What you think impacts the way you feel. What you feel impacts how you behave. And our behavior matters, whether positive or negative, because it informs what it is we believe. This is true of ourselves, our spiritual beliefs, our lifestyles, and our habits.
In his book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey promotes the idea that how we see the world is driven largely by our perceptions. However, in order to change our situation, we ourselves must change. At the core however, in order to change ourselves, our perceptions must change. He says that, “The way that we see the problem is the problem.” Many want the shortcut, the easy way, the fast solution. We want the gain without the pain, the result without the effort, the reward without the fight, the success without the risk. We all want the benefits and solutions to our challenges, but few really want to deal with the underlying condition.
Highly successful leaders who cultivate highly successful organizations cultivate habits that deal with the underlying conditions. They want the problems behind the problems. The perception behind the perception.
Our habits are some of the most powerful systems in our lives. They are often done without thinking, but they are always done consistently, diligently, and regularly. Actions done consistently and over time become habits.
James Clear in Atomic Habits tells us that we don’t “rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our systems.” If we want to be leaders whose life and leadership are marked by success, we need to be driven by healthy, long-term habits. We need healthy, long-term systems that empower us to thrive. Whether positive or negative, these habits then shape the vision and direction we have for our people and organizations, the decisions that we make, and the dedication that we bring to the table.
Below are seven unique habit systems that I have seen that have and continue to define highly successful leaders and organizations.
If you want to build an organization of purpose, it has to be on purpose! The best organizations aren’t profit-driven or even product-driven. They’re purpose-driven. Their focus is on creating value and let everything else follow. They’re passionate about creating something with meaning — both for you and for your customers.
Creating something meaningful requires intentionality. It requires focus on the things that matters most. Purpose leads you there. But there is no sense of purpose greater than one that is rooted in the active work of God in the leader’s life. Leaders who are sensitive to what God is doing in their organization and how he is leading them personally, begin to live a life of purpose. As a result, they begin to build people of purpose and organizations of purpose. But they remain sensitive to who God is in their life and what he is leading them into.
Another habit of highly successful organizations is that they do not play the comparison game. Former President Teddy Roosevelt once clearly remarked that “Comparison is the thief of joy”. The truth is that we lose the comparison game 100% of the time we play because it redirects our focus, our gratitude, and ultimately the attitude we have towards what we’ve been called to steward.
Healthy organizations don’t seek to copy or compare what other organizations and ministries are doing. Instead, they delight in seeking God and his wisdom and guidance for the people and movements He has called us to serve!
Stewardship is foundational leadership. When we lean into and appreciate what God has given us, as we trust in how God is leading us, and we get creative with God in leading well, we step into truly stewarding the unique organization and the people we are entrusted to.
Though your ministry may “look” like another’s, the truth is that it’s not. Don’t compare. Allow your ministry to be unique. Lean into discovering what is best for your organization.
Operationally, it can be really easy to say “Yes”. If we’re not careful, we can quickly find ourselves in a place of having many good things we’ve said “Yes” to, but in exchange, have effectively said “No” to potentially other great things.
Doing less is more. Why? Because it allows you maximize a few good things to make them great things! Likewise, when we give our “Yes” to the right few things, we are able to keep the main things the main things. Like with purpose, focus matters. What you focus on, you become. But we are always limited by our capacity and availability to our priorities.
A good rule of thumb here is: Don’t try and do everything. Just do the best thing (or the next best thing).
What does the word “relationship” mean to you? What comes to mind? Maybe you think of a handful of people such as your spouse, your family, your friendships, and your team. But what is it that impacts those relationships? What’s the golden nugget that enables those relationships to happen? One word: Intentionality. Without it, your relationship isn’t really much of a relationship. It’s more of a user-ship. You know those interactions that only show up to take and never give (or give the bare minimum in order to continue to take)? This leads to common, superficial, and shallow connectedness.
People are people. They are not followers, subscribers, numbers, or butts in seats. They are people. Therefore, to cultivate intentionally relational relationships, we first have to see people as people. Then, we have to be intentional about how we connect and relate to those people. Relationships are an investment. It’s not about a transmission of information, but of knowledge and experience too. It’s about doing life on life.
To cultivate intentionally relational relationships, keep it simple. Kindness goes a long way. Empathetic listening, or genuinely listening to understand, unlocks more hearts and breaks more relational barriers than listening to respond does. Plan to give more than you receive. And along the way, seek to invite and bring others along the journey. There’s power in invitation!
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