True leadership begins with self-mastery, not strategy

We all know this key leadership pillar: “Leading by example.” But let’s pause and truly reflect on it.

Can anyone lead a team or a company if they are unable to lead themselves, their life, their energy, their own universe?

Leadership is not simply about inspiring others, setting clear goals or articulating a company’s vision. These are outcomes, reflections of a deeper, more personal process.

True leadership begins long before the boardroom meeting or the strategy session. It begins within “you.”

In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, we often celebrate leaders who move fast, make decisions and appear unstoppable. Yet beneath the surface many struggle with stress, fatigue, anxiety and burnout.

The truth is, no one can sustainably lead others if they are disconnected from their own inner clarity, purpose and well-being.

A leader who is physically drained or mentally exhausted cannot truly inspire resilience or creativity in others. A leader who has not worked on his own mindset, emotional balance, and sense of meaning will find it hard to communicate an authentic “why” to his team.

Leadership is energy, and energy should be contagious.

We have all read or heard of Simon Sinek’s famous book, “Start with Why.” His message is timeless: People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.

No one can sustainably lead others if they are disconnected from their own inner clarity, purpose and well-being.

I am nobody, yet, to challenge a public speaker and renowned author like Simon Sinek. However, going through life and its challenges, and after occupying various leadership roles, I realized that, before we start with “why,” we should perhaps start with who, with you, with finding our own and internal “why.”

Because if you, as a leader, don’t know your personal “why,” how can you convincingly articulate one for your organization?

If you have not taken the time to lead yourself, your habits, your emotions, your beliefs, and your health, how can you expect to guide and inspire others with strength and clarity?

This is not just about self-improvement; it’s about self-mastery, self-leadership. Self-leadership means taking responsibility for your own growth before expecting it from others. It means building mental resilience, maintaining physical vitality, and nurturing emotional intelligence.

It means facing your fears and not living in fear, clarifying your purpose, and living in alignment with your core values — not just preaching them.

When leaders lead themselves first, everything else aligns naturally. Their communication becomes authentic. Their presence becomes magnetic. Their teams feel it — not just in words, but in energy and consistency.

So perhaps the new leadership mantra for the modern era should be: “Start with YOU, then with WHY.”

When you lead yourself with clarity, balance, and integrity, you don’t just define your company’s purpose — you embody it. And when you do, others will follow not because they have to but because they want to. That is the essence of true leadership.

The reflection: A lesson from Andre Agassi

Few stories illustrate this better than that of tennis legend Andre Agassi.

At the height of his career, adored by fans, showered with success, Agassi admitted he was deeply unhappy.

In his autobiography, “Open.” he revealed that despite his global fame, he hated tennis for a time. He had mastered every technical skill, yet lost touch with the person behind the player.

It was only when he turned inward, facing the truth of who he was and why he played, that his life and game transformed. He rebuilt himself, not just his serve or stamina, but his mindset, discipline and sense of purpose.

Once he started leading himself, he rediscovered passion, won again and, more importantly, found peace.

Leaders face a similar journey. The fall rarely begins with external challenges; it begins when we stop listening to ourselves. When ambition outpaces alignment, or when performance replaces purpose, even the most successful can lose direction.

The lesson is clear: before you lead the scoreboard, the company, or the team, lead the person in the mirror.

• Ibrahim Saad is a business leader and certified leadership and life coach. He has over two decades of experience across multiple industries and is passionate about empowering leaders and organizations to build purpose-driven cultures, strengthen resilience and lead with authenticity.