How To Lead Yourself

‘You teach people how to treat you. Even when you’re not formally in charge, you define the experience of working with you. Setting clear expectations is imperative.’

‘Be careful spending too much time with the people who reinforce negativity cycle. Be even more careful about the role you’re playing. Instead, channel your energy to creating supportive friendships.’

‘A strong network, inside and outside of your company, is crucial for making your next play.’

‘Leading yourself requires you to not only tolerate change but embrace it.’

‘You can burn bridges, change your mind, get laid off, and still move forward. Careers aren’t a one-time decision; they’re a process.’

‘Assess, don’t obsess. Asking for feedback too often or taking all the feedback too seriously will erode your morale and weaken your results.’

‘Leading yourself means interacting with others in a way you want them to interact with you.’

‘Leading yourself doesn’t guarantee you’ll make each move with 100% confidence, and it doesn’t mean you’ll make the right move every time. It means that despite being afraid, despite some ambiguity or unrest, you make a play.’

‘You can respectfully push back on a decision by validating the good intent and presenting the facts with helpful, soft language.’

‘You will not get where you want to go (in the long term) by outworking everyone, being the only one who can do your job, or never making a mistake.’

‘It’s impossible to be efficient with your time if you stick with everything you start. Don’t let sunk costs keep you from making a change.’

‘If you’re looking for evidence of something, you’ll find it. Intentionally point your brain to what you want to see (meaning, purpose, joy, and opportunities).

Source

Elizabeth Lotardo (2024). Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have