***This article is inspired by chapter 8 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leader Within You 2.0” – “The Indispensable Quality of Leadership: Vision.” ***

Vision always precedes productive activity or else your followers will simply stay busy on trivial tasks.

As leaders, we must lift up our eyes from the daily grind and look farther out than our followers. While the tasks of the day are important to accomplish, vision for the future is what leads to continued success. If you don’t have a vision, it is like the blind leading the blind. You will get somewhere, but it may not be where you want to arrive.

Followers rely on their leaders to show them the way forward. You can’t do that if you don’t know where you’re going. When you are driving your car you must look down the road instead of at the hood or in the rearview mirror to safely advance. In leadership, the rearview mirror represents the past and the hood represents the present. Staring at either too long will derail your progress in the future.

Author Warren Bennis once stated, “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”

Steve Jobs once said, “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.”

Vision energizes.

Vision inspires.

Vision motivates.

Vision gets you through the days when you want to quit.

John C. Maxwell says, “Nothing will happen unless you are willing and able to paint a clear picture of your vision for people and mobilize them to join you.”

Do you have a clear vision for the future?

Are you casting vision for your followers?

Are you looking out to the future more than looking down at today or behind to the past?

If you want to achieve great goals and objectives, you must invest consistent time gaining a clear picture of your desired future, then share it with your followers so they will be motivated to press on through the mundane daily tasks. You must equip them to take effective, productive action.

Leaders are the carriers of vision. Just as a virus can spread exponentially from one person, so can vision. Leaders have to go first and begin infecting people with it.

Action Steps:

• Invest time to think about where you are going.
• Write a compelling description of your preferred future.
• Begin sharing your vision with those you lead. 
• Equip them to take action so you can achieve the desired results together.
• Define clear metrics and evaluate your progress over the next few weeks and months.

You can become a visionary leader if you dedicate the time and attention.

I believe in you.

Go make it happen.

Until next time…make today GREAT!

If you need help taking your life or leadership to the next level, click HERE to learn more about my personal and executive coaching services.

***This article is inspired by chapter 7 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leader Within You 2.0” – “The Heart of Leadership: Serving People.” ***

“Servant leadership” has become somewhat cliche’ over the past 20 years or so as it’s been spoken and written about repeatedly in various settings. However, we should be careful not to diminish the value of this philosophy of leadership. While many people say they believe in the servant leadership model, few truly exhibit the qualities of a servant leader. Pride and ego often get in the way for many leaders. Personal agendas override serving others. Putting others first in decision-making is challenging, so few leaders actually do it even if they say they are all about it.

So, how do you become a better servant leader? Consider the following five recommendations by John Maxwell:

1 – Don’t rely on your position or title.

One of the key mistakes many leaders make is over-valuing their defined position or title. While you do work hard to achieve higher levels of status in your organization, your title should merely describe the work you do for the betterment of the organization. As you elevate in your position, you should realize that your responsibilities grow. Don’t expect people to serve you just because of your title or the location of your office. Rather, determine to use the resources allotted to your position to serve others better.

2 – Choose to believe in people and their potential.

When you believe in your people and see what they can become, you will be more motivated to help them achieve their potential. You will see how the resources you have access to can help them grow and develop. You can give them opportunities to test their skills. If you don’t believe in someone, you’ll be less likely to give them new experiences and opportunities. Belief in your people is a choice you must make. Look for potential and then act accordingly.

3 – Try to see things from the perspective of others.

As you elevate in leadership roles, it is easy to forget where you came from. In order to serve your followers best, try to remember what it was like when you were on your growth journey. The older you get, the harder this is, but it is very important to see from their perspective. What is it like to be working in their role? What is it like to follow you? Ask yourself a variety of questions as if you were in their shoes and think about ways to serve them better based on how you would want your leader to help you.

4 – Work to create an environment of encouragement.

Workplace culture has become a very hot topic in recent years. The reason is that opportunities are abundant in our world. Organizations that want to attract and retain great employees must cultivate an environment where they can grow and want to stay. As a leader, you are like a gardener. You need to till the soil, plant seeds for success, water the plants, and pull weeds that cause problems. When you encourage your people consistently, they will generally respond positively and take important growth steps. Those who don’t will either choose to move on or stand out as someone that you need to release from your organization. Don’t let negative team members who are a bad fit linger and discourage those who are on board and want to make a difference.

