Beingaleader has now been published every Tuesday morning for the past seven years. It has been a journey to provide my contemporaneous thoughts on leadership. Below is that first blog from January 1, 2019 that outlines what I've tried to do and I feel like I've stayed on point during this whole time. Read the … Continue reading 7 Years
Category: Decision Making
Modern Leadership #14 – Discernment
Beingaleader means you need to have and exercise discernment every day. The ability to recognize subtleties in speech and demeanor. The ability to apply wisdom to new situations. To use your judgment in making right decisions and plans for the future. The ability to pick up on subtleties can have a profound effect on your … Continue reading Modern Leadership #14 – Discernment
Modern Leadership #10 – Performance Evaluations
Beingaleader means you need to re-think and re-do performance evaluations. Yes, everyone needs to be evaluated. But the current mindset of annual performance reviews is broken, in my opinion. First of all, performance reviews reflect and discuss issues that might have occurred over 12 months ago. How would you like to be reminded of the … Continue reading Modern Leadership #10 – Performance Evaluations
Ethical
#Beingaleader means you need to be ethical and act in an ethical manner. The idea is that you need to have, and then act on, your moral compass. I know most professions have their professional ethical code of conduct whether you're a lawyer or a doctor or whatever. But I'm not not talking about the … Continue reading Ethical
Promote
#Beingaleader means you need to promote yourself. But you ask, that doesn't sound like me. It sounds arrogant. Or you're putting yourself above others. All of my writings on this blog have been under the guise of servant leadership with one specific blog on that very topic directly https://beingaleader.blog/2022/12/13/1557/. However, there comes a time when … Continue reading Promote
Time Management
#Beingaleader means you need to understand time management. Time management is the process of planning, prioritizing, and controlling how you spend your time. You only have so much of it. It's one thing to make a to-do list. It's another thing if you learn and know how to manage your time. I once worked at … Continue reading Time Management
Money – Saving
#Beingaleader means you need to learn to save money. Last time we talked about the importance and strategies for earning money. Now that you have it, what do you do with it? The answer to that question will have a great impact on your leadership. So, you want to save. But what for? Annual expenses. … Continue reading Money – Saving
Money – Earning
#Beingaleader means you need to learn how to handle money. Your money. Earn it. Save it. Invest it. And spend it. I am going to start a mini series on each of these topics. Today, we will talk about earning. One of the requirements of #Beingaleader, is that you are learning to earn your own … Continue reading Money – Earning
Empower
#Beingaleader means you need to empower your team. Giving them power. Authority. Showing confidence in them to make the right decisions as if you were making them yourself. Leader, are you empowering your team or showing only your power to your team? They cannot learn without you empowering them. They cannot get better at decision … Continue reading Empower
Macro
#Beingaleader means you need to think and act on a macro level. The big picture. See what's really going on. Make strategic decisions for what's best for the overall team or company. You need a broad perspective. Not always getting bogger down in the details. You need to see where you are going. What goal … Continue reading Macro
Looking Ahead
#Beingaleader means you need to be looking ahead. Taking stalk of what has gone before, but be looking ahead to what is and what might be coming. This is the start of my 7th year of weekly blogging on various leadership topics. A lot has gone before. But the question for today is: what is … Continue reading Looking Ahead
Taking Stalk
#Beingaleader means that there are times you need to look back, take stalk of what has gone before, and enjoy the successes and learn from the losses before you plan your next steps into the future. So, what has gone before you this past year? What victories? What losses? What lessons learned? Taking stalk means … Continue reading Taking Stalk
Thanks
#Beingaleader means you need to give thanks. More not less. It's been 2 years since I wrote on being thankful. I should probably write on it every week. More thankful. And more giving of thanks. First, you need to be thankful. Then you need to give it away. It is a two step process. And … Continue reading Thanks
Strategy
#Beingaleader means you need a strategy. I thought out plan. More than just a goal or a vision. But steps to get to where you want to be. The how. Not just the why. A plan of action. A strategy. Whether you are a small team leader or a large corporate executive, you need a … Continue reading Strategy
Change Management
#Beingaleader means you need to understand and lead change management. What it is. How to properly implement it. Know how it affects those on your team and potentially those not on your team. Change management isn't about the change itself. It's about the process of identifying, creating and implementing that change. You can have people … Continue reading Change Management
Authority
#Beingaleader means you have authority. You have it. You can use it. You can delegate it. Authority is defined as having the power to make decisions for or on behalf of others. This is not necessarily the same thing as being the boss. Title has little to do with true authority. Yes, they might be … Continue reading Authority
Decision Making
