Three leadership tips that will increase the health of your organization…immediately

One leader defines leadership this way - “Leadership is disappointing people at a rate they can tolerate.” When I first read this quote, I chuckled with painfully awkward agreement. As a leader, you’re just never going to make everyone happy. You know this. You can, however, make the organization you lead healthier.

Here are three quick leadership tips that you can “try on” today that will yield nearly immediate organizational health benefits.

BE GRACIOUS. To be gracious is to be marked by kindness, courtesy , compassion, and a generosity of spirit. You cannot do that by your self. You need help outside of yourself. You need the fruit of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) growing in you. No God. No real sustainable fruit.

Ask God for his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control even while you’re engaged with someone in conversation. If you’re a leader, you need this fruit. You need this help.

BE HONEST. Courageous leaders tell the truth. Mr Rogers said it best - “Honesty is often very hard. The truth is often painful. But the freedom it can bring is worth the trying.” If you’re not honest, you’re probably more concerned with your own feelings over the feelings of the person you’re not being honest with. If you’re not being honest, you’re being selfish. Your people want your honest opinion. They need your gracious spirit but they also need your honesty.

BE PRESENT. You cannot be focused on “there” and really be “here.” Forget about the next meeting, the next appointment, or your next move. Turn your phone on silence and turn it over. Make eye contact. Pay attention to what your face might be communicating and practice active listening. Be with whoever you’re with and treat them like the only person in the room, regardless of their position or posture.

Try these three tips, and watch your leadership and the organization you lead step up to healthier levels. It’s not about leading happy people. It’s about leading healthy organizations. Happiness does not guarantee healthiness. Healthiness most assuredly will produce some happiness.

May God add his grace to you as you lead people to healthier places. Paul