BECOMING YOUR BEST: PRINCIPLES 9 - 12

SHARED FROM THE BOOK:

BECOMING YOUR BEST

(THE 12 PRINCIPLES OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL LEADERS)

STEVEN R. SHALLENBERGER

McGraw Hill Education

260 pages

 

 

 

 

PRINCIPLE 9: TRANSFORMATION LIVING: BE ACCOUNTABLE

 

Take responsibility and do what you say you will do

 

Take responsibility rather than blaming something or someone.  Evaluate what you could have done better.  Being accountable goes beyond just taking responsibility for your actions.  Being accountable requires a determination to never give up.

 

3 ACCOUNTABILITY STRATEGIES

1. Control what you can control

Control how you response to challenges, frustrations, and aggravations

Control your actions, thoughts and responses

You can’t change circumstances but you can change yourself

 

2. Develop relationship agreements

Helps avoid misunderstanding and sets clear expectations

 

3. Eliminate procrastination and follow through

Distractions are the doors for procrastination

 

 

 

 

 

PRINCIPLE 10: TRANSFORMATIONAL LIVING: APPLYING THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE

 

Learn, learn, learn, and apply what you’ve learned to reach new heights

 

Actions and behavior follow the thoughts.  It will have an enormous impact on the ability to achieve dreams.  With knowledge and experience comes wisdom; which then allows us to make better use of knowledge.  Gaining knowledge will allow one to see things more clearly with a better understanding.

 

Humility is one of the most important qualities for leaders.  Humility allows us to be open to new thoughts and ideas.

 

 

3 APPROACH TO THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE

1. Hunger to learn

2. Humility

3. Willingness to try new things

 

 

3 DYNAMIC WAYS TO GROW THROUGH KNOWLEDGE

i. Stimulate and exercise the mind

The quality of life is directly affected by the choices made

3 game changer:

a. develop the habit of reading at least one book a month

b. invest 3% of income acquiring more knowledge through seminars, training, books and personal development courses

c. surround yourself with people who inspire and lift you

Look for wise mind to consult

 

ii. Regularly access the external environment

The things that worked yesterday may not work tomorrow

Forces of change (external environment) are things outside your control

 

iii. Invite and get feedback

Use it as an improvement tool

Effective keys to gaining knowledge through feedback:

Assemble a network of people who will provide honest, insightful opinions

Know how to solicit and accept feedback through questions

Be prepared to accept feedback

Be quick to listen, humble, open and willing to learn from others

Feedback is a powerful way to get valuable information

Foster feedback by:

Complementing those who gave it

Taking it into account in visible ways

Giving positive responses

Best way to ask for suggestions and advice in an informal settings

 

 

 

 

 

PRINCIPLE 11: TRANSFORMATIONAL LIVING: LIVE IN PEACE AND BALANCE

 

Peace is not only in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hardwork.

Peace is in the midst of things as they are,

When there is calm in your heart.

That is the real meaning of peace.

 

 

4 STEPS TO FINDING PEACE AMID TURMOIL

1. Increase balance in your life

Finding peace and balance requires inner strengths.

The 6 areas of circle of peace and balance:

i. Physical and emotional health

ii. Mental health

iii. Financial aspects

iv. Security and safety

v. Social life and relationships

vi. Spiritual life

if your life is not in balance, cruise along for a while, but remember: problems will occur and breakdown may be inevitable

 

2. Increase your peace through meditation

Taking a few moments during the day to relax or meditate can increase performance and effectiveness.

 

3. laugh often

Laughter and sense of humour are infectious

Laughter triggers healthy physical responses in the body

Strengthen the immune system

Increase energy

Reduces pain

Relieves stress

Humour can lighten burdens, brighten spirits, inspire hope, connect top others and help to stay focus

Laughter and a good sense of humour can change a tense situation into more inviting and relaxed

The ability to laugh at yourself maybe the beneficial form of humour

A strong sense of humour can help

Reduces stress

Overcome challenges

Strengthen relationships

Enhance physical and emotional health

 

4. See yourself in a positive light

Accept yourself, love yourself

Accept that you can’t always be perfect

Forgive yourself for mistakes and failures

Commit to learning from mistakes and failures and move forward

2 powerful tools

i. self affirmation (a positive, uplifting phrase that is repeated throughout the day)

ii. positive self-talk

 

 

 

 

 

PRINCIPLE 12: TRANSFORMATIONAL LIVING: NEVER GIVE UP!

 

Persist – and you will succeed.  Nobody is exempted from life’s challenges.  You should never fear failure.  Virtually everyone will experience failure or setback at some point.  We can learn great lessons from our failures and from the failure of others.

 

Our greatest glory is not in never falling,

But in rising every time we fall

-Confucius-

 

 

3 KEYS TO NEVER GIVE UP

1. Defeat the enemy

The greatest enemy is yourself

 

2. See the value of failure

As a learning process rather than a roadblock

 

3. Hold to a purpose that inspires you

Something that will drive you on

 

….the end….