5 – Measure your success by how much you add value to others.

While hitting your goals are important for any organization, how you do so is very important if you want to be a great leader. Many “leaders” have put incredible pressure on their people over the years like a dictator, but the culture and morale suffers. Leaders like this don’t get the most out of their followers. They may hit their numbers, but they will do the bare minimum to make their bosses happy. This puts a cap on the organization’s potential. However, if you look to add value to your followers each day by speaking about the potential you see in them and helping them achieve it, you will build an organization that not only meets its goals but can elevate to be one of the best in your industry.

Zig Ziglar once said, “If you help people get what they want, they will help you get what you want.” Leadership is about getting things done with and through others. The best way to do that is to serve your followers well so you can all achieve the results that are required, as well as, desired. Begin to look for ways to serve your people today and watch how you can increase the capacity of your team and your organization.

Until next time…make today GREAT!

By the way, if you want to take your life or leadership to the next level, click HERE to learn more about my personal and executive coaching services. 

***This article is inspired by chapter 6 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leader Within You 2.0” – “The Extra Plus in Leadership: Attitude.” ***

Author and pastor Charles Swindoll once said, “I am convinced that life is 10% of what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it.”

In one of my favorite movies, Remember the Titans, captain of the football team Gary is challenged by teammate Julius about why the team isn’t coming together. Gary told Julius that his attitude was the problem, to which Julis responded: “Attitude reflects leadership.” What a powerfully convicting statement!

What attitude is being reflected in your followers?

Consider the following 7 actions that John C. Maxwell teaches on how to develop and embody a good attitude:

1- Disown your helplessness

As a leader, you must continually seek solutions rather than wallow in self-pity. A “why me?” attitude will never advance your cause or lead your team to victory. Yes, failures and challenges occur. However, leaders rise up in the midst of challenges. If you begin to feel helpless, shake yourself out of the slump by taking solution-oriented action.

2 – Take the bull by the horns

Taking initiative gets things moving when everyone else feels stuck and frustrated. Leaders don’t allow inertia to plague their teams and organizations. They recognize that it’s impossible to steer a parked car. They get things moving so the team can wake up and take action to find creative solutions.

3 – Enter the “no whining zone”

Whining about problems doesn’t help anyone and to be honest, no one wants to be around whiners. While it may sound cliche’, winners aren’t whiners. Rather, they are action-takers who refuse to wallow in the mud of discouragement or disappointment. When problems arise (and they will) refuse to whine and instead check your attitude so that it is about problem-solving.

4 – Put on a new pair of shoes

The old adage of “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” is a powerful way to gain perspective. When you think you have it bad, others have it worse. That alone should help your attitude. Be grateful for the things that are going well. Seek to understand what others are dealing with in their lives or businesses. Seek to view things from others’ perspectives when you are stuck on finding a solution. By taking this productive action, you will be able to discover helpful answers and solutions.

5 – Nurture your passion

Passion is a powerful thing. It pulls you forward on the days when you don’t want to move. Passion is something that allows us to wake up each day, get out of bed, and tackle the challenges at hand with enthusiasm. What are you passionate about? Are you doing that? If not, why not? If so, how are you nurturing it? Passion is a gift from God that points to your purpose. Passion is what leads you to take action when everyone else is standing still. Don’t neglect your passion or overlook its value in your leadership.

6 – Exceed expectations

Leaders stand out when they reject mediocrity and simply meet requirements. When you seek to exceed expectations, you are motivated to create and innovate. This creates a drive inside you that will cause you to look for new and better solutions. When you’re doing that, you don’t have time to have a poor attitude. You are energized to succeed. Expectations are the minimum requirements for any job. Go above and beyond if you want to advance as a leader.

7 – Never be satisfied

A friend of mine once shared on a podcast that successful people often struggle with never feeling successful because they are always seeking to be, do, or have more. I have found this to be true. In John Maxwell’s book The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, he teaches on “The Law of the Rubber Band.” In that chapter, he points out that rubber bands are only useful when they are stretched. The same is true for people. If you want to continue to advance as a leader, you need to become comfortable being uncomfortable. When we are growth-oriented, we are never satisfied. Yes, be content with what you have or what you have accomplished, but choose to be dissatisfied to stay where you are if you want to reach your full potential in life. You can always grow to become better. It’s a choice.

