12 techniques to self-improvement:

1. Adopt and maintain the growth mindset.
2. View your successes and failures as feedback for learning.
3. Study the objective standards of your field, profession or organization.
4. Observe and emulate positive role models.
5. Practise self-knowledge in order to assess your leadership against objective standards.
6. Practise self-awareness so you can witness your behavior, thinking, and performance on a
   moment-to-moment basis and adjust these accordingly.
7. Create a vision of how you wish to lead in the future, and then determine what competencies
   and traits you will need to achieve that vision.
8. Assess your past performance as a leader so you can draw lessons learned for now and the
   future.
9. Identify where you are on the learning curve for the particular competencies you need in
   leadership. Are you at the initial awareness stage, making rapid progress, reaching diminishing
   returns, plateauing, or in decline? What is needed to move to the next stage of leadership
   competence?
10. What is the next learning curve for you? What are the most likely risks and opportunities you
    face when making the leap to the next curve?
11. What are your top leadership strengths and your center of gravity? Develop a strategy to
    exploit your center of gravity.
12. What are your top leadership limitations and vulnerabilities? What is your strategy to manage
    these limitations, depending on the situation and the people you are leading?

Richard Martin is The Force Multiplier. He brings his military and business leadership and management experience to bear for executives and organizations seeking to radically improve performance, grow, and thrive in the face of rapid change, harsh competition, and increasing uncertainty.

© 2015 Richard Martin. Reproduction and quotes are permitted with proper attribution.