©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

1
 Intended Learning Outcomes Level of Competence​
Blackboard​ Real-Live​Lecture​

1. To understand the concepts To understand To​describe​and​apply​

and theories of self-leadership (self- and describe​
understanding, self-management, and
self-leadership strategies)
2. To understand the importance To understand and To further discuss
of self-leadership identify​ and identify​
3. To relate self-leadership to different To integrate and To discuss,
professions​​ relate integrate and​relate​
4. To apply self-leadership in To integrate and To further integrate
daily lives as university students apply and apply​
and future professions
5.​To​reflect​on​students’​self- To​reflect​and​apply​ To further reflect
leadership
©️ Copyrightskills
2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. and apply​ 2
 ➢ Andrew Bryant.
➢ Self-leadership author
and motivational speaker.
➢ He shares the foundations
of self-leadership.

What is your understanding of self-leadership?

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 3

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 4
 Self-Growth Self-Leadership Leadership

(Manz, 1986; Neck & Houghton, 2006)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 5

 • Self-leadership forms the foundation of effective leadership.

• Within organizations, each person possesses self-leadership: an

internal self-control system.

(Manz, 1986; Manz & Sims, 2001)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 6

 • The process of influencing oneself to establish the self-direction
and self-motivation that are needed to perform tasks.

• The practice of influence your thinking, feelings, and behaviors to

achieve your objective(s).
(Manz, 1986; Neck & Houghton, 2006)
Self-
understanding
Self-
management

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 7

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 8
 Self-
understanding

➢ Self-understanding is a way to know

one’s direction and value.
➢ It is a process to understand one’s
own strengths and weaknesses from
the multifaceted nature of the self.
(Kegan, 1994; Walumba et al., 2008)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 9

 The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous
formation through choice of action (Dewey, 1997).

Individual’s background
Early life experiences
cultural background family
education
gender Work/intern experience
personality
family background
Values, beliefs, and principles

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

Present Self 10
Self-Understanding:
• How you perceive yourself

• How you perceive yourself in relation to others

Composite of a person’s characteristics in multiple aspects:

Goals/dreams/purposesPhysical features
Talents Attitudes Personal values/beliefs Personality traits

Inner thoughts Interests

Emotions/feelings

(Cooley, 1902; James, 1890;

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. Lapsley & Power, 2012; Mead, 1934)
 Global Employability Survey

• To succeed in a company, Interpersonal skills and

personality, are the main factors
Global AUS BRA CAN CHN FRA GER IND ITA JPN MAL
Personality (Interpsonal Skills,
8.1 8 8.5 8.3 8.2 7.4 8.4 7.8 8 7.9 7.6
Attitude)
Know-how (Hands-on Skills) 7.6 7.6 7.7 8 8.4 7 7.7 7.6 7.6 5.8 8
Knowledge (Theoretical
7.5 7.5 8 7.8 7.7 6.9 7.6 7.9 7.4 6.1 7.6
Knowledge/Expertise)

Global MEX POL RUS SIN ESP SWI END TUR GBR USA
Personality (Interpsonal Skills,
8.1 8.6 7.8 8.3 8.4 7.6 8.2 8.4 9 8.1 8.3
Attitude)
Know-how (Hands-on Skills) 7.6 8.3 7.9 7.5 7.3 7.4 7.9 7.7 7.7 7.3 8.1
Knowledge (Theoretical
7.5 8.5 7.3 8.2 6.9 7.3 7.5 7.7 7.8 7.4 7.9
Knowledge/Expertise)

Most important factors for a graduate to succeed in a company (details)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

Employability of Graduates in
Hong Kong

本港僱主最願意聘請的大學畢業生
(Universities from which graduates are desired the
most by local employers)
The Hong Kong University of Science and
1
Technology (UST)

2 The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

3 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 13
 ➢ It indicated that the attributes that need to be improved the
most among graduates from local universities are:

本港大學畢業生最需要改善的能力
(Attributes that need to be improved the most)
1 Work Attitude
2 Social Responsibility
3 Interpersonal Skills
➢ Work attitude (62%): seriousness in workplace, enthusiasm,
diligence, responsibility, and eagerness to improve.
➢ The next two attributes are social responsibility (59.2%) and
interpersonal skills (52.1%).
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.
(Sky Post, 2018) 14
Let’s reflect…

1. Do you agree with the survey? Why or why not?

2. Please use three adjectives to describe your current

work attitude (in group project, student society, or part-
time job).