As you go about your days and weeks, regularly check your attitude. Remember, someone is always watching and followers respond to how their leaders respond. A good personal attitude in the midst of challenges will result in better attitudes among your team. You may not be able to control everything in your life or work, but you can control your attitude.

Until next time…make it a GREAT day! (see, there’s another way to improve your attitude)

By the way, if you want to take your personal life or leadership to the next level, click HERE to learn more about my personal and executive coaching services. 

***This article is inspired by chapter 5 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leader Within You 2.0” – “The Quickest Way to Gain Leadership:
Problem Solving.”***

Very few people look forward to experiencing problems, but leaders are revealed in the midst of them. Think about it. When a crisis hits an organization or community, leaders rise up to take action and help their colleagues and community members through it.

Last year, we had a series of tornadoes sweep through our region. In the midst of much devastation for thousands of people, leaders rose to the occasion to help their friends and neighbors. People created task forces. One woman created a Facebook group to start a local movement so those unaffected by the tornadoes could help those who were directly impacted.

Another local example is a lawyer and his wife who started a nonprofit organization to raise funds for classroom safety locks to combat the fears of school violence. In just a few short years they have raised enough money to put special locks on all the elementary and middle school classroom doors. They are now raising funds to finish the project for our high school.

These are just a couple of examples of how problems reveal leaders. It happens in all organizations. When problems arise, look at who rises to the occasion. While no one wants problems to occur, leaders are revealed and forged amidst them.

Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Leaders see and seize opportunities when problems arise.

Consider the following 4 essentials for problem-solving leaders by John Maxwell, then assess yourself on how well you match up:

1 – Take responsibility for addressing problems.

Taking responsibility must be a leader’s first priority. You may not have caused the problem, but you are responsible for addressing it. While others are pointing fingers and playing the blame game, leaders are shifting into solution-mode to get beyond the problem so their team and organization can win.

2 – Take responsibility for your attitude and emotions.

No one can control you except you. How you handle your thinking will affect the quality of your leadership.

Consider this statement from the Napoleon Hill Foundation – “In a moment of conflict, a suggestion or compromise can salvage a threatened working relationship. A discouraged employee can be motivated again through a few carefully chosen words. In situations like these, a good manager is looking beyond an immediate situation and acting to preserve a future benefit. But if your voice betrays your own anger, fear, or despair, that emotion, not the wisdom you offer, will be what others remember. Those who rise to the top in any organization are those who have learned to control their emotions. When you have a leadership position, others will watch you closely for the signals you send.”

Work to remain as calm as possible and control your emotions. Your followers will respond according to what they see in you.

3 – Give your best effort to finding solutions.

No leader is perfect, but giving your best effort toward finding solutions will motivate your followers to do the same. Tackle the problem head-on and model excellence in the midst of challenging circumstances.

4 – Don’t solve problems “for” your team. Solve “with” them so they can learn and grow.

Your followers don’t need a superhero. They need a leader who will guide them and include them in the process. If you become a “one-man show” you may solve the immediate problem, but you will not prepare your team for future challenges and success. Make it a priority to rally your team together, get their insights for creative solutions, and ask them to step up to the challenge. This has the power to reap long-term benefits for the team and organization.

While problems aren’t fun, they are to be expected. As a leader, prepare in advance for how you will respond when they come so you will not be reacting in haphazard ways. Determine right now to be a leader who will rise up as problems come and invite your followers to do the same.

Until next time…make today GREAT!

By the way, if you need guidance in your personal life or want to take your leadership to the next level, click HERE to learn more about my personal and executive coaching services. 

***This article is inspired by chapter 4 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leader Within You 2.0” – “The Ultimate Test of Leadership:
Creating Positive Change.”***

I’ve heard it said that the only people who like change are babies. In my experience, there is much truth to that statement. Even when change is positive it disrupts the status quo and makes people feel nervous or unsettled.

To be a leader worth following, you need to learn how to create positive change with the big picture in mind while also helping your followers navigate the emotions of what the change will bring. How can you do this?

