Honor, A Cornerstone of Leadership

Written in the sixth century, verse seventeen of the Tao Teh Ching from Lao Tzu reads:

A leader is best

When people barely know he exists,

Not so good when people obey and acclaim him,

Worst when they despise him.

'Fail to honor people,

They fail to honor you.'

But of a good leader, who talks tilde,

When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,

They will all say, 'We did this ourselves.'

I don't know about you, but as a leader and follower I find this passage intriguing and challenging.

As I watch other leaders (and in most cases, managers) I notice how common it is for so many leaders to want to be in the lime light. I'm sure you've seen it too. Perhaps you have worked alongside someone who will only allow their own ideas to be implemented, will take someone else's idea and claim it as their own, or simply wait until you are gone and then implement it. Behaviors like this make me wonder; if the idea was good enough to selfishly steal and implement later, why not just go ahead and humbly use it now? Why wait? I sense a similar caution to Lao Tzu—it is the dishonorable leader that selfishly claims another’s idea as his own.

On the flip side, I have also had the opportunity to observe honorable leaders who chose not to be concerned with their visibility while still being a true point person. The leader that honors his team is the one who is trusted most completely. The honorable leader may not have a formal title. However, the honorable leader is the one which has been tested over time, through giving his team the honor they deserve, who can rally the team to greater success.

If you watch a team, you will recognize the real leader by taking a moment or two to be still and simply observe. Don't be surprised. Here are some things to look for:

- Who takes time to listen to all the input?

- Who makes a calculated response?

- Which person actually commands the attention of the team when they speak?

* Who does everyone follow?

These questions will drive your attention to the real leader. Just because someone has a title does not mean they are the leader. In the same way, just because people follow instructions does not mean they are following a leader--they may simply be following a manager's instructions.

How do you honor your team? How do you enable them to rally together? Are you riding the limelight or stabilizing yourself on the cornerstone of honor?

How Hot is Your Coffee?

The morning began in the kitchen at work making a carafe of coffee for my team members. As I was standing there Luke walked in with a pre-coffee look on his face. Jokingly I let him know what his face was saying about how his morning appeared to be starting. His response was great!

As he proceeded to fill his mug up with boiling hot water from that little red tap on the coffee machine he said, “You know… if you fill up your mug with hot water and let the mug warm up before you fill it with your coffee, the coffee will stay hot for hours!” He then added that the credit for that tip actually goes to Debbie.

Wow! That really got me thinking about how vital that tip really is—not just for keeping coffee hot though. I couldn't help but think of the implications for leadership, character, and our spiritual lives.

Whether we are leaders or followers our days can be exhausting. From the time you arrive at work to the moment you leave there are things to be accomplished and goals to be achieved. I believe that in order to maintain a sense of calm haste we need to be filled before we can pour out something refreshing and energizing into our work and the lives we come in contact with.

Here are a few suggestions for charging yourself up before pouring yourself out:

- Have a daily devotional time

- Put down the electronic devices for an hour

- Take an hour to simply think

- Workout

- Begin your week with by setting a strategy for the upcoming tasks

- Take a walk outside

- Take a nap

- Brainstorm with a close friend

So, what are you filling your mug up with? How do you stay hot for hours?

I invite you to leave a comment below.

Business as Usual...or Not!

I recently came across the following video that has challenged me to think twice about the idea of "business as usual". It's made me wonder, what could I do with my team at work to make our job more fun? How could I add a little more fun for my daughters as they clean their room? What about my own goals... add in a little fun?

What are the possibilities for increasing fun? I'd love to hear your comments...

What's Your Potential?

What is your potential? Perhaps, like me, you probably have been told that you have a ton of potential or have had a reference say they same of you. My guess is that you took it as a compliment. I would've too. But is it a compliment? I think not!

Potential is one item that really stirs me up. Whether in myself or in someone else I find myself getting angry at the mention of it. Think about it. What is potential really? I would pose to you that potential is what you are capable of becoming but are not currently.

Wow, what a thought! I'm sure, if you are taking the time to read this, you too see things within yourself that you could become. For whatever reason, you have not yet spent the energy on changing or investing in yourself. But are you ready to make a change? Let's look a few steps that can turn potential to reality.

I believe the first step is to realize that you have a unique potential that no one else has. Sure, you may have things in common with other people. So what are your skills? What excites you? What are you most passionate about in life? These are just a few questions that can get the juices flowing.

Second, take some time to think about who it is that you want to become. What does the end product of "you" look like? I would recommend that you take an inventory listing the skills, experiences and characteristics that are part of your potential. Essentially, this list is a description of what you believe you could look like within the next few weeks, months or even over the next several years.

The third step is to strategize. Like step two, take some more time to think. However, now the direction of your thoughts should be in regard to how you are going to execute. Goals and action steps will help you create a realistic plan that can help you move potential to reality.

Finally, execute. Depending on why the potential you have even exists you may find that this is the most difficult part. I may suggest that this step is one that you can't do on your own. In order to execute many of us find the need for accountability. Why not build accountability into your plan by telling a friend, coworker, or spouse your plan to execute your potential?

How would your life look different if you are able to Realize, Think about, Strategize & Execute your potential into action? Add your comments below.

Too Busy Driving... to fill up the tank...

