Taking the initiative

Dr. John C. Maxwell is coming back!

Yes. June 10 is the big day.

My partners and associates are working real hard in preparing for this day. Seat reservations are coming in, sponsorships are being signed, deals are being made and everybody is just so excited about this me included. Procrastination is not in our team’s vocabulary because we have learned to take the initiative. It’s a lesson Dr. Maxwell teaches and this is what I would like to share with you.

Dr. Maxwell says leaders know the secret of momentum: once you take the first step and start moving forward, everything becomes clearer and easier. If momentum gets strong enough, problems begin to take care of themselves and new opportunities arise. But the benefits of momentum only come into play once a leader takes initiative. 

The question is why do some leaders become timid and tentative when it comes to taking action? Why do they procrastinate?

These are the possible reasons according to Dr. Maxwell:

1. We hesitate to do chores we don’t enjoy.

Because you don’t find pleasure in it, and there’s a million other things you would rather spend your time doing. 

2. We hesitate to do activities we aren’t good at doing.

Dr. Maxwell says he enjoys the arts, and he is fascinated by highly creative persons. However, he’s not particularly gifted in painting, drawing, or designing. That’s why he avoids doing them. 

3. We hesitate to do what isn’t on our agendas.

Human nature tends to be set in its ways. When changing circumstances make our plans obsolete, we resist making adjustments. We stubbornly hold to our old course of action and avoid altering our behavior. 

4. We hesitate to solve situations that are likely to be messy.

A prime example is confrontation. It’s difficult to tell someone what they don’t want to hear and probably won’t respond well to being told. Dreading the possible outcomes, we dawdle and delay rather than initiating confrontation. 

5. We hesitate to tackle a task that is high-energy and low-return.

As leaders, we are hard wired into getting the most bang for our buck. The same holds true with our time. We want to invest it profitably. And so we become hesitant to put energy into relationships that require high-maintenance. 

6. We hesitate to step into things we don’t understand.

Hence the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Getting to understand new technologies and adopting them to our lifestyle is such a great challenge we simply put it off for another day. 

Author John Kotter, says, “Most people don’t lead their lives, they accept their lives. Leaders are the exception. In their mind’s eye, they have a vision of exactly where they want to go. By keeping that vision in the forefront of their minds, leaders develop priorities, maintain focus, and, acquire a sense of urgency. The vision becomes the driving force behind everything a leader does. Whereas most people follow the path of least resistance, visionary leaders refuse to settle for what’s comfortable or easy. They shape their world rather than fitting into its mold.

In addition to following a vision, leaders relentlessly schedule their lives around their core values. Leaders are attuned to what they feel is important in life, and they align their activities to reflect those beliefs. Values dictate what they will do, what they will avoid, and where they will invest their most precious commodity - time.

You may have heard the saying, “Quitters never win, and winners never quit.” Nothing could be further from the truth! Leaders are strategic quitters. They ruthlessly avoid activities that don’t align with their vision or values. They know the power of “NO” when faced with opportunities that threaten to drift them away from their purpose.

Quitting is not a bad thing as long as you quit for the following reasons:

• You quit something you don’t do well to start something you do well.

• You quit something you’re not passionate about to do something that fills you

• with passion.

• You quit something that’s doesn’t make a difference to do something that does.

To acquire more influence, taking initiative is a prerequisite. Leaders step forward when they clarify their vision and values. Knowing their purpose gives them a starting point, and a reason to act. By clearing out the clutter in their agendas, leaders recognize the power of quitting. Free from the handcuffs of over-commitment, leaders are able to choose the dreams they chase rather then drifting down the current of life’s circumstances.

Don’t be a murderer. Do not kill time. Use it wisely and take the initiative.

(Francis Kong will be the lead trainer for the Dr. John Maxwell’s “Developing the Leader Within You” leadership program this May 13-14 at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. 632-8129125)