There’s a new leadership term that will help leaders and their teams achieve results fast and often thanks to Willie Taggart: Lethal Simplicity.

If you are a fan of college football, there’s a new sheriff in Tallahassee. Willie Taggart has become the new head ball coach of the Seminoles with the recent departure of Jimbo Fisher.

Many will argue that how Jimbo left was classless and some will argue the same of how Willie left Oregon after just one year. In the world of college football, dream jobs don’t become available often so the “right time” may not be the “best time” for all parties.

I don’t write about sports primarily so this won’t be a post on why some coaches chase the big paydays at the expense of the promises and relationships they hurt of the players, boosters, and fans of their previous schools.

This post will focus on my thoughts on leadership after watching the introductory press conference of Willie Taggart. Full discloser, I am a lifelong fan of Florida State and my brother Wayne Messam is a proud alum and former National Champ wide receiver for the Noles.

As a leadership development specialist, I watched the press conference with the lens of what type of leader are the Seminoles getting in Taggart. I must say after watching the press conference and reviewing his past experience as a head coach, a darn good one!

Communication

Commination is a key quality all great leaders have and Taggart demonstrated his ability to connect with every audience that cares about FSU football.

He acknowledged the past, present and future state of the program and his vision of not rebuilding but realigning the program to work for and achieve greatness.

When asked to describe his “Gulf Coast” offense, Taggart gave an amazing response, “Lethal Simplicity”.

He defined this further by saying, “We want to score fast and often.”  As a former Division 1 wide receiver myself, this sounds like music to my ears.

We want to score fast and often. -Willie Taggart
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Clarity

Too often leaders try to over complicate the mission and strategy of achieving results. Fancy terminology and complicated formations look good on paper but execution can be spotty and difficult to duplicate.

As leaders, the goal isn’t to make things complicated and confusing. You want to make things simple and achievable.

As leaders, the goal isn’t to make things complicated and confusing. You want to make things simple and achievable.
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Clarity provides a clear path to what’s expected. When you as a leader make things easy to see and understand, the more likely your team will execute.

When assuming a new leadership role we should all look to implement a “lethal simplicity” approach. One that is clear, focused and achievable.

When most of us are called to lead it’s typically due to two reasons: lead to change or lead to results.

Lethal simplicity gives leaders an approach that will disrupt the status quo with a simple and achievable plan.

Here are the two things Willie Taggart taught me about leadership.

Score Fast & Score Often

1. Score Fast

You may be familiar with the concept of “low hanging fruit”. It’s a thing or person that can be won, obtained, or persuaded with little effort.

During my time as a pharmaceutical sales rep, I quickly identified my low hanging fruit customers as those who liked and currently prescribed our medications.

It was easier for me to get them to write more than it was to change the habits of physicians who didn’t prescribe at all.

This also translates over into the leadership world. When you can identify low hanging fruits as a leader you give your team the ability to achieve quick wins.

Nothing motivates a team more than winning.  Small victories lead to bigger wins which create a winning culture.

Nothing motivates a team more than winning.
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2. Score Often

Most successful organizations including sports team are accustomed to hitting their goals often. Scoring often creates a force so strong that every team tries to capture it; momentum.

Leadership guru John Maxwell stated in his Law of the Big Mo that “Momentum is a leader’s best friend.” If any industry understands the power of momentum it’s the sports world.

Momentum is a leader’s best friend. -John Maxwell
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The teams that score fast and scores often are usually the teams that win. This is true as well for you as a leader.

Your ability to accumulate quick wins and ability to duplicate those results are essential to your success as a leader.

When you score often it eliminates wasted opportunities. Nothing knocks the sail out of momentums wind like wasted opportunities. It’s easier to duplicate results when you have the Big Mo behind you.

Nothing knocks the sail out of momentums wind like wasted opportunities.
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As a Noles fan, yes I am excited about the new direction the program is headed under the leadership of Willie Taggart. As a student of leadership, I am even more excited to implement “Lethal Simplicity” into my leadership approach.

I want to encourage you as a leader to identify the low hanging fruits that you and your team can achieve (quick wins). Then I want you to focus on duplicating those efforts to get the momentum that will be necessary to make winning a part of your culture.

Scoring fast and often isn’t only relevant for football it’s also relevant with leadership.

What’s the low hanging fruit for your organization? Have you identified any quick wins that your team can pursue?

The post Why Lethal Simplicity Should Be Every Leaders Approach appeared first on Steve Messam.

News flash! You don’t have to be in charge (have authority), in order to lead. You don’t need a title to make a difference. All you need is the right intentions and the right insights and you can make a difference in your organization.