#Beingaleader means you need to be good at decision making. I've partially touched on this before on one of my first posts on this blog (https://beingaleader.blog/2019/01/29/decisions/). But decision making is a day to day event in a leader's life. A leader needs not only to make good decisions, but be good at the decision making … Continue reading Decision Making
Sage
#Beingaleader means that at some point you will be a sage. One who teaches others to be a leader. One to whom others go for advice and counsel. One who has built a legacy of consistency, honor, and courage and led by example. Everyone wants one. The question today is whether you will become one … Continue reading Sage
Example
#Beingaleader means you are setting an example. For good or bad. You are. So the question becomes: what kind of example do you want to set? One of honor and integrity? Hard work? Driven? Cutting corners? Angry? There are lots of ways to be an example. #Beingaleader is all about making choices as to what … Continue reading Example
Style
#Beingaleader means you have a unique style. A way of dealing with things. A way of communicating. A way of of handling conflict. A way of reaching success. A unique style. You can learn from a lot of different sources. You can learn things that are new to you. But the way you blend them … Continue reading Style
Re-Invent
#Beingaleader means you sometimes need to re-invent yourself. To re-invent means to make new again. To invent again. It's not that everything before was wrong or bad. It's just that you need to re-invent yourself for the future. For the next steps. For the future. Sometimes you need to change something so much that it … Continue reading Re-Invent
Execution
#Beingaleader means you need to be good at execution or have someone on your leadership team that is. It's one thing to have a vision. Or ideas. It's another to execute on those plans. For some, ideas are a dime a dozen. But they never get past the idea phase before the person moves on … Continue reading Execution
Timid
#Beingaleader means you sometimes have to fight being timid. Even if it's in your nature to be timid. You can't always allow yourself to be so. Or to remain timid too long. Being timid is when you lack confidence. You're afraid of what might happen depending on what decision you make. Or you're lacking the … Continue reading Timid
The Future
#Beingaleader means you need to think about the future. You want to build towards something. A goal. A vision. A dream. The future that you want. But can you have the future that you want? The future doesn't just happen. At least it doesn't always happen the way you want it to. You need to … Continue reading The Future
Timeliness
#Beingaleader means that timeliness is an important quality you have. When something happens, and in what order, often matters. Turning in an "A" paper late is an "F" in many cases. Timeliness matters. There is a sequence to life and to most projects. There is often a life cycle for the team. #Beingaleader means you … Continue reading Timeliness
Accountability
#Beingaleader means you need accountability. To others. For your actions, activities, schedule. I know. I know. You're a leader. But we're not perfect. We make mistakes and need someone to help us own them. Mistakes in time management or in priorities. Accountable. But wait, you say. I'm the top dog. The person in charge. Others … Continue reading Accountability
Today
#Beingaleader means you need to be aware and focused on today. Yes, I know. Everyone says look to the future. And, yes you should. But you also need to take care of today. Don't look past it. Don't squander it. The future will come but it will look an awful lot like today when it … Continue reading Today
Start
#Beingaleader means you need to start. Something. Anything. It always seems this is the hardest step and where most people quit. They quit by not starting. Don't be that person. Start something. Maybe you need to start a hobby. Maybe you need to form a new habit. Maybe there's a business you need to start. … Continue reading Start
Transition
#Beingaleader means you have to work through transition. Transition is inevitable in some form or another. But you have to work through it when it happens so that the end result is better than where you started. In other words, while transition is inevitable, successful transition is not. Transition is about the process of change. … Continue reading Transition
Steward
#Beingaleader means you are a steward. Of your team. Of your clients. A steward is someone responsible for someone else's things. In this case, the team or your client's things. You are to steward them. To steward your team is to care for them. To train them. To act like what they do is as … Continue reading Steward
Answers
#Beingaleader does not mean you have all the answers. The sooner you come to that realization, the better leader you will be. You will need to seek after them, however. It is your job to find the source of the answers you are seeking because at the end of the day, it is you that … Continue reading Answers
Uncertain
#Beingaleader means you are often uncertain. Uncertain about what to do. Uncertain about next steps. Uncertain about your leadership.Every leader has found themselves in a place where they are uncertain about what to do. They are facing a conflict they've never faced before. They are facing uncertain markets that they have never experienced before. They … Continue reading Uncertain
Dignified
#Beingaleader means you need to be dignified. Not crass. Not vulgar. Not boorish. Not overbearing. Dignified. Calm, impressive and deserving of respect. So how do you react to stress, bad things happening or difficult people? Are you calm, impressive and deserving of respect? Or do people cower and resent your involvement? Too many people equate … Continue reading Dignified
Negotiate
