My Leadership Principles #2

#2 ALWAYS BE PREPARED

Prepared To Be In Public: Sounds weird but if we are leaders then we kind of have to be different than everyone else. If we are truly leading then people are watching us which means we can’t be careless with the way we live our life. People watch our every move, our body language, facial expressions, attitude, the way we respond to situations, the way we walk into a room. I’ve learned that as much as I prepare for other things I have to prepare to be around people.

Prepared To Speak: Leaders have to filter out the fluff and really say something worth listening to. Have you ever had people on the edge of their seat waiting for you to speak? It’s a great feeling but it takes work. When I speak at a leadership meeting or a church service or even a one-on-one meeting I am usually very very prepared. This has taken years of effort and discipline but it keeps me from aimlessly trying to make sense. My observation is that most people aren’t willing to put in the time to be great communicators or they aren’t teachable enough to learn. Those few that prepare are the ones who everyone wants to listen to.

Prepared To Be Home: Just like we prepare to be in public even more so we should be prepared to be at home. This is hard because usually we drain all of our energy during the work hours. A lot of the time I fail at this because by the time I get home I am so mentally exhausted I can’t make any sense trying to answer my wife’s questions. Reality is that influencing and leading our families is WAY more important than influencing and leading anyone else. I’m working hard on this! I’ve been thinking about how much more leaders should bring energy, creativity, focus, and warmth to their families.

Prepared For The Future: Leaders raise up successors because they know they won’t always be the innovative young leader. Leaders take care of their finances because they know that at any time anything can happen. Our economy is a good example. Great leaders aren’t worried right now because they were prepared. Leaders take care of their health because they are prepared to be old. It happens to 100% of the population.