Lead May 10, 2018

This month, I want to help equip you with some lessons I have learned over the years, about being a leader. For this reason, every Thursday in May, I will share one of my leadership tips. If you are just beginning your leadership journey, it is my hope that these will give you some practical help in fully embracing your current role. Or, if you’ve been leading for a while that they will assist you as you begin empowering others to lead.

For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.

—Benjamin Franklin

Leadership Tip #11: Get Organized

Very often, leaders are not chosen primarily for their organizational skills. Rarely, do we ask if someone we are voting for can use Excel. And in leadership interviews I have been in—as both an interviewer and interviewee—though some focus was given to administrative tasks, it was usually the candidate’s personality and vision that was scrutinized. “Will people follow them?” followed by, “Will this person lead the organization/department where we want them to?” were usually the main focus.

But once a leader lands the job, their success will live or die on whether they are able to keep all the wheels turning. Though there may be a rocky adjustment period, a leader cannot fly by the seat of their pants indefinitely, and expect to do well. And even though one may be tempted to say they don’t have time to slow down long enough to create or develop organizational systems, the truth is they don’t have time not to.

An effective leader is one who is in it for the long haul. Someone, who knows that a strong, streamlined system is the foundation to growth. If you are in a position of leadership—big or small, volunteered or paid—the key to having a successful career is found in taking the time to organize. For some of us, this is a no brainer. But for others, this may be really hard. Organization may not be one of your gifts. The answer is to ask for help.

Work with or recruit someone to your team who is gifted administratively. Then meet with them to create processes and systems that will enable your operations to run smoothly. This will create clarity for your team, free them up for new opportunities for growth, and in the long run, alleviate stress.