Self-Mastery

Self-mastery is the final quality that Brady and Woodward include in the Trilateral Leadership Ledger's factor of Character.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines self-mastery as: the ability to control one's own desires or impulses : self-control; self-discipline.

There is an old anonymous leadership adage: "If you can't lead yourself, how can you expect to led others?".

How we handle ourselves is critically important.  Yes, effective leaders focus on serving others, BUT, to do so they must have their own internal house in order.

There is a plethora of academic research linking self-mastery to effective leadership.  It matters!

Effective leaders master:

• Their emotions

• Their thoughts

• Their actions

• Their tongues 

• Their interactions with others

Mohandas Gandhi said:

Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny. 

The effective leader MUST learn and practice self-mastery.  If they don't, they simply will lose the ability to effectively lead!

Chris Brady & Orrin Woodward: "Launching a Leadership Revolution."  Business Plus. New York. p.96