Undivided attention

 

As humans one of the greatest gifts we can give is our undivided attention. While that sounds simple, consider what it really means. With deadlines, meetings, email, texts, social media, and cell phones, how often do you really give someone your undivided attention? It is incredibly easy for our thoughts to drift to something we consider more urgent. There really should be nothing more urgent than what we are being told by our friends, peers and subordinates. 

 

Giving someone our attention allows them to speak and truly be heard. It allows them to feel positive about our relationship with them. It allows you to focus on what you are being told and learn something from their perspective. It is a foundational piece of the relationship between leader and follower. Loyal associates deserve your undivided attention. It is so vital in personal relationships. This principle is even more true at home with spouses and children! 

 

Try it out, you might learn something you and you will be appreciated!

Leadership is a Burden

 

Leadership is not easy, and not always fun. Good leadership can feel like a constant weight on your shoulders. The successes can be exhilarating, and the accomplishments awesome, but it is hard work.

Leadership requires intentionality, and if you are good at, it is a burden!

“If leading and serving people isn’t both your greatest gift, and your greatest burden, you probably aren’t doing it right.”

-          Craig Groeschel

Don't procrastinate in the name of perfection.

Do you ever put off doing something because you want to make sure you do it just right?  You know you must do it.  You know it is the right thing to do, but you put it off because you don't think you are ready to do it exactly the right way.  I have a problem with this.  I am a little anal and I want to see things done pretty much perfect.  As a result, I procrastinate.  I put things off until I think I can do them just right.  The problem is, I never get around to doing some of these things because I don't have time to do them perfectly.

Often, it is better to go with something less than perfect than to never go with it at all.  It is better to get something accomplished less than perfectly than to never get anything accomplished at all.  Sometimes, you simply must start something in order to get it done instead of putting it off until you think you have enough time to do it perfectly. 

“Don't be so concerned about wrapping the gift that you never give it.” 

Use Your Gifts

Recently I enjoyed a book by Tyler Perry entitled “Higher Is Waiting”.  It is an entertaining and challenging read about his faith journey and always striving to go higher.  The fact that we are all gifted in some way should not be new to any of us, but the fact that our gifts often remain hidden or unused is a great reminder.  Search out your God given talents and use them!  Consider this excerpt from the book…

I realized that we all have gifts within, but they’re too often hidden. We have gifts we have never used, even though they are within reach.  If we only knew where to look, we would find them.  These gifts are special.  They might even change our lives and help make the world a better place.

We all have gifts given to us by God. Look for yours.

– “Higher Is Waiting” by Tyler Perry