Habit 2 Begin with the End in Mind

Habit 2 Begin with the End in Mind

The Habit of Personal Leadership

We often live our life without much vision of where we are going. We become more effective leaders if we have a vision, a clear picture of where we’re going. It is called Begin with the End in Mind.

Habit 2 is the habit of Vision. Once we recognize that we have the freedom to choose (Habit 1), we get to decide where we want to go and do (Habit 2)!

To Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day or task with a clear understanding of where you are going.

. A Mediocre Manger has the Paradigm: I follow the agenda set by others.

. A Effective Manager has the Paradigm: I have a clear vision of what I want to accomplish as a Manager.

Our Vision Shapes Our Future

The most effective Managers shape their own future. Instead of letting other people or circumstances determine their destiny, the mentally plan and then physically create their own positive results. What they have in mind shapes their future. THEY BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND.

Define the Unique Contribution You Want to Make

One way to begin writing your Mission Statement is to first develop a Contribution Statement

. This is the beginning of personal leadership in the workplace.

. It determines the biggest contribution you want to make.

“Tributes”---Think about the most effective, influential Leader you have known. What would you like them to know about their leadership? Write a tribute statement to this person.

Once you can decide what you are about and what you treasure, you’ve automatically got guidelines. You’ve developed the criteria for making all the decisions in your life.

Someday you will leave the management role you are in now. Write the tributes you would like to receive from people around u.

What great contribution have you made in past roles?

What is the job that needs to be done now?

What talents do you have that can help you make a contribution?

What would make your leadership role more meaning to you?

Living Habit 2

Let your Contribution Statement drive everything that you do.

Once you get it right, it drives all your decisions---how you invest your time, the projects you take on, the meetings you attend, and the people you choose for your team.

Question the purpose of all the activities you engage in by asking yourself, “Are they clearly in support of my Contribution Statement?”