Tag Archives: Leadership

Feb 18 2013
Leave a comment
ABC's of Leadership

Leadership is: Reassurance

Trust is hard to rebuild once it is broken. Reassurance helps keep trust strong.

I am just fascinated by this reassurance from a menacing figure. It is rather frightening. – Rory Bremner

People loved to be reassured! To be cared for in some way that removes their fears or doubts. The problem with reassurance is that it doesn’t exist! In order to truthfully tell someone “every thing is going to be okay,” you have to know it is! It doesn’t matter how good of a leader you are, no one can know 100% of the future. Seth Godin talks about the problem with reassurance, but I’m not going to focus on his thoughts, because, well, it’s already been done.
However, as a leader if our team members are going to proceed in a time of uncertainty we’re going to have to reassure them with out lying to them.
How Leaders Reassure with out Lying:
Tagged , , , , , ,
Feb 17 2013
Leave a comment
ABC's of Leadership

Leadership is: Questioning

Your questions are on the hot seat.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. – Albert Einstein

Imagine being able to have a firm grasp on a situation. You know what to do in just about any given situation and are calm, cool, and collected as you share your strategy for success with others. This may seem impossible, and for most it is, but a good great leader can achieve this level of confidence through questioning. This isn’t because they have more talent or are better suited for the position, but rather because they ask great questions! When a leader asks questions, and is willing to be asked questions they are much better equipped for what lies ahead. This is an Inc. Magazine article that describes specifically the power of questions.

As a leader we must:

1. Question assumptions: Assumptions keep us operating at the current status quo. They cause us to believe that nothing is wrong and nothing needs to be fixed. If we as leaders operate under assumptions we will believe that things are good even when they’re bad. Assumptions are lethal to any group. And you know what they say about them! Here is what Forbes has to say about them.

What assumptions do you have that need questioning?

Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , , ,
Feb 16 2013
2 Comments
ABC's of Leadership

Leadership is: Purpose

Don't roll the dice, just start off by asking "why?"

The secret of success is constancy to purpose. – Benjamin Disraeli

“Fail to plan, plan to fail” is one of my all-time favorite sayings. However, this is an incomplete view of success, this saying is more focused on the “what” rather than the “why.” In order for leaders to effectively lead, we absolutely must have and focus on the why before we can focus on the what! This is called purpose. I wish I could say this articulation of purpose was mine, but it is not. I heard this from Simon Sinek in an EntreLeadership podcast.

Related: Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action (Ted Talks)

Everything breaks down to purpose. It may often annoy many of our piers and leaders to ask “why, what’s the purpose,” but the truth is: purpose matters! Purpose gives meaning to responsibilities that would seem pointless with out it. This is actually the topic of Sinek’s book, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action.

When it comes to purposeful leadership we must make sure we are purposed in two areas:

Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , ,
Feb 15 2013
Leave a comment
ABC's of Leadership

Leadership is: Opportunity

If only recognizing opportunities were that easy!

“I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one.” – Mark Twain

As I was graduating college Marla and I were faced with choosing between two great opportunities. We had been through two interviews, for two different churches, and had been offered both jobs. Choosing the opportunity that was right for the both of us was one of the most difficult decisions we have ever had to make. Through much praying, weighing of the options, and getting Marla’s take on the the opportunities (Dave Ramsey talks about the benefit of seeking your spouse’s input in his book EntreLeadership), we made a decision.

We are no longer serving at that church, but we do believe we made the right choice. We learned so much in the two years we were there, and it help set us on the path we’re on today!

When it comes to opportunity we must be able to do 3 things:

Continue reading →

Tagged , , , ,
Feb 14 2013
Leave a comment
ABC's of Leadership

Leadership is: Not-giving-up

Hang on, tie your knot, then use it as a platform to climb up!

“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

One of the most impacting quotes I’ve heard is, “the most valuable ground is the grave yard because of all the dreams, desires, and goals that are buried there.” That got me thinking: how many ideas, ambitions, and goals will die with me because I couldn’t push through and finish? 

As leaders we must be able to persevere through those difficult or seemingly impossible circumstances (especially if they are essential to our success).

HERE ARE THREE WAYS TO NOT GIVE UP:

Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →
Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started