07 Jul Self-Leadership Strategies
Sue Stanek, founder of Inspiring Results and award-winning consultant, reveals essential self-leadership strategies that transform how professionals approach management and personal development in corporate environments.
The Leadership Bicycle Metaphor
Sue introduces a powerful framework for understanding leadership effectiveness:
Back Wheel: Your Expertise
- Technical skills and qualifications
- What’s typically on your resume
- Gets you hired but doesn’t guarantee leadership success
Front Wheel: Your Self-Leadership
- Self-management: How well you know and manage yourself
- Interpersonal leadership: How you manage relationships
- Determines where your expertise can take you
Key insight: Most professionals have strong back wheels but weak front wheels, limiting their leadership potential.
The Slippery Slope of Being Right
Sue’s most impactful concept addresses how quickly emotions can derail effective leadership:
The Dangerous Progression
- Something happens → Emotional response
- Form opinion → Opinion becomes “fact”
- Feel right → Become righteous
- Communication shuts down
Breaking the Pattern
- Pause before reacting when emotions spike
- Stay curious, not conclusive
- Remember: “If something doesn’t make sense, there’s more to the story”
- Ask yourself: “When I feel righteous, am I part of the problem?”
Mentoring’s Transformative Impact
Through 20 years of corporate mentoring programs, Sue identified key benefits:
For Individuals
- Increased self-worth and confidence
- Accelerated learning through others’ experiences
- Enhanced sense of organizational value
For Organizations
- Improved knowledge transfer
- Higher employee engagement
- Cultural transformation toward growth mindset
Work-Life Integration Wisdom
Sue’s husband’s feedback changed her perspective: “I want you to give up the applause.” What he was really saying was to stop seeing external validation.
Key Lessons
- You can do it all, but not all well at the same time
- Practice ruthless prioritization
- Seek internal validation rather than external validation
- Reflect regularly: without pausing, cycles repeat
Three Success Habits
- Peer Mentoring Book Club: Regular discussions with a peer mentor about leadership books like Think Like A Monk
- Spiritual Practice: Maintain whatever practice provides perspective on real success
- Morning Meditation: 5-15 minutes of quiet time before technology to clear mental clutter
Advice for Emerging Leaders
Seek BBO (Better Because Of) People
Surround yourself with those who help you:
- Do less of what you don’t like about yourself
- Do more of what you do like about yourself
- Push you to grow positively
Focus on Strengths
- Continuously identify and develop your unique strengths
- This is where you’ll make the biggest impact
Adopt a Service Mindset
“Focus on being the best FOR the world, not the best IN the world” This shifts you from ego-driven to service-oriented leadership.
Conclusion
Effective leadership starts with self-mastery. Sue’s bicycle metaphor reveals that while expertise gets you started, self-leadership determines how far you’ll go. By avoiding the righteousness trap, embracing mentoring, and maintaining sustainable practices, leaders can achieve results while empowering others to thrive.
Remember Sue’s closing insight: “We judge ourselves by intent and others by action.” True leadership requires both self-accountability and grace.
About Sue Stanek
Sue Stanek is the founder of Inspiring Results and an award-winning leadership consultant with over 25 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies. She holds a PhD in Training and Development and is a University of Minnesota Outstanding Alumni Award winner.
Sue has designed corporate mentoring programs for Menttium that earned her the McGraw Hill Company’s first Consultant of the Year award. She is a sought-after keynote speaker who specializes in self-leadership principles and sustainable work-life integration.