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Source: “Becoming a Resonant Leader” by Annie McKee, Richard Boyatzis, and Frances Johnston
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Leading(Through(Self-Discovery(and(Personal(Vision(
Developing*Your*Personal*Vision*
The!following!exercises!are!designed!to!help!you!begin!building!a!personal!vision.!Creating!
a!personal!vision!helps!you!define!your!purpose,!forces!clarity!and!serves!as!the!foundation!
for!your!personal!and!professional!goals.!It!also!helps!you!identify!your!core!values!and!
beliefs,!the!underlying!reasons!for!your!choices!and!behaviors!and!what!truly!motivates!
you.!Steven!Covey,!in!First&Things&First,!refers!to!developing!a!personal!vision!as!
“connecting!with!your!own!unique!purpose!and!the!profound!satisfaction!that!comes!from!
fulfilling!it.”!
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The!biggest!problem!with!a!personal!vision!is!not!in!wanting!it,!but!in!articulating!it.!These!
exercises!are!designed!to!help!you!get!started!in!a!meaningful!way.!Take!your!time,!be!
thoughtful,!and!dig!deep.!Challenge!yourself.!You!want!a!personal!vision!that!is!authentic,!
honest!and!aspirational.!It!requires!introspection,!self-analysis,!and!clarity!of!mind.!It’s!not!
something!you!produce!in!a!day.!Rather!it!will!likely!take!several!drafts!over!several!days,!
weeks!or!even!months!before!you!feel!it!is!a!complete!and!concise!expression!of!your!
innermost!values!and!directions. !
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My(Purpose(
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If(there(were(just(one(thing(in(my(life(that(I(could(accomplish,(it(would(be:!
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If(I(could(make(an(important(contribution(to(my(work(or(profession,(it(would(be:!
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Source: “Becoming a Resonant Leader” by Annie McKee, Richard Boyatzis, and Frances Johnston
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2!
My(Passions(
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What(are(the(things(that(energize(me(and(bring(value(to(my(life?(Am(I(engaged(in(
meaningful(activity(and(relationships?(If(so,(what(is(the(common(thread?(Is(there(an(
issue(or(cause(that(is(an(enduring(theme(in(my(life?(What(am(I(most(committed(to?!
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My(Leadership(Legacy:(
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What(do(I(want(my(legacy(in(life(to(be?(In(other(words,(what(will(remain(or(continue(
because(of(my(having(lived(and(worked(all(these(years?!
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My(Values:(
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On!the!next!page!is!a!list!of!values!and!personal!characteristics.!Identify!which!are!guiding!
principles!and!most!important!to!you.!This!is!not!about!what!you!“should”!include,!rather!
what!is!a!true!reflection!of!how!you!feel!and!who!you!are.!!
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1. Start!by!circling!15!or!so!values!that!are!important!to!you.!
2. Next,!pick!the!top!10!and!write!them!down.!
3. From!this!list,!circle!the!five!that!are!most!important!to!you!and!then!rank!them!
from!“most!important”!to!“lease!important.”!
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Source: “Becoming a Resonant Leader” by Annie McKee, Richard Boyatzis, and Frances Johnston
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3!
Values(and(Personal(Characteristics(
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Achievement!
Control!
Hope!
Pride!
Adventure!
Cooperation!
Independence!
Recognition!
Affection!
Courage!
Improving!Society!
Reliable!
Ambition!
Courteous!
Innovative!
Religion!
Authentic!
Creativity!
Integrity!
Respectful!
Authority!
Dependable!
Intellectual!
Responsible!
Autonomy!
Discipline!
Involvement!
Risk-Taking!
Balance!
Economic!Security!
Imagination!
Self-Control!
Beauty!
Energetic!
Joy!
Self-Reliance!
Belonging!
Equality!
Leisurely!
Self-Respect!
Caring!
Excitement!
Logical!
Sincerity!
Challenge!
Faith!
Love!
Status!
Clean!
Fame!
Mannered!
Success!
Character!
Family!Happiness!
Nature!
Teamwork!
Comfortable!Life!
Family!Security!
Obedient!
Tranquility!
Companionship!
Freedom!
Open!Minded!
Wealth!
Compassion!
Friendship!
Order!
Winning!
Competent!
Fun!
Peace!
Wisdom!
Competitive!
Happiness!
Personal!Development!
World!View!
Contribution!to!Others!
Health!
Pleasure!
Other:!!
Conformity!
Helpfulness!
Polite!
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Contentedness!
Honest!
Power!
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My(top(10(values(and(personal(characteristics:(
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1. ___________________________________________( 6.(((____________________________________________(
2. ___________________________________________( 7.(((____________________________________________(
3. ___________________________________________( 8.(((____________________________________________(
4. ___________________________________________( 9.(((____________________________________________(
5. ___________________________________________( 10.(____________________________________________((
My(top(five(in(rank(order(with(“1”(being(the(most(important(to(you:(
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1. ___________________________________________( 4.(((____________________________________________(
2. ___________________________________________( 5.(((____________________________________________(
3. ___________________________________________(