Lead yourself first before guiding any team

When I first started leading teams, I was all about action—meetings, memos, decisions. I rarely paused to look in the mirror and ask, “How am I leading myself?” And that was a mistake. Without self-leadership, you burn out and lose direction. One morning, as I raced to three meetings and five emails, I finally felt stretched thin. My energy was low and my focus was scattered.

That evening I decided to carve out ten minutes for a self-check. I sat in my favorite chair, wrote down five simple questions—“What did I learn today?” “Was my attitude positive?”—and answered them honestly. The next morning, I woke up with a clear head, energized for the day. I found myself making better calls, connecting more meaningfully with my team, and finishing tasks faster.

Science backs this up: reflection activates the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that governs planning and self-regulation. By scheduling daily self-leadership check-ins, you strengthen the neural circuits that let you stay calm under pressure and take decisive action. Over time, this practice becomes a habit that supports improved productivity and emotional resilience.

Leading yourself sets the tone for your entire day. When you take those ten minutes, you remind yourself of what matters most and recharge your inner batteries. And once you master your internal world, guiding others becomes far more natural and effective.

You start by carving out ten minutes each day—not an hour, just ten—to ask yourself key questions on attitude, energy, and priorities. Then you jot down your answers, celebrate any wins, and identify one action you’ll take before day’s end—maybe a quick read, a brief walk, or a kind word to a friend. Those small, consistent steps build a powerful habit: your daily check-in becomes the spark that fuels your confidence, clarity, and leadership all day long. Try it tomorrow morning.