Rocking Chair Leadership

"I'm on it!"

"We're moving fast on this one!"

"The team is all over it!"

"Everyone is so busy working on this!"

I.

Don't.

Believe.

You.

Activity Does Not Equal Progress

How many leaders have you heard describing how 'busy' they are; or, their teams are? How many times did you hear those same updates week after week with no real progress to show for it?

That drives me crazy...

...particularly when I do it. 

Lots of Hustle (sort of)
Back when I coached youth hockey we had a player on the team who always looked like he was skating hard and trying to make an impact. He was really busy out there! 

However, he rarely made actual contact with an opposing player, never ventured into the corners, or God forbid, stood in front of the net to endure a cross-check or two.

I meet a lot of leaders like that player.

Their calendars are jam-packed. Their list of meetings is endless. Their Inbox is always full.

But nothing gets done. Ever.

How About You
Who on your team is that little hustling skater who never makes any big plays? 

They probably believe rocking back and forth all day in a rocking chair actually gets you somewhere!

Oh, and, why do we seem to continue to allow that lame leadership style to continue?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.
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Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry

The pace. 

My pace...the hectic, busy, sometimes chaotic whirlwind of life can be a bit much at times. Easy to complain about, right? And also, easy to be thankful for in a world with so much pressure. 

Something More
Amidst the noise, deadlines, expectations and overloaded calendars is something else waiting for us. However, we often don't notice this opportunity because we're always "in a hurry."

When we find ourselves asking if all of this craziness is worth it, I wonder if we also ask how we might offer ourselves in a different way? 

That's right. I'm talking about exploring new ways to contribute.

Stop and Listen
Before we can understand how we might contribute beyond our "busy day full of responsibilities" we must first stop. Simply stop for a few moments, and listen. 

What is your heart calling you to do? 

Who has been whispering in your ear about making a change and adding value in ways you had not previously considered?

How will you eliminate the "hurry" in your life, so you can focus on the most important things? New things? Life-changing things?

How About You
Investing a few moments...or a few hours...to just stop and listen could have a profound effect on you, and those around you. 

Do you have the courage to even give it a try; or, will you quickly glance at your To Do List and hurry along to the next task?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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The Second Flame

I’m tossing a challenge out today. I think you’re up for it. It involves focus, commitment, energy, and desire. It will mean more than just being a good team player, or coach, or leader. It will mean sacrificing your time…almost all of it…to do one thing.

Win.

You…Today

Today we’re all about being busy. Really? Everyone is busy. What is your first reaction when you hear someone complaining about being busy? Do you think they can’t manage their workload effectively? Maybe they don’t understand how to protect time on their calendar to do their work, instead of being stuck in meetings all day. Or the classic, that they are in fact busy but never actually get any work done. There is a huge difference between busy and productive.

Busy…for the sake of busy…is failure.

The Challenge

Before I get to the challenge, it is important to clarify that you must be motivated to be the best you can be in your job. Not pretty good…not giving it your best shot…not using a bunch of lame excuses as to why things didn’t work out quite the way you hoped.

You must be absolutely committed. 

If you’re still with me, and I hope you are…here’s my challenge:

You and I will go all out in our work for the next 90 days. We will push ourselves, we will rely on each other for motivation, we will hold each other accountable, we will do whatever it takes...

…and we will win.

Let’s face it. Non-stop, clear the decks sacrifice is not sustainable forever. We will need to recharge our batteries. By committing to a 90 day onslaught we will be able to totally commit, and at at the same time know we will have a chance to catch our breath before too long.

How About You

It’s time to do more that get a second wind this fall. It’s time for a second flame! I’m fired up about having a kick-ass 90 day sprint. Are you up for it?

Let’s win!

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses. 

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