts about knowing yourself.
First of all when you are settled in your knowledge of who you are you become comfortable within yourself. Why is this important? You remain true to God’s design and pattern for your life. Without this knowledge you will forge your life into something or someone else.
Secondly, because crisis moments make you better or make you bitter, there is one level above belief and that is knowing! Crisis moments of life brings us face to face with the fact with our confession of what I believe. Crisis moments reveals that what I believe, I truly know it to be true! The end result is security of faith and confession. I have gone through my crisis moments and I have faced my confession of faith and found it to be true. I know that God is real!
One question yet remains unanswered, How can I know myself better? Here are ten insights in discovering yourself so that your leading of others is effective.
- Values – What are my foundational beliefs? What are the non-negoitables of life?
- Purpose – Why am I here? The greatest days of life, your birth and the discovery of purpose!
- Strengths – Where am I gifted?
- Weaknesses – What things do I not do well?
- Priorities – What is most important to me?
- Passion – What energizes me?
- Challenges – What things must I conquer?
- Failures – What mistakes must I learn from?
- Vision – Where do I want to go?
- Qualities – What kind of person do I want to be?
The essence of this list can be summarized by reflecting on my….
Actions – What I do says something about me. What am I doing?
Reflection – What I think says something about me. What do I feel? What do I think? What do I know? These three questions reveal my emotions, mind, and heart.
Interaction – What others think about me says something about me. What do others think about me? The Coaching of Shepherds Advantage coupled with the Birkman Questionnaire, is without a doubt the very best tools in comprehending God’s design of ourselves.
Who is in your life that you trust to speak into your life?
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.