In April's Leadership Development Carnival you will find my post on the importance of role players, as well as other great posts from some inspiring thinkers.
Enjoy!
In April's Leadership Development Carnival you will find my post on the importance of role players, as well as other great posts from some inspiring thinkers.
Enjoy!
If I had one piece of advice to give a new manager/leader in a corporate environment, it would be the following:
Pour your heart, skills and strengths into followers who have the greatest potential to follow even after your title is nothing but a memory.
If you do the above, you will be an authentic leader who has authentic followers-for the rest of your days.
Quite powerful.
What if you're the guy or gal who has decided to embrace change, even if you're not sure what that change may bring? I applaud you if you are. It's healthy and the life you want is paved with your willingness to move forward.
How about those that decide not to go with you? Not a huge deal when it's the co-worker who likes to gossip or the brother-in-law that seems to think he has the best plan for your life. But when it's someone you love or someone you call a friend it can stop you in your steps. You might even think about going back to Egypt. A place you think, even if it was miserable, as a safer bet with no resistance.
From my own experience it is never easy to change. And conversly it is not easy for those that are watching or playing a part in your motion picture-your life. Your changes may be a source of discomfort, construed as a violation of a committment you supposedly made, or like the fool who believes only the stuff flowing through their head, you refuse to be the person they define you to be.
Here's what I've done so far to manage what others may not see on my journey:
First, you could change the title of this post to "The Danger of Personal Arrogance" if you so desired.
When you have a enough time in your rear-view mirror you can soberly look at your past. If you're like me, you have had enough experiences to have a track record/history. You can see what you missed as well as what went wonderfully when you look back-don't stay there too long though.
I was warned at an early stage in my career to avoid arrogance. It was a poison many advised. I did a decent job of heeding their advice. But like any human being, I took my share of poison pills. Some people and organizations were hurt by my arrogance. Some applauded with a knife ready to pierce my back, while others figured I'd find my way back home. And yes, my arrogance was fueled by my power and success.
Now that I've set the context, I'd like you to consider the following:
As we've crossed over into a new year, and decade for that matter, I thought I would share some of what I'm planning for 2011.
The importance of having a growth plan is nothing new to you if you've read my work before. It truly is the fuel behind any vision. If you haven't embarked on this type of journey, I highly recommend you do and we can help. Click here to learn more.
The following is my vision and some bullets from my 2011 growth plan supporting it:
God’s destiny for me is to have and live an Epic Life. This life will address multiple facets of living. My life will be a motion picture that births joy and changes lives. My legacy will be built accordingly.
I see myself as an excellent husband and father. Eileen, Lauren and Grant are my most important priority. Their lives will be wonderfully impacted by my love, time and influence.
As it relates to Influence, God intends for me to lead on a large scale and stage. I will communicate encouragement, development and opportunity to people of diverse backgrounds. The marketplace is the arena in which He intends for me to have impact. I see myself expanding that influence through speaking, writing, teaching and one-to-one mentoring. I also see Epic Living as the organization focused on developing and reproducing people of influence within the public and private sector.
My physical and mental health will be strong due to the conscious choices I will make. I see a long an vibrant life ahead as God allows.
I see my finances reflecting strength, knowledge and wisdom. I will make decisions that are investor-minded versus consumer-minded.
In His church and community, I will minister to individuals and groups by the same methods above. My key focus areas are influence development and personal growth. God will also use me as source of encouragement to all I encounter.
My vision and growth plan have more elements than what I've listed, but I wanted to give this to you as source of "example." I hope it will stir you.
Please view the above video, it provides a necessary context for this post. You may not be a fan of Peter Cetera or Chicago, but hopefully you can appreciate what goes into the making of art and craft.
I love this song and have for many years. The version in the video clip captures an artist who owns the work. Unmistakable, how Mr. Cetera delivers something he birthed in 1976. I imagine he had some say in how the song would be arranged and performed. I imagine he had some say in who would perform the work of art as well. You have a lot of power when a gift is in your hands.
After I found this clip, and listened to it a number of times, I couldn't help but see the similarities in the form of a life living and lived. It gave me urgency around living out my Epic Life. It made me stand back in awe of what the gift of life means…what it implies for all of us. Do you know that your life is unfolding before your very eyes? Do you understand that this is happening whether you choose to participate or not?
I want my life to be as beautiful and brilliant (like the sun) as the sound of a symphony. Every instrument coming together to be somehting that could never be accomplished alone. To be a voice that, if even faint, would be missed inside of something so beautiful.
I want the above for you as well. My mission, my movement is to help you craft an Epic Life.
The following post first appeared in 2008. It's worth a look again.
FIRST, HERE'S TO ALL THE MANAGERS WHO LEAD FROM RESPONSIBILITY AND THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN THE ART. THESE PEOPLE PROVIDE HOPE.
Now for problem in need of fixing. In my post on What Management Doesn't Get: Leadership Implies Responsibility I made the argument that managers have a gaping hole relating to leading.
Here is a good list (a starting point) of why managers won't lead from a position of responsibility:
Check out the Epic Books list (found just right and down from this post). Just updated over the last couple of weeks. Hope they inspire!