The following are 5 Questions Successful Leaders Are Asking As They Enter 2024:
The Key to Quality Decision-Making in 2024
Hall of Fame baseball coach Keith Madison recently wrote, “The worst time to make a major decision is when you are anxious, frustrated or angry. The best time to make decisions is after you count your blessings. Gratitude is the best segue into decision making.”
Leaders, do you feel blessed and have a sense of gratitude as you enter 2024?
If not, you are likely making strategic decisions from a position of anxiousness, frustration, and anger. This is not a recipe for success.
Will You Be Up for The Challenge in 2024?
Speaking of success, this Monday the University of Alabama Crimson Tide will play the Michigan Wolverines in a College Football Play-Off Semi-Final game. Leading Bama’s offense is their offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
In this article from The Athletic, Rees explained his decision on why to come to the high-pressure environment of Alabama. He said, “You come to Alabama for certain reasons. I want to be at a place where pressure is high. I want to be at a place where the demands are what they are. You don’t come here thinking it’s going to be anything different. You come for that challenge, you come here because you have that competitive spirit. Some people can, some people can’t. I’d like to be on the side of people that can.”
Leaders, can you handle the pressure and demands 2024 will certainly bring? If so, there will be a number of people who will want to work alongside you as well.
For more leadership lessons from the Alabama Crimson Tide, read Nick Saban’s 4 Qualities Of A Leader.
Who are You Playing or Working For in 2024?
Paul Assaiante, the winningest coach in college sports history, writes on page 22 of his excellent book Run To The Roar: Coaching to Overcome Fear, “To play for yourself is one thing – it is so specific. To play for your country is another – it is too abstract. But to play for your peers is real pressure.”
In successful organizations, those involved are not in it for themselves. They are playing or working for those in the foxhole right beside them.
Leaders, whether you are a leader in the sports, business, non-profit, or religious space, who are you really playing or working for in 2024?
This leads to my next point….
4 Components of 2024’s Successful Partnerships
You will accomplish more in 2024 with we than me. Partnerships could be the key in helping you achieve exponential results in the coming year.
One team achieving exponential results thus far is the Premier League club Arsenal. Jordan Campbell writes in this The Athletic article, “The triangle of Declan Rice, William Saliba and Gabriel has changed Arsenal… the defensive solidity the trio provide is key to how formidable this team has become.”
Manager Mikel Arteta added about the trio, “They clicked straight away and that is something as a coach you really hope for. When you talk about partnerships, those two positions (defender and midfielder) are key. There is a chemistry and an understanding — they complement each other in a great way and everyone has a clear role which is accepted.”
We learn four things about successful partnerships from Arteta’s comments:
- Successful partnerships have chemistry.
- Various parties understand each other’s needs in successful partnerships.
- Successful partnerships are made up of people and organizations with complimentary skills.
- As a result, everyone has clear roles in successful partnerships.
Leaders, are you involved in 2024 partnerships with chemistry, understanding, complimentary skills, and clear roles?
For more on the leadership of Markel Arteta, read 12 Lessons on High Performance Teams & Winning Cultures from the Best Locker Room Speech I Have Ever Heard and 8 Characteristics Of A Winning Culture.
2024 Continual Improvement Plan
Staying with the Premier League, Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne will soon be returning from a hamstring injury which has kept him out of action for several months.
De Bruyne has a passion for personal growth. He said in this article from The Athletic, “Even being out for four months, I have tried to find ways to change myself as a player so I can still do what I did before.”
The 32-year-old went on to explain three areas he was still attempting to improve in:
- Diet
- Exercise habits to hopefully prevent future hamstring issues
- Pre-match preparation
One of the best in the game is still looking for ways to get even better.
Leaders, can you identify at least three areas in which you can continually improve in during 2024?
Conclusion
The following are 5 Questions Successful Leaders Are Asking As They Enter 2024:
- Do you feel blessed and have a sense of gratitude as you enter 2024?
- Can you handle the pressure and demands 2024 will certainly bring?
- Whether you are a leader in the sports, business, non-profit, or religious space, who are you really playing or working for in 2024?
- Are you involved in 2024 partnerships with chemistry, understanding, complimentary skills, and clear roles?
- Can you identify at least three areas in which you can continually improve in during 2024?
My latest eBook is available for download. The Top 65 Leadership Quotes Of 2022 Part 1 is a resource every leader should have. Great quotes bring clarity and put into words who we intuitively feel as leaders. They give us wisdom and insights which advance the mission and vision of our organizations. This eBook includes thoughts and insights from leaders like Warren Buffett, Nick Saban, James Clear, Dawn Staley, Jurgen Klopp, Jerry Seinfeld, and even Ted Lasso. This resource will take you about 10 minutes to read but a lifetime to apply. You will want to stop and ponder the implications of each quote. Click HERE or on the image provided for immediate download!