Most leaders have had less than 5 hours of formal training in their entire careers. Upon ascending to a leadership role they assume that their title or position makes them a leader. That is by far the most common mistake people new to a leadership role make.

It is also one of the most costly mistakes they will ever make. It costs them the opportunity to truly have a positive impact on the people they could actually lead. It costs the organization untold amounts of productivity and turnover. It costs the people who miss the chance to work for an authentic leader the opportunity to reach their full potential. Perhaps to even develop into authentic leaders themselves.

The second most common mistake by new leaders is they waited until they were in a leadership position to learn to lead. That’s true even though they had the opportunity to practice their leadership skills on a real live human being 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The person they could, and should, have been practicing with is themselves.

Authentically leading others is an awesome responsibility. It requires a completely different set of skills than managing a business. It requires a high degree of integrity, excellent communication skills and unparalleled judgment. All of that takes time, effort and practice to master.

The best way to acquire and develop the skill set of an Authentic Leader is to practice leading yourself exceptionally well. Before you attempt to lead others.

If your goal is simply to earn a chance to lead others then you can skip the rest of this post. If your goal is to truly lead, to have a positive impact on the lives of the people you lead, to build a legacy as a difference maker, then read on. Because this post is for you.

Leading yourself well involves key principles. Each is unique, but together they offer you the chance to make a difference in your life and, later, in the lives of those you lead.

• Self-awareness. Understand your strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals. Regularly reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to gain insight into yourself.

• Setting goals. Establish clear, achievable objectives that align with your values and long-term aspirations. Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks to maintain motivation and track progress.

• Time management. Prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. Use tools like calendars, to-do lists, or productivity apps to organize your schedule and ensure you allocate time effectively to different activities.

• Continuous learning. Cultivate a growth mindset and seek opportunities for personal and professional development. Read books, attend seminars, take courses, and learn from experiences to expand your knowledge and skills.

• Self-discipline. Develop habits and routines that support your goals and values. Practice self-control and perseverance, even when faced with challenges or distractions.

• Emotional intelligence. Understand and manage your emotions effectively. Develop empathy and interpersonal skills to navigate relationships and communicate assertively.

• Adaptability. Be flexible and open to change. Embrace uncertainty and learn to adapt your plans and strategies as circumstances evolve.

• Resilience. Build resilience to bounce back from setbacks and failures. View challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, and maintain a positive attitude even in difficult times.

• Accountability. Take responsibility for your actions and decisions. Hold yourself to high standards of integrity and ethics, and learn from mistakes to improve future performance.

By integrating these principles into your daily life, you can effectively lead yourself. You can not only earn a leadership position but you can earn the right to truly lead others. When you help even one other person accomplish great personal and professional success you won’t merely have helped to change that person, you will have potentially changed the world.

Want more LeadToday? Many of you know I’m very active on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. I post a lot of free content there but I also post 6-10 minute videos two or three times a week. These videos are focused on principles of leadership and life. They are “uncommon” common sense topics designed to help people push themselves to their full potential. Every video is available to subscribers who invest $4.99 a month for their future success. If you’re willing to push yourself towards the life you want and deserve my videos may just be the extra nudge you need to get there. Find your way over to X and follow me there. Once you’ve followed me you can subscribe on a month by month basis just by clicking the subscribe button. Remember, an investment in yourself ALWAYS pays dividends! You’ll find my timeline here: twitter.com/leadtoday