Diane and Kory During a Triathlon with text "Leading for the Long Run"

Leadership Book of the Month

Posted on March 24, 2018
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Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager: Gain the mindset and skillset to get what you need to succeed.
By Kenneth H. Blanchard, Susan Fowler, and Laurence Hawkins
Published: 2017

I really enjoyed this book! It was written as a story that helps the reader to get into the life of the main character. It provides not only the theory of self leadership skills, but through story telling it allows the reader to see the practical way of using the techniques.

The main character learns the three tricks to self-leadership:

  • Challenging assumed constraints
  • Activating points of power
  • Being proactive about getting what you need to succeed

Challenge Assumed constraints

An assumed constraint is “a belief that limits your experience.” You choose to do or not do something based on your own assumptions rather than opening your mind to new thoughts and perspectives. If you believe that something is impossible, you may not even try to do it. If you open your mind to possibilities, then you may just surprise yourself and find new and exciting ways of making things happen.

Activate Points of Power

There are five different points of power:

  • Knowledge power
  • Personal power
  • Relationship power
  • Task power
  • Position power

Each point of power holds their own abilities and skillsets and knowing what your own point of power is gives you not only the knowledge on how to best use that power, but also helps you to identify what other points of power you need to cultivate to make great things happen. You do this by building relationships with others with the points of power you need and helping them by sharing your own power. Remember, by sharing your power you are not giving it away, you are just making it stronger.

Be Proactive About Getting What You Need to Succeed

Another important piece of this self leadership puzzle is to understand your stage in the development continuum. There are four stages of development:

D1 – low competence with high commitment (enthusiastic beginner stage)
D2 – low competence with low commitment (disillusioned learner stage)
D3 – moderate competence with variable commitment (capable but cautious performer stage)
D4 – Hi competence with high commitment (self reliant achiever stage)

Now you need to figure out what you need to move to the next stage. If your competence is low, then you need high direction; when it is your commitment that is low, then you need high support. As you move through the levels of development, your level of either direction or support lowers.

Now that you have mastered the three tricks of self leadership you can go out and make extraordinary things happen. But don’t forget the most important lesson of all from the book…become a mentor for someone else and share your knowledge. We can never have too many self leaders in this world!