One: The Components of Self-Leadership

Self-leadership consists of three fundamental components: self-awareness, self-management, and self-motivation.

• Self-Awareness: Self-awareness is the ability to recognize your emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values. It’s the cornerstone of knowing how to lead yourself effectively. Journaling is a good practice for developing self-awareness. I have journaled for years, but something I don’t often do is go back and read what I’ve written! I’m now trying to do that more because I’m finding it leads to discovery as well as encouragement, especially when I’ve been able to move beyond some of the challenging issues that I’ve written about. It’s such a good practice. Don’t discount it.
• Self-Management: Self-Management is the ability to develop the discipline to control your responses and maintain focus despite challenges. Recently, we attended an event where an individual was spouting off his knowledge, which was limited, and his opinions. which were also a bit off-base, about the way an upcoming professional baseball game should be played. I turned to my husband as we sat listening to the non-stop verbiage that had taken over over table conversation and asked him quietly if this individual knew what he was talking about. Greg shook his head and said, “No.” I was proud of the way he held back his comments because as he had played professionally, he knew exactly what should happen in that game, and was very familiar with the strategy. There are many times I have also sat and nodded my head when a person shares how much they know about the music business. Sometimes it’s good to just smile, hold my tongue and move on. Self-management—or restraint!
• Self-Motivation: Self-motivation is cultivating the inner drive to pursue goals, even when external validation is lacking. Goals are very important, and especially goals that are measurable and attainable. Reaching for the stars is a wonderful thought and we should never quit dreaming—I do encourage others to do that. But our goals should prove as positive affirmations that we are heading in the right direction and achieving success. Breaking down long term goals into tiny short-term goals is the true key to making solid progress. Get our free goal setting worksheets for help with this.

Two: Practices to Strengthen Self-Leadership

Here are some practical ways to develop and maintain self-leadership:

• Set Personal Benchmarks: Instead of just following external goals, establish benchmarks that align with your values and aspirations. This will keep you grounded and purposeful. If you’ve not taken the time to revisit your core values recently, take time to do this now. Warren Buffett, who recently stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has focused on humility, long-term thinking and simplicity in his decision making. His approach involves avoiding unnecessary complexity, focusing on intrinsic values over external pressures. In other words, he keeps the main thing the main thing. Those values have led to him being one of the top five richest individuals globally. I cover core values in the Appendix of my book, Stop Circling. Your values will help to guide your purpose.
• Practice Mindfulness: Regular reflection helps you stay in tune with your feelings and reactions. Whether through journaling or meditation, create enough space in your life to understand your mindset. This is actually the first thing I do every morning. I spend about 15-20 minutes with a personal devotional in a book that has grown in popularity, especially this past year, the Bible. It helps to add focus and purpose to my day as I see life’s bigger picture. I can also just walk outside, away from my computer, to gain perspective.
• Cultivate Discipline: Successful self-leadership often requires forming habits that foster consistency and focus. Break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. This discipline includes our eating habits, exercise and even sleep habits. We recently visited a bakery where we left with a delicious loaf of multi-grain sourdough bread. I love bread, but I can’t eat the whole loaf, even though it’s so yummy. It takes discipline to cut off a little piece and save the rest for another day. I’ve also found at this stage of my life, good sleep has become more important. I used to be able to function on much less. But I feel better, get more done and can better fight off the colds or flus that circulate every so often with good rest.
• Take Responsibility: Own your choices and their outcomes. Acknowledge both successes and mistakes and learn from them. A couple words I try to never delete from my vocabulary are “I’m sorry.” For many, those are very difficult words to not only say, but to honestly admit. They should not be trivialized, but those two words are powerful and can have the power to restore relationships.
• Invest in Continuous Learning: Stay curious and open to new ideas. Self-leaders understand that growth is an ongoing process. This mindset is especially important in these days of the exponential growth of AI. I have written about this in my upcoming book, Power of After. Now is the time to explore, read and learn about technology and the explosion of AI tools. Developing a basic understanding by getting beyond the fear, is a huge first step.

Four: Overcoming Challenges in Self-Leadership

Leading yourself isn’t always easy. There will be moments of doubt, setbacks, and resistance. It can be very humbling and even discouraging. The key is to remain persistent, consistent and adaptable. Practice self-compassion, as harsh self-criticism can hinder growth. Most everyone will face self-doubt and imposter syndrome in some manner.

When this happens, focus on resilience. This is where journaling and taking time for reflection pays off. Those practices encourage renewed intention and energy.

Takeaways

• Leading yourself first is a mindset and a lifelong commitment.
• Self-awareness, self-management, and self-motivation form the foundation of self-leadership.
• Self-leadership positively impacts your personal and professional life.
• Influential leaders practice guiding themselves with purpose and conviction.
• Strong self-leadership benefits your business, family, and relationships.

So, take the reins of your own journey and lead yourself first—you’ll be surprised at how far it takes you.

Additional Resources 

Free Download: Goal Setting Worksheets

Power of After: What’s Next Can be Your Most Purposeful Chapter by Deborah Johnson (released July 7, 2025)

Stop Circling: Steps to Escape Endless Roundabouts by Deborah Johnson