Last fall, I wrote that it is a great exercise to develop a handful of leadership axioms that you live and lead by – link - watching to see if they prove themselves out over time or need to be refined. These axioms don’t need to be original to you. Here is my first one…
| SIMPLICITY | freedom from complexity, intricacy, or division into parts
The goal I have in mind is to lead ministry, business and personal pursuits that are straightforward, purpose oriented, no frills, easy to understand and engage with. With recurring evaluation, I try to take each of these areas of my life and strip away the non-essentials only striving to leave the core functions entact. However, I don’t believe that needs to strip away the beauty of item, pursuit or individual. Just as a plain, well designed black dress can be stunning or elegant, so can our lives, our leadership and our businesses.
So, ask yourself about your business, “What is the core purpose?” Other than money/income, what are you trying to acheive and also what is there that is holding you back? What do you find yourself doing that is taking away from the original personal excitement that you had about your endeavors when you first began?
In your personal life, what focus and personal enjoyment have you lost with your wife, kids or family because you are entangled with other things less meaningful? What is one item that you can strip away this day or week to put the priorities back on the reasons for all of the busyness?
I offer these excellent things as samples of simplicity that I use as a model for work and life: Crank Brothers | Google | In-&-Out | Brand You 50 | Henri Nouwen
Go take something away from a key area of your life that makes it more complex, less enjoyable, more confusing, and harder to do than it needs to be.
Here are a few more axioms that I hold onto by summarizing them with one word:
- personable interactions
- excellence in everything
- consistency in performance & delivery
- innovation in your field
- create environments for the mission
- develop other leaders
“The E-Myth Revisited” by Micheal Gerber is hands down one of my favorite essential reads for every young and developing leader. In fact, I read this book every year just to remind myself of the foundational items related to building healthy businesses & organizations. You will be challenged in leadership, developing systems for greater participation by others and healthy practices for growth and communication. Along the way you will certainly learn more about yourself and your leadership style.