| We live in a world in which the concept of | | | | the final passing grade is always out of reach. We |
| unconditional acceptance is almost completely | | | | will never measure up to the standards we set |
| foreign, and healthy leadership development is | | | | for ourselves. We will always be comparing |
| therefore compromised. Our education systems, | | | | ourselves to others, and we will never be free to |
| our family life, our relationships with colleagues and | | | | pursue our own dreams and passions. Not only |
| peers... practically every aspect of our lives is lived | | | | that, but our professional and personal |
| on the basis and understanding of "You will get | | | | relationships will be less than what they could be |
| this, if you do that." From a very early age we | | | | as we accept those around us as conditionally as |
| are conditioned to perform, and a world of tests, | | | | we accept ourselves. |
| grades and consequences soon makes it clear to | | | | In learning to recognize our inherent value as |
| us that people occupy various classes in life based | | | | unique human beings, we are liberated from the |
| on their performance. Increasingly, what we do | | | | shackles of having to prove ourselves to anyone, |
| and how we do it becomes one of the primary | | | | including ourselves. This frees us up to devote our |
| ways in which we determine our worth and the | | | | time, attention and energy to pursuits that |
| worth of others. | | | | genuinely matter to us, as opposed to |
| Many of us have memories of enduring the | | | | constructing our lives around the need to impress |
| football or volleyball pick on our school playground. | | | | people. In learning to value ourselves, it becomes |
| All that we hoped for and wished was that we | | | | progressively easier to make the kind of |
| would not be the last person to be chosen. Being | | | | investment in ourselves that does that value |
| the last person to make the grade made it very | | | | justice. Nothing we can do or achieve in this life |
| difficult to walk around with your head held high | | | | changes our value as people. The nature of the |
| and with a strong sense of self-worth. As a result | | | | tasks or careers that we are involved in does not |
| of these and many other situations, the concept | | | | define who we are. |
| of self worth becomes almost unavoidably linked | | | | Recognizing and resting in our incredible value as |
| to the strength or weakness of our performance. | | | | people forms the basis of a life that positively |
| This in results in the motivation for lots of our | | | | impacts the world. Living a life that is motivated |
| choices and behavior being fractured and | | | | by value and passion is infinitely more meaningful |
| unhealthy. | | | | and enjoyable than one that is motivated by the |
| Whether we are trying to impress ourselves or | | | | need to perform. The VDT leadership |
| others, a self-image based on performance will | | | | development strategy is all about learning to |
| inevitably lead to a life in which peace and | | | | embrace the former, while letting go of the latter. |
| contentment are impossible to attain. This is not a | | | | Fill in the form below to receive your free VDT |
| constructive leadership development strategy. It's | | | | and "Genus Mastery" mini-courses, and get your |
| like living in a constant examination room where | | | | life on an effective track today. |