Why Not Today?

Tomorrow's Progress Depends on Today's Pain

I am reposting one of the very first articles I ever wrote last summer…Just felt like someone needed to hear it TODAY. Enjoy…

Today…

Today is about action.

Today is about movement.

Today is about trusting your instincts.

What if tomorrow’s progress is dependent on my willingness to endure pain today?

We’ve all been there as leaders. Afraid to make the move. Afraid to act. We are paralyzed by the fear of what if.

Today I woke up thinking about my ReLeader community and how many decisions are on hold.

If my instincts are correct, you have decisions that you keep kicking down the road. Yes, this community is here to encourage you, but I hope it’s also here to push you, and today I’m here to give you a push.

The Tough Call

It’s easy to lead from the base of the mountain without perspective. Have you ever noticed how everyone around you knows what should be done? It’s funny how you have all the answers when you’re not the leader.

But you know as well as I do when you’re the leader standing on top of the mountain, you see everything. You see ramifications, ripple effects, and rough landings. Because you’re a great leader, you can anticipate future outcomes. You can also see every possible chain reaction from the decisions that you will make. This can be both a gift and a paralyzing curse.

Here are just a few organizational examples:

• You know that employee is toxic to your culture, but you also know he/she is an influencer to your customers, clients, or congregation. Your instincts tell you to confront and correct, but the fear of losing others is paralyzing.

• You have a vision for a new idea or product line. You can see it all in your mind, but you are concerned about your teams having the bandwidth to pull it off without a negative impact on what you have going.

• You know you need to fire that person. (Even that sentence brought their face to your mind). You know they are a cancer to the staff culture. But you know the surgery to remove that cancer will be bloody and painful and so you convince yourself over and over that maybe things will get better.

Trust Your Instincts

I just wanted to remind some ReLeaders today to “trust your instincts.” Please slow down and read this next phrase and internalize it, “I have been entrusted by God to lead this organization.”

Of all the people on the planet, God chose YOU to lead for such a time as this.

You may be a subscriber who is not necessarily a Christ follower, but as one, I must speak from that place for just a moment. One of my favorite leadership verses is this:

Romans 13:1 (NIV) - Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Did you catch that, “there is no authority except that which God has established.” If you are a leader, this includes you. God trusts YOU. So lead from that place. I often remind myself that God has entrusted me to lead. Which mean…God trusts me.

A Prayer for ReLeaders

I often pray this prayer that I invite you to adopt:

”God, it is an honor to lead ________. Thank you for entrusting me with it. Holy Spirit empower me with discernment, instincts and wisdom to lead like Christ. God, if there is someone better fit to lead this organization than me, then I submit my resignation, and I am willing to do something more difficult.”

Every day that I wake up without God having accepted my resignation is another day He trusts me to lead. So I will lead with boldness, laced with humility (meekness).

I don’t know who this is for and I don’t know what it is you’re facing. But I simply sensed the Holy Spirit saying…

DO IT TODAY

Love you guys! Have a great day fixing broke stuff.