Impactful leaders are goal focused. Moreover, they pursue goals with all they have. Thus, impactful leaders are energetic.
Energetic Leadership
What are some characteristics of an energetic leader?
Most likely, you’ll think of descriptors such as hard working, committed, optimistic, motivated toward a goal, enthusiastic, and motivational.
In short, I’m using the term energetic to summarize these characteristics. Actually, Ecclesiastes 9.10 sums it up well:
Whatever you find to do, give it all you’ve got because your time in this life is limited! Ecclesiastes 9.10 paraphrase
Do the Basics
That which is basic in Proverbs is simply a farmer plowing a field, thus “till the land” in Proverbs 28.19. Hence, sow/reap as a mental model or a first principle.
I’m starting to sound like your grandmother now, right?
Similar to Ecclesiastes 9.10, Proverbs 28.19 speaks of paying attention to routine activities. In contrast, that verse warns about pursuing those who are empty, or empty projects, and thus reaping poverty.
Likewise, Proverbs 12.11 encourages attention to details. However, the warning there is that if I’m enticed by those who are empty, it’s evidence of my poor character “… void of heart.” Ouch!
In both cases, empty (or vain or fantasy) suggests those who sound good and present well. However, there’s no track record of success to back up the talk. Thus, it’s all fantasy.
In contrast to being energetic, Proverbs 20.4 warns that the lazy make excuses (“too cold to plow…”) and thus reap nothing!
Therefore, leaders shouldn’t hold back but should do the basics because impactful leaders are energetic.
Two Prerequisites
All that said, before a leader expends energy on a goal, he or she will usually step back for some careful analysis.
First, check my level of desire.
Do I really want to do this? Why do I want to do this? Will this desire lead to growth for the organization? For me personally?
If I’m acting with right motives, that’s good, Proverbs 11.23.
As such, good motives can lead to success, Proverbs 10.24.
Additionally, according to Proverbs 13.12 “desire comes…”, and Proverbs 13.19 “…desire accomplished…”, there’s great satisfaction in goal accomplishment. Most especially, when that desire is grounded in kindness, Proverbs 19.22.
However, desire alone is useless without effort, Proverbs 21.25. Actually, that effort requires focus and, at times, isolation in order to concentrate, Proverbs 18.1.
Second, check my level of reflection.
Thus, do I know what I’m getting into? Where are the likely problems? What are the risks?
Remember, there’s no learning unless there’s purposeful observation and reflection. For instance, see Proverbs 6.6-11 “… consider … be wise.” and Proverbs 24.30-34.
Moreover, just like with desire, reflection alone – without effort – is useless if I desire to be an impactful leader.
For two examples, see Proverbs 6.10-11 and Proverbs 24.33-34, which teach the importance of effort.
Therefore, impactful leaders are energetic.
Personal Insight
So, how does experiential insight and learning play into all this?
If I’m taking the time to reflect, I should be building insights about what’s happening to me and around me.
Thus, one insight would be that if there’s no return on the invested time and energy I should move on. Correct?
Well, sometimes the moving on is difficult if you are hardheadedly task oriented. You know, like me!
Work Hard
At one point in my career I was really struggling to see a return on my time investment. I was energetic. As well, I was working really hard. Also, I was asking for assistance.
In fact, at one point, during a day in the field, a regional sales manager told me he didn’t see a whole lot that I was doing wrong!
Great, but I’m still not seeing a return! You know, head-against-brick-wall …
Work Smart
Eventually, I made a pivot in my career.
Although the transition was challenging, the outcome was a Ph.D. and thirty years in higher education. Actually, those thirty years included fifteen years in administration as an associate dean and dean of a business school.
I still worked hard, but I began to see significant return on the time and energy invested that was not there earlier in my career.
Personal benefits included financial reward, growth in my self-confidence, and development of leadership skills.
That said, my family had to come along for the ride, and live off a graduate student’s stipend for several years during the transition!
Build a Growth Mindset
For me, the learning included developing a balance between being:
1). Task focused and energetic but also, as necessary,
2). Flexible enough to step back and grasp the big picture because agility is just as important as persistence!
In addition, I learned to build self-awareness in order to recognize strengths and weaknesses. And, I learned to listen to wise counsel. Most importantly, I grew in my level of spiritual awareness.
Some Outcomes
My personal experience shows the outcomes of wisely-spent and diligently-focused energy, when applied in the right context. Those outcomes include:
1). Financial reward, Proverbs 10.4 and Proverbs 21.5
2). Increased responsibility, Proverbs 12.24
3). Careful stewardship of what you have, Proverbs 12.27
4). Deep, inner satisfaction, Proverbs 13.4
Therefore, focused effort produces leadership impact when it paired with deep desire and purposeful reflection.
Leadership Insight
Remember, desire without effort is simply empty dreaming. And, empty dreaming will not propel an organization or an individual career.
Similarly, desire without reflection on a careful plan of action yields wasted effort. As a result, the outcome of unplanned effort is as pointless as empty dreaming.
Focus on the Vision
More practically, how does a leader avoid being distracted? Or, led astray by plans that aren’t grounded in reality? Thus, led astray by the empty. That is, by those who are empty headed.
Well, the leader must develop discernment regarding the character of others. And, the leader must stay clearly focused on the strategy of the organization.
The observations in Proverbs referenced in this post point out the importance of passion. But, that energy must be moderated by careful reflection to be sustainable.
In turn, that plan sustains the leader’s energy in the face of distractions, set-backs, and criticism.
Wherefore, arising out of that focus, is carefully and thoughtfully-directed energy toward the goal. Toward the desire. Toward the vision.
That relentless focus produces leadership impact because impactful leaders are energetic.
Thanks for visiting. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me: larrydaleyoung@gmail.com