It is the time of year when executive leaders begin planning for the next year’s business and corporate growth.  Sometimes we do this through retreats, leadership workshops, or team building exercises.  As part of my personal planning process, I recently participated in a 21-day program conducted by Champions Edge.  I began the program with a specific goal in mind.  I was responsible for reporting to my accountability partners daily regarding the progress toward my goal.  The group consisted of four executives whom I now consider peers and friends.  Although I made significant progress toward my goal and tasks to complete it, I was surprised by the unexpected personal development that came with the program.

As executive leaders, it is important to stay on top of the trends, legislation, stock markets, reading material, etc. for our organizations.  However, it is equally important to develop personally.  That is the biggest lesson I learned from this experience.  I am a business strategy consultant, but that is what I do–it isn’t who I am after hours.  I don’t think I am alone when it comes to executive leaders who get caught up in our work life but forget to stop and cherish the things in our personal life.  Some of the things I learned this past month include asking for support and not just for help.  I learned to express gratitude for those that made me who I am today as a person and a professional.  I learned that when I didn’t accomplish the tasks that I identified as most important for that day, my business didn’t come crashing down.   I learned sleep is sometimes more important than accomplishing my unrealistic To Do list.  I learned that peers, who have now become friends, can kick me in the butt when I need it and make me laugh at myself–all because they care for me as a person, not because I was a leader. I learned I need a project manager who can keep me organized and on time, and that it is okay to need her.  (By the way, I have the most incredible project manager!  She rocks!)

If you are thinking that I should have learned these lessons a long time ago… you are absolutely right.  But I challenge you as an executive leader, to stand back and look at your own life similar to what you do as your business.  What do you see?  Do an objective environmental scan of your life.  What are your personal strengths?  Not the ones that you have to have as the leader of your organization but the ones that make you the person you are when no one is looking?  What are your weaknesses?  Do you spend too much time trying to develop those instead of asking for help or letting someone else do those things?  What opportunities do you see for yourself and your life?  Not the ones that will advance your career but those that will develop you personally?  What threats do you see on the horizon that you need to be aware? Do you need some down time?

As you begin to prepare your organization for the annual strategic planning session, I challenge you to treat yourself as a company and complete your own strategy session.  If we only focus on developing our companies, we will miss out on some great opportunities to develop as human beings.  Life is way too short to miss out on becoming the best you that you can be.

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