I am sure if you look at the organizations that you are associated with, you will find that most of the people inside are not in charge than those with authority (decision makers). More than likely you have been called to carry someone else’s vision, execute on decisions you haven’t made and expected to serve cheerfully.

Take a look closer at your organizations and I am sure you will find that there’s a subset of a few individuals. Some young, some older, who in spite of the fact that they don’t have the title of CEO, Owner, Pastor; they are influential regardless of not being “In Charge”.

Are these individuals special, are they just good at sucking up to the boss, or is it something else? I believe this group of individuals understand the concept of Leading Up.

Leading up is the ability to influence authority without having authority. Another way to look at leading up is the term “upward leadership“. I love what author Michael Useem, says about upward leadership, “Leadership has always required more than a downward touch: It needs to come from below as well as from the top, and leaders today must reach up as never before.”

Upward leadership is just as important to the success of an organization as downward leadership. Regardless if you are not the boss, new on staff, or if you’re young it’s important to understand that your perspective matters.

In your role on the frontlines, you see what your leader doesn’t see. You see problems before they make its way up to leadership. They can’t fix what they don’t see so now you have the ability to “reach up” and provide solutions to help the organization.

You don’t need authority to make a difference. Leading up is how you leverage your influence when you are not in charge. However, leading up could be a bit risky. If your intentions and motives are wrong it could hurt you.

I want to share with you three ways that you can lead up and make a difference in your organization the right way.

Leading up is the ability to influence authority without having authority.
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3 Ways To Lead Up

Know Your Role

If you want to be over people as a leader, you must first learn to be under leadership. Right now you maybe second in command or at the bottom of the organization chart. You may not be in charge of everything but you are in charge of something.

Owning what you are in charge of (your responsibilities) and making it better is how you earn influence and make your organization succeed.

You are a valuable part to the success of your leader and the organization. Carrying someone else’s vision requires that you buy into that vision. When you see how your role can help the organization succeed, it’s easier to show initiative and get things done in spite of having authority.

When others see you thriving in your current role, it makes it easier to see you moving into your next role. Regardless of your position, learn to lead yourself first. Have a positive attitude, a can do spirit that looks not to just highlight problems but to also submit solutions.

Be great where you are, help others succeed around you and before you know it, leadership will be looking to you for input. Leading up is a skill that you must continuously develop. Your ability to lead up today impacts your ability to move up tomorrow.

Your ability to lead up today impacts your ability to move up tomorrow.
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Find A Need

Making your leader better is a sure way to influence authority. You lead up by serving up. How can you make those above you better? Is there a strength you have that is a weakness for them? That’s a great place for you to serve them in. The best way to serve your organization is to find a need and fill it.

People remember those who help them the most. The more you add value, the more you fill needs, the more likely those in authority will listen to your ideas and insights. Get to know what’s important to the organization and leadership, find a need that you can fill and do it with excellence.

Sometimes you have to be willing to do what others won’t do to earn the opportunity to influence those above you. Influence equals access. The more influence you can earn by adding value to your leader, the more access you will have with your leader. If you want to gain influence with authority, lighten your leader’s load.

If you want to gain influence with authority, lighten your leader’s load.
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Honor Authority

Not only does influence give you access, honor gives you access to. When leadership knows that you honor them, it’s easier for them to trust you and give you access. Honoring gives you permission to speak up, say more and bring up issues that will be more receptive by leadership.

All authority has been given by God (Romans 13:1-2), including at the workplace. Submission to authority is an aspect of true honor. When we dishonor what God has established, we also cheat ourselves out of His blessing.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you allow leadership to cause you to break the law or sin. Hopefully, those above you have your best interest in mind, operate with integrity and is also adding value to you.

You can disagree with a decision by leadership and still honor leadership. You might find yourself not honoring your leader, you should consider going somewhere else if this is the case. If you don’t honor authority, don’t expect leadership to be influenced by you.

Showing honor where you are today will result in others honoring you when you are in authority someday. Honor gives you the access to be able to make the deposits and withdrawals with your leader; lead up. Let your words about your leaders be of good report. I love how Pastor Andy Stanley puts it, “Honor publicly results in influence privately.”

Honor publicly results in influence privately. -Andy Stanley
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Again, leading up is influencing authority without having authority. Upward leadership gives you the ability to impact your leader and organization positively. Leading up is a skill that you must continuously develop, practice and execute.

To influence those in power you must lead up by serving up, being great where you are and giving honor to those in authority. People will follow a leader with a heart faster than a leader with a title.

Share an example how you’ve lead up with your leader. 

The post LEVERAGING INFLUENCE WHEN YOU LACK AUTHORITY appeared first on Steve Messam.

