Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/3-1-1-the-importance-of-understanding-yourself

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Teacher CPD](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd.md) › [CPD: Leadership for Teachers - Seneca Certified Leader](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader.md) › The Importance of Understanding Yourself

# The Importance of Understanding Yourself

CPD: Leadership for Teachers (by Sam Strickland), topic 3.1.1

## Understanding Yourself to Successfully Lead Others

A key starting point for anyone considering moving into
leadership is that you must at first understand yourself
fully before you can lead anyone else.

### Things to know about yourself

![Things to know about yourself](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/5.2.1%20-%20The%20nervous%20system/brain-1845940_640-min.jpg)

- What you stand for.
 - What defines you.
 - What your moral compass is.
 - How you think.
 - How you act.
 - How you treat others.
 - How you deal with stress, problems and crises.

### Boyatzis’ model

![Boyatzis’ model](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/e2e20e9b-31a7-4e0a-a6bc-274c551d85dc/mindmap-explanation-clarification-.jpg)

- Boyatzis’ model of ‘the ideal self’ is really useful here as a starting point. 
 - First, you need to carefully consider who you are at this current moment in time.
 - Then, consider your strengths.
 - Then, consider what you would like your ideal self, as a leader, to be.

## Test yourself on The Importance of Understanding Yourself

- Which of these is NOT a stage in Boyatzis' model of 'the ideal self'?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/be4ffe14-084a-46d1-877d-f1fd316b347c/section/c8ac7318-0762-4209-9327-8bd49b38e1c7/session)

- Previous topic: [2.2.1 What Makes a Good Leader?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/2-2-1-what-makes-a-good-leader.md)
- Next topic: [3.1.2 The Johari Window](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/3-1-2-the-johari-window.md)

## CPD: Leadership for Teachers (by Sam Strickland) contents

### 1 Introduction
- 1.1 Misconceptions & Key Principles
  - [1.1.1 Misconceptions & Key Principles of Leadership](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/1-1-1-misconceptions-and-key-principles-of-leadership.md)

### 2 Good Leadership Style
- 2.1 Analysing Leadership Style
  - [2.1.1 Leadership Style - Questions to Ask Yourself](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/2-1-1-leadership-style-questions-to-ask-yourself.md)
  - [2.1.2 Leadership Style - Misconceptions & Advice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/2-1-2-leadership-style-misconceptions-and-advice.md)
- 2.2 The Qualities of a Good Leader
  - [2.2.1 What Makes a Good Leader?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/2-2-1-what-makes-a-good-leader.md)

### 3 Analysing Yourself
- 3.1 Understanding Yourself
  - [3.1.1 The Importance of Understanding Yourself](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/3-1-1-the-importance-of-understanding-yourself.md)
  - [3.1.2 The Johari Window](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/3-1-2-the-johari-window.md)
- 3.2 Your Values & Dealing with Others
  - [3.2.1 Defining Your Values & Accepting Judgement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/3-2-1-defining-your-values-and-accepting-judgement.md)
- 3.3 Personal Qualities: Being Reflective & Humble
  - [3.3.1 Self-Reflection, Making Mistakes & Humility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/3-3-1-self-reflection-making-mistakes-and-humility.md)

### 4 Building a Team
- 4.1 Important Principles for Building a Team
  - [4.1.1 Choosing the Right People & Team Beliefs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/4-1-1-choosing-the-right-people-and-team-beliefs.md)

### 5 Decision-Making
- 5.1 The Key to Making Decisions Effectively
  - [5.1.1 The Importance of Patience for Decision-Making](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/5-1-1-the-importance-of-patience-for-decision-making.md)

### 6 Recap
- 6.1 5 Key Principles for Leading
  - [6.1.1 Recap: 5 Key Principles](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-leadership-for-teachers-seneca-certified-leader/6-1-1-recap-5-key-principles.md)