Energy for a New Year

Energy for a New Year   By Leadership Freak

Lousy leaders drain people; successful leaders energize. Do eyes light up when you’re around? Those who make the biggest difference, energize others.

The law of energy is put more in than you take out.

Any person or system that takes out more than it puts in is dying. Reserves last for awhile, but death is imminent.

Successful leaders replenish energy in others. Energy looks like hope, optimism, and confidence.

Recharging people:

Leaders who over-emphasize deliverables and projects suck life out of people.

Leaders who energize, focus on projects and people. Foolish  leaders forget people come first. People complete projects.

Leaders who prioritize people are energizers.

Successful leaders monitor energy. What’s the mood of your team?

Surprising sources of energy:

1. Doing things you love. Rest is helpful, but doing what you love energizes. Help your team do things they love. Just ask, what do you love doing?
2. Challenges energize when they’re just out of reach. Too far and they drain.
3. Finishing energizes. Successful leaders create and celebrate finishing points. Great finishing points energize for the journey.
4. Developing new skills infuses energy. What are you doing to develop those around you?

Encouragement energizes:

Leaders who withhold encouragement discourage.

1. Ask people how they like to be encouraged. “What can I do to encourage you?”
2. Validation encourages. Don’t explain away people’s perspective or feelings. Go with them, even when they aren’t yours. Going with isn’t agreement it’s understanding. People feel validated when they feel understood.
3. Use questions rather than directions. “Can we solve this?” is better than, “Go fix this.” Once a person says, “Yes, we can solve this.” Their brain rises to the challenge. They find courage to take the next step.
4. Systematize encouragement by putting your team member’s names on a calendar. Monday is your day to encourage Bob.

Helping families in need

All the links below are as a fundraiser for Parents and Children United.   The funds will be used to help families in need, and for operational costs.  Thank-you

http://www.parentsandchildrenunited.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethany-Van-Mary-Kay-Independent-Consultant/201831190008957

http://www.marykay.com/bdvan

Distinguishing the Wise from the Foolish

Distinguishing the Wise from the Foolish  by leadership freak

 

The most talented fool in the world only brings misery and destruction. Business is more than numbers and results. Leaders go astray when they neglect character and focus on abilities.

The gifts and talents of fools makes them dangerous.

Wake up call:

It’s possible to be talented and foolish. Wise leaders develop character before skills.

Wisdom and foolishness are about behavior and attitude not intelligence. Smart people act foolishly and dumb people act wisely.

Smart leaders develop talent and wisdom.

Seven marks of foolishness:

1. Harshness.
2. Jealousy and envy. Fools can’t enjoy the success of others.
3. Self-protectiveness.
4. Persistent anger.
5. Selfish ambition. Fools throw others under the bus for personal advantage.
6. Shading the truth to make yourself look good. Ethics are negotiable to fools.
7. Taking advantage of others. Fools are OK with deals where others lose.

When you see foolish qualities in talented people, run or protect yourself. Smart people can display the behavior of fools. Every time you say, I knew better than that, you acknowledge you acted foolishly.

Successful leaders look for wisdom and talent.

Seven marks of wisdom:

1. Flexibility. Wise leaders hear good arguments and change their minds. Fools are belligerent, argumentative, and hard-headed. When was the last time you changed your mind?
2. Focus. Flexibility isn’t wishy-washy. Wise leaders remain tenacious about mission and vision.
3. Strong relationships. A fool’s life is characterized by short-term relationships. Enduring relationships reveal wisdom.
4. Providing second chances. Leaders who don’t give second chance create fearful, self-protective cultures.
5. Commitment to the well-being of others.
6. Predictability. Consistency makes wise people predictable.
7. Respect for all regardless of position. Fools kiss butt.

It’s likely you see yourself on both lists. The good news is, we behave our way into wisdom. Trajectory is the deeper issue. Are you stepping toward wisdom or foolishness?

DIVINE DIRECTION

DIVINE DIRECTION

By Jemima Rayan

 

How nice will it be, if the Lord Himself will give us the directions to proceed in our life? That is what exactly the Lord wants to do for His children. In the modern days that we live in, we have so many advanced technologies to give us directions when we want to get somewhere.