Leadership development doesn’t happen overnight, it’s developed over a lifetime. Let that sink in. It’s easy to be misled when you see the success of someone today, not knowing what they went through yesterday. That’s because leadership is a daily process, it’s not accomplished in a day.

Many of us are guilty of rushing the process. I know I am guilty of wanting tomorrow’s results today, without going through yesterday’s grind to get there. Are you guilty of rushing the leadership process?

Overnight Success

There are no shortcuts in leadership. You have to put in the work to reap the success. You have to be willing to invest in yourself if you desire to add value to others.

It takes time, to grow as a leader. Unfortunately, most people aren’t willing to go through the process but still want instant results.

It’s important to understand that overnight success doesn’t happen overnight. Overnight success is the result of intentional daily grind.

Overnight success is the result of intentional daily grind.
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Want to be a great leader? You have to be willing to sacrifice, commit and invest the time and effort it will take to develop as a leader.  If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.

I want to share with you three concepts to help you embrace the process as you grow as a leader. As the saying goes, you have to pay the cost to be the boss. What you do on a consistent and disciplined basis will lead to your success.

If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice. -Unknown
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Slow Cook

The problem today is that too many leaders want to be microwaved and not slowed cooked. Leadership development is more like a crock pot than a microwave.

You have to be willing to marinate today so you can sizzle tomorrow. The longer you develop, the more prepared you will be to lead. A great leader is never done developing. You’re always looking for ways to get better.

Recently my wife purchased a Kitchen Aid Classic Mixer for my Anniversary present, to satisfy my new baking hobby. I’ve gotten pretty good at baking cakes but I didn’t start off that way. I had a tendency of taking the cake out before it was done baking (rushing).

If you have baked a cake before, you know that to test and see if it’s ready you stick a fork in it. It smelled ready, it even looked ready but it wasn’t. That’s because you can look like your ready on the outside but on the inside your not.

You don’t want to be taken out of the oven to early. When those you lead stick you with their forks, you want to make sure that what comes out of you adds value and doesn’t cause a mess.

Leadership development is more like a crock pot than a microwave.
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Law of Process

In his best-selling book, “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership“, John Maxwell in The Law of Process states, “Leadership develops daily, not in a day.” He observed that “Champions don’t become champions in the ring, they are merely recognized there.”

Your daily routine, daily preparations will reveal if you are rushing the leadership process. You can have all the talent and potential in the world but if you cheat the process in the dark, you will get exposed under the lights.

When your time comes, you have to be ready to lead. Continuously commit to investing in your learning. A leaders learning never ends, it’s an ongoing process. Strive to get better each day.

Leadership develops daily, not in a day. -John Maxwell
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Seed Time Harvest

I’m a systems guy and God has given us the seed time & harvest system that produces (Gen 8:22). A seed is designed to multiply, the harvest is always greater than the seed & there is no harvest without a seed.

I’m not just talking about corn, apples & watermelons. This applies to leadership as well. A farmer doesn’t sow a seed and reap his harvest the next day; it takes time then the harvest. As a leader, you sow seeds of sacrifices today so in time you can reap harvests of success tomorrow.

It takes a long period of time to lead well. You must be faithful in your daily interactions with those you lead and investing daily in yourself. Patience is a virtue, don’t rush the seeds you have sown.

Self-discipline and perseverance are qualities you will have to sow to resist the urge to rush the process. Your harvest is waiting on the other side of the time it will require for you to develop, prepare, train, and mature into the leader you are called to be.

A leader sows seeds of sacrifices today, to reap harvests of success tomorrow.
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Remember there are no shortcuts to leadership. A leader is in it for the long haul, not shortcuts. The longer you develop in the leadership crock pot the more prepared you will be to lead. Leadership develops daily, not in a day.

Trust the process, invest in yourself and sow seeds of sacrifice today to reap success tomorrow. Leadership doesn’t develop overnight. It’s developed throughout life. Enjoy the journey!

Do you struggle with rushing your leadership development? 

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As mentioned in a previous post, leadership isn’t based on position or fancy titles; leadership is influence. A title might buy you a little time but if you don’t earn their respect and trust, they won’t follow.

Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone. The problem with only using a position or title to justify leadership is its leverage is primarily over the behavior, and not necessarily the character and development of others.

For example, in a boss – employee relationship, the subordinate will be cooperative when their income/livelihood is at stake. This is considered positional leadership. Positional leadership use position to prove leadership.

Relational Leadership vs Positional Leadership

Positional leadership runs into hard times working in a voluntary organization. I have seen this first hand serving or volunteering in churches or community organizations. Whenever there was a leader throwing their title around to affect behavior, they faced resistance almost everytime.

It’s hard to command something that you haven’t earned. I love how Maurilio Amorim puts it, “Positional leadership is given, while influential is earned.”

