Month: January 2017

Have you ever been like a dog on the scent of something, that is suddenly distracted by a squirrel or a cat? That’s me everyday. I am so easily distracted, and as a leader that is a major problem. As we move into 2017 one of the most important pieces of advice I can offer us is: Stay Focused! For me the three most common “squirrels” that get my attention are: 1) technology; 2) new ideas; 3) small stuff.

This morning is a perfect example of how technology distracts me. I got up and tried to sync my FitBit. For those of you who may not know a FitBit tracks your exercise, eating, etc… It’s a great idea–when it works. Mine stopped syncing yesterday afternoon at 3:47pm.  What that means is I don’t know how I did with my steps, active minutes, etc… All of which I had know idea about before Christmas when I received the FitBit. Now, I check my phone a number of times each day to either record data, such as glasses of water I have drunk, and to see my “progress.” It’s really cool, and I did lose two pounds since Christmas, which given the time of year is a plus.

Here’s the distraction part: I wasted half an hour at the start of my day on FitBit’s website attempting to find out why my particular model wasn’t syncing and updating. I got it to sync after all of that, but it still isn’t updating. So what did that accomplish? I didn’t pray and exercise for those thirty minutes. I started my day frustrated and distracted. Since the helpdesk doesn’t open until 7:00 am, better to let it go, and actually start my day.

New ideas often have the same affect on me. I’ll be in the middle of accomplishing an important item on my to do list when suddenly a new idea appears on the limb of a tree out ahead of me. Wow! It’s so much more interesting than the task at hand. If I pursued that idea, I would be more effective as a leader, a better husband, a more successful person…you get the idea. Before I know it that distraction has cost me anywhere from five minutes to an hour, and the task that was well underway to getting done, is now a second-best idea that won’t get the attention it deserves.

Small stuff can be a lot of different squirrels. It can be the unhung picture I walk past on my way to sitting down at my desk, or the disorganized mess that is my desk, or the task Nancy asked me to do three days ago, or … you get the idea. The challenge with the small stuff is it pops into my mind at the most inopportune times and takes me away from being fully present with what I need to do. The other thing about small stuff is it’s easily accomplished so the “reward” of checking an item off the to do list comes much more readily than when we’re working on a matter of importance in the grand scheme of our leadership.

So, how do we stay focused? Many responses could be given. I’m going to give two: 1) Make sure you know what the big stuff is! and; 2) Acknowledge distractions when they come and set a time later to address the important ones. (If they’re not important, drop them from your mind  by refocusing on the big stuff and move forward.  That is much easier said than done, but I am finding that the more clarity I have on my big picture goals, and the more intentional I am about addressing the next important action to accomplishing one of those, the more likely it is that I won’t let the squirrels move me off what’s important.

That being said, when you do go after a squirrel, recognize it as soon as possible and stop chasing. Don’t waste time being down on yourself for wasting time again, because that just wastes more time. Take a breath, refocus on what’s important and let the squirrel to itself.

Here’s to leading better by staying focused–today!

Most of us find the start of a new year refreshing. We’re glad to be able to turn the page on what has been and look forward to a blank canvas where we can paint new masterpieces. I’m looking forward to 2017 for many reasons, most of all because it is a fresh opportunity to practice leadership with people I know and love, and to meet new people who may well become part of the New Life Family. Whether you lead a church, a business, a family, a team at work, or whatever your leadership capacity what excites you about 2017?

I hope that question raised your pulse rate a little, perhaps caused your pupils to dilate and your mind to race. At New Life, we have started the new year with a month-long focus on prayer. Since prayer is communicating with God, and we exist to share, grow and live the new life of Jesus Christ with the world–one person at a time, we want to make certain we’re both talking with and listening to our chief leader as we embark on the new year.

One of the things I have already been reminded of in the first few days of 2017, is it doesn’t cost anything to be positive, enthusiastic and encouraging, and the rewards of being so are great. On Monday and Tuesday mornings I stood at the front door of the church building between 6:15-6:30 welcoming folks to our 6:30-7:30 am prayer gathering. I greeted each one with a warm welcome, a word of encouragement, or a thank you, and in every case the person’s face brightened, their posture straightened, and whether they were already in a good mood, or were looking groggy, they came more alive.

This is an important leadership reminder for all of us: As we lead, the people we lead need to know we care about them, and care about how they are doing. The great leaders of history have always cared both about their cause and those they led in achieving the goals of the cause. As John Maxwell has said, “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.” What are you doing to ensure that the people you lead know you care about them and are concerned with their best interests.

Another aspect I love about having a fresh, new year in front of us is it’s a great time to make a break with any behaviors or attitudes that have held us back. While we’ll still need to do the hard work of building new habits and attitudes to replace the old ones that have held us back, it’s always easier to start over when it feels like we’re at the starting line of a new year, than in the middle of one. Whether it’s just a matter of psychology or semantics, the reality of a new year makes mid-course corrections seem like a better idea.

I haven’t mentioned making resolutions in the new year, mainly for two reasons: 1) I have never found resolutions to be all that helpful in my life, and 2) A University of Scranton study of a few years back showed that only 8% of folks who make New Year’s resolutions actually keep them for the entire year. As a follower of Jesus, I prefer to make commitments to Him and call on the Holy Spirit to help me live them out than to resolve to do something different in my life. My resolve never seems to measure up to the need for change in my life, but when I couple it with the power of God in and through the Holy Spirit the difference is tangible.

I recognize some of you don’t believe in God or don’t believe God gets involved personally in our lives. My prayer for you is that you will come to know God and His love for your and His power to bring change in your life in this New Year of 2017. There’s nothing better than leading when you know that leadership is anchored in the firm foundation of God in Jesus Christ. Here’s to new beginnings, and to a great 2017!

Here’s to leading better by using the fresh start of a new year to make commitments to change in areas we need to grow–today!