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Running For Leadership by Lisa Mc Donald
What comes to mind when you hear the words Leadership Development? Perhaps developing the executives in your organization or improving the management skills of your supervisors or even becoming a better leader yourself. I’ve been developing leaders for 3 years now, but it’s only recently I’ve internalized the essence of leadership development.
Late in 2006 I was 50 pounds overweight and had not exercised for the last 2 years. I took a decision that when I turned 40 I would be in the best physical fitness of my life. How was I going to measure this goal? Well I will run a full marathon before I turn 40! You know, nobody told me that you go mad when you are 38, because I must have gone mad having never run more than 5 miles in all my life.
Why would I choose such an audacious goal? I often tell my clients that you have the potential to achieve whatever you ardently desire. Therefore after making that decision I spent time thinking about the reasons why I wanted this goal and telling everyone I met about it.
Strange things then started to occur. My level of desire and commitment towards the goal dramatically increased; I attracted a person that wanted to coach me to the achievement of my goal; I got an action plan. I commenced training in July 2007.
The first major milestone in the plan was to run a half marathon. For the uninitiated that is a 13.1 mile race. Of course that will be a breeze for me to run as it is only half of the goal that I am going after. What funny things your mind can say!
As the time drew closer to the half marathon I became more excited and maybe, just maybe, a little anxious. The comments started to come at me fast and furious. “Are you crazy? I can’t run 13.1 miles! I will hurt myself.” Stop!! I have the potential to achieve anything that I ardently desire.
Finally the day dawned. I reached the start point an hour before the race. I did not speak to any of the other participants and was only concentrating on stretching. All too soon I was lining up and the gun went off. I started slow, wanting to warm up slowly. After the first 3 to 4 miles I increased my speed. I rounded the half-way mark strongly and continued to run with pace until the 9th mile. The real struggle was waged between the 9th and 12th miles but once the 12 mile marker was seen I was off running strongly again. Indeed I sprinted the last 100 yards to the finish line.
I had run 13.1 miles! What euphoria!!
- Deciding and committing to a specific goal
- Getting a coach and mentor who was not only very motivating but was also an expert in the area
- Having a Plan of Action
- Tracking and measuring results every step of the way against the Plan of Action
- Sharing my goal with everyone that I spoke with in order to build dedication and excitement
- Celebrating every small success along the way, every pound lost and every extra mile ran
- Identifying every challenge, researching the challenge to get more information and finding innovative ways to overcome the challenge
- Affirmations (I am strong, I am invincible, I’m a runner!)
- Visualizations (I saw myself running strongly through the finish tape).
After running the half marathon, I have since reflected on the experience and I have realized that Leadership Development starts with self leadership. If I had not influenced and inspired myself there is no way that I would have taken on those long runs (8 miles, 10 miles and finally 13.1 miles) every Sunday morning. I have convinced one of my closest friends to undertake next year’s half marathon and I also have scores of friends telling me how inspiring I am. I am now influencing others through my experience which after all is the basis of leading people.
I am now looking at the other areas of my life and I recognize that the same concepts that brought me success in my physical fitness will bring me success in anything else that I ardently desire, like earning $1,000,000 in 2008.
Are you now wondering about your own personal leadership development? Might I suggest:
- Decide on an audacious goal
- Follow the steps listed above
- Know and accept that you are capable of achieving…
- Then go for it!
For it is only by truly stretching yourself that you really experience what it is to live and drink from the nectar of life. It is only by truly stretching yourself that you improve your leadership skills.
See you at the full marathon on February 24th 2008.
Lisa Mc Donald is on a journey of liberating full potential in self, individuals and organizations.
Email her at lmcdonald@ibbglobal.com
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