Calendars fill up quickly. If leaders don’t manage their calendars then their calendars will manage them. In my view, one of the most important decisions leaders makes is how to plan their work. Do they just react to what comes their way or do they proactively plan how they will lead and create? Meetings, emergencies,…
Productivity
Links for Leaders 5/11/18
The Twin Engines of Organizational Change—Steve Graves Something is heavy enough to demand action, and something happens to make leaders think they have to act “now.” I often call this the twin engines of Big and Now. Few people change and even fewer organizations change without some combination of Big and Now. Identifying the urgencies…
2 Possible Outcomes of Being Overwhelmed
I have encouraged leaders to look for seasons of being overwhelmed, to disregard the cliché “don’t bite off more than you can chew” and intentionally take on more than you thought you could handle so you will be forced to learn and grow. In their newest book, The Power of Moments, Chip and Dan Heath…
Links for Leaders 2/23/18
Pastor, Don’t Be Afraid to Lead—Ryan Rice Several days ago I came across this quote by the late great A.W. Tozer, “A man highly honored today can be looked upon with scorn tomorrow.” After reading it, two thoughts came to my mind. The first was the reality our Lord Jesus faced. Literally, in one moment…
When Workload on Your Team Increases, You Must Do This
Every single week the Office of President receives 65,000 paper letters, 500,000 emails, 5,000 faxes, and 15,000 phone calls (as told by Daniel Levitin in The Organized Mind). You can’t wing that type of workload. A system that sorts and prioritizes and ensures the right people are given responsibility and authority is essential. While that…
Links for Leaders 12/15/17
Keys to a Fruitful—Not Busy—New Year—Ryan Rice There have been many times I have worked to prove and achieve, instead out of my love for the Lord. Busyness does not equate to fruitfulness or godliness. The lifestyle of busyness leads to unwarranted stress, anxiety and an identity that is wrapped in what you do, not…
Links for Leaders 12/1/17
Seven Characteristics of Memorable Leaders—Kent Ingle In our alpha male culture, we expect leaders to look the part, talk the talk, and act certain ways. It’s as if our culture demands that leaders be smart, strong, and savvy. While this is true to a certain extent, leaders must also be humble, service-oriented, and committed to…
Links for Leaders 11/10/17
Five Actions of a Godly Leader—Chris Brown A sincere compliment is so unusual that it immediately sets you apart. A simple nod or smile showing your approval will do. Or take a few minutes and write a personal note. How about recognizing them in front of their peers? These simple gestures can create magic in a…
5 Speed-Killers for Teams
It is possible to move too quickly, to move too chaotically, and to execute without any semblance of strategy. But moving too quickly is not the problem most teams and organizations face. Much more common is moving too slowly. Even when leaders articulate moving fast and desire to do so, there are common obstacles that…
Links for Leaders 10/6/17
The Ineffectiveness of a Team Without a Leader—Ron Edmondson An organizational team without a leader is like an athletic team without a coach. Would you recommend that for your favorite sports team? I love leading through teams, but in addition to making sure people know what’s expected of them, we have to make sure every…