Questions to Ask Yourself

How do you rate in each defined leadership foundation? Answer these questions to help define areas in which you
can grow as a leader.

1. Great Leaders… Know Themselves

Yes / No
Do you know your strengths and opportunities?
Do you recognize your biases?
Do you have a personal development plan?

2. Great Leaders… Earn and Foster Trust

Yes / No
Do you bring your genuine and authentic self to your team?
Do you do what you say you are going to do?
Do you intentionally put your biases aside and listen openly to others?
Are you honest with yourself and your team about your limits and ask for help when needed?
Are you transparent in your communication?

3. Great Leaders… Are Curious and Have a Growth Mindset

Yes / No
Do you demonstrate a “growth mindset” for yourself and your team?
Do you have an individual development/growth plan to grow as a leader?
Have you challenged each direct report to create a professional development plan?
Do you motivate and challenge others to be curious and improve their work?
Do you embrace new ideas, or are you more likely to look for flaws first?

4. Great Leaders… Are Bold and Brave in Their Thinking and Actions
Yes / No
Do you challenge yourself to be bold in your thinking and actions?
Do you allow others to challenge you and encourage constructive conflict?
When a difficult conversation is needed, do you lean in and get it done or avoid it as long as possible?

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5. Great Leaders… Set Clear Goals and Achieve Them
Yes / No
Do you have goals and desired outcomes set for yourself and your team?
Do you have a method to check progress toward your goals?
Do you celebrate progress and achieving milestones?

6. Great Leaders… Lead like an Entrepreneur

Yes / No
Do you demonstrate ownership of your area or hope someone else will figure it out?
Do you take responsibility for the losses as well as the wins?
Do you identify as the “CEO” / “leader” of your area? Do you study an issue, have a vision for success,
use your creativity and then take action? Are you stepping up to be the one who “turns the tables” on
a problem?

7. Great Leaders… Spark Positivity

Yes / No
Are you intentional in how you spark positivity in your area of responsibility? Do you model it? Share
wins? Is it part of your day-to-day interactions?
Do you reward and recognize your team frequently? Do you have thank you notes? If so, are your
thank you notes at the bottom of your desk drawer or the top? (that’s a coaching question we often
ask the leaders we coach.)

8. Great Leaders… Know It’s Not About Them

Yes / No
Are you taking time to reflect on your performance and the efforts of others who have contributed to
your success?
Are you investing in developing others?

9. Great Leaders… Insist on the Highest Standards

Yes / No
Do you know who your high, solid, and low performers are?
Do you hold specific conversations with them to manage and elevate their performance?
Does your team look to you for an example of the highest performance?

10. Great Leaders… Lead the Change Journey

Yes / No
Do you know how people move through the personal change journey?
Can you spot resistance to change and know how to address it?
Are you building a high-trust environment to help embrace change?

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