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Which Battle?

February 16, 2012 in Leadership, Life, Ministry, Productivity, Self Leadership, Teamwork, time management, Vision with 3 Comments

I’ve discovered that many people participate in competitions for different reasons. Not everyone is competing for the same prize. Some were willing to settle with making it to certain stages of the tournament. I think it is sad that while all could aspire to win the main prize, some were only glad to settle for what I think was the lesser. However diverse, every team that that competes has some [ultimate] goal in mind. Every effort in preparation and in actual games was centered on an ultimate goal of sort. The prize is why teams [should] compete.

Goals give purpose to effort. Imagine an athlete setting out on a race with no end or finish line! It would be wasted effort, energy and time. Without clear objectives it is easy to waste and even abuse resources. Goals can help us measure or place value on our efforts as we review our advance toward them against time. Clear goals also help us in determining what resources are required and or how to apportion them.

Clear goals will dictate to us what our focus should be. There are many ‘battles’ that will seek our attention and one of the keys to our effectiveness is in choosing our ‘battles’ wisely.

Don’t fight a battle if you don’t gain anything by winning – Erwin Rommel

It would be of great benefit for us to consider the ‘battles’ we’re engaged in at the moment and the potential results of our engagements and whether they are worthwhile. I think now would be a good time us to give thought to what we are going to give of ourselves and resources AND why.

I don’t run without a goal. And I don’t box by beating my fists in the air – Apostle Paul

Are your pursuits clear? Are they worthwhile?

Navigating The Problems Maze

January 25, 2012 in Ideas, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Productivity, Teamwork, Vision with 0 Comments

Problems are one of those things you are never going to completely avoid. They vary. Some are worthy of your attention, some are not. To manage your time and other resources well, you must decide which problems are worth your attention. Decide before they arise. Take a problem inventory; in retrospect, what have you experienced as a leader and organization? Which of your problems are recurring? How many of them need your attention as the leader? How many of them need to be delegated? Some problems can be solved once and for all time by putting in place clear systems. It is folly to keep watch for fires that you know are going to start instead of dealing with their source.

Crisis is often a result of our reactions and not the problems per se

How you look at the problem will determine your ability to solve it. The attention you give to problems is what determines the extent to which they will be magnified: greater or smaller. It’s your call! There are times when the problems we face are not really much of an issue. The way they actually become serious problems is because we make them that way. Crisis is often a result of our reactions and not the problems per se. Some problems may require urgent but not immediate attention. Effective problem solvers are comfortable with parking some problems to deal with ones worthy of attention. Parking a problem for a moment may also be necessary for getting a good perspective. Complications arise when you react to a perceived problem without first understanding it.

Be careful not to react out of the frustration or fear your team expresses when they encounter a problem. You cannot effectively lead your team out of challenges if you get caught up in the same anxiety as them. Keep in mind you lead yourself before you lead your team. How you lead yourself directly affects your team or organization. In fact, there will be many times you have to lead yourself out of frustration and helplessness before you can lead your team. Problems will appear solvable to your team when they hear you and see you act that way. Your team gets their cue on how to respond to challenges from you. Panic and they will too. Be honest and vulnerable, but do so with conviction you will not only survive but thrive beyond the problem and they will too.

illustration by joncandy, flickr (cc)

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What are some of the things that leaders need to take into account, in relation to their team, when they encounter problems?

Quitting While Ahead?

January 12, 2012 in Leadership, Life, Ministry, Teamwork, Vision with 0 Comments

The old saying “quit while you’re ahead” is more loaded than meets the eye. One of the interpretations is “call it a day while the going is still good”. There are instances where this may be sound advice… I was thinking about areas I’ve grown in and I realized there is an area that I am happy with progress in. It has taken a lot of time and effort for progress. Part of me felt I should “quit while ahead”, then it occurred to me…

The “quit-while-ahead-philosophy” can be a reflection of some things:

