Lead Yourself First: The Foundation of Leadership and Management
- Richard Keenlyside
- 9 minutes ago
- 2 min read
TL;DR
To be an effective leader or manager, start by leading yourself. This article explores the value of self-leadership as the core competency that underpins all great leadership and management practices.
Introduction
In my 30+ years as a Global CIO and IT Director, I’ve led digital transformations, managed enterprise-scale change, and navigated crises. But one lesson has stood above all: you must lead yourself first before attempting to lead others. Leadership and management are not simply roles—they're responsibilities built upon a foundation of self-discipline, self-awareness, and self-motivation.
Why Self-Leadership Matters in Leadership and Management
Self-leadership is about setting personal direction, staying accountable, and embodying the behaviours you expect from others. Whether in professional services, manufacturing or retail sectors, I've observed that leaders who excel at managing themselves inspire greater trust and drive higher performance.
Self-leadership directly influences your ability to:
Make clear, unbiased decisions under pressure
Model behaviours like resilience, honesty, and accountability
Prioritise and manage time effectively
Lead high-performance teams by example
The Three Pillars of Leading Yourself First
1. Clarity of Purpose
Know what you stand for and what you’re striving toward. In the fast-paced environments of global enterprises, clarity prevents distractions from becoming derailments.
2. Emotional Intelligence
Self-awareness and emotional regulation are the fuel for sustainable leadership. Your ability to empathise and manage stress affects how your team responds under pressure.
3. Personal Accountability Self-Leadership
Leadership and management start with owning outcomes. If you miss a target or deliverable, own it. Great leaders don’t deflect—they reflect.
From Self-Leadership to Team Leadership
Once you master self-leadership, you create the conditions for others to follow. At Mothercare, I led a business transformation involving 600+ personnel across multiple continents. It wasn’t just about Gantt charts and roadmaps. It started with aligning my own mindset to the strategic goal.
When I mentor executives in retail or AI start-ups, I always advise: “Lead with intent, lead with integrity, and always lead yourself first.”
Embedding Self-Leadership into Daily Practice
Start your day with intent: Clarify your top 3 priorities every morning.
End your day with reflection: Review what went well, what could be better.
Seek feedback: Your perception isn’t always the reality—ask, listen, improve.
Stay curious: Read, learn, and continually update your mindset.
FAQs
What is self-leadership?
Self-leadership is the practice of influencing yourself to achieve your personal and professional goals. It includes goal-setting, self-awareness, and accountability.
How does self-leadership relate to leadership and management?
It forms the basis of all effective leadership and management. If you cannot manage your time, emotions, and actions, you cannot effectively lead others.
Can anyone develop self-leadership?
Absolutely. It’s a skill developed through consistent reflection, discipline, and action.
Final Thoughts
Leadership is a privilege, not a position. And managing others effectively begins by managing yourself exceptionally. If you're navigating complex change—be it AI integration, global transformation, or ERP modernisation—lead yourself first. Only then can you authentically lead others.
Richard Keenlyside is the Global CIO for the LoneStar Group and a former IT Director for J Sainsbury’s PLC.
Please call me at +44 (0) 1642 040 268 or email me at richard@rjk.info.
Follow me on X https://x.com/cioinpractice & LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardkeenlyside/
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