3. In what ways do you think your work attitude would

impact your personal and professional growth?
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.
 What Is Self-Understanding?
Curious, wide
Practical, Openness
O range of
conventional, (imagination, feelings,
interests,
Reflect a person’s prefers actions, ideas)
independent
routine
characteristic patterns of: Conscientiousness
Impulsive, (competence, self- Hardworking,
thoughts feelings behaviors careless, C discipline, dependable,
disorganized thoughtfulness, goal- organized
driven)

Quiet, E Extroversion (sociability, Outgoing,

reserved, assertiveness, warm, seeks
withdrawn emotional expression) adventure

Critical, A Agreeableness
Helpful,
(cooperative,
uncooperative, trusting,
trustworthy, good-
suspicious empathetic
natured)
(Barrick & Michael, 1991)
Calm, N Neuroticism
Anxious,
unhappy,
even-tempered, (tendency toward prone to
secure unstable emotions) negative
emotions

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 16

Emotional awareness: understanding and Six Basic Emotions
recognizing one’s emotions and their effects

• what triggers that emotion

• what are the potential factors Happiness
Happiness Sadness
Sadness Fear

influencing that emotion

Anger Surprise Disgust

(Ekman & Friesen, 1983)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 17
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 18
 • Self-Management is about taking ownership
of self-understanding and alignment of
goals and purposes in life.

Self- Action an Likely to enjoy

understanding individual success in life
intends to take
Self-Management

(Carmeli et al., 2006)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 19

 Have a Firm Idea of Your Goal
E.g. achieving a good GPA or becoming an expert
in your professional field

Manage yourself accordingly

E.g. attending lectures punctually, completing course
work before the deadline, and actively participating in
learning activities

Achieve Your Goal

(Carmeli et al., 2006)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 20

 Relate and organize various parts of an individual into a
harmonious and effective pattern to achieve goals.
(Walumba et al., 2008)
• Self-acceptance: accept one’s uniqueness.

• Self-control
• Set up a personal standard: a target or a goal.
• Different strategies to control, monitor, and
motivate oneself to achieve personal goals.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 21

 1. Self-control: Keeping disruptive emotions and impulses in
check.
2. Transparency: Maintaining integrity, acting congruently
with one's values.
3. Adaptability: Flexibility in handling change.
4. Achievement: Striving to improve or meeting a standard of
excellence.
5. Initiative: Readiness to act on opportunities.

6. Optimism: Persistence in pursuing goals despite obstacles

and setbacks.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. (Goleman, Boyatzis & McKee, 2002)
 Negative Emotions

內心惡劣天氣
應變指南
賽馬會心導遊計畫
Emergency Guide to
Jockey Club Internal Weather Changes
TourHeart Project

23

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 23

 1. Describe your emotions at the moment (e.g., I feel my pounding
heart is going to burst)
2. Regard bad emotions as part of your journey

3. Be kind to yourself when you have bad emotions

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 24

Case scenario: Anger/hatred management arising
from differences in viewpoints

1. Recall​the​skills​introduced​in​the​lecturing​video​for​managing​
negative​emotions.​In​your​opinion,​what​skills​can​Susan​
apply​to​manage​her​anger​in​this​scenario?
2. Share​your​experience​of​a​time​when​you​felt​angry​due​to​a​
difference​of​viewpoint​with​family​members,​friends,​or​
classmates.​How​did​you​manage​your​anger?
3. What​skills​will​you​apply​to​manage​your​anger​(negative​
emotions)​if​you​find​yourself​in​the​same​situation​mentioned​
in​the​last​question?

