Keeping The Big Picture

One of the deadly sins of leadership is getting lost in day-to-day details and losing the big picture. You can’t both manage operations and effectively plan strategy for the future.

Line level employees should be spending 80% of their time managing day-to-day and maybe 20% looking forward. However, as a leader advances in his leadership role, he or she should be maybe 20% day-to-day and 80% planning, strategizing, dealing with the overall mission and vision.
So step back and look at the big picture.

Allow your team to take ownership of the details. They’ll enjoy the new trust you show them. And you’ll be freed to do what you’re supposed to do as CEO. And your team will feel better about day-to-day stuff knowing their leader is thinking about where we’re going.

Paul of Tarsus said: “Forgetting about what lies behind, and pressing towards the mark of God’s high calling.”

And remember, don’t spend your time staring at the dashboard instruments checking the fuel, the speed, the oil pressure and the water temperature. Look up and enjoy the ride.

The only thing we have to fear is fear.

 
Fear: the Big De-motivator
Fear is not a good motivator.  Maybe it can work in the short run, but it’s not effective long-term.

Trust is a much more effective motivator, but building trust can be a long process.  It takes truth-telling and transparency.  It requires love, compassion, and communication.
Love is a much stronger motivator.  In fact, the Bible says that perfect love casts out fear. 
Well, in my history, I’ve worked in both environments.  One CEO struck terror in his team.  You just knew that when he requested a meeting, you were in for a verbal beating.  We lived in mortal terror of the board.

I’ve also worked in an environment of love and trust with a boss who cared for his people and trusted them to do the job. A staff person will do almost anything for that kind of a leader and board when they set the overall direction and trust the staff to carry it out effectively.
~Wayne
 

The Greatest Management Skill: People Skills

It’s no secret that the greatest leadership skill is people skills.

Leadership is about influencing people. And you can’t influence people if you don’t know how to connect and relate.

I’ve learned that leadership is not about title and position. Leaders know that people go along with people they get along with.

The early church grew because the outside world observed the love that followers of Jesus had for one another.

Jesus brought His leadership to the highest level when He said: Love others as you love yourself.

Paul of Tarsus said it this way: As Gods chosen people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

John, the Apostle of love said: Don’t just say you love people, really love them. And, prove it by your actions.

If that’s true in your life, it will show to those you seek to influence.