Disciple Leadership

As I studied disciple leadership this week, I really appreciated Elder David A. Bednar’s description of a Disciple Preparation Center. I loved his advice that when are building a disciple preparation center, we prepare a little harder, dress a little nicer, act a little better, and think more deeply about things that really matter. He also reminded us that ultimately the best disciple preparation center is located with the walls of our own homes. This is a wonderful reminder of those things we need to do to build and strengthen our own families. As he talked about the temple, I appreciated the reminder of the importance of the temple as the temple becomes the bridge from this life to the next. During this time when temples are not as easily accessible because of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, I have been missing the opportunity to be in the temple. This is an especially critical time for us to have a current temple recommend to remind us how we want to live.

In “A Message to Garcia” I was impressed with the following information from the article of leadership:

• Accomplish tasks quickly and efficiently
• Do the work when no one is watching
• The ability to execute is more valuable than education or talent
• Delegation is critical, even if it’s easier to do it yourself
• Have the courage to make a difference
• 90% of life is just showing up, so the most important 10% of life is execution (Woody Allen)
• Everyone longs to be called to an important mission so that they can make a difference
• The greatest challenges always come from within
• Sometimes the biggest obstacles we experience are quiet voices whispering destructive thoughts that hold us back
• You can choose to blame others, situations, etc or you can choose to start developing attitudes, habits, and instincts so that when success hangs in the balance your name will be called

I also appreciated tips to help me move toward action. I feel these can be applied to many areas of life, not just business/entrepreneurship:

• Accept the mission and get started
• Be curious – ask the RIGHT questions first and then seek the answers
• Immediately sketch out a plan and then move forward; break down into VSPT framework  (vision, strategies, projects, tactics)
• If you need resources, don’t be afraid to ask
• Enlist help when needed
• Report back and show your work
• Underpromise and overdeliver
• Expect to make (small) mistakes
• Put results before schmoozing
  
  
  
• Replace the voices  in your head with positive actions

This quote has always resonated with me: “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but rather the ability to act in the face of it.”

Some other things I studied this week that really stuck with me are:

• Begin to see your life as a “calling” toward a Hero’s Journey . . . “Why was I put on earth?”
• Develop gifts and talents into a discipline; become world-class at something
• Find a “deep burning need” that you care about; your life-long mission will be more fulfilling if it serves others needs
• Surround yourself with good people and role models
• The secret to success doesn’t lie within the IQ you were born with but with having the character and courage to accept a worthy mission and get the job done

I loved President Kim B. Clark’s talk “Leadership with a Small ‘L’”. I feel that the Savior was a great example of this kind of leadership. He led with kindness and love and was a wonderful example of how to treat others and lead. The principles that President Clark talked about that have stuck with me are:

• Lead by Example: The best way to lead someone (children) on the path we want them to learn is to be on that path ourselves
• Lead with Vision: Help others understand the larger meaning and purpose of their daily work. In family . . . teach children how cleaning their room, doing their homework, and loving each other is connected to exaltation in the celestial kingdom as an eternal family. It may also mean leading your family through times of grief and pain caused by death and illness. It may mean teaching them and showing them that staying the course, moving forward despite the pain, is deeply connected to your family’s eternal journey
• Lead  with Love: Learn to energize those around you through love in action

Other things that resonated with me this week are:

• Be like Moroni: Take a stand and lead; stand up for something
• Sometimes leaders have to take a stand AGAINST something
• Stand up and make a difference
• Leaders cause things to happen and motivate people with their conviction
• Good is the enemy of great – don’t be in your comfort zone so long that you forget to strive for greatness
• Get the right people on your bus

I loved Jim Ritchie’s last comments in the “Good to Great” video. He reminds us that we weren’t  sent to earth to be a mediocre player. We are here to learn lessons to be great and use these lessons to help take ourselves and others to a higher ground. Sometimes I need these gentle reminders that help and encourage me to move forward instead of staying in my comfort zone. Often it’s scary to leave that zone and reach for something hirer for fear of falling, but I have found that even when I fall, I still come out ahead because I have learned new skills and developed myself into being closer to the person my Heavenly Father wants me to be.