There are all sorts of top five and top eight and top ten articles, research studies, and books synthesizing the most critical aspects of leadership.
Do you know what most of them leave off of the lists? Priorities. Setting your priorities.
This weekend I heard that a dear law school friend of mine lost her husband. They married not even three years ago and their son just turned one. I found out just after I’d heard about a family in my friend’s cancer ministry losing their daughter to the disease.
There’s more to write about the why and the faith to endure in all of that heartbreak, but I couldn’t write about some element of leadership on this Tuesday in the face of all of that. How do all those blink-of-an-eye moments upend your life? They change what you do and why you do it.
What matters most?
I can assure you, it’s not getting the promotion or the next job or winning the election or leading the project team. That is your day job. It’s what you do. You can even love it. That’s wonderful – I hope you do love your work.
But often the quest for the next best thing leaves you forgetting all the good you already have. And your priorities get upended in the chase. And people get left behind.
A good leader remembers why they are leading. Who they are doing it all for.
I know my girlfriend is remembering all the moments she had with her husband and her son had with his daddy and not a night he worked late to pay for a vacation. I know those sweet parents are treasuring every moment they spent curled up on the couch reading books with their daughter not the trip they took to land the big deal. I know that I changed my mind at naptime this weekend when I planned to write, but my son reached out for my arm, drew it to his chest and pressed both arms around it, and said, “Please don’t go.” I didn’t move. I realize that time is fleeting and even if we both live into our eighties, he won’t always want me like this. So I stayed. And I got to the rest of it later.
It’s hard I know. We work hard so our children or parents or family can have a good life. We’re all so busy with deadlines hurdling at us like meteor shower. Maybe that means we sit back down with a list and focus on who and what is important. And if all that busyness isn’t getting us more time or more wins for those we love the most, then it might just be time to rethink what’s consuming our hours.
Leave a Reply