Consider the following 8 steps to “plan ahead” that John C. Maxwell has taught and implemented over his 40+ years of leadership experience:

P – Predetermine the change that is needed

Change for change’s sake isn’t very productive nor is it well-received. If there is a problem to solve, what change needs to occur? If things are going well, what can you do to build upon your momentum? Leaders need to be strategic to determine what can or should change. Change can be a response to negative circumstances, but you can also use it wisely to go farther faster.

L – Lay out your steps

Once you have identified the needed changes or the opportunities for growth, develop an action plan that will guide your followers. When the steps are clear, it is easier for people to get on board and follow you on the journey.

A – Adjust your priorities

When you make changes, your priorities must change. You cannot effectively continue on with “business as usual” while also tackling change initiatives. What must you STOP doing so that you can implement your action plan for change? What must you START doing that needs to become a high priority?

N – Notify key people

Communication is a struggle in all organizations to some extent. When you are preparing for change, it is not only wise but critical to inform your key followers who are responsible for leading others. Start with a few to get them on board, then disseminate the message throughout the organization through them.

A – Allow time for acceptance

One mistake leaders can make is to assume that people will instantly adopt change. This rarely happens. Consider that leaders are often discussing and processing change for quite some time before it becomes official for others to hear. Don’t forget that what is old news for you is breaking news to your people. Give them time to process the information, ask questions, and get on board.

H – Head into action

Once you have taken the above steps, it is time to act. Begin taking the steps that you’ve laid out. Begin moving so momentum can kick in. Remember, it’s virtually impossible to steer a parked car, but once it gets rolling you can easily make adjustments.

E – Expect problems

No matter how well you plan and forecast, problems will arise. I once read that former Army General Colin Powell chose to act when he was 60-70% sure that the decision would work? Why would he act with such a low certainty percentage? He understood that you will never be 100% sure of what will work and it’s better to get started. Problems will arise, then you can address them accordingly.

A – Always point to the successes

When your followers are buried in the day-to-day “weeds” it is often difficult to feel or see the successes of the change plan. As a leader, you must communicate the successes consistently. I equate this to parents being unable to see the continual growth of their children because they see them daily. However, those who see them less frequently can see exponential growth. The same is true with your followers. Point out the successes so they don’t become discouraged in the daily mundane routine.

D – Daily review your progress

Leaders are the project managers for change. You must review your progress each day and make adjustments as needed. If something seems to be working very well, do more of that. If something isn’t working, find a new way to accomplish your goal. Leaders must maintain focus during the change process as no one else will.

While change can be difficult for any team or organization, it is one key reason that we need leaders. Work through these 8 “plan ahead” steps and watch how far you can lead your followers and grow your organization.

Until next time…make today GREAT!

By the way, if you need guidance in your personal life or want to take your leadership to the next level, click HERE to learn more about my personal and executive coaching services. 

***This article is inspired by chapter 3 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leader Within You 2.0” – “The Foundation to Leadership: Character”***

Our world has seen a variety of leaders throughout history – many have been good, others have been bad, some have been downright evil. The one thing that separates most of these leaders is character. Leadership tactics and best practices can be applied by almost anyone. However, the person behind the tactics and best practices is what makes a leader good, bad, or evil.

I firmly believe and have shared for years that WHO you are matters more than WHAT you do. WHO you are also affects HOW you do what you do. You cannot fake your character for long. You will eventually be found out for who you truly are.

Andrew Carnegie once said, “As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.” 

As a leader, you must remember that people are always watching. How you interact with followers, colleagues, friends, and family reveals your character. How you speak to others publicly and privately reveal your character. Whether you build others up or tear them down is a character issue.

Implement the following four actions so you can exhibit strong character that will allow you to become a great leader:

1 – Live Authentically

You can only be you. Don’t try to be someone else. While there is wisdom in imitating leaders as you develop, at some point you must innovate into who YOU are as a leader. Embrace your uniqueness and lead from it.

2 – Manage Yourself Well

Self-leadership is the most difficult kind of leadership. You will always be your toughest “follower.” Don’t give yourself a free pass based on your intentions. Rather, hold yourself accountable to continually grow so you can reach your potential.

3 – Remain Humble

Humility is not about thinking poorly of yourself. Rather, it is about seeing yourself with a proper perspective. Lift others up. Serve others to help them grow and advance. Instead of using your title or position only for personal gain, use it to help others advance in their lives and careers. Allow your ceiling to be the ground floor that others build upon.

