Clarity. I think it’s one of the most undervalued “soft” skills in leadership today. (BTW, I really dislike that phrase: soft skills.) Clarity about what business we are in. Clarity about what our job, as leaders, actually is. Clarity around our mission and strategies. Clarity in how we convey ideas. Being clear, in one respect, means that at some point we made a real decision. Decisions make us uncomfortable because each decision forks our path. Go this way, or go that way. If we choose, we have a chance at choosing poorly. And choosing poorly means we are wrong, which leads to us being excommunicated from our tribe, which leads to us dying in the gutter alone! (not really) So, instead of potentially dying in the gutter alone, we hedge our bets by not making a real decision. We do everything for everyone! And because we do everything for everyone, we do nothing for no one. Let’s make a little bet on clarity for the New Year. Here’s an idea for a little bet you can make: “I will clearly define what my actual job is as a leader in this organization in 2019.” What are the core 2-3 tasks you actually get paid to do? The little bet is to decide on what 2-3 tasks are, and then reorient your day so those become the daily focus. Deal?
First day of the rest of your life or all downhill from here
"Every day is better than the next." I missed it the first time I heard this line in the movie, "There's Something About Mary." This time, I got it. After laughing I realized something. I have spent years of my life on the wrong side of the equation. "Every day is...