What Is Important to You?

The key to leadership is priorities. The busier a person is, the more they need to understand what is most important. As leaders, we balance what we have to offer the world against what the world most needs at the moment.

Activity does not necessarily lead to accomplishment. Particularly when we are adjusting to change, it is essential that our efforts are directed where they will be most useful.

As motivational speaker Myles Munroe says, "Our life is the sum total of all the decisions we make every day, and those decisions are determined by our priorities."

The Law of Priorities

Many of us have been rethinking our priorities in recent months, which is a good thing. The Law of Priorities in "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John C. Maxwell can help us ensure that our efforts align with what matters the most.

John C. Maxwell gives us three simple questions:

1. What is required? This may seem like an obvious question, but in the rush to completion we sometimes do not spend enough time on basics. Strong leaders know this well. They work with their teams to carefully define goals and measures of success.
2. What gives the greatest return? As a leader, you should spend most of your time on your greatest strengths. We are all most productive when we exercise our natural strengths. Leadership involves finding that balance even in times of change.
3. What brings the greatest reward? Great leaders shape their efforts around what they care about most. They see an opportunity to make the world better and they make that their priority. There are many examples of this happening in our world now.

Shifting Priorities in Our Times

The coronavirus has caused many organizations to rapidly shift their priorities. This is especially true of companies that develop new products. Dispersa, headquartered in Montreal, typically works on developing products for cleaning up oil spills. But during the pandemic, they have shifted their priorities based on what is required. They now produce and donate hand sanitizer to front-line workers, shelters, and cancer centres. Read "Amazing Ways Canadian Start-Ups Are Tackling the COVID-19 Crisis" to learn more about this company and others.

Beau Taylor's business in Calgary focused on importing and supplying gym equipment before COVID-19, but he shifted priorities as he thought about what would bring the greatest reward. First Defence Face Masks now focuses on supplying protective equipment to health services and small businesses. This has created jobs and economic benefit within the community. For this and other inspiring stories, read "Calgary Companies Reflect on How Pandemic Changed their Businesses".

Foster the Leader Within You

The UpCloseTeam has also shifted priorities based on what is required. We continue to focus on leadership training and coaching, but we also recognize the challenges people may be experiencing with participating in face-to-face training. To help, we are offering an alternative by putting our training programs online. Stay tuned for the online version of the Foster the Leader Within You course that we have been facilitating for many years.

Call to Action

Review your priorities. What is required? What gives you the greatest return? What brings the greatest reward?

Your Friends,
The UpCloseTeam