Welcome back brew nation! As the “Friday Coffee Guy” I am excited each week to provide a weekly assembly of material I am reading, listening to, watching, or thinking about that is designed to equip and call you to uncommon leadership, and I am grateful you choose to spend a few minutes with me!
Here is your weekly sip of what I have been reading, listening to, or watching to equip me to:
- Think Positively – From my Maxwell Daily Reader this week, there was a poem about the influence we have with the people around us:
My live shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done,
Leave countless marks for good or ill ere sets the evening sun
This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray;
Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way.
When you get up in the morning do you make a list of the people you will be interacting with to intentionally make a positive influence on their life that day? I could do better here. I often get caught up in the routine of the schedule and don’t take the time to plan for those interactions. Also, as a man of faith, I know that God puts people in our paths during the day that we have an opportunity to influence as well. As you interact with your family, coworkers, and even the customer service agent you are calling to return a product, recognize that your life impacts many other lives. You can make the few moments you interact with them a miserable experience, or you can get them to smile and make their day. You have that choice!
- Stay Strong – Did y’all get the chance to watch the Super Bowl this past Sunday? It was probably one of the best Super Bowls ever played. While I watched with a less intense eye than I would have if my Steelers would have been in the game, I really like to observe the leadership lessons that come out of one of the biggest stages. While the winning team celebrates, it is the team that comes out on the short end that has an immediate opportunity to display character. I was moved before the game started by the emotional display of tears from Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni, and the post-game hug by the Kelce brothers who were on opposite teams. But, it’s usually the quarterback that gets the most ‘attention’ and Jalen Hurts was the model leader during the post-game press conference. I’m a fan! Some of his key observations shortly after the game included:
- “You either win or you learn”
- “I have a lot of respect for Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs QB)”
- “I do this for the guys in the locker room, not for the approval of others”
- “Tried to stay in the moment and be present each play”
- “It (the loss) will motivate me”
- “I can only control the things that I can control”
Only time will tell to see if Jalen Hurts can have another spectacular year in the 2023-24 season as he did this year. If he continues to grow as a leader in his character and humility like he showed in the post-game press conference, I would be willing to bet on success!
- Read More – I have committed to reviewing one law per week from John Maxwell’s 25th anniversary edition of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. I really hope you are finding these helpful. For me, going back through this read for the third time has been truly enjoyable. This week’s law is:
Law # 17 – The Law of Priorities
Leaders Understand That Activity Is Not Necessarily Accomplishment
The discipline of prioritizing is one that ALL leaders need to practice. When I check in with my coaching clients to ask how they have been doing since the last time I chatted with them, one of the frequent responses I get is “I’m really busy.” Too often, society wears ‘being busy’ as a badge of honor. We often believe that when are busy, we are also achieving. But busyness does not equal productivity and activity is not necessarily accomplishment. This goes for leaders in a billion-dollar corporation, an entrepreneur of a small business, pastors in a church, or small group leaders!
To be effective leaders (and organizations for that matter) must order their priorities (time) and resources to their most important initiatives and should answer these three questions:
- Is it required of me? Be very clear on your goals that you are being held accountable to. If you are performing tasks that are not aligned with your goals, then you should answer the question ‘why?’. If I am doing something that is not necessary, then I should delegate it someone else, defer it to a later time, or deselect it completely!
- Does it give me or the team a great return? People are more productive and more content when their work is in their area of gifting or strength.
- Does it bring me personal satisfaction? This is especially true for me as an entrepreneur. If what I am doing is required and it gives me a great return, then I need to figure out how to get it done. If the task does not give me personal satisfaction, I should again figure out how to delegate that task to someone who is better. Not only is it important to do those things that are important, but it is also important to enjoy your work!
In my coaching and consulting, one of the biggest barriers I find to organization success is that they are very busy, but NOT busy on those things that are required, provide return, or are in an area where people are strong. As a result, people get frustrated with their work.
Are you busy? Look at your tasks and make sure they answer the three questions above in a favorable manner.
(NOTE: Are you or someone you know looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life? I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how performance consulting and/or coaching might benefit you and your team)
Quote
“Your authority is in your authenticity” – Chris Hodges
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Take a look at your calendar for next week. Look at the people you are going to be in contact with and be intentional about how you will influence each of them in a positive way when you see or hear from!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week
Until next time, Think Positively, Stay Strong, Read More, and Grow Champions! P.S. – Are you a podcast fan? Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you. Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast? Do you have a story to tell? Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set
