Last week I wrote about the one word that we, as business leaders, must remember as we invite a person to join our team. I spoke of the price that is paid when we choose to “fill a job with a warm body” because we just need to get the work done. The word was….
OWNERSHIP!
Even more crucial is the one word which will shape everything you do as a Maverick business leader. This word will impact how you:
- Show up on a Monday morning.
- Hire, develop, promote and, if necessary, fire.
- Build a brand that is solidly centered on Jesus and His kingdom.
- Engage in the call of adding value to people’s lives with your business.
- Live out the great commandment as the foundation for every decision you make in your business.
- ,“As you go” about your work, engage in the mandate to “make disciples”. Help your team to follow the King, even if they may not know Him at this point in time.
Here is the word for you…….
OWNERSHIP – DWYSYWD!
Yes, you read it correctly! Ownership! The same word I offered you last week as we considered the main character attribute you need from your team. Ownership is an unswerving commitment to DWYSYWD – Doing What You Said You Would Do – regardless of the circumstances. You operate knowing that owning your leadership is required!
If you are not Doing What You Said You Would Do, you become a serious weak link! Whatever you are experiencing in your team, and in your business, over time, is a product of you and your leadership. This is at the heart of your credibility as a leader.
In our leadership it is easy to critique the poor performance and lack of ownership of others as a character issue.
However, when it comes to how you and I view ourselves, we can create a multitude of reasons as to why we were not able to deliver what was promised. We are tempted to assess the gap between our promise and what was actually delivered as a “good try”. We “let ourselves off the hook” knowing that we were overwhelmed with all that was on our plate. We tell ourselves, “At least I had good intentions”.
Welcome to your “Yoda Moment”. You will need to decide in your leadership if you will “try” or “do”. At the end of the day your team, customers, suppliers, family and community will evaluate what you did and not what you intended or tried to do.
Consider the following 6 points. How optional is it for you to “own” the growth of your leadership for each one?
- You are aware of, and are growing in, your capacity to model godly behavior to all those connected to your business. 1 Cor 1:12 NLT
- Your sense of being alive in Christ, and what He has for you in and through your business, inspires you and others around you. Romans 8:5-6 MSG
- You are not satisfied with the status quo as you consider the people and processes under your leadership. You know that pursuing excellence in all that you do is your God-given responsibility. Colossians 3:23 NIV
- As a leader, you know that one of your biggest roles is to develop people. You are intentionally building the future leadership capacity for the team. 2 Timothy 2:2 NIV
- You know that life can be difficult for you, your team, your customers and suppliers. You see your role as a key encourager for your team. Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT
- You are committed to owning your role to lead the team well, even more than your need to have others on your team own their role. 1 Peter 5:2-9 NLT
Creating a culture of ownership is a core responsibility for every Maverick leader. The temptation for you and me is to let the sense of overwhelm cloud our judgment and soften our resolve to own all that is happening in our business.
How’s your ownership? Try or do? Your credibility is at stake!
Maverick Application:
- Take some time to reflect on each of the previous 6 points.
- Which areas are you ‘owning’ well?
- In which area is there need for change?
- What is God asking of you?
- Who can you share this with?