Positional leadership is given, while influential is earned. -Maurilio Amorim
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Followers in voluntary organizations are there because they “want” to not because the “have” to. If a leader doesn’t have leverage – or influence – their title is ineffective. The effective leaders in this type of environment master relational (influential) leadership.

Influential leadership isn’t pushing or pulling instead it’s one of relational connection and support that develops a motivated and inspired team driven by a trusted leader. People follow who they trust, not necessarily who they must.

As you grow as a leader, it’s important that you understand the difference between positional and relational leadership. Look at this way, with positional leadership income is the currency. Relational leadership, influence is the currency.

Let’s take a look at 3 ways you can earn your influential currency to effect the character, development, and behavior of those you lead.

With positional leadership, income is currency. Relational leadership, influence is currency.
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3 Ways To Earn Influence As A Leader

1. Add Value

If you don’t value people you shouldn’t be leading them. One true sign that you value those you lead is your willingness and ability to add value to them. However, we only value others to the degree we value ourselves.

Have you noticed that we don’t see people as they are but as we are? Your willingness to develop, and invest in yourself by reading posts like this so you can add value to others, is a step in the right direction.

Leadership expert, John Maxwell has said, “when you value people, you have a deeper desire to connect with them than correct them.” He also said that the first step of leadership is adding value to people.

As a leader, you add value by serving others. Are you more focus on others serving you are you serving them? The more you add value to them, the more they follow you.

Action: Ask yourself each day, “How can I add value to others today?”

The 1st step of leadership is adding value to people. -John Maxwell
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2. Be Consistent

If you say you’re going to do something, do it. If you say you’re going to be somewhere, be there. Consistency is a must as you build influence and grow as an influential leader.

It’s important to realize that consistency isn’t a one and done thing; it’s a pattern. Consistency establishes your reputation as a leader. It’s hard to demand accountability from others if they can’t expect the same from you.

People buy into the leader when they can count on that leader. Can those you lead count on you? Consistency is an underrated word that plays a supersized role in your ability to be an influential leader.

You have to be consistent as a leader. Be reliable. The more consistent you are with those you lead, the more willing they will be in following you.

Action: Identify an area where you can be more consistent as a leader and work on it for the next 3 months.

Consistency is an underrated word that plays a supersized role in your ability to be an influential leader.
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3. Connect

The key to connecting with those you lead is to listen to them. People truly don’t care about what you know until they know that you care. You have to connect with them emotionally before you can move them physically.

Have you ever noticed how some people have their guards up when you try to (in your mind) give advice and help them? It’s because you haven’t connected with them yet. They are still trying to figure out your motives, your intentions before they let you in.

People won’t go along with you until they can get along with you, said so brilliantly by John Maxwell. Therefore, seek common ground with those you lead before you seek higher ground.

Relationships are a foundation of successful leadership. It’s the bedrock to relational leadership. As the leader, it’s your responsibility to take the initiative in connecting with those you lead.

Every time you connect with those you lead is an opportunity to increase your influence with them. Get to know them intimately if you desire to move them outwardly.

Action: Write down three individuals you need to connect with more and be intentional to do so over the next few months.

Find common ground with those you lead before seeking higher ground.
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Remember, influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone. Your title might impact their behavior but it’s your relationship that will influence all three. True leadership can’t be given, it must be earned.

You earn it by adding value to those you lead, being consistent in how you lead, and connecting intentionally with those you lead. You can do it!

 What is one area you can be more consistent as a leader? Please comment below. 

The post WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE AN INFLUENTIAL LEADER appeared first on Steve Messam.

Why is it so difficult for us to think less of ourselves and more of others? When we neglect the importance of serving and helping others we hurt our ability to reach new heights. Do you want to rise to great heights? Then you must lay first a foundation of humility.

Think of humility as just having a proper view of one’s own importance. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s just thinking of yourself less.

Then you have its opposite, which is pride. Pride is having an excessive or an exaggerated view of one’s own importance.

This actually gives us two categories, which we will call your blockers versus your builders. When you think of your blockers, they are the prideful people. They actually prevent others from getting around them and pretty much focus on their own interests.

Then you have those who are humble and they are your builders, they actually assist others in reaching their potential. They focus on the interests of others as well as themselves, which creates a win-win situation not just for your success but also for the success of those around you.

True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s just thinking of yourself less. -C.S. Lewis
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2 Building Blocks of Humility

If you truly want to rise to great heights then you will have to incorporate these two building blocks of humility.

1. Build a Foundation

Humility is the foundation of success.

It’s easier to stand on solid rock than it is on sinking sand. When you’re building a house you don’t start with the roof, you start with the foundation. The foundation actually holds up and lifts up all the other parts.

