Blossom and Bloom: 10 Personal Leadership Goals
Being a good leader is about more than just giving orders—it's about building strong relationships, inspiring your team, pushing your team members to learn and grow, learning from your mistakes, adapting to change, continually improving your leadership skills, creating a purposeful environment for your team members, and always knowing there's room for growth. Whether you're running a business management firm or leading a team within an organization, effective leadership is key to creating a positive work environment and achieving both short- and long-term goals.
The leadership development goals you set should be aligned with your personal growth, but they should also create a foundation for professional development that boosts employee engagement and fosters open communication. I take pride in my coaching skills, because I create an environment where my team feels safe to share their personal goals openly and without hesitation."
Personal Leadership Goals
Before I dive into my 10 personal leadership goals, it's important to first understand what personal leadership truly means. At its core, personal leadership is about leading yourself before you lead others. It’s the ongoing commitment to self-awareness, growth, and accountability that allows you to show up authentically in all areas of life. A strong personal leadership foundation enables you to stay focused on your values, develop emotional intelligence, and make better decisions, both personally and professionally.
By refining your own leadership skills, you not only inspire others but also create a lasting impact within your team and organization. The goals I’ll share in this post are designed to help you build that solid foundation while driving your personal and professional growth, ensuring you become the best leader you can be.
What is Personal Leadership?
Personal leadership is the practice of taking responsibility for your own actions, decisions, and growth, both personally and professionally. Why is leadership important in your personal life? It involves setting clear values, goals, boundaries and standards for yourself, and consistently working towards them with integrity and discipline. At its core, personal leadership is about self-awareness— understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and emotions.
Listed below are my personal leadership goals. As you go through my goals, I hope you get a better understanding of why leadership is important in your personal life. The answer is simple, you choose YOU! You're making yourself a priority by showing up in a leadership position in your personal life.
1. Become a Better Manager
Good leaders understand that managing a team is more about people than processes. To become a better manager, it's important to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses. Self-awareness is crucial here—you can't lead others effectively until you've identified what you're great at and where you need to improve.
As a leader, I'm constantly reading new books, searching for a certification program to complete, being an active listener and creating a work environment where everyone feels heard and valued. I invest time in fostering employee engagement and creating opportunities for their team to grow both professionally and personally. I encourage my team to prioritize their goals, and dive deep into what's holding them back.
2. Manage More Individuals on Your Team
As your business or department grows, so does the number of people you manage. This requires strengthening your leadership skills in areas like delegation and time management. Delegating tasks is not just about assigning work—it's about trusting your team to take ownership of their roles, which boosts their confidence and engagement.
Managing a larger team means focusing on long-term goals while ensuring everyone is aligned with the organization's mission. A good leader I do my best to delegate effectively while providing support and guidance. My team members know they can come to me anytime with questions. I'm also in constant communication with them ensuring they are not overwhelmed with the amount of work on their desk.
3. Complete a John Maxwell Certification Program
Having read several of John Maxwell's books, I greatly admire his leadership style and resonate with the values and skills he teaches. With this connection to his principles, I aim to complete a certification program in 2025 based on his leadership philosophy. Maxwell’s approach emphasizes building influence and strengthening your ability to connect with others, which aligns with my personal and professional goals.
Completing the certification will not only enhance my leadership skills but also provide me with valuable tools to develop a successful and engaged team. Maxwell teaches that leadership goes beyond authority—it's about inspiring others to achieve their full potential. Stay tuned as I look more into the certification program.
4. Be On Time (Seriously!)
Time management is essential for any leader. Being on time not only shows respect for others but also helps you stay focused on your day-to-day tasks. Good leaders know that managing their time well sets a strong example for their team and ensures smoother operations.
If punctuality isn’t your strong suit, consider it an achievable goal to work toward. Build systems that help you stay on top of your schedule, like setting reminders or prioritizing tasks that require your immediate attention. I started scheduling my meetings 10 minutes earlier than the actual meeting time. By doing this, I ensure that I show up on time to all my virtual meetings.
I'm working on improving my punctuality for in-person meetings. Sometimes I underestimate traffic, but this is certainly no excuse for being late. This is truly a weakness of mine and a goal I want to strengthen and continue improving because I need to respect my time, but more importantly, the time of the other person.
5. Get Better with Presentation Skills
Effective communication is a must for any leader, and this includes mastering presentation skills. Whether you’re addressing your team, pitching to clients, or speaking at conferences, being able to present your ideas clearly and confidently is essential for leadership success.
Great leaders use storytelling to make their message relatable, and they ensure that their body language supports their words. I need to challenge myself and join a public speaking group like Toastmasters to sharpen my skills in a supportive environment.
6. Give More Presentations
Once you've built up your presentation skills, aim to give more presentations. This might feel intimidating, but the more you practice, the better you’ll become. Presentations are a great way to not only convey your ideas but also establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
A good leader knows that presentations aren't just about conveying information—they’re about engaging and inspiring your audience. Make each presentation an opportunity to build relationships and foster open communication with your listeners.
7. Build Your Professional Network
Successful leaders understand the importance of building strong relationships outside of their immediate team. Your professional network is an invaluable resource that can provide support, insights, and opportunities. Building these connections takes time, but it’s crucial for long-term leadership success.
Good leaders don't just network for the sake of it—they nurture genuine relationships. Attend industry events, join professional groups, and follow up with meaningful connections. Networking is an ongoing process, and it requires you to be proactive in maintaining those relationships.
I consistently use LinkedIn to build new relationships, request 20-mins informational calls to gather information on their leadership style and what it takes to run a department or company.
8. Build Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a cornerstone of good leadership. Leaders with high EQ are better at managing stress, navigating conflict, and building strong relationships within their team. Emotional intelligence helps you stay focused on the big picture while maintaining empathy for the individuals you lead.
Start by recognizing and managing your own emotions. By understanding your emotional triggers, you can respond more effectively in difficult situations. Additionally, work on becoming an active listener, as this will help you understand the emotions and motivations of those around you.
9. Build a Dynamic Team
A dynamic team doesn’t just happen by accident. Good leaders are intentional about creating a work environment where every team member’s strengths and weaknesses are understood and valued. Building such a team means fostering collaboration, encouraging innovation, and promoting open communication.
To build a dynamic team, focus on employee engagement by ensuring that each person feels supported in their role. Successful leaders create opportunities for growth and development, helping their team members set smart goals that align with both their personal aspirations and the company’s long-term goals.
10. Focus on Your Personal Development
Leadership isn't a destination—it’s a journey of continual growth. One of the best ways to become a better leader is by focusing on your personal and professional development. Whether it's through reading, attending workshops, or networking with other leaders, continually improving yourself should be one of your primary goals.
Good leaders lead by example. When your team sees that you're investing in your own growth, it inspires them to do the same. Moreover, by staying focused on your personal development, you'll sharpen the leadership skills you need to succeed in both your business and personal life.
How will you apply these personal leadership goals to your life? Comment below!
By working toward these 10 leadership development goals, you're not just improving yourself—you’re becoming the kind of good leader who inspires, empowers, and elevates everyone around you. Leadership isn't about perfection; it's about progress. As you continually improve and stay focused on both your short-term and long-term goals, you’ll see incredible growth in yourself, your team, and your business. And as you're going through your leadership goals, don't forget to celebrate your wins, your teams wins. It's always nice to notice the victories that allow you and your team members to shine!