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Take this quiz, and discover how your strengths can help build a better team.
by Joelle Jay, Ph.D.

     As a leader, you likely know how to lead your company or department. But how are you doing in terms of your personal leadership?

     Personal leadership is the ability to define a direction for your life and to move in that direction with consistency and clarity. The process involves asking yourself, “How do I need to be, act and think in order to be my best?” To do that, you must periodically turn away from the concerns of the day—the people, the problems and the pressure—to explore and discover your inner edge.

     To practice personal leadership, you apply the principles that make businesses a success … to yourself. For example, leading in business involves having a compelling vision, developing strategies and inspiring people to use their talents to meet a goal for improved business results. You, too, need a compelling vision and a strategy for reaching it. You need a team supporting you. You need results, as well as a sense of contribution and purpose. The difference is that personal leadership doesn’t just make for better business; it makes for a better you.

     When you practice personal leadership, you use every ounce of your potential, with inspiration instead of perspiration, synergy instead of sacrifice, and wisdom instead of work. Personal leadership is so important, in fact, that renowned management expert Peter Drucker once called it “the only leadership that’s going to matter in the 21st century.”

     So now the key question is, “Are you succeeding in leading yourself?” Take the following quiz to find out.

The Personal Leadership Quiz

Answer each of the following questions with a “yes,” “sometimes” or “no” response.

1. I am clear on what I want and know how to get it—for the big things and the small.
     Yes    Sometimes No

2. I practice a strategic, reflective approach to leadership.
     Yes    Sometimes No

3. I know where to focus my attention on a daily basis.
     Yes    Sometimes No

4. I am able to maintain peak performance at all times.
     Yes    Sometimes No

5. I maintain my sense of stability and equilibrium in times of change.
     Yes    Sometimes No

6. I have identified my talents, strengths, skills and weaknesses.
     Yes    Sometimes No

7. I know how to maximize and leverage my unique talents and abilities.
     Yes    Sometimes No

8. I am delighted with my quality of life both on and off the job.
     Yes    Sometimes No

9. I feel very little stress and overwhelm in my life.
     Yes    Sometimes No

10. I make a meaningful contribution every day.
     Yes    Sometimes No

11. I have plenty of time for people, activities and events that are most important to me.
     Yes    Sometimes No

12. I take regular action toward my most important goals—not just what’s most pressing.
     Yes    Sometimes No

13. I have a wide network of people who support me and whom I support in return.
     Yes    Sometimes No

14. I am constantly learning and improving myself.
     Yes    Sometimes No

15. I intuitively recognize and take opportunities.
     Yes    Sometimes No

16. I am often astounded by the way the opportunities I want and the solutions I need present
     themselves at just the right moment.
     Yes    Sometimes No

17. I achieve a sense of renewal and restoration on a daily basis.
     Yes    Sometimes No

18. I am proud of my ability to maintain my values and the essence of who I am, even when life
     gets hectic and/or as I get more and more responsibility.
     Yes    Sometimes No

19. I have achieved “success” as I define it.
      Yes    Sometimes No

20. I can say with confidence that every day I am at my very best.
     Yes    Sometimes No

Tally Your Score
         For each “yes” response, give yourself 2 points.
         For each “sometimes” response, give yourself 1 point.
         For each “no” response, give yourself 0 points.

What Your Score Means

     •  0-13 points
If your score is low, you’re likely new at personal leadership. You’re so focused on the image you’re putting out to the world that you’re neglecting your personal leadership. Chances are you’re doing what you’ve always done. As a result, you’re not being very strategic about what you’re doing and why. It’s time to take a break from the action of business, go backstage and do the inner work of who you are as a leader, what you want to contribute, and how you can find the ideal strategy for achieving what you want to achieve.

     • 14-27 points
If you scored in the midrange, you are spending some time on yourself, but you’re not being strategic in terms of getting the right balance for yourself. You may often feel that both business and life are “hit or miss.” You’re getting some benefits, but you’re not getting all the benefits you could. Therefore, look at where you’re excelling. These are your strengths. Find a way to refine those strengths even more so you can capitalize on them better. Then, look at where you rated yourself low. Those are your weaknesses. Find a way to develop those areas so you get more power.

      • 28-40 points
If your score is high, congratulations! You are very often thoughtful and strategic on what you’re doing and why. You’re capitalizing on your talents, and as a result, you’re maximizing your business results. But don’t get comfortable and rest on your laurels. Continue developing your skills. Yes, you can strengthen your competitive edge and be even more strategic. Think about how you can build on what you have now to leapfrog the competition and break through to a new level of potential. Remember, the stronger you get in personal leadership, the stronger you get in your business

Take Leadership Personally
     The bottom line is that as a leader, you must learn to lead yourself to stay effective. And just as the way you lead helps shape your life, the life you live will help you lead. So when you become a better leader, you also lead a better life. Ultimately, personal leadership offers you the chance to create true prosperity—the kind of happiness that comes not just from financial gain but also from the richness of life.

Joelle K. Jay, Ph.D., is president of the leadership development practice, Pillar Consulting. As an executive coach, author and speaker, she helps leaders achieve top performance and business results. Her clients include presidents, vice presidents and C-level executives in Fortune 500 companies. Ms. Jay is the author of The Inner Edge: The 10 Practices of Personal Leadership. To find out how she can help you reach the next level both personally and professionally, e-mail her at joelle@pillar-consulting.com, or visit www.pillar-consulting.com.