Leading the Organization of 'Self': Reflections on Reading 'The Leadership Challenge'

Hello. How are you doing?
Although it is quite late, I am moving on to the April '3rd Period' of Jibun Co., Ltd. BS.

So far, I have thought about leadership in the 1st and 2nd periods as follows.

'How to lead one's own life'—that was a question of facing oneself first before trying to move others.

And this time, the book I picked up as the assigned reading for the 3rd period is the leadership classic that has been read for over 25 years,'The Leadership Challenge'.
This book introduces over 100 practical case studies, and as I read through it, I felt as if my own daily life was being observed.

For example—
・Waking up early while my family is still asleep, and the 'time for myself' that begins quietly
・The moment I look at my cluttered house and rethink, 'How do I want to live?'
・The conflict within myself of wanting to help or speak up while watching my children grow
・The attempt to look at the past and envision the future in my own words through posts on note and standfm

While reading the book, I thought that all of these might be actions that lead to the practice of 'leadership'.

This time, I will explore the 'figure of a leader' in daily life by carefully unraveling the 'Five Practices and Ten Principles' advocated by this book from the perspective of Jibun Co., Ltd.

The Five Practices and Ten Principles of Exemplary Leadership

The 'Five Practices of Leadership' derived by Kouzes & Posner.
At its foundation is the idea that 'You don't need to be a special leader. Leadership simply resides in your daily actions.'

When I read this, I felt it was a framework that matches 'Jibun Co., Ltd.'
Below, I will write about each practice while overlapping it with my own specific life and emotions.

[1] Model the Way

Principle 1: Clarify values by speaking in your own words and confirming common ideals
Principle 2: Set the example by acting in accordance with common values

For me, 'modeling' means 'organizing' and 'showing through action'.
For example, waking up in the 5 o'clock hour and spending some quiet time first.
While brewing coffee, I read books or note posts, or tidy up a cluttered corner before my family wakes up.
That time is an important habit that embodies my values—'stillness' and 'white space'.

I also believe that sharing information is part of the act of modeling.
I started writing, speaking, and communicating without showing it to anyone at first.
I feel that as those things accumulate, the axis of 'how I want to be' naturally grows.

[2] Inspire a Shared Vision

Principle 3: Envision noble possibilities that excite the heart and paint a future
Principle 4: Enlist others by appealing to a common dream

When I hear 'shared vision,' I tend to think of something grand like corporate management, but for my family, the vision might be 'taking our dog on a trip to a nature-filled area during Golden Week' or 'going on a family trip abroad this summer'.

Still, there is meaning in discussing it.
Looking at maps and guidebooks with my children, imagining 'the dog would enjoy it here,' or talking about how 'eating at this restaurant would be fulfilling along with the beautiful scenery'.
I feel that that time is the process of 'igniting a vision'.

I also articulate my vision for myself by writing about 'how I want Jibun Co., Ltd. to be in one year' on note.
By sharing that with someone, I feel that my words gain a soul.

[3] Challenge the Process

Principle 5: Search for Opportunities
Principle 6: Experiment and Take Risks by Accumulating Small Wins

The 'challenge' referred to here is not about major reform.
For example, try changing your breakfast menu to improve your physical condition. Try protein powder when you start exercising at the gym. Try walking your commute route. Just doing that makes the day feel a little different.

I recently experimented with 'reducing app notifications to three times a day.' This was an attempt to rethink how I deal with 'focus,' and it has been effective so far.

When I started audio streaming on stand.fm, I initially wondered, 'Who would listen to this?' but I am realizing that small challenges expand my daily rhythm and perspective.

[4] Enable Others to Act

Principle 7: Build Trust and Strengthen Bonds
Principle 8: Empower Others with Decision-Making Authority

What first came to mind in this chapter was the trip to Taiwan I took with my son. During the three days there, he had thought of a 'to-do list' in advance and planned the schedule himself.

What to eat at the night market, where to go—there were places I suggested by saying, 'Since we're here, let's go,' but in the end, I decided to leave it to his judgment.

What was impressive was his ability to respond when there was a minor accident.
The shop we planned to visit was closed, or we got lost. Even then, he would switch gears by saying, 'Then I want to go there,' and move flexibly.

During the trip, I don't think I needed to be a 'leader'; I was just 'someone watching from the sidelines.'
By entrusting things to others, their leadership is naturally drawn out. And above all, that fosters a relationship called 'trust.'

I realized that within 'Self Inc.,' trust also means 'letting go.'
Not deciding everything, not leading everything, but watching over silently.
That is a form of leadership I want to quietly nurture in my future family life and beyond.

[5] Encourage the Heart

Principle 9: Recognize Contributions
Principle 10: Enhance Community Spirit

What I am thinking about again recently is the importance of 'communicating properly.'
When my children work hard at their club activities or Duolingo studies, I try to say 'You did your best' out loud as much as possible.
Even with simple words, being noticed and recognized supports a person's heart more than one might think.

A while ago, when the whole family was eating together, the topic of my Note came up. When I mentioned that my followers were about to reach 200, my daughter said, 'You've kept it up for a long time. That's quietly impressive.' That one comment made me happier than I expected, and I was surprised at how encouraged I felt.

Also, on Note and stand.fm, people sometimes tell me, 'I'm reading your posts' or 'I resonated with this.' I try to reply with a polite 'Thank you' as much as possible. No matter how small the interaction, it gives me the realization that I am 'not alone.'

Self Inc. may seem like it's just me, but it is actually made up of a small 'team.'
Family, friends, people who write articles like I do, people who broadcast audio—
When someone works just a little bit hard, I want to be the kind of person who notices and acknowledges it properly.

Encouraging the heart means telling someone, 'I see you.' In a 1-on-1 seminar I recently attended, I learned the importance of acknowledging the other person's existence. I think that doesn't require grand praise, but rather small, daily 'words of encouragement' are enough.

Summary: Leadership Resides in Daily Actions

Having finished reading 'The Leadership Challenge,' I felt this once again.

A leader is not someone with a special title, but
someone who shows 'what they value and how they live' through their daily actions.

Organizing, articulating, taking on challenges, trusting and delegating, and offering small words of encouragement.
I believe these 'casual actions' are the roots of leadership within the corporation of 'Me'.

When you want to change something,
before trying to influence others or your environment, first consider how you will take 'today's step' yourself.
The accumulation of those steps nurtures relationships with family and colleagues, refines your way of being,
and may eventually become a 'light' for someone around you.

In my daily life, I am still moving forward while feeling lost.
However, through this book, I have come to feel that 'no matter what, I want to be the leader of my own self'.

Thank you once again for reading until the end. When I finish reading the next book on leadership, I would like to write another article about it.