Starting about a year ago, I made the commitment to learn something new every day and record the new insight in my journal. It has been a fascinating journey which has made me a much better leader.
The following are five things I recently learned which I think will make you a better person and leader as well:
The Power of Humility and Confidence
Lasting influence is directly tied to a unique blend of both humility and confidence. Humility is about your posture, while confidence is about belief. You need both.
Humility minus confidence equal passivity. You don’t think you’re worthy of stepping out, speaking up, or taking a chance. So you do very little if anything. Risks are not taken. Opportunities are missed.
Confidence minus humility equals arrogance, pride, assumption, and recklessness. You may wind up looking like a fool.
Once again, you need both for lasting influence.
The Power of Grace
In 1348, the Black Death plague ravaged England. The northern Scots laughed at their calamity and saw this as an opportunity to attack. They assembled their army in large, concentrated groups. Can you guess what happened next?
The Black Death plague came upon the Scots and ravaged them as well.
Do not get arrogant, insensitive, or greedy when calamity and hardship falls upon your rivals. Show mercy and grace. Otherwise, you may be next.
The Power of Curiosity
NorthStar Church senior pastor Mike Linch recently said, “Questions drive and define servant leaders. Statements define selfish leaders.”
I challenge you to conduct a personal inventory right now – are you curious and asking a lot of questions right now or are you making a lot of definitive statements?
The Power of Adjustments
There is a 1-in-60 Rule in the world of aviation. It states that being one degree off target will lead you to missing your target by one mile for every 60 miles flown.
Three things stick out here. First, you never have to recover from a good start. Second, constant adjustments may be necessary to hitting your target. Third, a refusal to change can result in exponential failure.
Two questions – First, do you know where you currently are? This is a reality question. Second, are you making constant adjustments to ensure you hit your target. This is a self-awareness question.
The Power of Brevity
Do you know anyone who talks incessantly? You know, the proverbial person who if you ask them what time it is, will tell you how to build a clock.
When it came time write and edit his books, Mark Twain said, “Leave out the parts readers tend to skip.”
Twain understood the power of brevity and saying what needed to be said in the fewest words possible.
And with that, I will stop using anymore words.
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