Are you achieving the day’s objectives or only seeing your misfortunes?
In past years, I found myself seeing what was not going right. I was guilty of focusing on the negatives. Sometimes I was the glass half-empty guy in certain situations. Usually, it was when I compared myself to others. I gradually started to see and focus on little victories. I thought it was fitting this week to focus on the Law of Victory from John Maxwell’s book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Last week I explored buy-in but thought I could get even more buy in by celebrating the victories of other people. Our victories may be small to start but they grow over time when we intentionally focus on them.
Maxwell shares three components of victory. The first is unity of vision. In other words, are we all on the same page? It is up to the leaders of an organization to get their people on the same path. This is difficult, especially when we consider last week’s topic of Buy in. Not everyone can see the vision or is willing to try and see the vision. Leadership must gain the support of as many people as they can. Then, allow others to work on gaining additional support of those who are unwilling to see the vision. The more we can improve the support of the vision, people will follow alongside leadership, and the organization will move in a positive direction.
Secondly, Maxwell points out the diversity of skills. This is a reminder that everyone in an organization comes with their own gifts. Any organization will flourish when it utilizes the skills of everyone. When others have the freedom to work within their strengths, they feel appreciated and part of the organization’s mission. Working within our skill sets makes us more confident and efficient in our work. All of which benefit the organizations our people serve.
Maxwell’s third component to victory is the leader’s dedication to victory and raising people to their potential. Leaders must invite the rights people to the conversations of their organizations. Leaders need key players to get the job done the right way. When people are unable or unwilling to make things happen, they need to step aside and allow those who can. It is the job of the leader to facilitate these results. We have the power to create winning teams.
To lead others, we must be at our best. In addition to Maxwell’s points, I would like to add that every leader must see his or her own victories. When leaders fail to see their victories, they train their minds to only see how they have fallen short of the goals. This has the potential to trickle down to the people, where the leadership only sees the lack of success and not the individual wins. We then fall on dangerous ground where the people or leadership have a negative view in many situations.
Are you and the people of your organization on the same path for success?
How are you utilizing the skills of everyone in your organization?
How are you pushing your people to be at their best?
How have YOU won this week, this month, or even this year?
I have discussed self-reflection on many occasions through this site. Seeing how our lives have been successful is so important to leading others. Leadership is hard and we have enough people critiquing our every move and we need to be our own biggest cheerleaders. Whatever you are doing right now; know you are doing an amazing job. Look for the victories of the people in our organizations as well as your victories this week. Thanks for looking in this week, and please leave a comment below that will contribute to this conversation.
Steven C. Bucks- Leading Conversations
~Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member~
Resource:
Maxwell, J. (1998). The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow them and People will Follow You (10th Anniversary Edition). HarperCollins
Great post! Thanks for sharing!