Knowing and
Believing in Yourself
Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Throughout history, there have been many great leaders. The qualities in
which these individuals’ poses have long intrigued mankind as have the
origin. Laurie Beth Jones, author of Jesus CEO , puts before the reader one
of the first leaders. Jesus. During the course of the reading, the author
points to events, both good and bad, and what Jesus did while faced with
challenges.
The
reading opened with a quote that resonates throughout the readings in class;
“If you have not been tested by fire, you do not know who you are. And if
you do not know who you are, you cannot be a leader.” This thought in
itself is not ground breaking, but it seems to be an area in which all
people struggle. To error is human. All of us have faults yet we find it
difficult to admit out failings. Leaders should allow experiences help
shape who they are; in turn better knowing thyself and believing in ones
abilities. In order to believe in yourself, you must first know who you are
and what you stand for.
No
doubt we have all experienced those around us who believe in themselves and
exude self confidence that you are inherently drawn to them for help and
advice. I met my husband sixteen years ago and from the beginning, I felt
that these above mentioned traits are what I was drawn to and wished that I
had those same qualities. As a teenager, I was like other kids my age, I
did not know who I was and therefore unequipped to believe in myself.
My
husband and I started our family at a very young age and trying to complete
high school was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I became
alienated from my peers and ridiculed for the decisions I had made. I felt
ill-equipped to deal with the pressures and thought about quitting school on
many occasions. During my pregnancy, I spent a lot of time getting to know
myself and learning to overcome adversity. My husband was pivotal in this
journey. He encouraged me to believe in myself, as he did, when nobody else
did.
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I ended up walking with my senior class with honors. As I was preparing
to walk across the stage to receive my diploma, I insisted on having my
son walk with me, he was one at the time. Because of him, I knew who I
was. I remember feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and as
we were walking, a roar of applause came from my classmates; those who
did not believe in me for the last two years.
Many of the characteristics highlighted in the first section of the book
can not only be found great leaders both past and present but in
ourselves. Inherently, these qualities are built into our being.
Leaders are able to understand the situation and reach within themselves
to choose the best tools to achieve results. Jesus CEO : Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership |
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Learning how to be an effective leader
takes time and is a process that requires action and continuous
education. Below are some valuable resources that can help you
achieve the results of being an effective leader.
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Other
than the sobering fact that real lives are regularly at stake,
running a navy ship is a lot like running a business: leaders of
both must get the most out of their crews to operate at peak
efficiency and complete the tasks at hand. As commander of the
highly acclaimed USS Benfold, Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
irrefutably demonstrated how progressive management can succeed at
sea; in It's Your Ship, he translates his methods into an
approach that can also be applied by land-bound captains of commerce
and industry.
It's Your Ship: Management Techniques
from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy

Good to Great is a textbook on how
to run a successful organization. It includes extensive appendices
detailing the methodologies of the research and comprehensive notes
and references. Good to Great is a must-read for anyone
building or leading a business or group. And it challenges a lot of
the current hype about makes a company successful. Whether it be the
charismatic CEO, to the hype of IT, or merger mania, none of these
contributed to the success of the top 11 companies covered in
Good-to-Great.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
Stephen
Cobey, an internationally respected leadership expert, is the author
of several acclaimed books. Dr. Covey is vice chairman of the board
of directors of FranklinCovey, a premier leadership development
authority that aids organizations in aligning their strategies with
proven principles. FranklinCovey supports its clients through
consulting services and personal coaching. Custom on-site,
client-facilitated, and open-enrollment training is offered
worldwide. In addition, more than 7,000 licensed client facilitators
teach this curriculum within their organization and train in excess
of 750,000 participants annually. Unabridged. 13 CDs. 14 hours.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Unabridged Audio Program) |
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