MyJune Holiday Reading

As a way to contribute to my own professional development, I will like to share about a book I had read during this holiday entitled: “The Leader who had no title” by Robin Sharma. I am interested in reading his book as I find Robin Sharma an authentic leader who realized his own success through close examination of his inner motivations. Only when he chose to redefine his core values, brining them in line with what he knew to be right, did he start to understand the secrets of true happiness and success. Hence, I too believe that in order to be happy and successful, I first need to know myself. Thus, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) had helped provided me with some understanding of my own personality.

In his book, Sharma mentioned two types of leadership. The most familiar one is those with title such as president or CEO. The second type is the power of each individual to drive positive change wherever they are. He asserted that “Those who grasp that reality understand that their core belief will affect others, therefore those beliefs must be intentionally considered and applied.”

He offered an example of a woman named Anna who was a housekeeper of a hotel, but believed that “.. I have the best jobs in the world.” She sees herself as a good willed ambassador for the hotel, deeply important and essential to the smooth running of the organization. Another example cited is Burt who installed carpets and takes pride in doing what he did and leading others to their best by staying true to what he knew was excellence.Burt raised the bar of those who knew him.

I think what very much attracted me to this book was such illustrations of role models, who demonstrated my desired quantities (although almost certainly at a different level). Hence, knowing my own personality, it is also now possible for me to be aware and learn of the significant difference – in the manner in which I would approach a particular situation or a principle that I hold dear. Of course, with the goal of being inspired by such a leader’s example, and not to try to duplicate everything that was achieved or represented.