Information Crossroads

Today I taught a leadership class for PTA Council presidents.  I covered things that were specific to PTA, but most things were really leadership issues.  It must just be this particular time in my life but I seem to be involved with a lot of this kind of training and teaching.  Lucky for me much of what I have to teach about leadership applies equally well in an ecclesiastical or secular platform.  Let me explain:

There are just basics of leadership that seem like no-brainers, but still must be covered.  Things like--start your meeting on time and end on time.  That is basic courtesy to me, but still, some people need to learn this.

Another was some things are non-negotiable.  You know, like due dates, anything the IRS wants from you, reports, etc.  For some people this is new information...they seem to think strict due dates are more like, to borrow a line from Pirates of the Caribbean, "guidelines"

When you are a leader in any capacity, you will have people you lead.  It is important not to forget that checking up is not the same as babysitting.  In most cases, you have someone you must report to as well, so you check back on those you lead in order to answer to your higher-ups in turn.

As leaders, not everything comes to you just as you'd like it.  So enjoy what you can and endure what you must.  This philosophy comes in handy when you are bogged down by the stuff you have to endure.  Somewhere, sooner or later, there will be segments, pieces, portions that you can and will enjoy.  Relish those.

And lastly, there must be some sense of fun in it.  You should be looking for ways to have fun as you lead. Whether it is doing a job you love or working with people you enjoy or working for a cause you really believe in, being a leader cam become sheer drudgery if you can't find the fun once in a while.  And a leader who is happy to be there is much easier to follow than one who constantly reminds you that he/she is just putting in their hours/years/time for an unidentified motivation.

I love it when differing parts of my life bleed together and give me insights into other segments.  There is a synergy to that kind of living.  Plus it saves lot of memory space in my head.  I love when that stuff can come together.