#Beingaleader means you need to know how to negotiate. The ability to come to an agreement with someone else. To find a resolution. To settle a disagreement. Negotiate. Negotiation skills include keeping a calm demeanor. Knowing what your final goal is. Knowing what your opponent's or competitor's or the person across from the table's goals … Continue reading Negotiate
Modernize
#Beingaleader means you need to modernize your thinking. You need to stay up-to-date. See what's working today since what worked before might not be working any longer. Continue to learn. Read. Listen. Go to conferences. Get information from every industry you can to see what is working in the marketplace. Your ideas might never change. … Continue reading Modernize
Captain
#Beingaleader means you are the captain of the ship. In charge. The one with the final say. Responsible. If you are a parent, there is that moment when that child first comes home with you and everyone else leaves and the realization hits. I'm responsible. This life is my responsibility. I cannot look to anyone … Continue reading Captain
Sadness
#Beingaleader means you have to deal with sadness. Your own. Others'. Their actions that cause them not to reach their potential. What sadness are you carrying? Personally or professionally? This can affect your leadership of others. It's not about ignoring your sadness. It's about realizing its impact on you and your decision making. It's about … Continue reading Sadness
Character
#Beingaleader means you need to have character. The aggregate of features and traits that make up you the individual. The real you. How you react. How you decide things. Your core beliefs that impact everything you do. The real you. Character in decision making. Do the right thing is a good motto to follow. But … Continue reading Character
Legacy
#Beingaleader means you will leave a legacy. It will happen. Good or bad. Long lasting or short. But you cannot avoid leaving a legacy. Whether through death or through leaving the leadership position you are currently in, you will leave a legacy. A legacy is something that is carried forward from the activities you have … Continue reading Legacy
Interim
#Beingaleader means you are an interim leader. You won't be in that position forever. Whether your position is as parent, pastor, coach or CEO, it is temporary. You will be replaced. Either by death, retirement, leaving, or your own position advancement. It's temporary. Nothing lasts forever. Your leadership included. It will go away. So, what … Continue reading Interim
Action
#Beingaleader means you need to be a person of action. Words are important. But actions are also needed. To help inspire. To get what you want done. Your actions breed the actions in others that you want to see. So you are setting the example of what kind of action you want from your team. … Continue reading Action
Desire
#Beingaleader means that you need some amount of desire. For your goals. For the future. For yourself. #Beingaleader means you need desire for your goals. That seems obvious. But sometimes we take goals from others and place that burden on ourselves and they aren't really what we want to pursue. Get your own goals. Pursue … Continue reading Desire
Unity
#Beingaleader means you need to seek unity. Unity of purpose. Unity of destination. Unity of winning. Seek it. Meaning you go after the unity you want and need. It doesn't just happen. In fact, left to our own devices, we will have the opposite of unity. You don't have to try for chaos and disunity. … Continue reading Unity
Testing
#Beingaleader means you will go through testing. Personal. Financial. Timing. Team members. There are many areas where you could be tested. Just know that you will be. Regularly. Testing can be viewed in multiple ways. In school, it's an attempt to measure where your current understanding of the subject matter is. In manufacturing, it is … Continue reading Testing
Pressure
#Beingaleader means you have to deal with pressure. Pressure of time. Pressure of confrontation. Pressure of success. Pressure of failure. Pressure of deadlines. Pressure of expectations. Lots of different kinds of pressure. But you feel them all. And seemingly can't get away from them. #Beingaleader often feels like you live in a daily pressure cooker. … Continue reading Pressure
Rules
#Beingaleader means you have to understand rules. What they are. Clear and unclear. Spoken and unspoken. When to follow them. And when to sidestep them. There are so many rules in life and in work. You need to know the important ones and know how they apply. You also need to identify when they don't … Continue reading Rules
Distance
#Beingaleader means you need to learn about distance. How close to get. How far away to stay. And when to choose between the two. When someone on your team is learning a new skill or in a new position you need to stay close. Help them along the way. Let them watch what you do. … Continue reading Distance
Mixed
#Beingaleader often means you have mixed feelings. Am I doing the right thing? Am I making the right decisions? Did I respond appropriately? A lot of potential mixed feelings about your success rate on this questions. So, should you wait until you can make the perfect decision? Should you wait until all of your questions … Continue reading Mixed
Next
#Beingaleader means that sometimes you just need to do the next thing. Whether you feel like it or not. Whether you know the second step or not. Even whether you want to or not. Just take the next step. It will keep you moving in the general direction you want to go and will, over … Continue reading Next
Yes
#Beingaleader means you need to become comfortable with saying "Yes". It can be very freeing. Not being led down a path you don't want to go. Not being forced to spend time on things that you aren't meant to do. But focused on the things you say "yes" to. Sometimes the smallest things bring the … Continue reading Yes
Being A Leader 