Pride actually causes a house to fall down, because it’s only worried about the roof, it’s worried about the top. Pride goes before destruction. Jesus once said that whoever makes himself great (toots their own horn) will be humbled and knocked down, and whoever humbles themselves will actually be made great (Matt 23:12).

Make humility the foundation to your success by lifting up people and in return, God will lift you up.

Make humility the foundation to your success by lifting up people, then God will lift you up.
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Humility builds. Pride blocks.

Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, once said that “before becoming a leader, success was all about growing yourself.” That’s pride, that’s when you don’t want someone else to get the promotion, or you don’t want to see someone else in the limelight.

He went on to say that “after becoming a leader, success is all about growing others.” That’s humility. That’s when you begin to build a strong foundation of humility. Where you’re focusing on growing your teammates, your coworkers, your family members. It’s a win-win when they grow…you grow.

Blockers criticize. Builders praise and celebrate others. Pride causes your ego to write checks that your character can’t cash. It’s like building your house on sand; when the rain, wind, and flood comes, it will fall. Invest in humility so when those floods come you and those who you are lifting up will be standing on solid rock.

Pride causes your ego to write checks that your character can’t cash.
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2. Build a Bridge.

Our second building block is to build a bridge. It’s easier to cross a bridge than it is to climb a wall. After living outside of New York City for a couple of years, I know that it’s a lot easier to cross the George Washington Bridge than it is to climb Mount Everest.

Pride builds walls between people, but humility builds bridges. Blockers use walls to prevent others from getting around. I’m sure all of us have probably been guilty on occasion of being a wall that prevented others because we’re so focused on ourselves.

I want to challenge you to be a builder! Build bridges to assist others to reach their full potential.

Regardless your level of success, you are standing on the shoulders of those who has gone before you. You are walking across those bridges. Therefore, you must make sure that your foundation in humility is strong to carry others across as well.

Use your abilities and gifts to actually help your team, co-workers, family and others by being a bridge and not a wall.

Pride builds walls between people, but humility builds bridges.
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Humility unlocks greatness in you by putting others first. Blockers keep others from reaching their full potential. Forget about yourself long enough to lend a helping hand and unlock the greatness in others. We need each other.

Always remember that pride leads to a great fall, but a humble spirit gains honor. Do your part, all your acts of humility, whether it’s serving, helping, supporting others, wherever you are. It’s those acts of humility put together, that leads to results and helps us to change the world.

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being exceptionally well. How would you rate your level of humility? Please comment below.

The post HOW TO BUILD SOCIAL HUMILITY FOR AMAZING RESULTS appeared first on Steve Messam.

How important is “influence” to you as a leader? Do you find yourself more focus on attaining a fancy title or reaching a certain position? Leadership isn’t based on position or fancy titles. Leadership is Influence.

I had the privilege over 15 years ago to attend a conference where I heard one of the world’s leading experts on leadership, John Maxwell, talk about his bestselling book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

The second law, which is the law of influence, had a profound impact on my life. In that law, he dispelled a common myth by saying that leadership isn’t based on position or impressive titles. He summed up the definition of leadership as, “Leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less.”

Leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. -John Maxwell
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There’s a leadership proverb that states, “He who thinks he leads but has no followers is only taking a walk.” If you were to look behind you, who is following you? Your spouse, kids, coworkers, colleagues? Maybe it’s students, congregants, or even teammates? What causes people to follow each other?

Another world leading expert, Ken Blanchard, author of the bestselling book The One Minute Manager, stated this, “The key to successful leadership today is influence.” There’s no getting around it, if you want to be a leader, you have to have influence.

The challenge for you as a leader is to not focus on what it will take to attain a position but what will it take to attract followers. As a leader, influence is critical not only in leading and impacting others but also in leading yourself.

The key to successful leadership today is influence. -Ken Blanchard
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2 Ways to Influence Yourself and Influence Others

1. Check Your Habits.

The first key point is to check your habits. We are creatures of habit and habits influence us. Influence flows inside out and there is no influence like the influence of habits. What drives you? What are your interests, your passions?

Your passions and your interests actually cause you to develop habits and routines to get you closer to your goals. Your passions and your interests also are huge motivators, but motivation alone will not get you to the leadership mountaintop.

Motivation points and focuses you there, but habits get you there. Another way to look at it is motivation gets you started, but your habits keep you going. While you’re checking your habits make sure that you break the bad ones and create some new ones.

In order to understand a new idea, new concept, new solution, you have to break old habits. The Apostle Paul once said, “Don’t let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by doing good. (Romans 12:21)” Let’s actually substitute the word evil with whatever old or bad habit that’s standing in your way.