  • That you feel you are at the best of your game and you cannot be any better. This can be due to fear. When you think you arrived at a place by chance. It is easy to feel this way. Be as systematic as you can be to be able to repeat success. This is true for your personal life and that of your organization or team. As you go along take note of steps you take as well as why you take them. Those with greater faith than fear will go farther.
  • Quitting while ahead could be a sign that you are getting lazy. Laziness is one progress killer you must avoid. It could be that you just don’t want to do any more work to even go further and accomplish more. Not only individuals get lazy but there is also “organizational laziness”. Organizations can start letting small things go such as taking longer to get back to clients when they don’t have to or neglecting details.
  • Embracing the “quit-while-ahead philosophy” may mean you are more concerned about having a legacy that is intact than one of constant, progressive and daring curiosity. Pursue a legacy of pushing boundaries in an attempt to go farther and accomplish more settling after a success. Let your success be something that spurs not cripples you. Never allow the success you’re experiencing now to rob the future of greater possibility!  Success has a “best before” date and must be managed for longevity. You are the one who decides when “you’ve arrived”. As long as you’re alive you haven’t exhausted all you are and can give! It is sad that some people feel they have lived their entire lives while they’re still alive. Risk taking is one of your guarantors against stagnation and irrelevance.
  • Walking in the “quit-while-you’re- ahead” attitude means you are more optimistic about the present than the future. If you have managed to do better than you have before, you can do better than you think is your best right now. The ”quit-while-ahead-philosophy” is faithlessness expressed. In the context of a leader or organization it says we have no faith in our vision for the future. This is how many organizations end up irrelevant or dead: when they believe that they have given the best they will ever give. For organizations to not only survive but thrive they must fulfill their vision today AND see themselves doing the same into the future.

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illustration by shawncampbell, flickr (cc)

The Danger Of Your Eyes Only

November 28, 2011 in Chrstianity, Ideas, Leadership, Life, Teamwork, Vision with 2 Comments

Perspectives are not “one size fits all deal”. The lens with which we see determine our actions. In making decisions about the lives and gifting God has given us we must be careful we’re not doing what seems God in our eyes.

Then he went on down and spoke to the woman. In Samson’s eyes, she was the one - Judges 14:7 (MSG)

In Samson’s eyes Delilah was the one… In his eyes his source of demise was for him. He obviously didn’t see her as that. What better example of how flawed our own ‘eyes’ are! The danger of seeing things through our eyes and acting on it cannot be overemphasized. Samson disregarded his father’s “eyes” and worst of all God’s eyes! Our eyes own eyes will be more riddled with blind spots and we compensate by seeking counsel from godly men and in seeking God in prayer.

Acting out of what we see with our eyes will lead us to destruction. Seeking God’s wisdom and direction and the counsel of the wise around us is the best safe guard for our lives and destiny.  Our judgement alone is not sufficient to lead us into God’s purposes for us as individuals and ultimately for those around us! It is easy to go with what we see especially when it is what we want regardless! Are your desires wholly given to God? If not your eyes will lead you in a path that takes you further from your destiny and not closer.

Before you act, especially on significant things ensure that you’re not just acting on what seems right in your own eyes. Have you sought counsel from the wise? This doesn’t mean you must take and act on the counsel of many but that you at least consider that many perspectives they many bring. More importantly: have you sought God’s eyes and do you see through His eyes on your perspective and action? You can ignore everyone’s eyes but never make the mistake of ignoring God’s perspective? God’s vision is the only perfect one!

What experiences have you used your own eyes and landed you an undesired path?

Confronting For A Change

November 26, 2011 in Leadership, Teamwork, Vision with 0 Comments

At some point every leader has to address something that they or their team may find uncomfortable. There are issues that can never be let alone and must be addressed. It is always the leader’s responsibility to address the elephant in the team or organization. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

things are not just going to change on their own. be proactive; confront for a change!

When confronting your team:

  • But Why?: Validate the importance of what you’re about to say, say it and validate it again. I’m not suggesting you make your ‘address’ long and boring. Be succinct when you’ve made points. Build up to making your point but don’t be long winded.
  • The Way It Should Be: When you’re challenging how things should not be, make sure you clearly communicate how they should be! Don’t make the mistake of tearing down what should be torn down without building what should be built up.
  • Getting ‘There’: Your team must know the steps that they need to take to get to what should be.  You can either give the way forward or engage your team in charting the way forward. Whatever you do don’t leave the team hanging!
  • The Core: Put measures in place to ensure you don’t end up in the same place again. Addressing the issue is not enough; dealing with the roots guarantees death of the fruits. If you often end up dealing with the same drama it is because you haven’t curbed the root!
  • 180°: Keeping the confrontation one sided is a common mistake leaders make. Don’t get so worked up about the issues you address and forget that there are two sides to a coin. In your confrontation give room to your team to give input. In this way it is less likely to seem you were talking at them but resolving issues with them.
illustration by clagnut, flickr (cc)
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What do you recommend in engaging your team in the context above?

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