1. Know Yourself and Seek Self-Improvement

"It is never too late to be who you might have been." — George Eliot

A key leadership guideline that highlights the value of self-awareness and personal development is "Know yourself and seek self-improvement." This idea serves as a reminder for leaders to reflect on their own strengths and flaws and actively look for areas where they may develop.[1]

Effective leadership is built on self-awareness. Understanding one's own motives, attitudes, and prejudices enable leaders to better comprehend the needs and viewpoints of others. Leaders that are self-aware can see their own blind spots and try to overcome them will be able to make better decisions and solve problems. Seeking improvement is essential for both personal and professional growth, in addition to self-awareness. A leader who is dedicated to improving over time is more likely to gain the team's respect and trust. They do this by setting an example for their team and demonstrating their commitment to improving themselves. This establishes a benchmark for the team to adhere to and inspires them to work on improving themselves.

Being receptive to criticism is necessary when seeking progress. A leader is more likely to succeed if they are open to hearing their team's input and taking it to heart. This is due to the fact that feedback enables leaders to see areas in need of development and take the appropriate action to address them. A leader who is open to criticism increases the likelihood that they will gain the team's respect and trust by demonstrating that they appreciate their opinions and are prepared to make adjustments for the good of the group.

Additionally, striving for progress requires being receptive to picking up new abilities and accepting new challenges. A leader is more likely to succeed if they are willing to leave their comfort zone and try new things. This is due to the fact that they are always increasing their knowledge and expertise, which enables them to lead and manage their team more effectively.

To sum up, a key leadership value is to "know yourself and seek development." It places a strong emphasis on the value of self-awareness, personal development, and the drive to always better oneself. The likelihood that a leader will gain the team's respect and trust and guide them to success increases if they uphold this guideline. It serves as a reminder that leaders must constantly be willing to examine themselves, be receptive to criticism, and actively seek out possibilities for personal growth. Every leader should embrace this idea and incorporate it into their everyday routine.

__________ [1] 11 timeless principles of leadership (US army 1948). (n.d.). Academy Leadership | Developing Leaders Who Deliver Results. https://www.academyleadership.com/news/201406.asp?fbclid=IwAR2IeDbfZfjUGdtmTzoRNxPxbII1N9UPbCdGyWn3yY6dbt1fFc4ynb1sqUw