I know what you're thinking. You're thinking there can be no good in me first leadership. It's all the bad and the ugly. Set aside the me first leadership practiced by uncaring managers, selfish employers or greedy CEOs. That's not leadership and doesn't deserve the title with or without the me first defining it.
Instead, let's explore the possibilities of me first leadership in this context. To be an effective leader, you must first lead yourself. Here's the crux of it. How can you lead others if you cannot lead yourself.
Me first leadership then, among other things, means that you learn and practice good communication skills. You know the importance of being organized, disciplined and timely. You understand the value of "walking in another's shoes" so you are empathetic. You know the importance of respect which leads to the all important trust. You fully realize if you make a commitment, you fulfill that commitment. For good measure, let's throw in another element - that of civility. You treat others with civility at all times which now seems to be out of the norm.
This is especially important in a time when our airwaves are crowded with people talking and shouting over each other; negative criticism of all actions and ideas seems to be the order of the day, every day; and reality shows featuring daily discord and disagreement run rampant. Civility seems almost archaic in its use or lack thereof.
Makes leading yourself, or me first leadership all the more important. But, only in the very beginning.
It is important that you transition out of the "me first" phase quickly. After that transition, it's no longer about you, it's about others. However, with the learning you've experienced as a foundation, you are now prepared to be a good leader. At all times, you consider the impact your actions, words and decisions has on others as well as the organization. You have moved on to "we're in this together" leadership.
In this scenario, consider me first leadership a phase, not unlike adolescence or teen age years. All about self-focus, it is a phase leaders go through on their leadership journey.
