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?

Passion...

Martin Luther had a desire. Hitler had a desire. Mao Tse-tung had a desire. Walt Disney had a desire. Erik Weihenmeyer had a desire. The list is endless, but the results are the same. Each of their achievements speaks for itself. Each started with a desire- good or bad.

It was passion however, that drove each to pursue their desires to the extent that they did. Passion became the fuel of their desire. Desire points the way, but passion carries a person beyond mediocrity, beyond adversity to achieve the extraordinary.

I remember meeting a gentleman several years ago who raised pigeons. He raised this unique breed for the sole purpose of competing. They were raised and trained to be taken, eventually, several hundred miles from their home and then released! These incredible birds knew exactly where they were headed and amazingly, knew the way to get there. You talk about having GPS! Of course, the purpose was to see who's pigeons arrived "home" first.

We too, need clear direction- a desire. But it will take more than just a desire. It took those pigeons a couple days to get to their destination. I suppose they could have settled down at any spot along their journey, but they'd been bred and trained to finish their race. Getting home was now "in them"- it had become instinctive. They weren't about to be detoured. We too, will need something extra to get us to our destination; and the more grand the desire the greater the need. That something will need to be passion! But how does one get passion?

Passion is a "heart-thing". It's a drive that originates from inside. In essence, you build your desire within before you ever attempt to start. Passion can however, be cultivated. By reading and studying what it is you want to accomplish you build an inner image. Spend time observing others who have thought or who think similarly. Train and practise whatever it is you want to accomplish. Eventually, passion will begin to push you beyond just imagining and drive you to the point of acting. That's when passion becomes the fuel of your desire.

So let the fire begin. But a word of caution: Once the fires of passion begin to burn, they can become difficult to put out!

Is there something you feel passionate about?

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?

Breaking down the fence.

We all have comfort zones- those places of contentment where we're currently satisfied with the present. However, could these "zones" also be places we've completely surrounded with a fence of limitations. Too often, we settle for what is now. Do you have a longing to achieve more, to reach greater potential? Is there a fence that lies between you and a dream?

One of our more formidable "fences" we tolerate is fear. Fear paralyzes people from attaining their God-given dreams. As someone once said, "A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage." How often Jesus would say to those he was ministering to, "Fear not" or "Have no fear". He was well aware the impact fear had on the results.

Imagine how the dynamics could change if there was no such thing as fear- that is, unhealthy fear. Imagine living free of fear! We're not talking about a fear of rattlesnakes, heights or a high-voltage power source, but the opposite of faith. What kind of liberty would that bring to your life. Where would you venture to go? What would you venture to do?

Faith is going in the complete opposite direction of fear. Faith is a firm conviction- and expectation- in what is yet unseen. Fear is being motivated (or not) by what seems at the moment to be apparent. Like fear, faith is a powerful force; in fact, so powerful it can break down those fences we've allowed to encompass us. Faith in God's Word positions us to tap into God's ability, provision, and wisdom. No wonder Jesus said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God".

To attain to this kind of faith, we need to become acquainted with God and His Word. As we become keenly aware of what His Word declares we must purpose to walk it out. It's important to learn to do God's Word not just read it. Without taking action, faith is powerless. As we find ourselves stepping out, we can begin to move out past the fences that have been built up through the years.

Take courage today! Determine to know God and His Word and start the journey of tearing down some fences and living fear free!

Where do I start?

If I had only counted the times I've watched others accomplish greatness and thought, "I would've loved to have done that". My heart swells as I take account of those who have passionately pursued a dream- and succeeded. I've always had this affinity for people like that; people who've accomplished great things- things beyond the ordinary. I yearn to do likewise; I think I'm wired that way.

However, does accomplishing "great things" have to be relegated to a select few? I've never been content to live in the successes of others; and yet too often, I've found myself doing the very thing I don't like...sitting in the grandstands...watching...wishing, all along wanting to be on the field. I realize there are some who are content to watch. I'm not.

So what is it that moves some to get going, to elevate themselves above the mundane? I've thought about it many times. I mean, are certain people given special grace to scale the mountains that stood between them and their dreams? Obviously, people differ in ability. But surely it can't be as easy as the obvious...or can it?

When my wife and I set out to teach our sons to walk at 10 months old, there was nothing special that suddenly rose up inside. Not that I remember anyway! No goosebumps just bumps to the head and knees. However, after several weeks of hand holding and help, we realized it was time and they were ready. With a little coercing, they eventually started to take those first short steps. Wobbly though they were, they were their own! And those steps would soon transform their lives, elevating them to the next level of lifes experiences.

Could getting started toward the fulfilling of dreams be as simple and as close as just a few short, wobbly steps?