IS YOUR ‘MAIN THING’ STILL THE MAIN THING?

There are certain times of the year, certain events, that naturally make us think about things outside the normal, everyday pressures of work and business. This time of year is one of those times. ?

We’ve all read about the pressures people face during holidays. Financial, emotional, mental and so on. I don’t want to talk about all that. What I want to talk about is how do we, as leaders, with people we are responsible for and to, ensure that we are keeping 'the main thing, the main thing', even when the pressure Is on?

The first question we have to answer, and this is strictly for ourselves:

What is my main thing?

Many of us, when answering this question with our corporate leadership hat on may have a different answer to what we’d have if we’re answering it in our personal capacity. In other words, our answer may differ if we are giving it to our boss as opposed to what it would be if we gave it to a loved one.

Hmmm… that in itself gives pause….

Is that right?

Here’s where I’m going with this:?What IS the main thing?

No, I’m not being redundant. I’m being repetitive for a reason. I think that we live in a culture that has traditionally sought to compartmentalize our lives into bits that fit in with different aspects of our daily activities. The trouble with that, as so many of us have discovered, is that we end up with no one being satisfied.

Those we work with aren’t getting all of us.

Those we live with, or have personal relationships with, aren’t getting all of us.

We ourselves are pulled in so many different directions that we don’t have all of us either.

We don’t have a ‘main thing’ that transcends all else.

My message at this time of year is something that has been prompted by the timing, but it’s an important message at anytime of year.

In short, I believe that before we can truly give our best to anyone or anything, we have some personal soul searching to do. If we ourselves don’t have clarity about what our ‘main thing’ is, then we won’t be able to satisfy ourselves never mind anyone else.

It goes back to the decision about our own core values.?

Our own fundamental beliefs. Our own purpose in life. When we’re settled on that, then we’re in a position to clearly identify what our ‘main thing’ is.

Here’s a hint: as you’ve probably read - would you have any regrets at the very end of your life if you continued on as you have been? That’s a hard thing for us to think about and sometimes almost impossible to visualize. But, if we’re going to really know and be settled on what’s most important to us, it’s a good exercise. At this, or any other time of the year.?

As leaders, it’s key at this time of year. We have to understand what our team members have as their individual 'main thing'. It’s just as important for us to recognize their main thing as it is to recognize our own. ?

We cannot truly lead, motivate, inspire and mentor others if we ignore their basic humanity.?I think that once we’ve figured out our own 'main thing', helping our team members keep their ‘main thing, the main thing’ should be next on the agenda!

I’d be interested to hear if you’ve figured out your 'main thing' and how you’re keeping it front and center.?

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