Leadership Development: Me First

30 December, 2015

I have worked with many leaders over the years that earnestly want to help develop their current and future leaders. They care about the success of the organization and the personal success of those individuals who comprise the organization. Before bringing in all the line managers of a firm to tell them what they need to develop, I would suggest that we start with the leader. Leaders who model what I call a “Me First” attitude are trailblazers. They show people that they are committed to being their personal best first, before asking others to jump on board.

What are the characteristics of “Me First” leaders?

“Me First” leaders are servants. They are willing to be vulnerable and real with their teams. The actions of “Me First” leaders portray the following attitudes:

  • I am real.
  • I am human and therefore, I am flawed.
  • I am committed.
  • I will work hard.
  • I care.
  • I will not ask you to do something that I am unwilling to do myself.
  • I will model the way.
  • I invite you to take this journey with me.

In working with our clients, we always suggest the executives go first. As we work together to build leadership development plans and processes, we ask that leaders not just tell people what to do but to show them and involve them in the leader’s personal development. This “Me First” attitude engages others in an organization in a much more meaningful way.

At Dorsey Management Consulting, we help our clients learn new skills and expand their leadership capacity to better lead their organizations into the future. We help leadership teams learn how to work together more effectively and efficiently, enabling them to make sound and timely decisions in pursuit of achieving greater success. We partner with our clients to design and build succession plans and develop their future leaders. We coach executives to achieve higher self-awareness and better leaders of people. We do this in service of learning, helping each of our clients become better versions of themselves and achieving organizational goals.