As I write this month’s newsletter, two significant events are happening this year. First, the marriage of my grandkids Zach and Katie in September, and second, the change of job and address for another set of grandkids, Nick and Rachel. Both are life-changing decisions and our blessings and our prayers go to both couples.
Let’s talk about leadership and how it affects our personal life as a leader. I have permission from Nick and Rachel to use some of the details of their decision to join Lidl, a grocery company in Germany.
When I write about leadership today, I’m really interested in how I can impact your life as a leader. Webster’s dictionary defines leadership as the power to lead other people towards the achievement of a goal. Today, I want to talk about how leadership can affect yours and other’s personal life, such as a marriage.
Whether your Nick or Rachel, a year into their marriage or Zach and Katie who are ready to tie the knot, making good decisions together is very important. Whether you’re my grandson Gavin’s age, ready to go into the sixth grade, or his brother Jacob’s age, ready for his exciting senior year, being a leader of your own destiny is where I want to focus this month’s letter.
On the web, Barbara White states that a good leader has seven qualities. I would like to offer these seven qualities as a starting place in your journey to become a more effective leader. I believe these skills or abilities can be developed or practiced to help you lead yourself into your future. I also personally believe that Nick was hired by Lidl because they saw most of these qualities throughout the many interviews they had with him.
Briefly, the seven qualities are:
- Having good character and being trustworthy
- Having an enthusiastic passion for what you’re doing.
- Being confident in yourself.
- Focusing on a direction with a positive demeanor.
- Remaining calm through the rocky, tough times.
- Keeping the main goal in focus and not getting side tracked.
- Committing to excellence and high standards.
If you read these seven qualities and believe they are important for YOU in your PERSONAL LIFE then I believe YOU will grow as a leader of YOURSELF FIRST. Then eventually others will see your leadership qualities.
Grandma and I had dinner with Nick and Rachel recently, and they shared their story. The whole process of getting hired by the German company took less than two weeks. Nick told us he was ready to move on, so he put his name into a place on the web where a hiring company contacted him about this job opportunity. In the next ten days, Nick had several interviews on the phone, then face to face on his computer. Then he was flown to Washington D.C. for the day where he had several interviews face-to-face interviews with people from Lidl.
In the process, he had to respond to various scenarios, telling them what action he would take if this or that happened. On his last day, he had an hour to put together a Powerpoint presentation to three people. Nick felt that he didn’t do a very good job.
WHAT WAS LIDL LOOKING FOR IN NICK THAT THEY COULD SEE AND DETERMINE THEY WANTED HIM ON THEIR TEAM IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS?
When they were interviewing Nick, they were looking for these seven leadership qualities. They wanted to see if he demonstrated good character, an enthusiastic passion toward his career, confidence in himself and his decisions, focus on a direction with a positive demeanor, and remain calm answering tough questions. And they wanted to see if he could stay focused on the main goal without being sidetracked and was committed to excellence.
This month Nick and Rachel will be living in the Washington D.C. area as guests of the company in orientation. Then they will live in Germany for the better part of two years where Nick will learn all about his new grocery company. Then in 2018, Nick will be involved in the start-up company in America.
I want to say this again: leadership can be more than leading others to a common goal. By leading yourself– doing some of the things suggested–will help you personally fulfill your destiny. For you are still demonstrating leadership.
YOU SEE, I KNOW THAT LIVING BY THESE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES WORKS, BECAUSE 52 YEARS AGO, I MARRIED A GAL WHO LIVED THESE QUALITIES OUT EVERY DAY. I didn’t realize it at the time, but Grandma lived these qualities out in her life and passed them down to and through her children. We have all benefited from her quiet leadership roles, and I praise GOD for her being a faithful wife, mother, and wonderful human being.
In closing, God’s blessings and favor to Zach and Katie, Nick and Rachel and to all of you. As you learn and grow in how to be a better leader, always remember Jesus wants us to look to Him first, and allow Him to direct your path.
How as leadership affected your personal life? Please share in Comments below. Thank you.