Lose the Checklist. Find Your Purpose (Again).

Intro:

I don’t know if this ever happens to you, but from time to time, I can get off course in my life mission and purpose. Sometimes it’s so blatant that it doesn’t take any time at all for me to get things cleaned up and get back on course. But other times I think I’m staying perfectly on course, and it takes someone close to me to wake me up to the seemingly obvious lack of integrity in my life.    

The latter is what happened to me most recently. Over the last several months, I’ve been gradually losing my joy. It all came to a head over this last week of Thanksgiving when I was having a very hard time mustering up the “feeling” of thankfulness (despite having more to be thankful for than anyone deserves). In contrast, as hard as this is to admit, I was actually feeling a little bitter. I have had my share of disappointments this year (nearly all self-induced) as all of us have. The year has been unprecedented, sure. But I was internally wallowing in it.  

Fortunately for me, my wife Ashley had the awareness and the courage to call me out. I had become so laser-focused on a specific set of checkpoints I had set up for myself (monetary and otherwise) that I had simply lost sight of my real mission: to help equip and grow leaders to build organizations that improve the human condition.

See, as leaders, if we don’t become crystal clear on our own mission and remain steadfast in the pursuit of that mission, those on our teams can’t help but become confused regarding their role in the execution of that mission. Bestselling author Bob Goff says his mission in life is “to love God and the people he comes across without an agenda.” If I’m honest with myself, I have been living life too attached to an agenda. I didn’t intend to do that—one of my core life values is kindness! But hyperfocus can ruin our peripheral vision if we let it. And I let it. 

Not everything is a project. In fact, some things are just about meaningful interaction and experience. This journey we call life is about growth, and if we do it right, the growth never stops. Agendas will hold us back from that growth.

So, never forget why you started. There’s a reason you’re on this journey and it began with an exciting purpose. If you need to—and most of us do need to, more often than we realize—revisit that original purpose and re-engage with the emotion that it brings to you. That deep sense of inspiration and passion for its own sake is what will make you remarkable as a leader.  

Feature: Chester Elton

One of today’s most influential voices in workplace trends, Chester Elton has spent two decades helping clients engage their employees in executing strategy, vision, and values. In his provocative, inspiring, and always entertaining talks, the #1 bestselling leadership author provides real solutions for leaders looking to manage change, drive innovation, and lead a multi-generational workforce. His work is supported by research with more than 1,000,000 working adults, revealing the proven secrets behind high-performance cultures and teams. 

Elton is co-author of the multiple award-winning New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling leadership books, including All In, The Carrot Principle, and The Best Team Wins. He is the co-founder of The Culture Works, a global employee and workplace training company, and a board member of Camp Corral, a non-profit for the children of wounded and fallen military heroes. He also serves as a leadership consultant to firms such as American Express, AT&T, Avis Budget Group, and Procter & Gamble.

Shepherd Leadership

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned everyone’s world upside down, including how and where we work. Some groups have been more affected than others. In fact, women’s careers have been disproportionately affected, writes authors Brad Johnson and David Smith in Harvard Business Review. On average, women are spending 20 hours a week more on household labor than coworking fathers, and one in four women are considering leaving the workforce or downshifting their roles. Here’s how men can be active allies to their women coworkers:

• Include and sponsor women, particularly women of color.
• Elevate women’s voices during meetings.
• Share information and processes with women that are typically hidden.
• Distribute mundane administrative duties equally.

High Performance Tips

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that you never know what’s going to happen. The second lesson this year has brought us, though, is that we are resilient and flexible. Look at how we’ve adapted to working from home, wearing masks, and social distancing. Flexibility is an essential part of living, and in a recent SUCCESS article, author Scott Bedgood lists the importance of staying adaptive.

1. Expectations can lead to disappointment: When we’re firm in our expectations, the disappointment when things don’t go as planned can be overwhelming. Having expectations isn’t a problem, but recognize that they might not be fulfilled exactly as you had imagined.
2. Spontaneity breeds excitement: It’s not random that the most memorable vacations are often the ones where something went awry. Roll with the punches instead of fighting them, and you’ll have memories that last a lifetime. 
3. Attitude is everything: Rather than seeing disappointments as a reason to be sad, you can view it as an opportunity to try something new and unexpected. Shifting your attitude in a positive way will automatically ease feelings of anger or disappointment. 
4. People love problem solvers: Nobody in a tough situation has said, “I wish there was someone here complaining.” People gravitate towards those who are adaptive because they’re great to have around in a sticky situation.
5. Nothing is certain: Getting angry, sad, or disappointed turns a tough circumstance into a big problem. Staying flexible will make your life more manageable and stress-free.

Fortifying Your Faith

In a Christianity Today article, singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken teaches us how to cultivate chaos. It sounds counterintuitive, but this philosophy is rooted in scripture. The Holy Spirit, she writes, is a fire (Acts 2:3), an advocate (John 14:16), and a power (Eph. 3:16). Among all these roles, the first time we’re introduced to the Spirit of God is as a maker. Even among chaos, God creates. We see this in the wildflower growing in a burnt forest or a rainbow after a rainstorm.

As we’re created in God’s image, it’s our duty to cultivate creativity amidst chaos. Plant a garden, write a letter to a friend, draw a doodle—these small, creative offerings aren’t just a method of self-expression, but a duty of reciprocation. Each action is a testimony to God’s presence in our daily lives. 

Podcast: Leadership in the Modern World with Chester Elton

In this episode, Chester and I talked about leadership, motivation, and gratitude in life and work. He shared his own gratitude practice, discussed the team-authorship concept for optimal employee engagement, and the importance of knowing your team as individuals. Tune in to find out tips and strategies on becoming a good leader and how to handle anxiety at work. Chester is also very kind to offer his organization’s $40 Motivators Assessment for FREE to our listeners—not to be missed!

Listen to the full episode here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Quote

"When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” — Paulo Coelho

Join us in Redefining The Top 1%: Join our FREE Facebook community and discussion group and receive resources, videos, and training tools to become a Shepherd Leader. [ Check it out here! ]