Love Learn Lead October 6, 2016

Happy Thursday! Two things I am really passionate about are learning and leadership. As we approach the weekend, I thought I would share some things about loving, learning, and leading. Enjoy, and have a wonderful day!

Love

I am loving that the weather is getting cooler and Fall is on it’s way. Though it means Winter is coming, Fall is my most favorite season of the year. It means cool mornings and crisp evenings. It means sharing conversations over steaming cups of coffee or hot apple cider. And it means pumpkin and apple filled baked goods–which I can never get enough of. Add to all of this the way the colors of the leaves seem to give the world a new warmth, and I am “in.” Bring on the Fall, I say!

What do you love about Fall?

Learn

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Lead

Leadership tip #1: Bring your people along for the ride!

Over the years I have known many leaders who struggled to delegate or give certain tasks away, which hindered their ability to grow both the organization and the team they were leading. Usually this struggle was born out of fear (what if they fail? I may lose my job/position, it will hurt our mission, it will hurt them, etc.). One of the best ways to get around this dilemma, however, is to actually do the task you want to give way, with the person you want to take it on (at least the first time). Ask:

“Who can I bring along on this?”

“Who, with time, might bring this task/event/project to another level?

And “Who may bring different talents or abilities to this, that I don’t possess?

Have the person who comes to mind, work on the project with you. It may take a little extra time, but in the long run the task will be off your plate. Also, the benefits are many: You will be able to make sure the project is done well, the person you choose will feel valued and empowered, you will have the chance to build your relationship with him/her, and if you lead well, that person will have a greater buy-in to both your organization and your leadership. I believe it is what Michael Scott from the office would call a “Win, Win, Win.”