7 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES THAT EXPLAIN THE PERSISTENT PROBLEMS OF LEADERSHIP

 A challenging post by Dan Rockwell!

7 universal principles:

#1. If you’re persistently exhausted, you’re doing too many things.

Reflections for exhausted leaders:

1. What needs to be true for you to rest?
2. What time will you stop working today?
3. What frivolous activities distract you from meaningful work?
4. Who might help?

#2. If you’re persistently frustrated, you’re a control freak.

Reflection for control freaks:

1. What’s the worst that will happen if you stop trying to control things?
2. Embrace reality. What can you control? What can’t you control?
3. How might you trust someone today?

#3. If you’re persistently discouraged, you’re thinking about things you can’t do in the present.

Reflection for discouraged leaders:

1. Evaluate plans by their actionability. If you can’t take action, set it aside.
2. What small action will move the ball forward today? You don’t need a touchdown. You need a first down.

#4. If you’re persistently sad*, you’re thinking about yourself too much and others too little.

Reflection for sad leaders:

1. What concerns do the people on your team carry?
2. How are you expecting others to show you gratitude?

#5. If you’re persistently confused, you need to get your head out of your a**.

#6. If you’re persistently pushing people, you’re neglecting commitments.

People who need to be pushed are either incompetent, afraid, or uncommitted. Fear and incompetence are solved easier than lack of commitment.

Those who aren’t committed find fault. Those who are committed find a way.

Solution: explore shared commitments.

Ask, “How might I pull with you instead of pushing you?” Or, “What are your commitments today?” Dig until you find actionable responses. 

#7. If you’re persistently negative, you’re ungrateful.

1. Every time you’re negative, refocus on a point of gratitude.
2. Begin a gratitude journal.
3. Go on gratitude walkabouts. 

If there’s a magic elixir in life, it’s gratitude.

Don’t wait to feel grateful to practice gratitude.

Which principle provides the best insight into leadership?

What principle would you add to this list?

*#4 has nothing to do with depression.

4 UNEXPECTED SOURCES OF STRENGTH AVAILABLE TO TIRED LEADERS

 For Christian leaders, the Bible is clear that our greatest source of strength is Jesus himself—”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”  Philippians 4:13. Beyond that, Dan Rockwell shares four unexpected and practical sources of strength for every leader who is experiencing tiredness and exhaustion.

Originally posted by Dan Rockwell

Opportunities are squandered on the weak. Fatigue magnifies problems.

Energy without strength is a fly in a hurricane.

Weakness and fatigue make solutions irrelevant and achievement impossible.

Strength shrinks obstacles. Fatigue makes every step agony.

1. Struggle strengthens.

“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” Oprah Winfrey

Struggle and adversity aren’t the problem. Avoidance is.

Avoidance prolongs weakness and promotes fatigue.

You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Walt Disney

1. What difficult task are you neglecting?
2. What difficult conversation are you avoiding?
3. How have trivialities replaced meaningful work?

Do hard things. Ease is the enemy of strength.

The less you do, the weaker you get.

2. Vulnerability strengthens.

“Fake it till you make it,” might be useful, but playacting drains you.

“I feel stronger for confession.” Mahatma Gandhi

1. Acknowledge mistakes. “I was wrong,” builds energy and strength when you correct mistakes.
2. Recognize weaknesses. You have more weaknesses than strengths.
3. Honour strength in others.

3. Enjoyment strengthens.

In Chariots of Fire, Colin Welland put the following words in Eric Liddell’s mouth, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Pleasure energizes. LF

1. What are you enjoying about work? About leadership?
2. How might you express pleasure today?
3. How might you let others experience your pleasure with them?

Express pleasure by talking to people as if they were children.

4. Connection strengthens.

“My inner strength comes from my friends. I have a very close group of friends and family, and we all help each other through our dark times.” Kathy Bates

Build relationships with people who make you feel strong.

Be a person who strengthens others.

The principle of the isolated stick says, “Pull a stick out of the fire and it goes out.”