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 Part III
Three Strategies of Self-
Leadership

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 26

 How do I manage
myself better to achieve
my goal(s)?

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 Self-Leadership Skills

Behavioral-focused strategies
- Personal behavioral management
Natural reward strategies
- Create situations in which individuals are
intrinsically motivated by the task itself
Constructive thought patterns strategies
- Develop positive and habitual patterns of
thinking about opportunities and difficulties

➢ The use of these strategies facilitates self-management

which positively affects performance outcomes.
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. (Manz, 1983; Manz & Neck, 2004; Manz & Sims, 2001)
 Behavioral-Focused Strategies
- Personal behavioral management
1. Self-observation
2. Self-goal setting
3. Self-reward
4. Self-punishment
5. Self-cueing

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 29

 Behavioral-Focused Strategies
- Personal behavioral management
1. Self-observation

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 30

 Behavioral-Focused Strategies
- Personal behavioral management
1. Self-observation
2. Self-goal setting

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 31

 Behavioral-Focused Strategies
- Personal behavioral management
1. Self-observation
2. Self-goal setting
3. Self-reward

32
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.
 Behavioral-Focused Strategies
- Personal behavioral management
1. Self-observation
2. Self-goal setting
3. Self-reward
4. Self-punishment

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 33

 Behavioral-Focused Strategies
- Personal behavioral management
1. Self-observation
2. Self-goal setting
3. Self-reward
4. Self-punishment
5. Self-cueing

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 34

 Natural Reward Strategies
-Create situations in which individuals are
intrinsically motivated by the task itself (e.g.,
feelings of competence, self-determination)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 35

Your favorite diary and cup

Pixar
(California, USA)

Google (Zurich)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 36

 Constructive Thought Patterns Strategies
- Develop positive and habitual patterns of
thinking about opportunities and difficulties
1. Visualizing successful performance
2. Self-talk
3. Evaluating beliefs and assumptions

➢ The way you think often happens in an automatic way and

influence your behaviors.
➢ Use optimistic self-talk to replace negative destructive self-talk.

Patterns in Your The way The

your perceptions you process choices
thinking information you make

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. (Neck & Manz, 1996) 37
 Constructive Thought Patterns Strategies
- Develop positive and habitual patterns of
thinking about opportunities and difficulties
1. Visualizing successful performance

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. (Neck & Manz, 1996) 38
 Constructive Thought Patterns Strategies
- Develop positive and habitual patterns of
thinking about opportunities and difficulties
1. Visualizing successful performance
2. Self-talk

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. (Neck & Manz, 1996) 39
 Constructive Thought Patterns Strategies
- Develop positive and habitual patterns of
thinking about opportunities and difficulties
1. Visualizing successful performance
2. Self-talk
3. Evaluating beliefs and assumptions

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. (Neck & Manz, 1996) 40
 (Manz, 1986; Neck & Houghton, 2006)
41
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.
How Well Do You Lead Yourself?
Are You a Good Self-Leader?

Test Your Self-Leadership Skills

(students are asked to complete the scale on Blackboard before
the lecture)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 42

Self-Leadership Scale
How Well Do You Lead Yourself ?
Are You a Good Self-Leader?

Do you have any questions in calculating the

marks of different strategies?
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 43
 Aspect of Self- Items Your Max
Leadership Score Score
(out of)
Self-reward 2 + 7 + 12 15
Self-goal setting 1 + 6 + 11 + 15 25
+ 18
Self-punishment 3 + 8 + 13 +16 20
Self-observation 4 + 9 + 14 +17 20
Self-cueing 5 + 10 10
Natural reward 19 - 23 25
strategies
Visualizing successful 24 - 28 25
performance
Self-talk 29 - 31 15
Evaluating beliefs and 32 - 35 20
assumptions
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 44
 1. By referring to the results of self-leadership
scale, which aspect(s) have you done well?

