These two maxims may change your leadership forever

Christian Muntean Oct. 12, 2023

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Two leadership maxims that will transform how you lead and manage:

• You will only manage others as well as you manage yourself.
• You will lead out of who you are. Pay attention to who you are and who you are becoming.

Once upon a time

There was a young man named John who dreamed of becoming a successful entrepreneur. He had a great idea for a business, but he struggled with procrastination and lacked self-discipline.

One day, he met a wise old man who asked him a question that would change his life, "If you can't manage yourself, how can you expect to manage a business?"

John was taken aback by the question but realized the truth in the old man's words. He began to work on developing better habits and self-management skills. He created a daily routine, set clear goals, and learned to prioritize his tasks.

With time, he became more focused and productive. John launched his business, and it thrived. He realized that self-management was not only essential for success in business but also for a fulfilling and satisfying life.

After a few years

John developed a reputation in the community as a brilliant strategist. Other business and even political leaders began to seek his advice. He was often invited to speak at business conferences and industry events. This was enormously satisfying for John. To observers, he was a success.

However, internally, the picture looked different. His company had grown from a small close-knit team to hundreds of employees, many of whom he had never met. He discovered that often his ideas didn't resonate with his employees. It was difficult to introduce new innovations or improvements. Even his leadership team seemed demotivated. They lacked the trust they used to have in his judgment and often responded with ambivalence to his vision.

Frustrated, John reached back out to the wise old man. After listening to John's story, the old man asked him, "John, you can only lead out of who you are. Who are you? Who are you trying to be?"

John was taken aback again. He realized that he had been focused on achieving success and being seen as a success. He had neglected to consider how he, John, impacted his team. He began reflecting on his core beliefs, values, priorities, and how he related to others.

John began to engage with his employees with more humility. He gave fewer speeches to audiences and spent more time listening to and talking with his team. He worked hard to dial back his impatience as well as his need to prove himself. He stopped needing to be seen as the expert and began to value the expertise that others brought.

Over time

John rebuilt trust with his team, learned to develop and execute strategy with them, and by doing so gained their commitment. This raised morale and allowed them to work together to turn the company around in a short time.

After a couple of years of effort, John realized he was feeling more peace and contentment. His ability to lead others took off when he shifted his focus from how others saw him and what others could do for him, to how he served others and what he could do for them.

Two maxims for leaders.

If you embrace these two truths it will transform how you lead and manage:

• You will only manage others as well as you manage yourself.
• You will lead out of who you are. Pay attention to who you are and who you are becoming.

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Christian Muntean is a seasoned expert in fostering business growth and profitability. With a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and certifications as a Master Coach, Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and International Mergers & Acquisitions Expert (IM&A), he guides entrepreneurial leaders through growth, succession planning, and exit strategies. He is an accomplished author of three books, including Train to Lead. Christian resides in Anchorage, Alaska, with his family.  Learn More »

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