Author: Marvin V Acuna

Store It. Sort It. Speak It.

In the modern world of leadership, where every moment is filled with choices and the potential for distraction, the true mastery lies in how we regulate our mind and actions. We live in times where discipline collides with chaos, requiring leaders not just to make decisions, but to craft a clarity that guides every movement and word. This clarity is achieved through a disciplined process I’ve come to call “Store It. Sort It. Speak It.” Let’s delve into how this process can transform one's leadership style and, ultimately, life.

Store It

The first step in the trilogy of discipline is to "Store It." In a metaphorical sense, storing it is akin to creating a mental library—a repository for thoughts, ideas, memories, and information. The key here is not just accumulation but systematic storage that eases retrieval and application.

• Mindfulness Practice: Storing begins with mindfulness. By being present, leaders collect data unfiltered by bias. Every interaction offers potential lessons for those who mindfully choose to capture them.

• Personal Journaling: Consider journaling as the physical manifestation of your mental archives. Capturing daily reflections allows a leader to store thoughts that might ignite future innovations.

• Structured Data Storage: Beyond mental and written records, technology can be a powerful ally. Task management applications help create systematic records of tasks and projects, ensuring nothing is lost in the shuffle of responsibilities.

Storing information and experiences is an exercise in regulation. It builds a disciplined foundation where nothing is forgotten, and everything has a potential future use.

Sort It

Once information is stored, the next critical step is to "Sort It." This is where clarity begins to emerge. Sorting is about prioritizing the stored data based on relevance and urgency, enabling leaders to focus their energies on what truly matters.

• Prioritization Frameworks: Tools like the Eisenhower Box help in sorting tasks based on urgency and importance, allowing leaders to sift through stored information with strategic intent.

• Reflective Analysis: Frequent analysis of stored data prevents the buildup of clutter. This analysis isn't just about utility but about understanding significance and impact. What insights can historical data offer for current challenges?

• Mental Decluttering: Sorting also involves letting go. Not everything deserves a long-term place in your mental library. By removing outdated or irrelevant information, leaders make room for fresh perspectives and ideas.

Through sorting, clarity becomes the backbone of decision-making. A well-sorted mind is unburdened, clear, and ready to act decisively.

Speak It

"Speak It," the final step, transcends the mere act of speaking. It’s about expressing derived clarity in a way that influences and inspires. Speaking, in this sense, is the culmination of disciplined storage and sorting.

• Strategic Communication: Speaking with clarity and purpose involves more than words. It's a strategic revelation of thoughts designed to influence outcomes and evoke emotions.

• Leading by Example: In leadership, speaking often finds its place in action more than rhetoric. Authenticity in actions amplifies words, enabling leaders to lead by example, thus, reinforcing their visionary position.

• Feedback Loop: Enabling a feedback culture encourages interactions that refine speaking practices. Feedback allows one to gauge clarity and impact, refining strategies for future engagements.

In the realm of leadership, speaking is not merely about commanding with authority but inspiring with clarity. When a leader speaks with thoughtful precision, they energize their teams and catalyze transformations.

The Symbiosis of Change and Leadership

Understanding this trilogy—Store It, Sort It, Speak It—brings us back to a core truth of leadership and personal growth: Change Your Body. Lead Your Life. The mind, much like the body, requires regular conditioning and discipline. Just as physical mastery leads to a healthier, more potent body, mastering the storing, sorting, and speaking of thoughts leads to superior leadership.

• The Body-Mind Connection: Bodily discipline enhances mental resilience. A fortified body supports the brain’s ability to regulate emotions and process information, thus enhancing all three stages of this framework.

• Leadership as Lifestyle: The principles behind effective leadership do not fade at the end of the workday. Bringing these principles into personal life too solidifies their practice, ensuring the leader is always prepared, present, and purposeful.

• Building Trust: Consistent application builds a reputation for reliability and integrity. When people know you store thoughtfully, sort strategically, and speak clearly, they are more likely to trust and follow you.

Conclusion

In summation, "Store It. Sort It. Speak It." is more than a methodology; it is a discipline. A way of being that calls for meticulous regulation of one’s thoughts, determination to maintain clarity, and strategic communication. A leader armed with these traits is unstoppable.

As leaders seek to change their bodies in pursuit of heightened personal mastery, they cultivate the ability to lead lives filled with purpose and influence. Dominating the self paves the way for dominating the realm of leadership. Change Your Body. Lead Your Life. Engage in this disciplined practice and witness your leadership—and life—transform.