The 7 Must-Have Documents for Every Leader
Updated: Sep 11
1.Life Plan
Do you know who you are, and why you are here? Do you have a vision and plan for your life?
"Heavy questions, Modesta, what's your deal?"
Now that we are here, we might as well go all the way:
Do you have a vision and plan for your whole life; spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, personal, relational, professional, financial, leadership, impact, legacy?
Is your vision and plan in your mind, or actually written down somewhere?
Do you follow, review, and update it regularly?
They say,
"a dream written down with a date becomes a goal
a goal broken down into steps becomes a plan
a plan backed by action makes your dreams come true."
The fact is, "you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals simply by writing them down." Such a low bar for such great returns!
This is why you need a written down Life Plan (what I call a Masterplan), that connects your purpose, values, vision, mission, goals, strategies, actions, and activities.
It "gives you a sense of clarity, helps you stay focused, keeps you motivated, and invokes commitment."
Don't have a Life Plan? You can start small by creating a 12-month plan. Download the 360º Leadership Development Plan below.
2.Curriculum Vitae
Whether or not you expect to apply for opportunities any time soon, make sure you have an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resumé ready to go.
Why?
You never know when unsolicited opportunities will knock on your door, giving you less than 120 seconds to open it, or they move on to someone else.
You may be called on for Board opportunities, media interviews, national or regional public engagements, to name a few.
Have a CV (or three, based on which is most relevant to the opportunity) ready to send out in the few seconds it takes to write a cover email and attach your document.
“Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.”
-Zig Ziglar.
3.Professional Bio
When featured on your company profile, invited to speak at an event, participate as a judge or academic faculty, you don't send your CV/Resumé, you submit your Professional Bio.
There are three main reasons for this:
No one needs to know your entire work and education history. They are not assessing you, they have already selected you. However, your profile must still impress those who view it next to those of other peers that are also profiled.
No one has the time to sift through all your information to find evidence of what they are looking for to substantiate why you are on their A-list. Spare them the wander in the maze.
There are great things you have done and continue to do that may not be a part of your CV/Resumé. You can include them on your Bio to enhance your professional profile and positioning. Always remember that your Professional Bio is a marketing tool, it positions your personal brand.
“Your Personal Brand is what differentiates you from others”
-Unknown.
4.Budget
All day long, life presents you with opportunities to spend money. A coffee here, lunch there, happy hour, that new outfit you deserve, those sneakers the kids need, that family, friend, colleague's emergency, you catch my drift.
Without a personal and or business budget, you can make moment-by-moment financial decisions that add up, or more likely, subtract down, without you realizing it.
Creating a paper or e-budget document you can readily view, consult, and adjust so that you are at the front end of your finances, and everything they affect is a practice that will reap great dividends for every area of your life.
“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.”
-Dave Ramsey.
5.Product Offer
Whether in business or not, you are probably already the go-to resource person for a sizeable enough group to convert them into clientele. Might as well monetize your expertise through a product offer.
Here's how:
Create a product/service
Package it in an offer (company profile, flyer, ad, landing page, instant message, etc.)
Attach a payment method
Distribute it to your target audience
Packaging an offer in a readily shareable document makes it easy to monetize your expertise, and removes the awkwardness of trying to explain and negotiate why and what you should be paid, for the value that you bring.
Need help with monetizing your expertise?
Click below to Consult Modesta and start earning.
“I think if you create something and you get an audience for it, then the monetization part is really secondary.”
-Adam Carolla.
6 & 7.Passport & Immunization Card
You'd be surprised how many either do not have travel documents or don't have valid ones when they need them.
If you are a leader that adds value to others, even if you don't have sights on international travel, expect opportunities to present themselves, and make sure you have valid passport and immunization documents for when they do.