4 – Be Courageous

Leadership is often difficult and challenging. Great leaders are courageous despite their fears. Many decisions you will make either have no precedent or you’ve not had a personal experience to inform your next steps. Display courage by pressing on despite your feelings. Do it afraid if you have to.

John. C. Maxwell said this about character – “Having good character does not ensure that you will be successful in life or leadership. But you can be sure that having poor character will eventually derail you personally and professionally.”

To become a great leader on the outside, you must first become great on the inside. Focus on developing your character each day so your followers will have the confidence to follow your lead into the unknown, unpredictable future.

Until next time…make today GREAT!

By the way, if you need guidance in your personal life or want to take your leadership to the next level, click HERE to learn more about my personal and executive coaching services. 

***This article is inspired by chapter 2 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leader Within You 2.0” – “The Key to Leadership: Priorities”***

Jamie Cornell stated, “Time cannot and will not be managed, and you will never get more of it. The problem is rooted in the choices you are making with others and your own choices. You choose how to use it every moment of every day, whether you believe you do or not.”

The reality is that the farther you go in your leadership journey, the more decisions you will have to make. Many people are suffering from “decision fatigue” in our culture. We have thousands of bits of information coming at us daily. On top of that, your followers are needing or wanting your input. Many times, they want you to decide on matters that they can and should decide themselves.

If you don’t prioritize your life, others will force their priorities onto you. That’s no way to live or lead. One of my favorite books on the topic of prioritization is Essentialism by Greg McKeown. The key idea in the book is “less but better.” McKeown shares that the word “priority” came about in the 1400s and was singular until around the 1900s when inventions became more automated and complex. Over the last 100+ years we have embraced the idea of having multiple priorities. However, when you have many priorities, no one thing truly is your priority.

So, how do you navigate this complex world full of information and decision-making? Consider the following:

1 – Determine to do what only you can do

The first step is to block out time and write down matters most for your role and skill set. What are the items that only you can or should do? The list is actually much shorter than you think.

2 – Delegate tasks that others can do

Make a list of your tasks, then consider who can do them at least 75% as well as you can. Next, meet with the people with whom you will delegate and assign them the appropriate tasks. If they need training, invest the time to do so. You will probably be surprised at how quickly others can accomplish what you’ve been holding onto for far too long.

3 – Dump the tasks that are not advancing your business or cause

There are a variety of tasks that we continually do simply because we’ve been doing them for a long time. Schedule time each quarter to review your tasks to see if they even matter any longer. Change occurs at a rapid pace. Some items that were important for you in the recent past no longer matter today. Have the courage to dump those items. One powerful exercise is to create a “stop doing” list. What you stop doing is often as important as what you continue to do.

Prioritization is simple, but not easy. You may have to overcome limiting beliefs, fears, and doubts to cut items out of your workload. As a leader, you must continually remind yourself that busyness doesn’t equal productivity. Your followers need you to continually filter what matters most, remove what isn’t working, and invest more in what is generating the best results. When you do this, you will begin to see improved effectiveness in both yourself and your followers.

Take your next step in leadership growth by becoming a master or prioritization.

Until next time…make today GREAT!

***If you need help developing a personal growth plan or implementing a leadership development program for your team, please contact me. I’d love to talk with you to determine how I can help!

***This article is inspired by chapter 1 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leader Within You 2.0” – “The Definition of Leadership: Influence”***

John C. Maxwell gives the following definition for “The Law of Influence” – “The true measure of leadership is influence; nothing more, nothing less.”

The bottom line is that if you aren’t influencing people, you aren’t leading them. The reality is that we all influence someone, even if it’s just one person. The challenge is that we don’t always know who or how much we influence others.

When I was a youth pastor many years ago, I had a group of middle school and high school boys who I felt never listened to what I had to say. They were always being mischevious and stirring up trouble within our youth group. They would drive me crazy! I had other youth leaders wanting to quit because of them or wanting me to “fix” them so they would behave. I literally felt like I just had to survive until they graduated. However, something shifted in their late high school years and I began to notice that they were maturing and engaging on a different level. I made the intentional effort to do things with them outside of normal youth group meetings to build relationships and connect at a different level. To make a long story short, I learned how to influence them. These boys are now young men who are working in their careers, getting married, and starting families. We stay connected through social media and text messages. I am privileged to call them friends now. At the time, I had no idea that I was influencing them, but by staying the course, I was able to see the results of the investment.

