I’ve been musing on a quote by Tony Blair. Recently I heard him speak on leadership and the importance of a leader knowing what his or her “irreducible core” is.

Irreducible Core defined: (as per Tony Blair)

• The thing about leadership is that you have make a decision inside of yourself that there will be things you will stand on and be faced with the fact other people might not like it.
• Part of leadership is having an inner core, an irreducible core, the thing that cannot be chipped away at.
• You cannot yield on what is at your core.

So, I started wondering what my irreducible core is. Intuitively I think I know what it is, but I want to be able to define it in one sentence.  In sales terms an “elevator speech” of who I am. To me when I hear about an irreducible core I not only think of what I won’t compromise on, but also what motivates me, challenges me, holds me accountable and simply excites me like nothing else. Simply, who I am.  When I describe my irreducible core I want it to release an electrifying charge of passion and potential from deep within me. Intuitively I know what it is, but I want to be able to define it.

My plan of attack: Get some initial feedback from friends and colleagues, and then spend some time creating a one sentence definition of who I am, my irreducible core.

Have you ever created a one line bio about yourself?  If so, I’d love to hear it.

Not only do I think it’s fun to have a vivid definition of oneself, but I actually think it is quite useful.

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