Leading Self

I’m reading through Leadership Gold by John Maxwell and came across this paragraph:

Most people use two totally different sets of criteria for judging themselves versus others. We tend to judge others according to their actions. It’s very cut-and-dried. However, we judge ourselves by our intentions. Even if we do the wrong thing, if we believe our motives were good, we let ourselves off the hook. And we are often willing to do that over and over before requiring ourselves to change.

It challenged me and reminded me of something Jesus said in Matthew 7:2-4

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Leadership starts with the person in the mirror and that person not placing something on those he leads that he doesn’t own himself… actions or intentions.

It seems we need to willing to give those we lead as many opportunities for success as we give ourselves and if the “ball is dropped”, a real leader is quick to accept responsibility and slow to shift blame.