MODULE 1 (First Week)

CFLM 2
Prepared by: Ma’am Criseljosa W. Lacapag, RC

Objectives:
At the end of this topic the students may be able to:
1. Understand and discuss the idea of self-leadership and appreciate the important role it plays in the
success of an organization.
2. Discuss appropriately the development of self-leadership.

TOPIC: CHAPTER I (UNDERSTANDING SELF-LEADERSHIP)

CONTENT:
INTRODUCTION
Leadership, is the process of inspiring others to work together to achieve a common goal in a
given entity, it is an inevitable element of group dynamics. However, the relationship between leader’s
participation and his or her effectiveness in accomplishing goals is complex. Leadership style is a term that has
been defined in numerous ways—mostly refers to the characteristic manner in which an individual leads other.
Researchers and other practitioners have suggested a participatory theory of leadership, which assumes that a
group’s performance depends on the extent to which leaders share or retain their decision- making authority.
This is a way to assess leadership effectiveness. Here leader may be singled out as an individual contributor or
failure, it affects all other organizational factors. Leadership affects corporate culture, project culture, decision-
making and employees' commitment [6]. Without appropriate leadership, the risk of business or school failure
will increase. Thus, leadership is viewed as the ability to make strategic decisions, using skills such as
communication, interpersonal relationship, motivation, decision making, and emotional maturity, to achieve the
school or organizational goals. However, there are varieties of leadership styles known that may be applicable
in dealing with many challenges an organization could face at all time. Although, getting leader who can
combine management principles with ethical justification of actions remains a challenge in organization today.
CHAPTER I
UNDERSTANDING SELF- LEADERSHIP
Self- Leadership and the essential role that it plays in an organization’s performance will be discussed here. It is
said that anyone can become a leader and make an impact. It actually takes a tremendous amount of
commitment and willingness to develop every day. Leadership does not represent a one-time commitment. As a
human it starts and ends at you. Also if you are born with natural leadership traits, much work and preparation
is required.

“Personal leadership is not a singular experience. It is, rather, the ongoing process of keeping your
vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with those most important
things.”

Stephen Covey
 “Good government is no substitute for self-government.”

Mahatma Gandhi

“First we make our habits then our habits make us.”

Charles Noble

Most leadership professors and experts in their leadership lectures often quote “leadership is self-governance,”
which simply means an individual must lead himself first before he can lead others.

SIGNIFICANCE OF SELF-LEADERSHIP
Self-leadership is the first stage, or leadership level. Self-leadership is of great importance to the staff, whether
managers or ordinary subordinates.
1. Self-leadership allows leaders or senior officers, who undergo very little or no supervision, to prepare
and set targets on their own, as well as to control their own self to execute such plans.
2. For lower-level employees or subordinates, who cannot always be sure of the kind of governance or
leaders they may face in their careers, self-management enables them to become effective and efficient
workers under any leadership they may encounter, be it laissez faire, free-rule, democratic or autocratic.
3. Self-leadership helps make individual decision-makers proactive, focused, and autonomous. People who
do not have a strong sense of self-leadership tend to feel that they are not in control of themselves,
frequently lose concentration and easily get frustrated.

DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-LEADERSHIP
The following are the ways of developing self-leadership:
1. Clarity of Purpose
This means that each entity must have a vision and be able to set it up. Being your own leader, your
purpose or vision will be the foundation upon which you will build self-leadership. Without clearly
planned expectations or intent for your life, you will be at risk, attempting to fulfill the wishes or
ideas of people for your life and you will end up lost in the middle of nowhere.
2. Aim at Success and Take Reasonable Risks
Risk-taking is a necessary part of life. Challenge yourself to take on challenging assignments. Do not
deter yourself or others from past failures rather concentrate on success.
3. Spend Time to Reflect on Your life
Reflections can also mean letting others make an objective evaluation of you. Although you remain
the active doer of the things that you are doing, you may only see things from your viewpoint.
4. Don’t Tolerate Just Anything
You should not risk your dream. You should learn to be intolerant to any suggestions or ideas that
don’t suit your vision. It involves not tolerating negative factors such as laziness, anxiety and many
others in your nature.
SIMPLE WAYS TO LEAD YOURSELF
1. Know your Values and Stick to them
The ones with real values and ethics are the most trustworthy leaders. Find ideals that reverberate
with your philosophy, temperament, and creeds to become an effective leader. Personal beliefs in
leadership, core values, and the implementation of those values help leaders become successful.
2. Move Towards Purpose
As a leader, you can inspire, guide, and encourage your subordinates to achieve larger objectives. If
you have a clear purpose, then you can make sure the team is aligned with a common purpose.
3. Keep Improving yourself
Great leaders are working hard to improve, expand and evolve into better versions of them. Whether
you’ve just started leading or you’ve been a veteran in your place, make it a point to learn something
new by going back home.
4. Make Mistakes but Never Make the Same Mistake Twice
The only thing that sets a leader different from a great leader is that he never makes the same
mistake twice. Note also that on the back of disappointment always comes the greatest successes.
Trying new stuff, and doing things that challenge your comfort zone, is important. You might end up
making mistakes while doing so. Everyone does. So over them there’s no need to be ashamed.

“All leaders make mistakes. They are a part of life. Successful leaders recognize their errors, learn from
them, and correct their faults.”

John C. Maxwell
5. Lead by Example
The only thing that can turn you into a leader is when you begin to act like one.

“Your job gives you authority. Your behavior earns you respect.”
Irwin Federman

If you influence others and provide direction and guidance, then you lead them. Many of us only assume that
leaders are those individuals born with unique abilities or gifts or situations that are right. That makes a person a
good leader is not just his skill and skills but primarily his character and attitude.
Leaders must influence and should be influenced. A person to be called a leader should have followers for
him. He has to direct his people to something which will bring goodness and harm. Just as a good leader should,
it only takes skill, knowledge and compassion for an individual to harness influence.

“Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.”