Don’t let doubt, don’t let fear, don’t let negativity get the best of you, but get the best of whatever it is that is standing in your way to success as a leader, by doing good, by doing what is right, by creating new habits.

We lead ourselves by using our heads, our habits, our experiences, but we impact others by using our hearts. Which leads us to our second and final key point, which is to check your actions.

Motivation gets you started but your habits keep you going.
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2. Check Your Actions.

When leading and impacting others it is important to remember that it’s a heart thing, not a smart thing. I’m sure you would agree that for the most part, people don’t care what you know, they just want to know that you care.

Ben Franklin had this to say, “If you would persuade or influence, you must appeal to interests or passions rather than intellect.” As a leader, care more about helping people than you do, trying to impress people.

Care more about Helping people than Impressing people.
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A leader should touch their heart before they ask for their hand. Just like you have your own interests and passions, so do others. It’s your job, it’s your duty to connect with others passions and interests.

Leading by example is a great way to check your actions. The most powerful moral influence is an example. You develop your credibility with people by actually connecting and showing genuine interest through your actions, by sharing freely, by giving generously.

Pastor Chris Hodges, the author of the book Fresh Air,  has a saying that is a great example of how to lead by example, “Find a need and fill it. Find a hurt and heal it.” That’s leading by example.

In conclusion, I want to challenge you instead of focusing on a position or an impressive title to focus on being an influencer, because influencers make things happen. But here’s a warning; influence is earned, not given.

You earn it by actually touching other’s hearts, not showing them that you’re smart. God will give influence to those who use it to bless others and to honor him. One more thing. Your habits influence you, your actions influence others. Now go and change your world!

Your Habits influence you. Your Actions influence them.
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Who has influenced you the most in your leadership journey? Please comment below.

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I’m sure you can agree with me that each and every week before you start your work or your school day one of the toughest and probably most important decisions you have to make is, “What am I going to wear?” Your image.

Your appearance, how you look and how you feel plays a big role on how your day turns out. Although your outward appearance is important, I want to challenge you to focus more on your inward image versus your outward image.

Before we jump into the three ways to focus more on your inward image vs your outward image, let’s consider these definitions of “image” first. The first one being appearance. Think of that as how you are described, or your outward image. Then we have character. Think of that as how you can be defined, or your inward image.

As a leader, you should focus more on your character (inward), before worrying about your appearance (outward). When a leader wakes up in the morning, their focus should be on their attitude before attire.

When a leader wakes up in the morning, their focus should be on their attitude before attire.
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I’m going to challenge you to create a “tailor-made” image from the inside out because it’s going to be a key factor in you impacting and influencing others and you achieving your goals.

3 Ways to Focus on Inward Image

I can think of at least three “tailor-made” ways to improve your inward image and grow as a leader.

1. Alter It. This begins with attitude before attire. Before you decide what shoes, shirt, pants, blouse,  or skirt to wear, you need to decide what type of attitude you’re going to be wearing today. Are you going to be wearing a good attitude or a bad attitude? A humble attitude or an arrogant attitude? You must decide what type of attitude you’re going to wear today first before you decide your attire.

Your image, your attitude, can either help or hinder your ability to impact and influence others as a leader. In order for you to alter your character, you must alter your attitude. Having the right attitude does your character good.

Having the right attitude gives your character a strong foundation to stand. In leadership, character counts. Your character is so important that it’s what God uses to truly look at you, unlike man who focuses on the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7).

JP Morgan, one of America’s great bankers once said, “A man’s best collateral is his character.” Character counts and you can take that to the bank.

A man’s best collateral is his character. -JP Morgan
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2. Brand It. You are the total package inside out and your brand, your name, is your legacy as a leader. The wisest man to ever live on earth, King Solomon, once stated that “a good name is better than precious ointment and should be chosen over great riches.” (Proverbs 22:1)

As a student athlete, I took great pride in the name that was on the front of my jersey, Central Michigan Chippewas – “Fire Up Chips!” – and the name on the back of my jersey, Messam. I bought into the values, beliefs, coaching, and all of the things tied up in that brand, Chippewas, and my name, Messam.

As a leader always remember that your name is your brand. What do you stand for? Who do you stand for? Your beliefs, your values?

How you carry yourself – your attire, your demeanor, your manners, or your appearance – and how you conduct yourself – your actions, your attitude, your behavior, or your character – together that’s the total package, that’s your brand, that’s your name.

Your legacy will far outlive your appearance. Leaders like Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa were great proponents of not judging the appearances of others, the skin color and all of those things, they put more value into the content of folks’ character. A leader’s character is very difficult to build up and it’s very easy to tear down.

