How Far Would You Go?

 

I have shared with some of you already that I recently got accepted into a leadership program at UPenn. The intention of the program is to identify the next leaders within the University, train them to be effective managers/mentors/role models, teach them the importance of  personal development and in turn, strengthen the University as a whole overtime. We undergo a combination of classroom learning, coaching, peer feedback sessions and extensive personality and strength/weakness assessments.

The program stresses that we cannot (and should not) separate our professional and personal lives. That is to say, that we are made up by the sum of our parts and it's impossible to see the whole picture without accounting for all aspects. That said, the personal development is a major aspect of the classes and I have found the additional guidance in this realm to be positive and enlightening. 

In the most recent classroom session one of the speakers mentioned something in passing that I wrote down because I knew I wanted to think about it more after class was over. He said, "You can only lead others as far as you yourself have gone. How far are you willing to go?" 

The idea seems painfully obvious at first glance. But in my ((relatively)) new position as a leader in my Center and my ((definitely)) new position as a wellness coach I looked at this from the perspective of my strengths and weaknesses and how they translate to my team. When I think about where my staff at work get hung up or when it seems like my Goal Diggers are a bit distant I turned the lens around and focused on myself. I realized there were aspects of myself and my personality that needed work which I had failed to see before and that my insecurities make their way to them as well. It made me want to become the best version of myself so that I can be a leader worthy for those who follow my journey. 

I don't think this is about being perfect - on the contrary. I think it's about being open-minded, introspective and constantly taking stock of how you feel and where you stand. Just because you aren't "there" yet doesn't mean you won't be there ever. And the fact that you are working toward it will be a powerful tool in leading the way for others to succeed. There is no destination in personal development - we are ever-changing!