Who Am I?
It is a big question. Perhaps the biggest question of all. For many of us the answer is simple, for others not so much. What defines who you are? Are you the same as yesterday? How do you define yourself? Are you defined by what others expect of you or who they think you are? I maintain, along with people much wiser than me, that the heart of all leadership and partnership is our self-awareness and capacity to reflect on who we are, why we're here and where we're going. Everything else we learn or do follows this foundational work.
So how might you go about asking yourself this question? Opportunities are almost endless and originate from many different directions. One way is to build the “Brand Called You” a la Tom Peters (http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/10/brandyou.html). Another way is to explore the many various personality tests out there. Here's an enjoyable one that speaks specifically to exploring your current triggers for persuasion (http://sallyhogshead.com/fscoreq1/) and how to become more “fascinating”. There are also the more spiritual/psychological frames to help you consider who you are, such as this recent blog on awakening the inner leader (http://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-be-a-leader-without-trying/). All of these tools and countless others are geared toward learning more about yourself and how you work. And for some people, simply sitting still and listening to your inner voice is the most direct way. But no matter which way you choose to start (or continue) your journey to greater self-awareness, you'll never get there if you don't start. Learning more about who you are will help you on the first part of the journey to be a more successful you. That's how you become, as Tom Peters called it, the CEO of Me. Then you'll get to work on becoming the CEO of We, and that's where the fun really begins.