Leadership Assignments

Background Information

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no on

e thinks of changing

himself.”

-

Leo Tolstoy

Most leaders want to be better leaders. Many are not, however, because the

foundation of leadership is self

-

awareness and that requires honest

reflection. Authors Stephen Hacker and Marvin Washington once wrote

that

“leading self encompasses being awake to life and moving forward in a

purposeful manner. A leader of self has eyes wide open to the countless

opportunities available to live a life of meaning, as opposed to wandering

through life hoping for the best.

And as part of living a purposeful life, the

leader of self is engaged in fulfilling visions and creating outcomes within the

construct of conscious values. However, many leaders of others fail to

formulate a life plan for leading themselves. Should not th

e leader of others

first become an intentional leader of self?”

Instruct

i

ons

1.

Read Chapter 3 of you

r text,

Discovering Leadership: Designing

Your Success

.

2.

Review the article “

Why Everyone Should Learn the Art of Self

-

Leadership

(new tab)

” and watch the video “

The Art of Self

Management: How to Lead Yourself

(new tab)

.”

3.

Write a personal mission statement for your life in the form of a

two

-

page reflection paper (

500

–

600 words

in a Word

document

).

a.

Be sure to consider Dr. Rodemann’s discussion in the video of what

your personal mission statement should contain. For example, you

may find it helpful in developing your personal mission statement

to map out your lifeline, draw your r

iver of life or your heart’s

landscape, though it is not necessary to include those in your

paper.

b.

Finally, consider how the four key areas of self

-

leadership and your

personal mission statement are relevant to your practice as a

leader.

4.

Inasmuch as this i

s a reflection paper, first

-

person voice is

acceptable. No additional sources are required, as well.

Background Information

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing

himself.” - Leo Tolstoy

Most leaders want to be better leaders. Many are not, however, because the

foundation of leadership is self-awareness and that requires honest

reflection. Authors Stephen Hacker and Marvin Washington once wrote that

“leading self encompasses being awake to life and moving forward in a

purposeful manner. A leader of self has eyes wide open to the countless

opportunities available to live a life of meaning, as opposed to wandering

through life hoping for the best. And as part of living a purposeful life, the

leader of self is engaged in fulfilling visions and creating outcomes within the

construct of conscious values. However, many leaders of others fail to

formulate a life plan for leading themselves. Should not the leader of others

first become an intentional leader of self?”

Instructions

1. Read Chapter 3 of your text, Discovering Leadership: Designing

Your Success.

2. Review the article “Why Everyone Should Learn the Art of Self-

Leadership(new tab)” and watch the video “The Art of Self

Management: How to Lead Yourself(new tab).”

3. Write a personal mission statement for your life in the form of a

two-page reflection paper (500–600 words in a Word

document).

a. Be sure to consider Dr. Rodemann’s discussion in the video of what

your personal mission statement should contain. For example, you

may find it helpful in developing your personal mission statement

to map out your lifeline, draw your river of life or your heart’s

landscape, though it is not necessary to include those in your

paper.

b. Finally, consider how the four key areas of self-leadership and your

personal mission statement are relevant to your practice as a

leader.

4. Inasmuch as this is a reflection paper, first-person voice is

acceptable. No additional sources are required, as well.