5. I had to lower my pride and admit I can often be wrong.
I came into leadership, as most leaders do, believing I had some answers to offer. And sometimes I do. But I’ve also learned that my team often knows more than me. In fact, if I surround myself with the right team, that statement would be: My team always knows more than me. At least in the individual areas they lead. I have to yield to them and empower them for us to achieve our maximum potential.
6. I had to come to the reality that I couldn’t be everywhere or do everything.
As a creative, my mind has a tendency to wander. If I’m not careful, I’ll try to be too involved in everyone else’s work, and the work I’m supposed to do suffers. I want to help the discipleship ministry, the mission ministry, the music ministry and the administrative ministry of the church, and every other ministry—in an in-depth way. Granted, I need to be involved at some level, and part of my job as leader is casting vision for the entire church, but micromanaging never produces healthy or the best results. Disciplining myself to not always have an opinion has proven to be a more effective form of leadership.
7. I had to realize that sometimes the best thing to put on my calendar is rest.
I’m from a generation and a family history of work. Rest doesn’t come without discipline for me. How can doing nothing be a good thing? I am wired for it to seem counterproductive to me. I’ve learned, however, that without proper rest, I’m eventually very ineffective as a leader. There have been days—extremely busy days—where the best decision of my day was to stop, take a nap and start again. Needing proper rest is true of days, weeks and seasons in order for my leadership to remain effective.
Those are some that come to my mind. I’m sure there are others.
What paradigms have you learned that have helped you be a more effective leader?