Transformational Leadership: The Push Step

It would help if you discovered your priorities. What is important to you? What do you want people to remember you for or as? If you want to know your priorities, look at what you spent your money on, not what you budgeted for, but what you spent money on. If you want to know your priorities, look at what you spend your time on. Not what the calendar says but what you actually spend time on. If you dislike those things, it's time to change them.

Then, translate those to manageable and consistent behaviors.

Discover and then practice the priorities you want to be in your life. Cast your vision and then break it down into goals and steps. Make sure your goals are SMART. These goals should be "specific," "measurable," "attainable," "realistic," and "time-bound". When you can make SMART goals and form consistent behavior that demonstrates your priorities, you will grow, and your team or business will, too. Let's look at the leadership giant John Maxwell and what he has to share.

Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision. Visions don't change, they are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same and are scrapped or adjusted as needed. Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan.”

– John C. Maxwell

Here’s a key. Marry your vision, not the process. Process changes but your vision should not. Be committed to your vision but be willing to alter your goals and process. No matter the goals or the process, consistency or perseverance is the master key. It all hinges on your ability and your iron will to persevere through the hard times, to keep going even after being knocked down 10 times. Real leaders rise an 11th time. Churchill also said, “If you're going through hell keep going.” In other words when times are tough and you feel like giving up don’t stop keep fighting. Leaders work harder than anyone around them.

Perseverance is the bedrock of leadership.

The fruit of perseverance? Your handwork will bring you before kings. The Wisdom of Solomon tells us that a man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. Perseverance and hard work will create more opportunities for you than anything else. Opportunities come to those who press toward the 'high calling.'

Philippians 3:14 KJV 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Going to the gym once a month will not make you look like Dwayne Johson. Notice I said press. It's like the weight lifter in the gym. Going to the gym and watching people work out won't do me good. I might say, good, I made the effort, I came to the gym, I bought the workout clothing, I paid the dues. But I'm not gaining muscle? I'm not losing weight. It's because I'm not pressing. I'm not putting in the effort. I'm not sweating. I'm not pressing on. If you always just lift the bar without any weights on it, you won't gain any muscle. Put the weight on and press to see the transformation. Consistency and perseverance are the keys to growing yourself and leading others. Author CS Lewis said hardships often prepare an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.

Will you persevere?

“The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore... Unlike the mediocre, intrepid spirits seek victory over those things that seem impossible... It is with an iron will that they embark on the most daring of all endeavors... to meet the shadowy future without fear and conquer the unknown.”

― Ferdinand Magellan