2. Which aspect(s) do you think you need to

improve on? What will you do to improve the
related aspect(s)?

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 45

Self-Leadership Scale
By knowing the marks of different
strategies, you can better understand
yourself, make improvement on the
related strategies and have a better
self-management.

Behavioral-focused strategies

Natural reward strategies

Constructive thought patterns strategies

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 46

 Part IV

Relevance of Self-Leadership
in Different Professions

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 47

 When People are Self-Leaders,
They Are More Likely to be

Innovative
Productive Autonomous
Competent
Positive Proactive
Loyal

(Blanchard & Nelson, 1993)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 48
 The Importance of Self-Leadership
(Personal Aspects)
➢ Better academic performance
➢ Better relationships
➢ Higher self-awareness
➢ Higher self-confidence
➢ Increased happiness
➢ Decreased stress

(Blanchard & Nelson, 1993)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 49

 The Importance of Self-Leadership
(Organizational Aspects)
➢ More engaged and empowered workforce
➢ More creativity
➢ More collaborative team efforts
➢ Higher productivity
➢ Higher satisfaction
➢ Improved goal settings and results
➢ Faster and better decision making
➢ Reduced conflicts
➢ Help the team or organization prosper

(Blanchard & Nelson, 1993)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 50
Self-leadership contributes to higher performance
and motivation among the information technology
professions (Eseryel et al., 2014).

Self-leadership enhances healthcare workers ’

confidence at work, improves job productivity and raises
job satisfaction level (Jooste & Cairns, 2014).

Self-leadership strategies are very significant in one’s career

success today and it has become an essential need for most
leadership roles in sport settings (Megheirkouni, 2018).

Self-leadership has a positive impact on engineers’

innovation, decision making and teamwork (Paul &
Cowe, 2015)

To launch a successful career, self-understanding,

self-management skills, communication and
st
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.teamwork are the critical elements in the 21 century
51
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 52
 Part V

Applications of Self-
Leadership in Different
Professions and Daily Lives

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 53

 Do You Want to Be Led by a Leader
Who Cannot Lead Oneself? Why ?

Self-leadership is the foundation for all leadership

and management.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. (Manz, 1986; Manz & Sims, 2001) 54
 Everyone is a self-leader
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 55
 “Your time is
limited, so don't
Self-
waste it living understanding
someone else's life.”
Self-
“Love what you do. If you management
haven't found it yet, keep
Co-founder, Chairman, looking. Don't settle. As
and CEO of Apple with all matters of the
heart, you'll know when
you find it.”
Behavioral-focused Constructive thought
strategies patterns strategies
Goal setting
"We started out to get a
computer in the hands of
every people, and we
succeeded beyond our
wildest goals.” said Jobs Natural reward
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. strategies 56
 Self-
understanding

Self-
management

Spanish tennis player,

ranked world No. 2 in
men's singles
tennis currently

Behavioral-focused
strategies

Constructive thought
patterns strategies
Natural reward
strategies
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 57
 What is(are) your study goal(s), career goal(s),
or life goal(s) you wish to achieve?

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 Still remember in Lecture 1,
we talk about the concepts,
“Learning to Learn”.

Self-leadership is highly related to

the concepts, “Learning to Learn.”

59
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.
• Last​week,​we​introduced​to​you​the​L2L​concept,​and​invited​you​to​
take​the​L2L​self-assessment.​You​also​took​the​in-class​quiz​and​told​
us​your​biggest​goal​in​life.

• Here,​we​will​focus​on​the​relationship​between​self-leadership, sense​
of​purpose​and​your​study​and​learning…​and​success.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 Self-
understa • When you have a greater sense of purpose (Self-
nding Self- understanding), you become more focused and able
managem to make better choices and decisions to help you develop
ent
yourself in the face of adversities and difficulties (self-
management).

