Self-Management as a Leader: key lessons from Peter Drucker's "Managing Oneself"

I recently discovered Peter Drucker’s classic article “Managing Oneself” and it really put some things into perspective for my role as a leader (you can find the article here). Some of the insights and lessons shared I had already been implementing, albeit unconsciously. Others have provided me with a fresh outlook on my approach to leadership.

Understanding your strengths

A fundamental lesson from Drucker’s article is the importance of identifying and building on one’s strengths. From a people leader’s perspective, understanding your strengths will allow you to leverage them for improved performance and more informed decision-making. There’s various way to discover your strengths. The ones I found most efficient is feedback-analysis and self-reflection. Once you have identified your strong areas, reflect on how you can use them to boost your team’s success. For example, if strategic-thinking is your strong suit, focus on guiding your team towards long-term goals and the bigger picture.

Knowing how you work

Drucker also emphasizes the significance of not only understanding one’s work style, but also how it affects personal performance. Recognizing your preferred style allows you to maximize learning and increases your ability to adapt your environment to work more effectively. In a leadership role, it’s equally important to understand how your team members work and process information. This can assist you to tailor your communication and leadership approach to their needs.

Defining your values

The role that values play in guiding both personal and professional decisions is pivotal. Regardless of your role, it’s important to align your values to those of your organization to ensure a good fit and long-term job satisfaction. Being able to articulate what your core values are will ensure for a smoother career navigation and equips you to make better decisions when facing challenging situations.

Taking responsibility for relationships

Drucker highlights the importance of taking responsibilities for building and maintaining relationships. Actively cultivating relationships with colleagues, managers, direct reports, allow one to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

Planning for the second half of your life

I found this part very insightful as this is something it’s easy for us to put on the back burner in the hustle and bustle of life. Developing a parallel career or pursuing new interests and passions can positively impact your personal growth and fulfillment. As a leader, I always encourage my team members to invest in their professional development and explore new opportunities, even outside the organization.

I encourage everyone to give these a try and see how they can impact your own professional journey. As a leader, focusing on such insights can help you fine-tune your approach to leading others. There’s learning and growing opportunities every step of the way.