Character is very difficult to build up and it’s very easy to tear down.
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3. Check It. You’re probably asking yourself, “How in the world do I check my character? How do I see my inward image?” It’s easy for me to see my outer appearance, I can look in the mirror, I can even ask someone how I look.

Here’s how you check your character. If you check your actions, you check your character. People can’t see your heart or your inward image, but they can see what you do.

Another way is to ask someone. Ask someone how’s your attitude, have someone who you trust check you when you maybe stepping out of bounds with your attitude and actions. People may long forget what you said, even what you may have worn, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

If you check your actions, you check your character.
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Let’s make good character fashionable as leaders. Let’s put on love, humility, meekness, kindness, patience, and forgiveness. Let’s make all of those great qualities and characteristics fashionable. It will never go out of style.

What Type of Attitude Did You Decide to Wear Today? Let us know in the comments. 

The post HOW TO FOCUS ON YOUR IMAGE AS A LEADER appeared first on Steve Messam.

Have you ever wondered what’s the secret to success? I’ve read a lot of books, observed a lot of successful people, and I’ve actually come to the conclusion that there is really no secret to success. That success is actually wrapped up in a four letter word: WORK.

Legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said, “The only place where you find success before work is in the dictionary.”

Even if we go to the Bible and look in the First Book of Genesis 2:15, when God made Adam he placed him in the Garden of Eden and he told him to work it and to take care of it. That’s right, ladies, God gave man a J-O-B before he gave him a wifey.

The only place where you find success before work is in the dictionary. -Vince Lombardi
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Thomas Edison had it right and I am truly convinced that many leaders are missing the opportunity to reach success because it’s dressed in overalls and it looks like work.

I want to challenge you to implement what I’m calling the 3 Ds to Success: Discover, Develop & Drive. To help you reach your goals, to put in the work, and to reap your harvest; success in due season. As a leader, if you want to reach the fruits of success, you have to climb the tree called work!

If a leader wants to reach the fruits of success, you have to climb the tree called work.
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Work – 3 Ds to Success

1. Discover Your Why.

Our first D to success is discovering your why. Your why is your mental and internal springboard to success as a leader. Your “why” is more important than your “what”. When we focus too much on the what – job, career, studies – and not truly having a clear understanding of the reason, purpose, or the why – why you’re waking up, why you’re doing the things or sacrifices that you’re doing – it’s going to be much more difficult to actually chase after your what.

Another point to remember is that your why motivates you to go after your what. As a leader, your why is your mental picture of where you want to be, where you want your family, organization or team to be. Since your why isn’t here today, it’s going to take active faith for you to use your mental and your physical effort to make that thing manifest itself.

One thing I do is that I incorporate prayer as well. I actually pray like it all depends on God but then I work like it all depends on me. God is going to do his part to help you get to your why, but you’re going to have to do your part as well.

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. -St. Augustine
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2. Develop Your What.

The second D to success is to develop your what. Your what could be your job, career, studies, skills, gifts, talents, crafts…you name it. Nothing will work unless you do. Let’s face it, there’s no substitute for hard work. Let’s just say that hard work is a seed and that success is a harvest. Just like you can’t have a harvest without a seed, you can’t have success without hard work.

Let’s just say the why that you filled in your blank, was security or maybe even wealth. Here’s a Hebrew proverb that you probably want to note, “Being lazy will make you poor, but hard work will make you rich.” Proverbs 10:4

One key to a leader’s success as it relates to developing your what is to practice, practice, practice. Author Malcolm Gladwell, in his bestselling book Outliers actually highlighted the concept of the 10,000 hours rule, where he was able to determine after observing many successful and wealthy individuals like Bill Gates and The Beatles that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert.

Practice your skill. Strive for improvement. Monitor your performance. Evaluate your success and work on those areas that you’re not good at. Whether it takes you 100 hours or 10,000 hours, if you develop your what it will lead to success.

Hard work is the seed and Successes are the harvests. You can’t have success without hard work.
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3. Drive to Your Where.

The third and final D to success is to drive to your where. While you’re driving make sure you embrace the journey before your destination. The road to which success comes is some good old-fashioned effort. Work worth doing propels you to get to where you want to be, it gets you to your why.

The difference between try and triumph is a little “oomph” because a little “oomph” can make a big difference. If you want to reach the fruit you have to climb the tree. Success is dependent on effort.

On the road to success as a leader, remember that satisfaction lies in the effort before the attainment. You won’t be happy in the destination if you can’t be happy on the journey. I know there’s going to be ups and downs, bumps, detours, and missed exits, but enjoy the ride. It won’t be all smooth sailing, so if there isn’t any wind be prepared to row.

I leave you with this final word of encouragement. Let us not grow weary doing work, for in due season we will reap if we don’t give up Gal 6:9. Drive on, my fellow leaders!

