Inspiration or Irritation?

There are THOUSANDS of leadership books out there all spouting off about how, if you want to be a good leader, you must be a role model of excellence, quality, integrity, etc.  When done well, embodying these traits can be a faith-building source of encouragement.

But is it possible to over-do it?

In other words, are your efforts to be an excellent role model inspiring...or irritating?

When someone - even a role model - is not relatable, it can actually put off members of your team instead of engaging them.  Being completely competent in your behaviors is only half of the requirement of being a leader.  Unless there is a relationship with your team, your "good example" efforts can be seen as distancing you from their "mere mortal" results.

The solution?  Be a role model of humility.  Be a role model of honesty.  Be "real".  Share (appropriately) your shortcomings, your pain and concerns - in a way that they can identify with withOUT undermining their confidence in your or the journey you are all jointly traveling.  This will help them see that you are experiencing the same "reality" that they are challenged with - and you are choosing to strategically persevere and have a positive attitude through it all.  Just like they can.

So they continue following you and everyone benefits. 

Just a natural consequence of NOT being irritating - and, instead, being an inspirational leader.

Think about it.  But more importantly, do something about it...today!

Are You REALLY Connecting?

We have a major problem facing us today that most people are unaware of.  This plague is wide-spread and is negatively affecting our relationships, our ability to communicate, and our personal well-being.

The issue?  We think we are connecting with others and we're not. 

Human beings are hardwired to be social creatures.  We seek to reach out and connect in any way we can.  Proof of this is how we are using today's technology.  Think of the many high-tech tools that have been developed to help us connect: Phones...The internet...Email...Texting.  The list goes on and on.  People are using these options to fulfill the primal urge to connect with others - but are failing miserably.  Why?

People have mistakenly viewed the passing of information over these technical venues as connecting when, in fact, in many ways, these tools have served to further distance ourselves from those we wish to most engage.  We are "touching base" with one another - sharing information and assuming that this effort is "connecting" us...but then being disappointed that we don't feel more connected afterwards.  Sound familiar?

The reason is that the technology strips out most of the human element.  The emotion/feelings - the actual humanity of the other person is simplified ("dumbed down") into electronic bits.  Ones and zeroes.  There's no eye contact, no touching, no real time body language...only data.  NOT the stuff good relationships are made of.

This superficial "transaction" leads to the atrophy of our relationship muscles.  Ironically, in the midst of us "connecting" with people all day long on social media, we become less genuinely connected than ever before.  What a shame.  And what a disaster for our human race.

There's nothing wrong with using technology as a tool.  The problem comes when we expect it to be the foundation of a REAL human relationship.  That requires humans who actually interact.  In REAL life.

Technology can start the conversation, but really connecting requires meaningful, personal contact.  Put down the device and make time to put REAL life into your relationships (and life).

Think about it.  But more importantly, do something about it...today!