Leadership is not just doing the stuff but forming a strategy. Leadership is closely tied to the ability to think strategically. Definition of leadership is making decisions.
Strategy is as simple as having an end in mind and designing a clear path to get there. Seems simple but can be very difficult.
Roadblocks to Strategic Leadership
1. Not paying attention to self leadership
- Unbalanced God-time
- Your prayers involve lots of talking and no listening
2. Focusing on too much at once
3. Analysis paralysis
- Often a result of number 2
- Can also show up as Procrastination
- Seeking input from too many people, but not the right people
“Don’t get stuck in a life that’s not yours just because you have fallen into bad habits.” *I didn’t get who this was attributed to*
If you’re a leader, God designed you to think strategically and creatively. He didn’t design you to be stuck.
On ramps to strategic thinking
1. Invest in yourself
- Take care of yourself.
- Focus on your spiritual life. Become the you God designed you to be.
- Work on leadership development for yourself. Invest in coaching.
2. Ask the right questions
- We get stuck when we don’t have the right info.
- 4 critical questions: What’s working? What’s not working? What’s missing? What’s confused?
- We call this a Blameless autopsy – can be used for events, departments, churchwide, etc.
3. Develop your focus
- Investment impact tool
Investment is y axis, impact is x axis.
Plot the idea first before labeling the boxes.
- When something falls into the “Count the Cost” box you may consider asking – Is there something you can do to move it to the right box – adjusting either impact or investment.
- Grid all the ideas – then focus on the “do it” or “maybe” boxes
Focus doesn’t mean saying yes to the one thing. It means saying no to all the other good ideas. – Steve Jobs (summarized but not exact!)
4. Renew your inspiration
- Inspiration leaks! Find ways to reinspire yourself when you come home from conference.
- Book suggestion – “4 Disciplines of Execution”
- Podcasts, books, etc. – ask yourself “What’s one thing I will do today because I read or heard this?”
Take time to listen to God’s whispers.
Strategy is not a cul-de-sac. It’s an on-ramp to somewhere else. We often create events and programs that become cul-de-sacs with no on-Ramps to the next thing.
Strategy always has a clear end goal. You have to know what you’re trying to accomplish.
If you don’t understand your strategy, neither will the people you lead.
Michelle Suarez 