Today, while I can't claim this post, I'd like to share my best friend's thoughts on how our mornings collided today:

Early today my morning routine was interrupted by a phone call from my closest friend’s wife. I missed the call but was able to quickly call her back. When she answered the phone she informed me that Matt had run out of gas a few miles from my house, and asked if I could bring him some gas on my way to work. Without hesitation I accepted this new task and placed it into my morning “to do” list.

First, I called Matt to find out where he was; next I got dressed cause I had just got out of the shower; and then I walked both my dogs. After rushing through these tasks, and skipping my morning cup of coffee, I rushed to the assistance of my friend in need.

My five gallon gas can was empty and my truck was very low on fuel too, so after filling up the gas can and adding an additional 5 gallons to my truck I headed off to find my friend. I found Matt parked in his Jeep next door to Osaka’s. He quickly came to the bed of my truck, grabbed the gas can and started to pour the contents into his tank.

Once we were both back on the road and stopped at a light I sent him a text message that read “Have you ever been too busy driving to fill up with gas..?” I thought I was being funny jesting at his recent situation that left him stranded, and he responded with the typical “LOL”.

Now I am in my office and honestly feel a bit grumpy, not for having changed my schedule around to aid in the assistance of a friend, but because I feel tired. I left the house without eating anything, had no coffee, skipped my devotional, and forgot to bring my apple and orange that have become my staple snacks since I’m trying to lose weight for my wedding. In short, my own personal gas tank is empty. I am guilty of exactly what I had texted Matt. I was too busy driving to fill up my own tank.

As I sit in my office grumpy, hungry and tired, I realize how easy it can be to allow our personal fuel tanks to run dry, and how important it is to be intentional about filling them up. So, as I am being deliberate in filling my personal tank through a quick devotional I found online while drinking a cup of coffee and eating a sausage and egg English muffin from Founders, I found myself asking, “Am I filling up the tanks of the people on my team or am I just driving them without consideration to the fuel that is needed to make them perform?” Even Highways have a rest stop to help you mentally recharge so you don’t run off the road. Where is my rest stop at work? Some days are so busy that I just wish I would see a sign “Rest Stop in 15 Minutes”

One of the things I do when planning a long road trip is to plan where I will be stopping to fill the tank, and where am I going to stay the night so I am recharged for the next day. I feel we must take this same approach as we manage our teams. We need to plan to drive long, plan to fill up, but also plan to rest and recharge. I’m not saying give the whole department or office a day off, but I am saying that as managers we need to intentionally plan to refuel and recharge the team, give them the proverbial tune up through training, celebrating victories and sharing about challenging situations and ways to overcome similar ones.

Deliberately scheduling this time is like sticking a sign post in the middle of the work day that says REST STOP Next Exit. Employees that know they are going to get this chance to share, celebrate and train will be able to work through the rough times knowing they will get a chance to rest up, tune up and fill up.

Happy Motoring!!! - Chuck Ford

The Urgent vs. The Important

What eats up your time?

What tugs at you all day?

What tempts you toward procrastination or laziness?

What unnecessarily fills up your calendar?

Every day each of us are presented with choices. For some of us, the choices presented come hourly, others even more frequently. The balance I am still learning to find is between the urgent and the important. Though this is a common concept taught to young professionals it is one that takes years to master. We must not merely evaluate what is important, that which will best serve the vision of the organization, we must follow through and weed out the urgent, that which appears last minute and draws us away from the important. The urgent can also mask itself as being supportive of the important yet we must not fall prey to its temptation while getting caught up in busyness and tedious work.

Eugene H. Peterson, in The Contemplative Pastor, writes, "I am busy because I am lazy. I indolently let others decide what I will do instead of resolutely deciding myself...If I vainly crowd my day with conspicuous activity or let others fill my day with imperious demands, I don't have time to do my proper work, the work to which I have been called. How can I lead people beside the still waters if I am in perpetual motion?"

What I most appreciate about Peterson's statement is his humble honesty in which he takes responsibility for not taking responsibility. The beauty and danger of the urgent versus the important is that the easy way out is to allow ourselves to rush off to do something exciting and fresh as we justify our actions in fulfilling the urgent while the important is silently ignored.

The danger is that when we allow ourselves to succumb to the urgent too frequently, the important is left alone as the whole show begins to unravel. This is dangerous in any environment whether at work or in one's spiritual life.

So how do we overcome this battle? Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense, said, "Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning."

1. Be Vigilant From Day to Day. Planning definitely plays a major role in overcoming the temptation of the urgent. Cautiously guard your calendar as you plan each day.

2. Learn to Say NO. We can not allow ourselves to become busy with tasks that seem to result in quick results.

3. Do not Forget the Big Picture. If we evaluate tasks in light of the long term vision and goals of the organization, as well as our individual calling, we will be more likely to choose the important over the call of the urgent.

4. Make a Firm Decision and Move Forward. Life is full of flat squirrels who couldn't make a decision.

Lord, as I move into the next phase of life, grant me the wisdom needed to find balance in both my spiritual life, family life, and business. May you help me stay vigilant, learning how to say no while keeping the big picture in mind as I move forward. May I learn to consistently overcome the temptation to succumb to the urgent. May I honor you in choosing to do what is important as I seek to fulfill your calling for me, my family and my employer.