Becoming a Leader of Self

close window

Becoming a Leader of Self

by Joanna Francis

Have you ever had the thought that at this very moment,
as you are reading this, you are the most experienced and the
wisest you have ever been? And tomorrow you will be able to say
it again, I am the most experienced I have ever been, and the day
after tomorrow again.
The question then arises, what have we learnt from our experiences?
Is it conscious? Is it valued? Is it shared?

I have recently had the opportunity to facilitate a series of workshops for women concerning leadership, as well as another series entitled: Your Seven Wisdoms – the Psychology of Aging. The process of these workshops is designed to guide a person towards the realisation that leadership of others begins with leadership of self. In our lives we play many parts, from child to student, to friend, girlfriend, lover, wife, mother, career woman, cook, cleaner, manager, leader and so many others. The three actresses within us – the Female, the Woman and the Lady – also play their parts, each having their desires, their demands, qualities and tendencies. Within this multiplicity that each one of us represents, we are like an entire empire and sometimes it might seem that there is no leadership or government in place, with each part pulling in a different direction. In realising this fact, it is at this point that a person experiences the need for leadership of self, and it mostly does not come into the picture until they acquire a degree of knowledge and understanding of self as well as having been through a process that brings them to a practical decision concerning what they want.

To be effective, a leader needs to have an aim and a mission, something to rally behind, to bring all the many parts in line and into agreement. If the Female with her needs of self–expression and discovery listens to the Woman, who is the practical, mature and responsible manager within us, then she will be able to exercise her freedom and femininity within safe boundaries. If the Woman listens to the Lady who brings quality and standards into the equation, then her path will be aimed towards development and refinement, being mindful of her influence on those around her and on the planet itself. She will want to leave behind a legacy that would make this world a better place for her having been here.

So a leader of self will be someone who is focused and determined, a person who has accepted their lot but works to improve it, always looking for ways and means to further what they see to be their mission in life. If you meet such a person, you will know them by their maturity, irrespective of age, and by the fact that they will have little time for gossip, judgement of others or childish, irresponsible behaviour. They will radiate surety and they will have a fundamental gratitude for the fact of being alive and being given an opportunity to do something useful with their time here on planet earth, which is short and diminishing daily. They will command respect because they will have self–respect and their Lady life will be actively involved in all major decisions that they may choose to make.

The real leader of you is the You inside you – the Tenant, who has access and power of persuasion over all the other three – the Female, Woman and Lady. It is she who has the greater view that can stretch to the stars and further, and can adopt a long–term purpose that takes into consideration consequences that reach beyond this life.

In practical terms, becoming a leader of self begins with the important decision: what do you want? And as each life within you might have different wishes and desires, it will be a question that will need an answer from all parts, tested in many circumstances, until there is a unified response and an agreement, forged and tested by time, brought together like strands in a cord or notes in a symphony to form a strong central theme of your life.

Leadership towards the Future

What makes a person a leader? Having a progressive vision that is infectious and inspires others, carrying them on a wave of contagion towards the future? Or a person who is a leader of self first, who then responds to the need of the times, rising to the occasion that presents itself to them?

If a group of people, like a tribe or a nation, is an organism, then a leader will be a person or group of people who can effectively bring the head and the heart together in response to a need, to help the group perform an octave leap into something new that is appearing in that place and at that time as a window of opportunity and progression. There are moments in history when leaders are called for and appear, bringing together and merging the need of the times with a person has been made ready by having become a leader of self and by experience, a person who is able to rise to the occasion, certain of the sanctity of their mission.

Within the native history of North America, among the Iroquois or Cherokee tribes for example, there was a tradition that the elder women of the tribe, known as the Clan Mothers, would have the final say concerning important tribal decisions. The council of chiefs would bring their suggestions and the results of their deliberations to the Clan Mothers, but the final ratification rested with the women of proven wisdom.

These are rapidly changing times that call for new forms of leadership, where both genders can be heard and have a valid contribution to make, based on wisdom, experience and a real appreciation for the need of the times. Will such a leadership come to exist during our lifetime?
It depends on you and me.

© Joanne Francis 2007. All rights reserved.

Click this link for
Rainbow Woman from Amazon.com

About the author

Joanna has worked as a journalist, translator and writer, to name but a few of her many occupations. Over the last twenty years she has conducted lectures and workshops in Brazil, Canada, Europe, Kenya, Israel and the US, covering such subjects as meditation, building confidence, healing, leadership training, color and an introduction to the human energy systems. She is also the author of several books and articles. Her website can be found at: www.rainbowwoman.com

Joanna lives in Tennessee in the USA with her husband David.