The road to which success comes is some good old-fashioned effort.
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Have you discovered your why? If so please share it below in the comments.

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You, yes you are called to be a leader. You may be thinking, “I don’t have an official title or role”, “No way, you could be talking to me.” Wrong! I am talking to you and I am here to tell you that, Leadership isn’t a title, it’s a Lifestyle. A lifestyle is how you live not a position that you hold.

Leadership isn’t a title, it’s a Lifestyle.
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Many goals that you have for yourself will require leadership to accomplish. Leading of self and leading of others. In order for you to grow in leadership, it will require that your mindset on the topic must grow as well.

Starting with leading from who you are more than the position that you may or may not hold. Who you are is far more important than what you do. Which is why it is so critical that you develop…You.

Success as a leader requires a growth mindset. It demands approaching resistance as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. And it’s only when you stretch beyond what you thought was possible that you discover strength you never knew.

Leadership requires some serious stretching to go beyond our current reality into endless possibilities. The call of leadership isn’t one of comfort but of Sacrifice. It’s when things get uncomfortable when you must push harder, for your breakthrough is near.

The call of leadership isn’t one of comfort but of Sacrifice.
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Do you feel that you…

• Believe that with God, Anything is Possible.
• Succeed by Helping Others Succeed.
• Make a Difference Before You Make a Complaint.
• Lead by Example Regardless of Your Title.
• See Life as a Continuous Learning Experience.

I can visualize you shaking your head “YES” continuously while reading that list. You might have thought, “Steve, you could have stopped at the first bullet!” If you indeed answered yes to one or all of those points, then Wisdom Chasers is the right tribe for you!

Here’s How Wisdom Chasers Helps You Grow As a Leader & Maximize Your Influence

1. Wisdom Chasers is here to help you grow UPWARD

Spiritual Growth Leads to Leadership Growth

I believe that you were born with a specific call on your life to make a difference in this world. Before you were born, your creator had a plan for you. A plan so big that you can not accomplish it without him. You must have a higher calling, purpose, or faith that you rely on to help you fulfill your dreams.

Without growing spiritually, you are more likely to be lost, misguided and useless as a servant leader. The concept of being “Self-Made” is one of the biggest pitfalls for the next generational leader. When your EGO (edging God out) takes control, you run the risk of letting your pride hurt your influence with others.

Jeff Giesea, entrepreneur and executive coach believe, “that the best way to grow as a leader is to grow spiritually.” He believes that the more your grow spiritually, the better you can serve others. Leadership is a call to serve God and people.

Wisdom Chasers will provide content, resources, and encouragement to help you increase your influence and grow Upward as a leader.

Leadership is a call to serve God and people.
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2. Wisdom Chasers is here to help you grow INWARD

Personal Growth Leads to Leadership Growth

Contrary to popular belief, growth doesn’t happen overnight. Expecting to be an expert after reading one book on a topic is foolish. Growth happens over time. Personal (inward) growth is a lifelong process that requires you to invest in your development continuously.

It’s hard to lead others if you can’t lead yourself. Discipline, humility, integrity, character, wisdom and so many other qualities don’t develop themselves. You must be intentional in your own development in order to lead others.  If you can’t lead you, you can’t lead them.

Rick Warren, philanthropists and pastor stated, “The moment you stop learning you stop leading.” I have also heard that a leader is a reader. What are you doing to develop yourself on your personal time? Do you have a personal development plan?

Wisdom Chasers will provide courses, resources, and content to help you increase your influence and grow Inward as a leader.

If you can’t lead you, you can’t lead them.
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3. Wisdom Chasers is here to help you grow OUTWARD

 Relational Growth Leads to Leadership Growth

President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Care more about helping people than impressing people. If you want to increase your influence with people increase your focus towards others.

Remember that leadership is a call to serve. As a leader, you succeed when you help others succeed. Moving people from where they are currently to where they desire to be, require relational skills; how you interact with others.

Your effectiveness as a leader rests heavily on how you relate to others. Expressing genuine and sincere care for others is a fast track to winning their hearts. You may have the know-how and experience to offer but if you don’t connect with their hearts, your smarts are irrelevant.

Wisdom Chasers will provide resources, content, and courses to help you increase your influence and grow Outward as a leader.

Show them your heart, before you show them your smart.
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You are most likely busy and overwhelmed with finding time for your leadership development. Let Wisdom Chasers help you with your development by joining the Wisdom Chasers tribe. We look forward to helping you grow and growing with you!

Action: Will you join the Wisdom Chasers Leadership Revolution? If yes, drop the comment “I’m in!” below and join the Mailing List to stay updated.

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