The Value of Preparation for Busy Leaders
Leadership by nature can be demanding, time consuming, draining and stretching; and that’s on a good day. It takes a special type of person to love leadership enough to give this type of effort. Leaders don’t march to the beat of a different drummer; they are in an entirely different band.
Usually people do not get selected for leadership because they have idle time on their hands.
Tweet ThisThey are often called upon to give more than is seemingly possible. If the leader is giving out of a depleted personal supply, the fast pace and constant demands may cause them to crash and burn.
This is just one reason taking time for preparation or a “time-out” is imperative for busy leaders. The Bible speaks of it as sharpening your axe. In Ecclesiastes 10:10, Solomon says, “If the axe is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.”
If you have ever tried to chop wood with a dull axe, this verse resonates with you. You expended more energy and wasted more time than if you had taken a few minutes to sharpen the tool. There is something innate within many of us causing us to resist taking a “time-out” to learn or prepare in order to improve personally.
I am preaching to myself because I tend to be one of those people who would rather try to “beat the wood to death” than stop and sharpen the axe. My rationale is that if I work harder – put more energy into it – then everything will be okay. I often have to remind myself how working smarter may mean spending a few minutes, hours or even days sharpening my life.
So take some time to study topics like leadership, time management, vision, passion, contentment, Biblical ethics, philosophy, personal discipline or theology. Find a conference where you can laugh, pray and just hang out together with others in your field. Exchange ideas, dreams and share passion with other busy leaders who see the value of preparation.
How have you experienced your best times of preparation?
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As Mike stated above, I’m not sure I would be the one preach on this, but it’s incredible to recognize the value a action like this can have on the outcome over given circumstances. Especially when the prospect of completing tasks begins to overshadow the purpose of the task in the first place, any joy that may have been experienced in that work is extinguished making for a much more lifeless creshendo and robbing any potential fulfillment or satistfaction. The value that preparation brings is provided by the peace of mind that comes being able to maintain the proper perspective regardless of the quantity or complexity of work that comes about. This can ensure not only that the work is adequately completed, but it provides the confidence of knowing that the work will be completed in conjunction with the vision of which it was prepared for. Reading even now only serves as a reminder of the necessity of preparation for the things that I’m pursing day by day, each week, and in the current season of my life. That perspective is only appearing more important for faithfully carrying through both the triumphs and the trials.
I’ve been encouraged though by the wisdom and perspective you give here. Sometimes the holiest steps we can take in both our personal or spiritual growth are the most practical ones. I hope this continues this dialogue further, but I’m thankful for the time you’ve taken to address this topic to help discover better approaches and greater skills to developing leadership within. Grateful for your willingness to invest and help set the stage for aspiring leaders like me to dig into our journey further and be refined to make a greater impact for the future.
Michael, you have nailed it! When we do not take the time to prepare (spiritually or personally) the work overshadows the real purpose. Joy, vision, purpose and energy are all lost. Thank you for your comment and the keen insight. You have captured the essence of what I was trying to convey. As you eluded, this process is about everything we do not just the specialized projects.
I think the sharpening also comes through renewed focus and “mental organization” while doing things like strategic planning and strategizing. When I begin to be overworked or stressed, I know I’m overdo for some time away to reorganize and prioritize what I’m working on. Even if I don’t end up actually cutting things from my plate, I end up with a clearer picture of what’s the most important and why those things are important in the first place.
Brandon, thanks for you comment. I don’t think that things have to be cut in order to do preparation. Sometimes we set them aside while we organize or attend a conference or class. You are right on target to say that strategizing will energize.
When I take a day to sharpen myself whether it is going to a conference or doing personal study I without fail think “Why don’t I do this more”. I heard a quote a few weeks ago that caught my attention on this subject “A tired shepherd is dangerous to his sheep”. Thanks for the reminder to take time to refresh, sharpen, and renew yourself. Very timely reminder.
Chris, you probably said what most of us were thinking. We don’t see the “value” most times until we make the investment! BTW…thanks for sharing the comment, “A tired shepherd is dangerous to his sheep,” that is powerful! Mike