On Leading Well

Year: 2013

  • What’s On Your Crazy List?

    “You’re becoming a complete grouch,” Ann told me.

    This was not the sugar-coated pickup line I expected while on a date night with Ann a few years ago. She had my attention now. As the evening unfolded I discovered a blind spot that I had not been aware of. That’s the nature of blind spots.

    In brief, I was bringing too many of my work challenges and people problems home with me. Ann, my trusted partner, lovingly listened and offered counsel. But apparently the volume of my complaints and frustrations had morphed into a unceasing river of cynicism. Our marriage was becoming the toxic waste dump of the ministry. Sludge oozed onto the dinner table in front of the kids. I was also setting a very poor model as a leader. Why wouldn’t others around me feel free to cast verbal rocks at our organization?

    Something had to change.

    The next morning I repented of my sin, opened my journal, and wrote out a long list of all the issues, challenges, missed opportunities, jobs that aren’t being done right (IMHO), and people problems that plagued me. I committed to bring them to the Lord in prayer before talking to other people about them. I titled the page “My Organizational Crazy List.”

    Years later I still practice this simple habit. There are many benefits to keeping a Crazy List.

    • It helps me honestly pour out my heart to the Lord
    • It prevents me from spewing cynicism onto others
    • It keeps the natural byproducts of leadership from becoming toxic waste in my marriage
    • It allows me to focus on what I am called to do and not try to do everyone else’s job
    • It serves as a written record of God’s grace as he deals with the crazy-makers

    Want some stats? My latest Crazy List accumulated 23 items over several months. I just checked it today. Sixteen of those issues have been resolved or disappeared. I did not exert noticeable effort making any of them go away. God did it. Seven remain.

    Thanks, Ann. You had me at “grouch.”

    What’s on your Crazy List?

  • Done Is Better Than Perfect

    Whatever you’re working on, unless you’re a brain surgeon, chances are it doesn’t need to be perfect. But it does need to get done.

    I’m working under deadline to finish the final draft of my first e-book. It has eight chapters. I’m happy with half of them. Two others need a few tweaks. Two need complete rewrites.

    Or do they?

    In my mind, they’re not yet perfect. But, for my intended audience of global leaders who are new to their role, the ideas are fresh, clear, and fairly well-formed.

    My audience will be better served by something they need now, rather than waiting until I feel like I have achieved editorial perfection.

    I need to get it done.

    What are you working on that needs to be done rather than perfect?

  • Loyalty Sets You Apart

    “In order to better serve you, our loyal customer, we’re making it even more difficult for you to redeem your hard-earned points for air travel.”  The email didn’t use those words, but that was the bottom line. In the past few months many of my loyalty programs – airlines, hotels, local stores – have changed their rules to make it more difficult or costly to use my accrued points. But the PR spin doesn’t work. I feel alienated and less likely to recommend these companies to a friend. Judging from the negative comments on blogs and Twitter, I’m not the only one.

    Brand loyalty programs were designed to help companies convert their loyal customers into raving advocates for products and services. Brand loyalty is built when an organization fulfills its promises, over and over again. If an organization breaks its promise to you once, you’ll probably forgive them. But if engaging with them results in costing you more time, money and emotional energy than expected, you’ll probably go somewhere else.

    The same holds true for your leadership.

    Loyalty, the giving and showing of constant support and allegiance, is built day by day, promise by promise. Every interaction with a friend or coworker is an opportunity to build your own brand of friendship. Were you on time or late? Were you fully present or distracted by incoming texts? Did you really listen? Did you follow through after the conversation?

    Gary Runn, my brother-in-law, has said the maturity is the ability to make and keep commitments to others and to myself. Maturity breeds loyalty. And loyalty as a leader will set you apart.

    Deep down, loyalty is about character. When you are loyal you reflect one of God’s most enduring character qualities. The Bible constantly reminds us that God is good and that “his steadfast love endures forever.” Chesed, the Hebrew term for steadfast love, means covenant loyalty. God is committed. His support and allegiance are constant. That sets him apart.

    What can you do today to demonstrate loyalty and set yourself apart?