When people talk about good governance, it’s usually in the context of discussing how governments and businesses make decisions and implement projects. Institutions with good governance know how to prioritize actions with the most impact despite different challenges and limited resources. They are responsive to the needs of the people, whether it’s the internal employees or external stakeholders. On the other hand, bad governance is considered one of the root causes of corruption and inequality as it promotes prejudice, incompetence, and politicking.
Practicing good governance, though, is not limited to large organizations and communities. Its principles and attributes such as responsiveness, evidence-based decision-making, and accountability These values are also applicable in the path for self-development and growth. Good governance can be a guidepost to reach goals by enforcing discipline, commitment, and responsibility in a person’s life.
Why personal governance?
The concept of personal governance is not anything new. In the time of Ancient Greek philosophers, they call this as the mastery of the self. Plato best describes it as cultivating the soul by studying virtue and shunning vices like false reputation and material things. That means people should take the time to understand the different aspects of personal learning and growth. It isn’t only applicable in one area, such as focusing on professional goals while ignoring social and family ties. A holistic approach means spending time in all aspects of life, which include financial, physical, family, cultural, career, and spiritual. It is only by developing the whole person can there be self-mastery.
Tools such as personal roadmap, strategy, and scorecard can help people follow a clear path with actionable steps. You are starting to build a life you want, whether that means having a beautiful appearance by following a fitness regimen or getting lip fillers. Motivation will easily come because you know that you are contributing to your goals step by step. The sense of clarity will propel you to move despite difficulties and problems.
Where can you start?
Personal governance might seem overwhelming at first. But you can always start by crafting your core values, mission, and vision. Having these on hand can help you choose the right decisions that align with your journey instead of distractions that only look good at first glance. You can better navigate through gray areas since you can remind yourself of what is important to you.
For example, when you are brainstorming on the career aspect of your life, you are forced to decide on your long-term professional goals. You will become more intentional about the kind of projects you’ll be undertaking. It will also be clear about what kind of skills you need to learn and develop to achieve a career that will make you happy. That can lead you to explore opportunities you might not have considered before, such as finding a mentor in the industry or enrolling in online courses for the different competencies on the list.
Personal governance is a powerful practice that can help you achieve your dreams. You are clear on the bigger picture you want to achieve, which is brought by having a mission, vision, and values. Other aspects of your life are also taken into consideration, instead of being fixated on just your career or intellectual goals.
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