The common denominator in every good and every bad decision you’ve ever made—every relationship decision, parenting decision, business decision, and financial decision, to name a few—is you. While it may be a hard truth to realize, one of your greatest leadership challenges is the person staring back at you in the mirror. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to lead yourself well as you become a leader worth following.

“You will not be a leader worth following if you don't lead yourself well.” – Andy Stanley

As dynamic communicator, author of 20 books, and founder and pastor of North Point Ministries, a network of 130 churches world-wide, Andy Stanley offers a wealth of expertise on the topic of leadership, including leading yourself. If you’ve been to The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) before, you will remember him for his compelling, often challenging insight for leaders in every sphere of influence.

We’re excited to welcome Andy back to the GLS stage on August 4-5, 2022! During his talk, Andy will dive into fresh content from his brand-new book, Not in It to Win It, where he will share a blueprint for fostering unity in a divided world, which starts with returning to your values. Get Tickets >>

Until then, get a preview of Andy’s leadership insights in this powerful talk on leading yourself—the hardest person you will ever lead.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XqxdsCQh7Q?rel=0[/embed]

Key Takeaways & Quotes

Self-leadership is the key to sustained influence.

Leaders who are worth following and people who are worth emulating are people who have mastered self-leadership.

Exceptional self-leadership is the key to sustained performance.

When a leader burns out, or when a leader is taken out, it's because they weren't leading themselves well.

Extraordinary self-leadership requires that we make three decisions:

1. I will not lie to myself, even when the truth makes me feel bad about myself.

• • • What's worse than feeling bad about yourself? Is not doing anything about the thing that's bad about yourself.
    • You can't lead yourself well as long as you're lying to yourself. Have you ever tried to lead a liar? You can't lead yourself until you are honest with yourself.
    • Really telling yourself the unfiltered truth about what you're doing and why you're doing it is the key to great self-leadership.

2. I will prioritize what I value most over what I want now.

• • • Exceptional self-leaders lead themselves towards what they value most, not what they want now.
    • What you want now is rarely what you value most.
    • You cannot become an exceptional self-leader until you discover what you value most.

3. I will not attempt to lead myself by myself.

• • • It's easy to find people who share common interests. You need to find people who share common values. Exceptional self-leadership is value driven.
    • Everybody ends up somewhere in life. Life is a journey. Direction determines destination. Direction, not intention, determines destination.

Whenever you're about to make a decision, ask yourself this question:

Why am I doing this? Then you’ve got to take it up one notch. Why am I doing this, really?

How do you discover what you value most?

In Stephen Covey's book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, he says ask yourself this question: What do I want said about me in the end? What you want said about you at the end is what you value most.

Every single day you get up with the opportunity and the responsibility to lead the person that has more to do with your destiny than any other person. The person in the mirror is counting on you. Not only is the person in the mirror counting on you, for most of you, there are others counting on you as well.

Want to foster unity in a divided world? Hear more from Andy Stanley on the topic of his brand-new book, Not in It to Win It, on August 4-5, 2022, at The Global Leadership Summit. Get Tickets >>