by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 11, 2012 | Accountability, Decisions, Leadership, Self-Leadership, Servant Leadership
Sacrifice is being willing to give up something good for something better. Life is full of boundless possibilities, but in order to transform a possibility into a reality we have to choose — sacrificing the many in order to attain the one. My previous posts suggests, as a leader you sacrifice your time and energy. In case you missed it, you can read it HERE and HERE.
Nothing is gained without something relinquished.
Sacrifice has meaning only in the context of a goal, dream or mission. In pursuing these, we often face obstacles which require us to forfeit physical or emotional comfort in the service of something that matters more. Often, the greater the dream or vision, the greater the shared sacrifice required to attain it. Sacrifice is easier when we stay focused on what we are choosing rather than what we are giving up. In addition to sacrificing time and energy, As a Leader you sacrifice your Ego (more…)
by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 7, 2012 | Accountability, Communication, Decisions, Empowerment, Encouragement, Leadership, Self-Leadership, Servant Leadership, Success
Successful leaders don’t rest on their laurels, because leadership is not a title on a business card. Leadership is a living process – and that means growth, according to Ken Blanchard & Mark Miller in Great Leaders Grow. Ask any leader “what it takes to become a great leader” and I guarantee you sacrifice is right at the top of every successful leader’s list.
My previous post suggests, as a leader you sacrifice your time. In case you missed it, you can read it HERE. I once heard someone say, “in order to go up, you must be willing to give up something.” A true leader will sacrifice their personal agenda for the sake of an organization’s goals. In addition to sacrificing time, as a leader you sacrifice your energy.
The task of being an effective leader requires diligent effort and sacrifice. The principles of servant hearted leadership encourage an aspiring leader to invest themselves in others. This means that you need to pour energy into your team and organization. As a result there will be many emotional, mental and physical demands on you.
When preparing for leadership, know that you will have to sacrifice your energy. To counter this, find ways in which you can keep your energy levels up so that you can remain effective as a leader. Physical fitness has great benefits and is one way in which you can keep your energy resources renewed. The important thing is that you be prepared. Don’t underestimate the sacrifice of energy that leadership requires.
What do you do to keep your energy levels up?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 4, 2012 | Communication, Decisions, Leadership, Personal, Self-Leadership, Servant Leadership
If something is gained by personal sacrifice, how much more valuable is it to you?
An athlete crossing the finish line for their first marathon appreciates that all the time and effort put in to training has been worth it. The same can be said for life. While the idea of sacrifice especially on a personal level makes most people uncomfortable, it is essential if you are to build strong character.
As a leader you will have many responsibilities and be faced with many challenges. It will require a depth of character to achieve your goals. Character is often molded through challenges. As a leader there are three common areas of your life that you may need to sacrifice. Think of them as character building exercises rather than sacrifices and you can become an influential leader.
As a Leader you sacrifice your Time.
A true leader will sacrifice their personal agenda for the sake of an organization’s goals. People will require meetings with you. They will need your input when making decisions and all of this demands your time. Many CEO’s are in the habit of working long hours. They know that they have to sacrifice their time in order to help the organization succeed. Of course a wise leader will balance this with a need for rest. But as a general rule a leader often has to sacrifice their personal time for an organization.
In addition to sacrificing your time, on my next post I’ll share the second sacrifice leaders must make – their energy. Stay tuned!
Have you ever had to sacrifice your time? If so, how?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 16, 2012 | Communication, Empowerment, Encouragement, Leadership
It is not just a leader who needs to be encouraging in an organization. A leader needs to know how to surround themselves with a strong team that can also provide them with support when needed. A leader takes on a lot of responsibility. Because they have a position of prominence their actions are often criticized.
Who is encouraging you when you are having a bad day?
Encouragement should be a two way tool. When as a leader you develop an encouraging work environment you should be able to lean on your team for support occasionally. Encouraging words strengthen relationships and make you a stronger team. On days when challenges seem huge, that is when encouragement is most vital. A leader says to the team “Yes you can do it” and the team’s encouraging response is getting to work and believing the leader’s words. When things are going wrong, a leader who is willing to roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to turn the situation around encourages without words. In cases like this, actions are more encouraging, earning a leader respect and helping to build stronger relationships.
Who encourages you? Who pours into you?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 14, 2012 | Empowerment, Leadership
Genuine encouraging words can only be spoken if believe in your team. People can quickly see through empty praise. If you are the type of person that struggles to delegate and prefers to do everything yourself, then you won’t find it very easy to be encouraging. The reason for this is that most of the time you will think you could be doing a better job yourself.
One of the best ways to encourage people is to give them responsibility. Simply trusting them to take on a task can be more encouraging than any words you may say. A second check is how are you engaging with your team? Do you know them as individuals? How do you know that you are encouraging them in the right direction unless you know their strengths and weaknesses? A good leader develops skills that will help the organization reach their goals. Put the right people in the right position and you will be encouraging them to succeed.
How was your checkup? Did you pass?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 12, 2012 | Empowerment, Encouragement, Goals, Leadership
An encouraging word has the power to move mountains, yet harsh words can just as quickly kill ideas, motivation and inspiration. In The Message Bible puts it aptly: “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or truth – you choose” (Proverbs 18:21). Encouraging your team is an integral part of being an effective leader.
You need to be conscious of your words and constantly check to see if you are giving criticism in an encouraging way. Remember that part of a leader’s mandate is to build up the people that they lead. Some people are natural encouragers. Others have to work at developing skills of encouragement. The important thing is that you are conscious of the importance of encouraging the people you lead.
How do you rate yourself (A, B, C, D, or F)?
Nothing is gained without something relinquished.
