Initiate…

So, you want to believe you’re a leader. Here’s my simple litmus test.

Leaders are believers. The ones that get our committed best are consistently becoming more aligned by changing their behaviors to match their beliefs – not the other way ‘round.

Leaders are connectors. Again, if you want a team of committed followers, you must come to love being the initiator. You move toward the team over and over and over again. You initiate conversation (now more than freakin’ ever). You initiate inspecting what you expect and correcting quickly and frequently. You initiate standards and hold teammates accountable. You initiate by dreaming big and doing whatever it takes to bring dreams into being – yours and theirs! You initiate by modeling the way, embracing pain and suffering, and embodying truth in Love. And, you initiate by inviting them to join you as Leonidas did the 300, not prod them to produce victory as Xerxes did with his Persian immortals and slaves alike.

Leaders initiate. Are you?

Do more than you think, leader. Do more initiating. Every leader gets exactly the team they deserve. Want a better team (notice I did NOT say bigger team)? Become a better leader. God, help me never grow tired of initiating. And, God, give me the wisdom to pick the most fruitful targets. God, help me.

Live hard. LOVE harder…