The Essential E's

Although there are probably an endless list of leadership essentials, here are three I'm suggesting that are meant to help energize your organization. They are the three essential E's...enlightenment, empowerment and encouragement.

1. Enlightenment is imparting your wisdom, experience and most importantly, the vision for your organization to the rest of the team. It's no mystery that a runner greatly improves his/ her chances of winning if they know where the finish line is and the route to get there! Communicate often. Let your team hear your plans and expectations.

2. Empowerment is having the confidence to entrust "ownership" to other members of your team. This can be one of the more difficult essentials because it demands a greater level of trust and trust can take time. Micromanaging however, is a blueprint to stiffled growth- the proverbial "ball and chain" to your organizations progress. People are generally more productive if they're made to feel an integral part of the whole; which leads us to the third essential...

3. Encouragement is nourishment. Too often organizations are starving or malnourished simply because the leadership either won't or doesn't know how to use encouragement. When encouragement is offered sincerely- and often- it can generate a steady flow of energy and enthusiasm which are vital ingredients to progress. This is especially true during a particularly difficult or challenging time.

How do you currently incorporate these essentials in your organization? Are there other essential E's that you can think of?

The Power of Positive

Looking for a way to supercharge an individual on your team or even your entire team? Among other suggestions, one of the simplest yet most often overlooked ways is by offering words of encouragement regularly. Encouragement provides fuel for the soul. It nutures and stimulates positive performance.

"Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul,", says leadership and motivational speaker and author John Maxwell, "Everyone needs it and they perform better when they get it".

Without trying to oversimplify, positive comments promote positive results; negative comments invoke negative responses. It's a knee-jerk reaction. When I speak critically to someone, it's human nature for them to feel immediately defensive- even if they know they're in error. Conversely, as I offer positive comments, that same person can feel inspired to press on even if adjustments might still be necessary. This doesn't mean we throw around flowery words at the expense of being honest. That's manipulative. There's no quicker way to jeopardize ones credibility than with disingenuous comments.

To quote Proverbs 16:24, Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweeeeet to the soul and health to the bones (emphasis added!).

Sincere words of encouragement demonstrate ones own personal confidence, the same confidence you want your team to carry. However, a leader who is insecure can have difficulty helping others feel confident. John Maxwell continues, "Good leaders liberally hand out encouragement. It cost little to affirm others ,yet pays great dividends".

Here are just a couple of suggestions to help you become a better encourager:

1. In spite of what you may know about someone, make it a habit to identify something positive and mention that first.
2. Maintain reasonable expectations. No one is perfect, not even you!
3. Whether anyone else does, find reasons and the means to encourage yourself.

Does offering encouragement come easy for you? Do you think others see you as motivational?