The great questions real leaders often ask themselves

By Ian Berry © 2005 Ian Berry. All rights reserved. Reprinted by Remacue with permission

Each one of us woke up this morning with another opportunity to be the special, one of a kind person that each of us is. A key to achieving our personal quest to be the best one of a kind we can be lies in the questions we ask. Last month I shared with you my thoughts on the great questions real leaders often ask other people. To be able to ask such great questions and inspire others is often a result of self leadership and the great questions we are able to ask ourselves.

Peter Drucker, the so called father of management, provides us with three great questions we can ask ourselves specifically in relation to our work

What am I doing that does not need to be done at all? What am I doing that can be done by somebody else? What am I doing that only I can do?

Possible action

Honest answers to these 3 questions are signposts to improving our effectiveness and efficiency. What should you stay doing and stop doing?

Other great questions to ask ourselves are more personal

Who am I that I am glad I am? Who am I that I wish I wasn’t?

Possible action

Our honest answers to these two questions provide us with signposts for personal growth. What should you stay doing; stop doing; and start doing in order to become more of whom you are capable of becoming?

Robert Louis Stevenson once said “to be who we are and to become all that we are capable of becoming is the only purpose in life.” Crucial to becoming all that we can become is our service of others.

Further great question to ask ourselves

How well am I using my talents to help others?

Possible Action

Ask those you live, work and play with what is important to them and then apply all your talents to helping others achieve what they tell you is important to them. In taking this action you will discover the great secret Zig Ziglar made us aware of many years ago that when we help others achieve what they want, we achieve what we want.

Be As Wise As You Can Be
Ian

Ian Berry is based in Brisbane, Australia. He is the Managing Director of Remacue. Ian works internationally as a business conference and meeting speaker and advisor to business leaders, owners and directors. For information about Ian’s business advisory work visit www.remacue.com For information about Ian’s speaking work visit www.ianberry.au.com