4 Steps to Regain Your Perspective as a Leader

“The key is being willing to do something because it matters, not because it will get you noticed.”

John Maxwell from The 360 Degree Leader

What’s Your Motive for Leadership?

I’ll admit, sometimes I fall into the attention and accolades trap that comes with leadership. But we know that’s not the heart of leadership. Attention and accolades are never enough to satisfy the sacrifice required of leaders. We have to be willing to lead because it matters.
 
If praise or acknowledgment never comes our way, we need to be content because we know that what we accomplished mattered.

Avoid “The Drift”

I suspect that most of us start with healthy motives for leadership. We aspire to lead because what we’re leading matters.

But then we drift…

towards entitlement

into unmet expectations

into exhaustion, impatience, frustration

And before long, we’re not leading because it matters. We’re leading to prove ourselves to others–to get attention.

We lose sight of our driving motivation, and we lose our way.

4 Steps to Regain Your Prespective as a Leader

When I sense that I’ve lost my way as a leader, here are some things I do to reconnect with the motive that matters:

1) Repent: I pray for forgiveness and misdirected desires. I ask God to reconnect my heart to the reason why I wanted to lead. What is the cause that mattered enough to give my best?

2) Rest: Poor motives usually follow weak rhythms of rest, sabbath, and rejuvenation.

3) Regroup: Connect with friends and mentors who can remind me of my calling and purpose.

4) Reengage: Get back in the game with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.

Most of us don’t want to become narcissistic. We don’t like other people who are all about themselves. And yet the drift is much easier than we realize, but it’s dangerous.

Today, self-promotion in social media is the cultural norm. Guard your heart, and consider the steps I’ve shared to reconnect with the motive that matters.

Jesus said, “If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me,” Matthew 10:39 The Message.

Don’t drift, but if you do, there’s grace, and the steps you need to regain your perspective as a leader.

Keep leading well.

Jenni Catron and The 4Sight Group

 

** 5 Simple Steps to a Great Strategic Plan  **

Free Workbook to Get Moving Toward Your Goals

As leaders we are full of ideas and initiatives. We see potential and opportunity all around.

We can almost taste the outcome but oftentimes we get bogged down by how we’ll get from here to there.

The “how” can be overwhelming and discouraging so we give up on our goals or fail to build a plan to help us actually achieve them.

These five steps will get you and your team on the path to moving from ideas to action!

 


 

Jenni Catron is a writer, speaker, and leadership coach who consults churches and non-profits to help them lead from their extraordinary best. She speaks at conferences and churches nationwide, seeking to help others develop their leadership gifts and lead confidently. As Founder and CEO of The 4Sight Group, she consults with individuals and teams on leadership and organizational health.

Jenni is the author of several books, including Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence and The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership.