I Got It Wrong
Years ago, when I thought about leadership, I imagined one word, “Goals.” I thought being a leader just meant having and executing goals. I had a list. I had a plan. I was ready to focus.
So that’s what I did. I hammered away on my goals and that wasn’t a bad thing. There was some progress and some success, but at the end of the day, by shining a laser strictly on my goals, I missed the other half of what it means to be a leader… roles.
Leadership is a balancing act of two seemingly different, but critically linked items: goals and roles.
In addition to setting goals, you have to determine how you’ll focus on the roles in your life.
What kind of employee will you be?
What kind of mother or father will you be?
What kind of boss or neighbor or Sunday school teacher will you be?
How will you dedicate yourself to those roles? More importantly, how will you influence and serve the people in your world in every leadership role you’re given?
Let’s find that answer together. Let’s learn about how to align ourselves mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually so we can be the best possible leaders. Let’s discover why the words “strength” and “courage” always pop up in the leaders we all admire the most.
Let’s get leadership right.
One idea at a time.
Start today. Don’t just be a goal-setter, be a role-setter!
What are the biggest leadership challenges you’re facing right now?
This post is categorized Lead and tagged goals, leadership
Welcome to the blogging world. So glad to see you here. I will visit often. Last weekend I was speaking at Elmbrook Church in Brookefield, WI. When I mentioned Chick-fil-A the congregation of 1300 women were very well aware of Chick-fil-A…even though there aren’t any stores in their town.
Recently, their pastor was traveling somewhere and stopped at a Chick-fil-A. He was so taken by the friendly service of the man working behind the counter whose name badge said 39 years of service.
Before he left, he wanted to thank that man but couldn’t find him. So, he pulled aside another employee and started bragging on that very kind man. That’s when the pastor was told ‘that man’ was Dan Cathy- the president of CFA.
He was so moved. So very moved. The Sunday before I spoke at Elmbrook’s women’s conference, the pastor made that experience with you the focus of his entire sermon.
Boy was I proud to say I am part of the CFA family.
Then today, I read the e-mail you sent to the operators and saw how you signed your e-mail: Dan Cathy, customer service.
Wow. Yet another way you have powerfully lived the best kind of sermon.
Just wanted to encourage you today. And say thank you.
ps… thank you also for the investment you’ve made in my son Jackson- one of the Impact 360 students. He truly treasured his time with you!
I agree with your comments on the goals/roles. I think your father had in right in his autobiography that we need to be available for what God opens up for us. If we are too focused on our goals we may miss the opportunities that aren’t directly in our path to the goals but may offer new options. Thanks for your leadership.
I think the effective leaders know there role and where they what to go and people will instinctively follow. The difference in the quality of the leader is deterined by the quality of goals the leader has. Self serving goals can make you a vilian like Al Capone, where as goals that glorify God will make you legendary like Jesus.
Thanks Lisa for your kind comments. You should be very proud of Jackson. He has become family to the folks in Pine Mountain. I need to brief you on our new influence initiative we’re calling LIVE. LOVE. LEAD. witnessed by 5k raving fans in Orlando last week. Very big potential.
Dear Sir;
The last time I drove to Chicago from Memphis via I-57, there was not one Chick-Fil-A up there as soon as I left the southern hemisphere. Obviously that needs to be remedied. There are “cow” joints all up and down the highway but no Chick-Fil-A.