• Sense of purpose is an important element to your

development. It fuels you up and get yourself ready for
any challenges.

What is your purpose in life?

What are your personal
aspirations and goals?

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 • How you perceive yourself

• How you perceive yourself in relation to others

Composite of personal characteristics in multiple aspects,
• The more the person understands himself/ herself, the better the person
sense of purpose.
Physical features
Attitudes
Talents Goals/dreams/purposes Personality traits

Inner Personal values/beliefs Interests

thoughts Emotions/feelings

(Cooley, 1902; James, 1890;

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. Lapsley & Power, 2012; Mead, 1934)
• If a person has a greater sense of purpose, he/she will become more focused, and
he/ she will be able to make better choices and decisions to help her/him develop
himself/herself in the face of adversities and difficulties by utilizing the following
strategies,

Self-
management

Behavioral- Constructive
Natural​reward​ focused thought patterns
strategies strategies strategies

Self-goal Visualizing Evaluating

Self-cueing Self-observation successful Self-talk beliefs and
setting performance assumptions

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 63

 Personal Aspirations & Goals

• Your​aspirations​and​long-term​goals​may​
not​be​related​to​the​field​of​your​study.​

• It​does​not​matter.​What​matters​is​finding​
how​they​can​be​connected​to​your​study​
and​identifying​the​knowledge​and​skills,​
and​other​qualities,​that​you​need​to​learn​
and​acquire​in​order​to​help​you​achieve​
them.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 Personal Aspirations & Goals

Your aspirations and long-term goals may not be related to the

field of your study.

It does not matter. What matters is finding how they can be

connected to your study and identifying the knowledge and
skills, and other qualities, that you need to learn and acquire in
order to help you achieve them.

We have designed a worksheet to guide you to think about this.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 65

 Goals are very similar to your aspirations or
dreams but with a deadline. Goals give you
direction, energy, certain degree of
challenge and push your limits.

Avoid ambiguity and uncertainty when

setting goals. Set SMART goals, e.g.
“receive 3 job offers from top design
companies before I graduate” instead of
“getting a decent job”.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 Personal Development Plan

• Once you have set your goals, make an action plan

and think about the resources and support you will
need to achieve your goals and set a timeline for
each goal.
• We have designed a worksheet to guide you to
make your development plan.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 1. Understand the situation, and decide what you need and want

2. Decide what you need and want to achieve and what you plan to
do to achieve it

3. Check your progress, and make sure you stick to the plan
Improved Development

4. Reflect on the experience and outcomes, and see whether you need
to change your strategies or identify the things that you need to learn
or further develop

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 1. Understand the situation, and decide what you need and
want
2. Decide what you need and want to achieve and what you
plan to do to achieve it

3. Check your progress, and make sure you stick to the plan
Improved Development

4. Reflect on the experience and outcomes,

and see whether you need to change your
strategies or identify the things that you
need to learn or further develop

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 L2L Exercises via Blackboard:

1) Assignment 1: Picture Your Aspirations

2) Assignment 2: Personal Development Plan

Please complete the two assignments via blackboard after class.

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.

 Part V

Conclusion

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 71

People armed with the strategies of self-leadership, they feel
more positive about themselves and their tasks.

➢ Self-leadership is an inside job.

➢ No man can try to help another without helping himself.
➢ You cannot lead others unless you lead yourself effectively.
➢ The most important person to lead is yourself.
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 72
 “All men are sculptors ,
constantly chipping away the
unwanted parts of their lives,
trying to create their idea of
a masterpiece.”

~ Eddie Murphy
1961 – present
(An American comedian, actor,
writer, singer, and director)
©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved.
"Success doesn't come to you... you go to it”

~ Marva Collins
1936 - 2015
(One of the most significant
educators in the American history)

©️ Copyright 2025 APSS. All Rights Reserved. 74