Stop Focusing on Goals in the New Year
Instead, you want to put your energies into steady growth
The best leaders are the ones who bring out the best in everyone and do not look to shine on their own
John C. Maxwell and author of the book Leadershift learned early in his career that focusing on his own goals and aspirations doesn’t work, at least not for very long. It didn’t take him long to figure out being a good leader isn’t about what you can do for yourself but rather what you can do for others. In other words — shift your thinking from me to we.
Maxwell points out a good way to think about this is in terms of an orchestra. Many aspiring leaders might think of themselves as a soloist, the elite performer in the orchestra. A true leader acts more like a conductor. It means focusing on how they can help everyone around them produce great results.
A good conductor will focus on helping others shine. Make sure you have a positive attitude towards your people and foster good and growing relationships. Listen to people first and center your leadership around their needs.
Develop a growth mind-set
When he was a young church leader in Ohio, Maxwell set a goal to make his church the largest in the state. Within a year, the church doubled its size and became recognized as the fastest-growing church in Ohio.
After celebrating his achievements, he realized the personal growth he’d experienced on that journey. He had a better understanding of leadership. This revelation was more important than hitting his numerical goals of growing church membership. It was the beginning of shifting his thinking from goal mindset to growth mindset.
Where a goal mindset prioritizes hitting a target and thinking how long will it take to reach my goal, a growth mindset asks how far can I take this thing?
It’s the same way I focus on becoming a better writer. I don’t try and obsess too much on the number of followers, claps, views, and reads. Though those are all cool growth metrics — I know they will come if I focus only on my growth as a writer.
Great leaders mentor and build ladders for others to climb
There are those leaders who think, how far up the ladder can I climb. This thinking is self-focused. True leaders are thinking about how they can build ladders for others.
As leaders, we want to achieve a respectable level of success so that we are viewed as an authority and a person others can trust. If we can get to the top of our own game, we are in the best position to offer our help and insights to others.
I look to my own success as a resource where I can help others around me. It’s about wanting more for our people than we want for ourselves. It sounds counterintuitive, but trust me, it’s the better course. Don’t think in terms of investing heavily in everyone. Think of yourself as a mentor and carefully choose a couple of people you want to invest in.
You want to identify those people who have good attitudes, to begin with. It’s impossible to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. We want people who are self-starters, hungry for knowledge and learning. We want to invest in people who don’t have an attitude of, “There should be a better way,” but rather, “I’ll find a way.”
Don’t direct people; connect with them
For Maxwell, leader shifting means connecting with people rather than directing them. Both the author and I believe in embracing collaboration rather than authority. Listening, rather than talking.
Learn to listen to people and remember what they are saying. As an introvert, this comes easy for me. I’m also genuinely interested in other people. I always look at it as what I can learn from them. I’d much rather listen than speak. However, I have plenty to say once I’m comfortable around the person.
Leading with connection is better for everyone. It leads to better relationships, communication, and a two-way stream of ideas. Embrace this stream and you’ll soon see results flow.
Valuing diversity leads to greater value in your leadership life
How boring would it be to have a completely white, older male community where everyone looks alike, acts alike? That’s the community Maxwell was immersed in when he was a young man in his protestant church home as a youth. There was no diversity to speak of.
Over time, he realized that the most important insights he learned came from outside the group. Later, he moved to Atlanta, a city steeped in African-American culture, which was an eye-opener for him. He learned diversity brings fresh thinking. Suddenly different perspectives are brought to the table.
Maxwell points to some of the great leaders in history. Abraham Lincoln built his cabinet from an extremely diverse group. Many of which were not allies or yes-men but sworn political rivals. Lincoln knew full well that winning the Civil War required the skills of the best thinkers — people with diversity and perspective, not homogeneous group thinking.
If you’re surrounding yourself with those who are too much like looking in a mirror, maybe it’s time to seek out relationships that are made up of different ethnicities, races, ages, genders, sexual orientations, and political persuasions.
Embrace moral authority rather than positional authority
Maxell says leadership is influence. It doesn’t come from the position you hold. Titles don’t equate to leadership. I’ve known many people throughout my life that were not particularly wealthy, well educated, or impressive in an overt way. But they had moral authority.
I’m more impressed and drawn to people who are good, fair, honest, upbeat, hard workers — people who have a plan and some direction. I can’t abide by negativity or chronic complainers for very long.
What does moral authority look like? It’s somebody we can rely on to behave in a way that aligns with their values. Nobody is perfect. We all slip, but generally speaking, those with moral authority exhibit integrity — their actions align with their words. It’s about being trustworthy and dependable.
People follow you because they know you will do what you say. Courage is a key quality too. Demonstrating courage allows you and those around you to achieve their full potential. These qualities are contagious, but they also need to be fed. Feed positivity, and it grows. It’s the same as negativity. Be always mindful of which you are feeding.
Find meaning in your life and watch how it transforms you
There’s a famous proverb that illustrates a great life lesson. It’s the Middle Ages, and a traveler comes across three craftsmen on the road. They were all at work — a large pile of hewn stones was piled before them.
The traveler paused and asked each worker what they were doing. The first man replied: We are laying stones. The second man answered: We’re building a wall. The third man responded with a great sense of pride: We are creating a magnificent cathedral.
Some people do a job. Others have careers. Some are fortunate enough to have found their purpose or a meaningful calling in this short life. Those of us who find some meaning are the lucky ones. It’s about finding something greater than ourselves to focus on.
Make sure your calling aligns with who you are
Is there one thing you can do for hours on end that you would gladly do for the rest of your days? If the answer is yes, and you can figure out a way to make a positive difference to others while doing it — you just hit life’s jackpot.
We want our calling to be something we’re passionate about. Maxwell likes the advice of the famous African-American philosopher and civil rights leader Harold Thurman.
Thurman’s advice: Don’t ask what the world needs, but rather ask what makes them come alive — because what the world needs are truly alive people.
The value of a life with a calling is more than just a career, a job, or a profession. It includes giving, thinking, and serving beyond yourself. You’ll know when you are living life without a sense of calling. It’s a nagging anxiety that something is lacking — that your life has not achieved true meaning.
Find the meaning, a purpose, begin developing it, and you’ll see that things begin to change. You’ll welcome each new day rather than dread it. Make that “leadershift” from career to calling, and a fulfilled life’s journey will unfold before you.
Source: Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace by John C. Maxwell
Thanks for reading! If you find value and entertainment in my work, consider a Medium membership for $5 a month for full access. Your subscription fee will help support me directly and thousands of talented writers on our creative journey.