Sometimes you feel like you’re banging your head against a wall with those you are seeking to lead. My encouragement to you is to stay the course. As a leader, the best investment in tomorrow is to develop your influence today.

Look for potential in your people and help them develop it.

Build relationships.

Push through their apathy.

Take ownership and responsibility to be a leader despite how others respond.

Begin increasing your influence by focusing your attention with only a limited number of people at first. Look around. Who do you believe you can best develop over the next 1-3 years? Start with them.

Leadership is hard work. To become the leader that people need, you must invest in yourself and commit to the long game of developing people. Some will engage and respond quicker than others. While you can’t control the speed of their growth, you can do your part of investing in them little by little, day by day. Continually grow and develop yourself into a leader worth following.

You can do this.

I believe in you.

Until next time, make today GREAT!

***If you need help developing a personal growth plan or implementing a leadership development program for your team, please contact me. I’d love to talk with you to determine how I can help!

It is almost the end of another year. Christmas has passed once again. We’re in the gap between the holidays. It can feel like a strange time of year. Many of us wrestle with the “Christmas hangover.” We feel disoriented on what day it is and what just happened amidst the frenzy of parties and other holiday events. We often need to detox from all the delicious, but unhealthy foods we’ve eaten. Because of this, we can miss a golden opportunity we have each year to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead to the future.

Many people want each new year to be different, but they don’t do anything different to achieve that. For many, life is a continual repeat of the same things. Yes, time marches on. We get older. But do we become better, wiser, and more prosperous in all aspects of life?

So, what can we do right now in the final days of this year in order to prepare for an amazing new year?

1 – Reflect

First, do a personal year-end review of your life. Some people do this by reviewing the details of their calendars. Others review their journal entries. I do a combination of things. I enjoy sitting in the quiet of my home office and ask God to remind me of what He has done and taught me over the past year. Whatever works for you, be intentional in reviewing the year that is concluding. If you don’t know where you’re coming from, you will be at a disadvantage in moving forward.

2 – Dream

After you have reflected on the past, get in a quiet place to pray and think. Dream about what the next year can bring. Ask God to reveal to you His plans for your next 12 months. Vision is critical to growth. John Maxwell wrote this in his commentary on Isaiah 4 in The Maxwell Leadership Bible – “A strong God-given vision drove all the worthwhile accomplishments recorded in the Bible.” Without vision, we find ourselves wandering aimlessly. With a clear vision, we can take intentional action steps toward achieving it. Don’t overlook the power of dreaming. It is what leads to the world’s greatest achievements.

3 – Define

Once you have a clear vision, define the action steps that are required to achieve it. Break them into quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily actions. A great resource to go farther faster is The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran. He teaches how to make each quarter of the year an intentional action plan by viewing it as if each one were a year in itself. Defining clear action steps will help you make significant progress while others wander in various directions hoping to stumble on success.

4 – Advance

Having a vision and action steps is vital, but you now must decide to move forward. This takes courage. While many people say they want their lives to be different, they are afraid to take action because it will require them to become better, stronger, and different. It is impossible to advance forward without becoming a better version of yourself. It has been said, “What got you here won’t get you there.” God uses vision to stretch us and shape us into who He created us to be. It takes courage to get on the potter’s wheel and be reshaped into a better version of yourself.

5 – Document

Writing down your journey in the coming year will help you reflect this time next year. Whether you document electronically or with paper and pen doesn’t matter. Choose your best method and do it. Write down key activities and results. Write down significant interactions. Write out your prayers. Write down what you did each day so you can begin to see trends that hinder or benefit you. Your journal will become your personal history book that allows you to reflect but also gives your descendants a glimpse into your life so they can learn and grow as well.

The next year can be better than this year. Even if you’ve had a fantastic year, it can be better! If it’s been difficult, you want it to be better! But next year will be no different than this year if you simply go through the motions. If you only allow outside factors to influence your life, you’ll be blown around like a ship on the sea without a clear destination. You will end up somewhere, but will it be where you want to go? Take the above action steps and see what God will do in, for, with, and through you in the new year!