This article was first published in the ‘Feminenza’ magazine, issue no. 3 of 2003. For more information about Feminenza, visit www.feminenza.org

close window

I have recently had the opportunity to facilitate a series of workshops for women concerning leadership, as well as another series entitled: Your Seven Wisdoms – the Psychology of Aging. The process of these workshops is designed to guide a person towards the realisation that leadership of others begins with leadership of self. In our lives we play many parts, from child to student, to friend, girlfriend, lover, wife, mother, career woman, cook, cleaner, manager, leader and so many others. The three actresses within us – the Female, the Woman and the Lady – also play their parts, each having their desires, their demands, qualities and tendencies. Within this multiplicity that each one of us represents, we are like an entire empire and sometimes it might seem that there is no leadership or government in place, with each part pulling in a different direction. In realising this fact, it is at this point that a person experiences the need for leadership of self, and it mostly does not come into the picture until they acquire a degree of knowledge and understanding of self as well as having been through a process that brings them to a practical decision concerning what they want. To be effective, a leader needs to have an aim and a mission, something to rally behind, to bring all the many parts in line and into agreement. If the Female with her needs of self–expression and discovery listens to the Woman, who is the practical, mature and responsible manager within us, then she will be able to exercise her freedom and femininity within safe boundaries. If the Woman listens to the Lady who brings quality and standards into the equation, then her path will be aimed towards development and refinement, being mindful of her influence on those around her and on the planet itself. She will want to leave behind a legacy that would make this world a better place for her having been here. So a leader of self will be someone who is focused and determined, a person who has accepted their lot but works to improve it, always looking for ways and means to further what they see to be their mission in life. If you meet such a person, you will know them by their maturity, irrespective of age, and by the fact that they will have little time for gossip, judgement of others or childish, irresponsible behaviour. They will radiate surety and they will have a fundamental gratitude for the fact of being alive and being given an opportunity to do something useful with their time here on planet earth, which is short and diminishing daily. They will command respect because they will have self–respect and their Lady life will be actively involved in all major decisions that they may choose to make. The real leader of you is the You inside you – the Tenant, who has access and power of persuasion over all the other three – the Female, Woman and Lady. It is she who has the greater view that can stretch to the stars and further, and can adopt a long–term purpose that takes into consideration consequences that reach beyond this life. In practical terms, becoming a leader of self begins with the important decision: what do you want? And as each life within you might have different wishes and desires, it will be a question that will need an answer from all parts, tested in many circumstances, until there is a unified response and an agreement, forged and tested by time, brought together like strands in a cord or notes in a symphony to form a strong central theme of your life. Leadership towards the Future What makes a person a leader? Having a progressive vision that is infectious and inspires others, carrying them on a wave of contagion towards the future? Or a person who is a leader of self first, who then responds to the need of the times, rising to the occasion that presents itself to them? If a group of people, like a tribe or a nation, is an organism, then a leader will be a person or group of people who can effectively bring the head and the heart together in response to a need, to help the group perform an octave leap into something new that is appearing in that place and at that time as a window of opportunity and progression. There are moments in history when leaders are called for and appear, bringing together and merging the need of the times with a person has been made ready by having become a leader of self and by experience, a person who is able to rise to the occasion, certain of the sanctity of their mission.
Within the native history of North America, among the Iroquois or Cherokee tribes for example, there was a tradition that the elder women of the tribe, known as the Clan Mothers, would have the final say concerning important tribal decisions. The council of chiefs would bring their suggestions and the results of their deliberations to the Clan Mothers, but the final ratification rested with the women of proven wisdom. These are rapidly changing times that call for new forms of leadership, where both genders can be heard and have a valid contribution to make, based on wisdom, experience and a real appreciation for the need of the times. Will such a leadership come to exist during our lifetime? It depends on you and me. © Joanne Francis 2007. All rights reserved.	Click this link for Rainbow Woman from Amazon.com
About the author Joanna has worked as a journalist, translator and writer, to name but a few of her many occupations. Over the last twenty years she has conducted lectures and workshops in Brazil, Canada, Europe, Kenya, Israel and the US, covering such subjects as meditation, building confidence, healing, leadership training, color and an introduction to the human energy systems. She is also the author of several books and articles. Her website can be found at: www.rainbowwoman.com Joanna lives in Tennessee in the USA with her husband David. This article was first published in the ‘Feminenza’ magazine, issue no. 3 of 2003. For more information about Feminenza, visit www.feminenza.org close window

close window