Top 3 Leadership Lessons from the Weekend
Here are a few valuable leadership lessons I’ve learned over the past few days.
1. Some people choose ignorance. I’ve recently had to come to grips with the fact that some people are perfectly comfortable firmly planted in their own ignorance, and I have to learn to be okay with that. I can’t “fix” every person’s misconceptions. Especially when they have become emotionally invested in that ignorance and have shaped their identity around their ideology. This does not mean that they are bad people. However, it might mean that you should limit the intellectual and emotional capital you invest in interaction with them. That breaks my heart, because I am a “people person” at heart who loves productive dialogue. You can’t change everyone’s minds. Which leads me to the next lesson…
2. The Principle of Triflin’ People. I received a phone call from a beloved member of our church, frustrated about some people that they have “inherited” as family members. After several minutes of describing to me these new family members behavior, I shared with her the lesson that she was teaching me in that moment. You can’t stop triflin’ people from being triflin, but you CAN stop triflin’ people from stressing you out! You cannot control what they do. But you can control how much you let it affect you, and the access you give them to your emotions. We both needed to hear that! When someone tells you who they are, wait until they show you. When someone shows you who they are, believe them!
3. You’re going to miss some stuff. Make sure it’s not the wrong stuff. This weekend I missed an event that I really wanted to attend. Because of many reasons, I couldn’t. My alternative was a day at the park with my family. Upon reflection, it was good that I missed this event. I needed that time playing with my boys. As much as I wanted to be there, my weekend wasn’t destroyed because I missed that event. However, a day at the park was a priceless moment for me and my kids. As a leader, there is always someplace to be… Someone to see… Something to do. As hard as it is to say no, I must grow at missing some stuff so that I don’t miss the most important things. Like my family.
Do any of these principles apply to you? What leadership lessons are you learning? I’m teaching on leadership at FBCDH Wednesday nights at 7pm for the next 5 weeks. Join us in person or online at www.fbcdh.org/live.
Brian C. Cunningham
All of those apply to me Pastor! I am continuously learning to focus and find peace in the things that I can control — and “other people’s actions” don’t fall in that category! Secondly, I continually have to remind myself, as quiet it’s kept, I’m pretty sure someone out there would consider me triflin’, and sometimes they may be right! It’s a full-time job keeping myself straight, no need to try to control somebody else, but I control how I respond to others! Great lessons.