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Leadercast 2014 is over, and it was another great one. A single day filled with great leadership principles. There is no other place or event that accomplishes what Leadercast accomplishes. It is beneficial and inspiring to all, no matter your industry, your organization, or your role.

This year’s theme was Beyond You, the importance of leading beyond yourself.

As we know nothing of significance in the history of the world was ever done by a single person. Everything of significance was achieved by a team of people. Humans work together, maybe supporting a leader, but it is through a team effort of cooperation that success is created.

Andy Stanley led off the day, just like he did in 2013. Andy is a great speaker. I think his gift is making the importance of simple concepts incredibly clear.

The message from Andy that stuck in my mind during the whole day was, “The value of a life is always measured by how much of it was given away.” We gain significance in this world by giving, not by accumulating. A person’s value is what he gives to others. This is not just monetary, but giving of time, support, ideas, etc.

We celebrate generosity and selflessness. We support people and admire people that are generous.

In terms of leadership, you will be measured by how much of it you leverage for the benefit of others. It is how you use your influence for others, not for yourself, that matters.

I am not sure I have ever thought of leadership in those terms before. I have always recognized leadership as influence. But I have never thought about how it is measured when evaluating significance.

Andy did a great job of setting the stage for a full day of reflection on how we should value our leadership, and our significance.

I hope you can join us for our follow up workshop, If Nothing Changes… Nothing Changes. It will be held on Friday morning, July 25th. Hold that date, if you want to continue learning how you can grow your leadership.

One of my mentors, Paul Martinelli, told me, “Don’t negotiate with your dream.” If we are to achieve our dreams, we can’t cut corners. We can’t compromise. We can’t give up.

This has made me think of John Maxwell’s, Law of Victory, which says “Leaders find a way for the team to win”. A leader will fight through whatever obstacles to find victory. He will use the resources available to him, and work with the attitude that giving up is not an option.

There are some great lessons in the Law of Victory that can be applied to our personal success and dreams. Here are three key points:

1. Know your dream. Have clarity. Define your success, and then never compromise.

2. Develop a team to help you achieve it. Success is not a solo sport. No one person can do everything required for success. Determine how you can collaborate with others, and utilize the talents and resources they contribute to your dream.

3. Every day you must show up with the motivation, the attitude, and the effort. You must be convinced that failure is not an option. You must be intentional, focused, and moving in the right direction every single day.

These are not easy to achieve. We are interrupted and distracted throughout our day. Our priorities are not the same as those around us.  Most importantly, we must start with a self-image of success. What can you do today to help yourself find a way to win?

The pace of life is incredibly fast. Working on your personal goals requires you manage your time, your actions, your priorities, your ideas, your relationships, and still dedicate time for thinking and growing. It is a challenge, but yet, it should not feel like work. Defining purpose and creating harmony will naturally align your daily activities. Yet the one thing that creates harmony, can sometimes be the toughest. You need to think big, dream bigger, and create a grand vision of your success.

We all have needs in our lives. Love and significance are two that help drive our level of satisfaction. So this week I have found myself pondering the link between my personal vision and the satisfaction that comes from significance.

I discovered that if your vision lacks significance, then you will lack the drive to see it through. And if you do achieve your vision, and it lacks significance, then your satisfaction will not be high.

Benjamin Disraeli said, “Nurture great thoughts for you will never go higher than your thoughts.” We need great thoughts, great dreams, and significance. If you are able to achieve all three, then your actions, priorities, and goals will align. Your work becomes your passion, and your level of satisfaction increases.

The lesson I learned is that if you become disconnected with your vision, then everything else will become very difficult. Daily tasks will overwhelm you. Your activity level may climb, but your productivity will plummet.

There are several great reflection questions buried in this lesson. Does your vision provide significance? Are you connected and committed to your vision?

If you find yourself struggling with your daily responsibilities, then step back and take a look at your purpose, your vision, and your goals. You may find you need to make a few adjustments to get back on a productive path.

 

What happens when we find ourselves in a commitment that we don’t want to keep? We have all probably experienced this uncomfortable situation.

Each of us value responsibility to a different extent. On one end of the spectrum, some people would just quit, move on, and not give it another thought. At the other end, some people would work grudgingly toward their commitment for as long as it takes. Quitting would not be an option. Most of us fall someplace in the middle.

Where we are on this responsibility scale affects other aspects of our lives. We will feel the impact of our decisions and actions in our level of stress, the level of harmony between work and home, and how we set our priorities.

When I initially contemplated this issue in my mind, I discovered three perspectives I should consider before taking action. Please share how you would decide what to do in these situations. Here are my thoughts:

1) Be grounded in my values. Whatever course of action I decide to take, it should be based on my values. I should make sure I am remaining true to my beliefs and values.

2) Understand my motives. Why have I changed my mind about my commitment? Motives matter when you are changing direction.

3) What would I wish to have happen if I was the other person or the team that is affected by my decision? It is very important to think through the situation from the perspective of others. You must reflect and live what you believe, but also make it visible for people to see. It is difficult to see ourselves as others see us without intentionally thinking from this perspective.

After considering these factors, you should have a better understanding of your options. We all want to keep all of our commitments, but sometimes that is impossible. Maybe we should spend some time thinking about how we make commitments also.