Leadership, often viewed as commanding from a pedestal, is really much simpler—it’s about setting an agenda. Every individual walking on God’s green earth with a clear agenda is, in essence, a leader. Whether positive or negative, leaders stand firm in ensuring their vision becomes a reality, making agenda-setting the ultimate test of effective leadership.

This doesn’t always require rallying a team of followers. At its core, leadership is the ability to transform a vision into tangible results. To lead, you must leave the nest and soar out of your comfort zone. As Daniel Goleman, a leading mind in psychology, journalism, and author at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, often emphasizes: “You can’t lead others if you can’t lead yourself.”

Goleman’s insights on self-leadership come from his extensive research on emotional intelligence, leadership, and self-awareness. According to him, self-awareness and self-regulation are key to making informed decisions, managing conflicts, building strong relationships, and, most importantly, fostering trust.

How does this work? It starts with mastering the essentials: self-awareness, emotional intelligence, self-regulation, motivation, and accountability.

For inspiration, look to self-led icons like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nicola Sturgeon—each demonstrating the power of leading from within.

P.S. While spreading your wings and testing your leadership, don’t worry if you lose your breath mid-flight. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day!