Do you want to be one of those leaders everyone seeks out?

The one whom everyone aspires to be like?

Or who gets asked for their guidance or to be a mentor?

If your goal is being that kind of leader, one who uses their head to manage and their heart to lead, your first step is getting “you” right.

Once that alchemy happens, your interactions with others will be more right, too.

7 things you need to know about you

1.  Know your default settings.

Are you straight-talker, calling it as you see it? Or do you ask lots of questions? Do you practice advocacy or inquiry? Do you write it out or talk it out? Do you dream in watercolor images or not at all? Do you want ideas or data? Know…and share.

2.  Know your style of humor.

Whether your humor is subtle, sly, raucous, or offbeat, know what makes you laugh. And do it often.

There is nothing like a gleam of humor to reassure you that a fellow human being is ticking inside a strange face. ~Eva Hoffman

3.  Know your fears.

What scares you? What’s your deepest fear? Is your fear based in lacks (confidence, knowledge, resources) or in loss (control, acceptance)? Have you tamed your fear or does it rule you?

The timid are afraid before the danger, the cowardly while in danger, and the courageous after danger. ~Jean Paul

4.  Know your limits.

When you’re tired or stressed out, do you withdraw? Shout? Reach for chocolate? Be alert for early warning signs so you can take control before you melt-down (or lash out or eat six candy bars).

5.  Know if your capabilities. 

Do you want a jam-packed schedule or lots of wiggle room? Do you work harder when you have too much to do, or do you freeze up when that happens? How best do you learn? Are you a hands-on learner? Do you need to see it? Touch it? Hear it? Write it? Read it?

6.  Know your quirks

What idiosyncrasies make you unique? Do they make people crazy or make them love you? Are they spurs to action or impediments?

7.  Know your passions.

What makes your heart sing? Your eyes light up? What makes you weep with joy? What drives you to anger? Despair? Frustration?

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue center light pop and everybody goes “Awww!” ~Jack Kerouac

Getting to know yourself doesn’t mean you’re self-centered. It does means you’re building an emotionally intelligent foundation for working and interacting effectively with others.

And that’s a good thing.

Ready to make it so?