Walking Along Side

Pure Inspiration #2

Pure Inspiration

A Daddy & GG Day

So Lori & PA are helping out at a VBS day as volunteers so GG & I have the day together.  We woke up and had some oatmeal for breakfast.  A little cartoons then a bath.  Then off to the mall for a stop in the Hello Kitty store.  Gracie did 2-3 rounds though the store then settled on a pen, a holder for her toy cell phone, some lip gloss and a book of stickers.  She was so funny, she would see something she liked, hand it over to me for a daddy inspection then I would hand it back with a thumbs up or down.  A slice of pizza for lunch with a lemonade, a little window shopping for daddy (Nordstron half year sale for the boyzs) then cheesecake factory for some goodness.  Now its back in the house watching cartoons and trying to escape the sun.

Legacy

Tim Russert passed away this week.  He seemed like such a great guy with a passion for his work and his family.  It's been amazing to watch cable news these last few days and see the love and respect so many people had for Tim all over the world.  I cant help but think about Tim's legacy as I watch tribute after tribute.  Tim leaves behind a legacy of excellence in his field and more importantly a great love for people.  I am sure that his family and many colleagues will carry Tim's legacy forward for generations to come.

I spent some time this year pondering my own legacy.  One thing I discovered was that my actions do not always line up with the legacy that I hope to leave behind.  This is a tough pill to swallow but it has helped me to think about how I am spending the precious time I have on this earth and reconsider my priorities.

4 Reasons to Sharpen your Leadership Skills

There are many reasons to develop ourselves as leaders.  However, most companies and organizations simply do not invest in the resources and tools to help their people develop this crucial skill.  Additionally, if the individual does not pursue opportunities to grow as a leader, there is an excellent chance they will remain stagnant.

Here are 4 reasons to sharpen your leadership skills:

1. Leadership skills are transferable across functions & industries-Whether you work in retail, higher education or the public sector, your skills as a leader apply in all settings.  Leadership is leadership whether you are the captain of the ship or the captain of the team.  Influencing others, developing a vision, motivating people, etc. are all common characteristics of leadership. 
2. Great leaders find it easier to make career transitions-The reality of today's job market and the typical career path is that most people will work for many employers in their lifetime.  Beyond working for multiple employers, an individual may want to change industries.  Demonstrated leadership skills trump the inexperience of an individual in a particular industry or job function.
3. Most companies & organizations are looking for strong leaders-Companies & organizations want to hire and promote multipliers.  People who can take a small lot and make it bigger and better all the while using less.  These are the people who find themselves fast tracking their career and having the most options.
4. We are all called to lead at some time in our life-I would argue that we all are put in the position to lead throughout the course of our lives.  Continuously sharpening your leadership skills will create a more positive outcome in those situations.  In the case of emergency, you certainly want to be ready to lead in case you are the only option.

A Misconception of Leadership

There are many types of leaders, some are born and some are made.  A popular misconception is that you must have a big job, own a company or run an organization to be a leader.  Many people demonstrate their leadership abilities on a regular basis in both professional and personal settings.  Here are a few types of leaders that you may identify with.

 

§         Spiritual Leaders-Spiritual leaders are led by the Holy Spirit and not by their flesh.  Spiritual leaders are in tune to the Spirits call and direction for their life.  A Spiritual leader has natural skills and talents that are magnified by their surrender to God and the touch of The Holy Spirit.  Spiritual leaders move others onto God’s agenda (the Blackaby’s).

§         Domestic Leaders-Domestic leaders have a tremendous ability to manage the affairs of a family, household or office setting.  Domestic leaders are typically highly organized and place a high priority on maintenance.  Domestic leaders are the primary decision makers for the family unit and have great problem solving skills.  Domestic leaders manage the household schedule and ensure that everyone is on task.

§         Social Leaders-Social leaders have a big personality and typically create a large following.  Social leaders are outgoing and gregarious characters. People tend to want to go where the social leader is going and they are typically the center of attention at gatherings.  Social leaders typically have a polarizing personality that makes them loved or not so loved.

§         Executive Leaders-Executive leaders have a great capacity to develop a vision and articulate that vision to the masses.  Executive leaders typically run large organizations with complex problems.  These leaders have a tremendous ability to influence others. 

§         Organizational Leaders-Organizational leaders are great managers that have the ability to execute a plan that coincides with a vision.  Organizational leaders understand how to integrate multiple disciplines without being an expert in those disciplines.  These leaders are typically very strong communicators and adept at managing complex personalities.  Organizational leaders excel at managing schedules, budgets and projects.

 

No matter what type of leader or combination of leadership skills that you possess, it is important to understand that you are someone that is and will be called upon to lead.  The next post will be about why we want to sharpen our leadership skills.