 

The Bible talks about divine direction in the scriptures. God has a road map for each and every one of us. God knows exactly where to take us. He knows the minute details of our life. He has the blue print for our whole life already. We do not have to ask him to put a new plan for our lives. All we have to do it just fit in His plans for our lives. His Word of God declares in Jeremiah 29:11, ' For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope'.

 

To get to the bigger picture, our God goes step by step. Though He knows the end from the beginning, He does not tell you the destination right away. All He wants to tell you is one step at a time. And the Lord God Almighty orders each step.

 

Steps are ordered:

The word that is mentioned in the Bible is 'ordered' just like the way you order your food in a restaurant. You order as much as you can eat. In the same way, God orders our steps and steps that we are able to take. God's word says, 'He orders every step'. 'The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way' (Ps 37:23).

 

Have you noticed the way we plan things in our life. Most of them do not happen at all. Sometime people are concerned about things that may not even come to pass. Still there are some who spend half of their time in just worrying about things that are irrelevant?

 

The Bible says, 'A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps' (Pro 16:9). Notice the word 'step'. Our God directs our steps.

              

Paths are directed:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths (Pro 3:5). The key to unlocking God's direction is by acknowledging Him in all our ways.

 

Many think that God's paths are full of lack. That is not true. Just because you have not seen abundance doesn't means that God's paths are not abundant. The Bible says, 'You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance' (Ps 65:11)

When we are in God's direction, we are heading towards abundance. It may not feel like it, it may not look like it. But the Word of God says, God's path drip with abundance. Let not the devil talk you out of that word. Our God is not a God of lack. He is a God of abundance. His paths drip with abundance. All you want to be is, in His path. God's word is final.

How to know God's directions:

1. Prayer:

Look at the prayer of David, a man after God's own heart. David was a king but yet He had the time to pray to the Lord God Almighty to show him His ways and teach him His paths. 'Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths' (Ps 25:4). Direct my steps by Your Word (Ps 119:136).

Take God at His word when you pray. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye (Ps 32:8).

Tell Him, 'Lord Jesus, I am here to ask for your directions in my life'. I do not want to go in my path but take me in Your ways, Lord. You will soon see God coming through.

2. Word of God:

God's word is the lamp unto your feet and a light to your path (Ps 119:105). After you have prayed, do not expect a prophet to come out, and put his hand on you give you a prophesy. That may not happen. That is not always the way God wants to work.

Expect God to reveal things from His heart to yours. He wants you to know His ways from His word. So while you are going through the Word of God, listen to the Holy Spirit for revelation from the word Write down the impressions and ideas He gives you. Let the truth He reveals to you settle in and begin to work in you.

3. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit:

The thing that we need to understand is that we cannot hurry God into anything. The Bible calls it 'waiting'. There is something called waiting upon the Lord that is so important in our spiritual walk. The Holy Spirit talks in a still small voice right in your heart. He loves to talk to us. When our heart is in the right place, we sure will hear Him speak to us.

Isaiah 30:21 says, 'Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it." Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left".

Jesus said in John 10:27 says, 'My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me'. We need to fine tune our spiritual ears all the time so that we can hear Him.

Let us walk in His ways all the days of our life. Amen.

Seven Ways to Exploit Persistent Dissatisfaction

Seven Ways to Exploit Persistent Dissatisfaction 

 by leadership freak

Real leaders live with an itch that can’t be scratched. Be happy with dissatisfaction or live an unsatisfying life.

Dissatisfaction keeps us working. Those who tell us to accept the world as it is, would be out of work if we believed them.

George Bernard Shaw writes,

“As long as there is want, I have reason for living. Satisfaction is death.”

Opportunity waits behind the door called dissatisfaction. The real issue is what to do with it.

Greatness is a function of addressing dissatisfaction.

If you are satisfied with the world, you aren’t a leader.

