Costs, U-turns, Clarity

Looking back over the short month of February I have come to better understand:

• Faithful service is costly. It seems like this month the importance of both words "faithful" and "service" have challenged me. Leadership requires faithfulness and service; collectively, it requires faithful service which can be challenging in so many ways. The foundation of quality leadership is humility.
• Whatever unrested my soul was allowed to do it by the decisions I made. My decisions lead to the unrest; this truth is difficult to accept for it is my nature to say, "You caused this..." But, no, it is my reaction and attitude that lead to the decisions that can lead to the anxiety. Once again, it's me...not them.
• Always do the next right thing...sometimes, that means turning around. Have you noticed that U-turns are not allowed on the very roads that need them? I have found myself needing to turn around a little this month. I am so glad the U-turns were legal!
• Everything matters...everything. The smallest act, word, gesture...it all matters!
• Clarity...clarity...clarity. In Buckingham's book One Thing You Need To Know, he mentions that anxiety in an organization can be caused by a lack of clarity by its leader. With this truth, I have been increasingly aware that I, a diplomat by nature, tend to drift toward complication, away from clarity. I have also taken steps to become a person of greater clarity, which has been refreshing in many ways.

Comments

[David Zinger]

I like your 5, they all matter....and the line of drifting toward complication away from clarity could be a mantra for many in the digital age and I know I am one of the many.

[Karen Wallace]

Dean, this is a powerful 5 learnings! I especially resound with "Whatever unrested my soul was allowed to do it by the decisions I made"... and can I add "and the thoughts you allow yourself to think"? The thinking part is my biggest challenge - still not sure I have learned it enough to add it to a '5' unfortunately.

[Steve Sherlock]

Well done, Dean. This is an important set of five learnings!

Honk! Honk!

[Joanna Young]

As I long time seeker of clarity I can heartily endorse your last point! And the rapid fire learning format definitely helps us to find it

Joana

[Ariane Benefit]

Brilliant! I love "Always do the next right thing..."

You can't cry over spilled milk, but you can pick your butt up, make amends and do better next time. That's all anyone can do.

Thanks for sharing!