It's tempting for leaders to focus entirely outward - on leading teams, projects, and organizations. However, the most effective leaders know that you must lead yourself first before you can lead others. Self-leadership establishes the integrity and personal mastery from which all other leadership flows.

Self-leadership requires introspection. Understanding your own motivations, values, habits and quirks allows you to lead from a place of self-awareness. When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can exemplify your best qualities and surround yourself with people who complement your gaps.

Self-leadership also demands self-care. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Managing your energy, taking time to recharge, and prioritizing your physical and mental health enables you to show up as your best self. It's hard to inspire others when you are depleted. Leading yourself well gives you the resilience and focus to handle challenges.

In addition, self-leadership requires self-regulation. Being disciplined with your time and emotions, holding yourself accountable, and sticking to healthy routines demonstrates the very traits you want your team to emulate. No one respects a "do as I say, not as I do" leader. Modeling self-mastery builds your credibility.

Finally, self-leadership involves continuous learning and growth. Seeking feedback, embracing humility, and striving to improve means you don't get stuck in your ways. Your team needs a leader who is flexible, curious and eager to evolve.

In essence, how you lead yourself sets the tone for how you lead others. The qualities that make an effective leader - integrity, self-care, discipline, and growth - must be nurtured from within first before they can be spread to a team. Leadership is an inside-out job. Focus on your inner game, and the outer results will take care of themselves. Lead yourself first, and others will gladly follow.