Exploiting dissatisfaction:

1. Don’t rationalize dissatisfaction. If you persistently say it’s not that bad, it is.
2. Define dissatisfaction. Courageously confront and name your dissatisfaction. Don’t hide. Stop pretending. Explore it.
3. Own your dissatisfaction. Weak leaders blame. Strong leaders own. Are you dissatisfied because you aren’t getting what you want or you aren’t giving what you want?
4. Don’t project. Dissatisfaction in ourselves often breeds dissatisfaction with others. Irresponsible leaders project their dissatisfaction on others.
5. Categorize your dissatisfaction. Are they usually about people, circumstances, unrealized opportunities, or ….
6. Tap the dissatisfaction of others. When others are dissatisfied, fuel their frustration don’t soothe or solve it. Leaders change things through others. If you’re working alone, you aren’t a leader.
7. Define wins in observable language. Stop working against; work for. Rise above complaining.

Bonus: Change or lower your expectations. Maybe it’s not worth the effort. Maya Angelou said,

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

The way you deal with dissatisfaction determines the quality of your life and the effectiveness of your leadership.

Warning:
Dissatisfaction is dangerous when it promotes self-destructive behavior. You’re dissatisfied with your job, for example, so you stop giving your best.

The Secret to Focusing on What Matters

The Secret to Focusing on What Matters  by leadership freak

Trivialities replace what matters when you’re under the gun. The dark power of time pressure, stress, and urgency is they obscure what’s meaningful.

1. Getting things done replaces making a difference.
2. Check lists replace connecting.
3. Coercion replaces partnership.
4. Junk food replaces healthy food.
5. Rudeness replaces respect.

I’d like to say that I focus on what’s important and forget what isn’t. But, who has time for purpose and meaning when things have to get done?

Insignificant leaders focus on trivialities.

The things you focus on express the importance of your leadership. When you inflate insignificant issues, you deflate meaningful leadership.

When you manage, the devil’s in the details.
When you lead, the devil is the details.

Things that matter take greater focus and more concentration than things that don’t.

I’m using the, One Word, approach to help me focus on what matters in 2014. I wrote about it yesterday, Don’t Make a Resolution; Find a Word. My word is Health. It’s already taking on a bigger meaning than I anticipated.

Top of mind is top of life.
Who you are is best seen when you’re under the gun.

Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page, authors of, One Word That will Change Your Life, offer suggestions for maintaining focus on your word.

1. Write your word down and post it in prominent places.
2. Create a screensaver with your word.
3. Take a picture of your word and save it on your smartphone.
4. Keep a One Word journal.
5. Look for saying and quotes that relate to your word.
6. Pick a song that reminds you of your word.
7. Get a tattoo. They suggest a removable one.

Don’t Make a Resolution; Find a Word

Don’t Make a Resolution; Find a Word  by leadership freak

“One Word That Will Change Your Life.”

***

What if one word could transform your life?

I don’t blame you if you’ve stopped making resolutions. You’re busy enough and the last ones didn’t work.

One Facebook contributor summed up the challenge of personal change when she wrote, “Successful personal change requires a lot of hard work!”

Plus, you’re already maxed out. But…

Do you have room for one word?

More powerful than resolutions:

You don’t need a list of resolutions. You need, “One Word That Will Change Your Life.”

Dan Britton and Jimmy Page have practiced and taught one word since 1999. They shared the idea with Jon Gordon a few years ago. One word always works. It may not deliver what you expect. It usually delivers more.

One word:

Choose one word that embodies the essence of life for 2014 and let it speak to you everywhere you go. The possibilities are endless.

People have chosen: Love, Discipline, Rest, Integrity, Smile, Finish, Kindness, Joy, Patience.

Your word in three easy steps:

First, look in by finding silence and asking three questions.

1. What do I need?
2. What’s in my way?
3. What needs to go?

Find your why:

“The why is always more important than the what.”

From, One Word.

Second, look up by asking God for your word and listening. Don’t stress about your word. Receive it from your maker.

Third, look out by living out your word everywhere you go. But, look out, because one word isn’t predictable. It surprises.

“Don’t check the box; experience the journey.”

From, One Word

Tip: Keep your word front and center everyday.