The Most Impactful Leaders Do This First

"If you want to be a leader, the first person you have to lead is yourself." -Mike Scioscia.

Being a servant leader can be challenging. We give so much of our energy to other people. At times we can forget about giving energy to ourselves.

Our most recent Bridging Impact podcast with Andy Beronilla or Coach B dove into that topic. Coach B told us his story of becoming an Assistant Varsity Basketball coach, and he loved it initially.

He couldn't get enough of it, saying yes to every team event, breaking down film when they needed him, and always being there for his athletes.

Well, you know the saying too much of anything isn't a good thing? He eventually started to burn out. He was always thinking of the team and serving them. He began to forget about himself.

Coach B was on the verge of quitting when he realized it was time to cut back on some of the events.

Coach B admits the first time he sat out of an optional team event, he felt guilty. But after setting boundaries, missing out on team events didn't affect his ability to impact the kids.

What can we learn from Coach B?

1. Say No - It's not easy to say no to an event you would like to attend. But every time you say yes to something, you say no to something else. Saying yes to editing film on Sundays means saying no to time with yourself or friends on Sundays.

2. Determine what you NEED - to be at your best. A. Optimal Physical Health - What activities will help keep you active? Playing sports, dancing, lifting weights? How do you make sure you are eating/drinking with BALANCE? B. Social Vs. You Time - Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you probably need both. How much time do you need to spend with friends & family? How much time do you need to be on your own? C. Mental Health - What activities give your mind a break? Spending time in nature, walking, watching a mindless show, reading a book? How do you turn that busy mind off? D. Spiritual Health - Not everyone is religious, but I believe everyone can be spiritual. Connecting with a purpose and a power greater than ourselves helps ground us. E. Schedule It - Or, if you aren't a planner like me, make time for all the above. Leading ourselves requires us to have the energy to give to others.

3. Responsibility - No one is going to make these tough decisions for you. But you have to take the energy you give to others seriously. If you need to let, your team know that you can't make the optional event because you need to recover, more power to you. You'll be on your A game the next time you show up, ready to rock and roll.

DM me on any platform or respond to this email & let's have a conversation on leading ourselves first!