Right Wisdom

I have been reading a devotional and there is a series I just finished that was titled “growing into leadership”. One of the days it referenced verse 1 Corinthians 3:9 it addressed the issue of us all being laborers together. Have you ever heard the phrase “it is lonely at the top”, which is what the devotion portion addressed. Being a leader doesn’t have to be lonely and the bible verse is correct in that we are all in this together. Each person has a role to play whether you are a leader or a follower you have a role that is just as important as the next person. It doesn’t have to be lonely at the top. Some leaders make it that way by ignoring those around them and by alienating others by not including them or asking for their help or expertise. I believe that each one of us have been given gifts. Those gifts work in unison with each other to make a successful project, business or event. It gets lonely when the leader doesn’t realize that they have helpers, people who are e...

Many people have a big BUT. No I’m not talking about the one on their back end. Instead I am talking about the one that comes out of their mouth. Everytime something is said these type of big BUT people always say but. They become skeptical of everything that is proposed. I have been examining an article from Inc.com called “ 5 Common Words that Create Failure ”. Today I am on word 5 “but”. If you missed the previous four words I suggest you read the article and then come back and check my analysis of the words. Getting back to those big BUTS, if you are a leader with a big BUT you will find yourself alienating those around you. They will be afraid to suggest anything for fear that you will have something to add. It is like those people who always say “oh we tried that before and it didn’t work” maybe they did something wrong and you have solved that issue. The article suggests there is a replacement for the word but. Instead of using but try using “and”, this way it is not d...

Have you ever heard the phrase “Don’t hate, appreciate”. A leader has to have that type of attitude to find success. I have been looking at an article found on Inc.com titled “ 5 Common Words that Create Failure ”. Today I am looking at the 4 th word, hate. Hate is a very harsh word and many people flippantly use it under any circumstance. However the only person that word hurts is the person using it. The article says it works like a cancer it ends up working its way through your language in everything you do. Leaders need to use positive language. They need to appreciate those around them and those that make their leadership look good. If you hate something or someone they don’t really care and then you find yourself obsessing about that hate and losing focus on what really matters. Leadership is all about leading showing everyone that even though the going gets tough you don’t hate those around you or hate the situation you are in. Instead you need to look on the bright sid...

Last week I started discussing an article that talked about the 5 Common Words that Create Failure . We looked at the first two words last week and I plan to finish out those five words today, Wednesday and Thursday. Today’s word is rejection. Nobody likes to be rejected and it has happened to all of us at one time or another. The key here is not to think of it as rejection but instead as motivation or growth. You do not want to let the word rejection enter your vocabulary. Especially as a leader you don’t want others to hear you using rejection as a scapegoat for your ideas. Often times you will encounter people who may not like your ideas or your thoughts. That is okay it isn’t rejection it’s just your idea doesn’t line up with their vision. You just need to find someone who agrees with your idea. The other option is to realign your idea to match their vision. Remember, I said it isn’t rejection but it is motivation or growth. You may have to from time to time change your ide...

Today I want to talk about the word enemies. This is one of the “ 5 common words that create failure ” an article found on Inc.com. These are five words that should not be in the vocabulary of a leader. Leaders need to avoid these words and they will be better off in their leadership journey. Today we are on the second word, enemies. In leadership there is no place for enemies. Competition yes, but not enemies. Competition will help build character, help you work harder and help you create a network. Enemies cause divisiveness and animosity and will eventually lead to loss of your leadership expertise. Last year I ran for a Division Governor role within Toastmasters. It was a contested race so I had to run against someone else. I didn’t win but instead of being upset and holding a grudge toward the person who beat I extended my services to help in any way I can to make the division a successful one. This type of gesture will go a lot further than making enemies. I have had no...

During the next five days I am going to discuss an article from Inc.com I read about the “ five common words that create failure .” It fits well with the mindset of a leader. A leader has to have words that will illicit success not failure. The link above will allow you to read the article as a whole I will expound on each of the words in more detail putting my personal perspective on it. The five words are Luck, Enemy, Rejection, Hate and But. Today I will look at why Luck is one of the common words that create failure. If you depend upon luck you are not doing anything to create the success yourself. You are just looking for something to help bail you out. Luck really doesn’t require any hard work on your part it really shouts to a lazy way to reach success. Think about the lottery. People buy lottery tickets and sit back and wait for the numbers to roll their way. If they don’t win they try again the next time. People are looking for that instant success but lea...

What is leadership? This is the question of the day. Yesterday I gave you my opinion of what leadership is, today we look at what others say about leadership. From Wikipedia Leadership is "organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal". The leader may or may not have any formal authority. Students of leadership have produced theories involving traits, situational interaction, function, behavior, power, vision and values, charisma , and intelligence, among others. Somebody whom people follow: somebody who guides or directs others. From USA Today Leaders impact our daily lives and futures. In good times and bad, there is always a need for strong leadership. The success of a business or an industry is determined by the leaders it chooses or inherits. From Ask.com Leadership is the guidance of a group of people towards a particular ideal. Leadership consists typically of one person leading a group by providing convincing information and inspiration....

You might be wondering what I mean by the title, leader ledger. Are you a list maker? Do you write important things down so you don't forget? Do you keep a to do list for yourself and schedule all of your meetings? If you do you will like the leader ledger. A leader ledger is a list but not a to do list. It is a list that contains three things. The first thing a leader ledger contains are your successes, the second thing it contains are ideas and the third thing it should contain is an action plan. Here is how it should break down for you. Every time you have a success in your leader life mark that in the first column on your leader ledger. For example: I am involved in Toastmasters and this year I have served as the Area 21 Governor. I would write that success down for myself. Any time you come across an idea or a goal you want to achieve then write that down in the second column of your leader ledger. For Example: If I want to hold another office in Toastmaste...

We have been spending the week looking at Ron Edmondson's "Aspects of the Heart of a Leader". The fourth of five aspects is Intentionality . People can be intentional in a positive way and intentional in a negative way. Leaders need to be intentional in their pursuit of their dream. Do you have a dream you are pursuing, a leadership dream? Be intentional in seeking God for clarity and focus for your dream. Pray frequently about that dream and if it is God's will for your life. Be intentional with the things you do to reach your dream. I have a dream to be a trainer in the area of leadership. I have been intentional in the things that I have done in pursuit of that dream. I joined Toastmasters to become a better speaker and leader. I earned my MBA in leadership and I started this blog. All part of my dream to be a full time trainer. Leaders need to be intentional with the plan for success. What will make you successful? You need to be intentional in the thing...