Until next time, make today GREAT!

P.S. If you need help developing a personal growth plan or implementing a leadership development program for your team, please contact me. I’d love to talk with you to determine how I can help!

**This article is inspired by chapter 19 of John C. Maxwell’s book Leadership Gold –
“Be a Connector, Not a Climber”***

There are a variety of leadership styles and throughout history, different styles have been needed for different reasons. However, as people think of the leaders they value most, there are some specific differences.

For instance, Hitler was a leader, but look at the damage he did by trying to exterminate the Jews and take over the world with his Nazi philosophy. Consider the leaders of the Enron corporation. They held leadership positions, but abused their power and damaged thousands of lives due to their corruption. I’m sure you can name countless others who had the position, title, and power but used it improperly and hurt many people. These people were focused on climbing to the top of the success ladder at all costs.

Then there are leaders who have often been unsung heroes. They quietly served their people and looked out for everyone’s best interest as much as they could. They were about developing their followers and helping them grow to achieve their potential. These leaders were focused on connecting with their people and helping others succeed, even if that meant they surpassed them.

So, how do you becoming a connecting leader versus a climbing leader? Consider the following 6 characteristics of connectors:

1 – Connectors Think Horizontal

While climbers are keeping score of who is winning and losing, connectors are focusing on taking people on a journey that leads to success for the team. Look around you. How can you help your people go farther faster? How can you help others succeed individually so the team or organization ultimately wins?

2 – Connectors Focus on Relationships

While climbers are focused on climbing their own success ladder, connectors are focused on building bridges. They see the value in each person they are leading. They don’t see them as cogs in a machine, but rather as valuable human beings who can add value to the organization through their skills, abilities, and insights. Think about your followers. How well do you know them? Are you fully aware of who they are and what value they can add to the team, even if it isn’t specific to their job description?

3 – Connectors Value Cooperation

Climbers seek to win at all costs while connectors see working together as a win. Of course, the goal is for the team to win, not just have a fun time together while losing. No one enjoys being on a losing team, even if they like the people with whom they are losing. However, climbers are the people who may be on a team but act as if they are the only person who matters. As a leader, be a champion for cooperation. Make it a high priority and address selfish individuals quickly who can damage the team chemistry.

4 – Connectors Seek Partnerships

Climbers want the power to climb faster and reach the top quickly. Connectors seek to create a high-powered team through building partnerships with talented team members who complement one another. Climbers get to the top and say “Look what I did.” Connectors get to the top and say “Look what WE did!” For climbers, it’s lonely at the top. For connectors, it’s a celebration with the team when the goal is achieved. Look around and determine who can be a valuable partner to achieve team or organizational goals together.

5 – Connectors Build Consensus

Climbers are often concerned with their own image. They want to receive all the credit. Connectors are more concerned with getting everyone on the same page so they can work together. They work tirelessly to blend various ideas and opinions into an agreed-upon way forward. They recognize that consensus doesn’t mean everyone gets their way, but rather they leave the meeting on the same page and focused on moving forward together as one unit. Do the hard work of hearing each perspective and helping each person hear from others as well. Then, find common ground so the team can confidently move forward.

6 – Connectors Want to Stand Together

Climbers want to distinguish themselves from everyone in the organization. They want to be the hero. This often makes them relationally challenged. Connectors find ways to get closer to other people and find common ground. They are relational leaders who care about others’ success just as much as they care about their own. They often prefer team sports versus individual sports. While you can be successful on your own, it is rare that anything of significance is achieved alone. Even the most successful people in the world have a team of support. Whether they acknowledge it or not is determined by whether they are climbers or connectors.

As you can see, you have a choice to make. Will you be a “climbing leader” who is focused on your own individual advancement or will you be a “connecting leader” who is focused on gathering a team of talented people who go on the journey toward success and significance? Success feels good for a moment but quickly fades. Significance often takes more work and is slower, but it lasts for a lifetime.

The choice is yours.

Choose wisely.

Until next time…make today GREAT!

***If you need help developing a personal growth plan or implementing a leadership development program for your team, please contact me. I’d love to talk with you to determine how I can help!