Page 22 - IEC Insights Jul-Aug19

FEATURE

our capacity in every area of our lives. 3. The ability to
We simply have greater capacity to manage our egos. BECOME THE LEADER
handle ANYTHING life throws at us.
This means the ability to put desired YOU WANT TO BE
What is personal development? outcomes ahead of emotional When you consider each of these
responses and impulses. This has personal development areas,
Here’s what I consider to be the main been a real struggle for me. Due they’re the same characteristics
areas of personal growth and why each is to my childhood history, I grew up that lead to leadership success.
so important: obsessed with how others viewed In fact, leadership development
me. I was overly-sensitive to any and personal development are
1. Identifying and negative feedback regardless of one and the same! A deficiency
developing innate talents the intent to help me. This led to in any one of these areas can
to maximize productivity being hypersensitive to constructive derail your career success.
criticism. As I’ve worked through
and effectiveness. this challenge, countless The best part about making
It’s common not to realize your doors have opened for me. personal development the means
true innate talents due to distorted to your leadership development
messages from yourself and others 4. Openly working on is that every area of your life will
and the lack of use of your gifts our weaknesses so improve as a result. It’s like two
(often we don’t know they exist). they don’t become for the price of one! It puts you
When your work aligns with your in control of your quality of life.
innate talents, you’re set up to the limiting factors
succeed. Does it make sense to in our success. As I’ve made my personal
“grind away” at work that provides This is a mindset of how to development my number one
limited enjoyment or satisfaction. approach our lives in general focus, I’ve achieved much greater
Also, your current age doesn’t need so that our weaknesses don’t success with less stress and
to be a deterrent to shifting careers. become the limiting factors in more satisfaction. Based on the
Many well-known successes occurred our success. Everything starts observations of myself and others,
when people moved to new work with the willingness to be open this seems to be the general rule.
in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The and honest with ourselves. My invitation is for you to consider
same principles apply to all of us! which areas of your personal
When we’re honest with ourselves, development are helping your career
2. Increasing awareness we become more self-aware, and results and which are harming
and acceptance of we can enroll the support of others them. Then consider options to take
small steps forward to maximize
ourselves and others. for feedback and accountability.
Trying to hide our weaknesses your potential and performance.
This is often referred to as “emotional doesn’t make sense since they’re
intelligence.” Everything starts with obvious to others anyway. That’s
our self-awareness and acceptance. If why developing the skill of being
we’re highly critical about ourselves, authentic and vulnerable is so
we’ll tend to remain unaware. This crucial. People will connect with
is because the human psychological and respect you more when
system wants to protect us from you’re willing to be vulnerable.
the discomfort of self-criticism.
Research has shown that people
We cannot intentionally change connect on vulnerabilities
something unless we’re aware of (courageous openness) rather than
it. For example, if I have a habit of strengths. Harvard Business Review
binge eating junk-food, this is likely published an article about this in
to continue until I become self-aware 2014. Think about it. Do you feel Brad Wolff is a specialist in helping
of what’s causing me to do this. more connected and trusting with organizations and individuals maximize
When I become aware that this habit people who are “real with you about their potential and performance
is a distraction when I’m “feeling their struggles” or with those who earn more money with less stress
down”, I can choose to consider say they excel in everything and and greater satisfaction. Visit Brad’s
options other than binge-eating. constantly tout their greatness? website at peoplemaximizers.com,
email bwolff@peoplemaximizizers.com,
or call 678-229-2413.

20 Insights Magazine | July/August 2019 | www.ieci.org