“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”
John C. Maxwell
This quote really resonates with me. You just can’t guide people if you yourself don’t know where you are going.
You may not always be able to cut a clear path to where you are headed, but you at least have to have some idea of the destination.
In fact, I would contend that a huge portion of a leader’s energy, time and resources should be spent mapping that destination.
All too often leaders , even the best of us, get bogged down in details rather than spending the time needed creating a vision for our organizations and planning the path forward.
This can happen for many reasons and it can affect even the most focused leaders.
Some leaders get sidetracked on elements of their business that could easily be delegated but that they simply enjoy doing.
I know many business leaders who enjoy joining sales calls, planning marketing strategies, or personally interviewing employees—not because they must, but because they want to.
That is perfectly understandable. Staying engaged with the work we enjoy often helps us find satisfaction in our roles.
However, I also see leaders getting stuck doing tasks they do not want to do that could also be delegated.
Sometimes leaders believe no one else can do the task the way they can. Often that’s true.
Other times they believe they don’t have time to teach someone else how to do it.
While that may also be true in the short term, it can be shortsighted.
Delegating responsibilities you once handled yourself can be difficult. The reality is someone else will not do it exactly the same way you did.
Yes, training someone requires more time upfront. But the long-term time savings allow you to focus on the responsibilities only you can perform as a leader.
As the new year approaches, I am reminded to refocus my energy on areas of my organization that truly require my leadership.
At the same time, I want to help develop the people around me so they can take on new challenges and responsibilities.
Doing so frees me to focus on guiding the organization forward.
I also challenge all of us to continue developing our maps and visions for our companies so we can truly know the way, go the way, and show the way.