Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Leadership lessons I learned from my seat on the bench #3

Your inability to self-assess may be your greatest flaw.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? I have found that most people only want to see the good. Few of us can readily embrace the “not so good.” I can say the same about your performance. It is always easy to see the good. It is easy to proud of your exceptional work. But what about your last losing performance? And let’s face it, we all have wins and losses.

It is in these losing performances we grow. If we can step back and honestly and realistically assess our performance. Do not beat yourself up when you make a mistake. Learn from it and move forward.

You are never as good as you think you are and probably never as bad as you think either.

You must learn to keep your ego in check. You must be humble and show humility. Remember that being humble is all about keeping that low or even estimate of your own self-importance.

Stay grounded and do not read and believe your press clippings. I am speaking of both the literal and figurative press clippings. Press clippings only make you feel good about yourself. Believe me, there is nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself, but you must keep this in check.

I have always been a big dress code person. Look professional and, in most cases, that will go a long way in helping you perform that way. People will immediately have a better opinion of you based on this appearance. In the first paragraph today, I talk about looking in the mirror. I really can’t believe that people can go to work looking as they do. Poor appearance makes an important first impression. Your eyes have to be open when you look in that mirror. Your eyes have to be open when you self-assess. Come on, teachers, do you really need to wear those blue jeans and tee shirts? I almost find it comical how teachers will fight for those blue jean days.

Yes, it is difficult to self-assess, and it is almost as difficult to assess the ability and performance of your children. Many parents only want to see the good and will run and hide from the “not so good.” Teachers and coaches always have to remember this because it will allow you to put some of those difficult meetings in a proper perspective.

Self-assessment is hard. No doubt about it. Work on it. Assess yourself often, with your eyes and mind open. And probably more importantly, grow from it and strive to be the very best that you can be. I am convinced that is how champions are built and how they remain champions. Be that champion.