How do you make decisions? One answer is to consider decision criteria. The 4’D’s of Choice focus on WHO I am, hence looks inward.
This blog post contains my personal LinkedIn posts for August 15 through August 21, 2022.
Begin with intentionality
Growth must be intentional.
Not unplanned, taking growth opportunities that just happen by.
Intentionality fits Covey’s Habit 1 of being proactive. Take responsibility for life outcomes.
Intentionality fits Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind. Be goal focused.
Know your WHO. Do your WHY. Be your God-created self! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Be aware of where you need to grow personally and professionally. Intentionally seek growth opportunities to close those gaps.
Today’s Question: What input has helped you identify gaps where you need to grow?
3 Phases of personal growth
One way to view growth is past, present, and future.
1). WHO I was: I’ve given up things that no longer serve me.
2). WHO I am: Now, I’m growing because of deliberate choices about specific areas of changes.
3). WHO I can be: I’m passionate about becoming my best self that has a greater impact on others.
Growth should produce empathy, not arrogance. Sometimes we don’t see challenges in the lives of others because we haven’t experienced those same challenges in our own life! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Personal growth isn’t a destination. Instead, it’s a continuous process. As such, I never arrive.
The Precept: A healthy growth pattern is choosing to release the past, while reaching out to what’s in front of us, Philippians 3.13. Conversely, refusing to change has serious consequences, Proverbs 1.24-31.
How did you learn that capacity to grow comes by releasing what you’ve outgrown?
The 4 D’s of Choice
One answer is to consider your strengths and passions as part of WHO you are.
The 4 D’s of Choice:
1). Delete – not a Strength or a Passion
2). Delegate – Strength but not a Passion
3). Develop – a Passion but not yet a Strength
4). Do – both a Passion and a Strength
The Eisenhower Matrix uses Importance and Urgency as variables, hence focuses on WHAT.
The 4’D’s focus on WHO I am, hence looks inward.
Know your authentic self, then use your distinctive voice, to live out your passion! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: The 4-D’s make time for professional growth by deleting things that aren’t the best use of our time.
The Precept: Proverbs 10.14 teaches that we see great returns when we are focused/decisive.
How do you answer the question “Why am I doing this?”
Influence is hard
Want to build influence? Be prepared to change who you are, thus how you respond to others.
A top-down, controlling style of leadership may produce compliance. But, it doesn’t build influential relationships.
Character transformation is an inside-out job. That is, my character drives what I do. Don’t get this order reversed by hoping that habits will change you inside! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: What I do reflects who I am. WHAT and WHO produce leadership influence.
The Precept: From Proverbs 29.22 we learn that our anger and fury are a source of contention. Thus, our lack of self-control destroys our influence.
What traits do you view as the best source of your leadership influence?
Introvert Tip: The well of energy!
News Flash – Introverts have a limited well of energy to use in social situations!
What to do? Well, recognize when you’re low on social energy!
One hint: find ways to take short breaks to avoid constant meetings and endless conversations.
We cannot make “First Things first”, like self-care, until we clearly understand what those First Things are! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Question: What are ways you manage your supply of emotional energy for social situations?
A limping deer
I saw a deer and two fawns. The mom was limping as they walked into the woods.
Unlike this deer story, we can ask when we see others around us “limping” from life events.
Experience isn’t necessarily the best teacher. And, empathy isn’t always the best response. Instead, I know how best to respond to others by thoughtfully reflecting on, and learning from life experiences! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Question: What are some ways to move from empathy to discrete expressions of concern?
Influence demands humility
What leadership trait do you most hate?
Without having to think, many will answer arrogance! Why such a quick answer? Arrogant leaders turn off everyone around them!
We are as influential as the overflow from our lives that we have to give away to others! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: People can relate to humble leaders. In turn, that humility produces influence for the leader.
The Precept: Proverbs 29.23 is the often-stated life precept that humility precedes influence. Indeed, humility is a critical aspect of WHO I am!
What are some reasons humility is so closely tied to leadership influence?
