In most situations, leadership is intentional. Someone sees a challenge and volunteers to solve it.
Leadership can be accidental. For example: there’s a challenge, and someone is voluntold to solve it. Other times, it can be accidental. Example: there’s a challenge, and someone offers suggestions or thoughts on how to solve it, and — walla! That person is then “offered” the opportunity to solve it. (Yeah, it could be another “voluntold” thing, ah well.)
Intentionality brings in a new component to the term “leadership”. According to Merriam-Webster.com, the word means, quite literally, “intended”, done or brought about of one’s own will; full consciousness. Several speakers coach audiences to this point very clearly. Click or tap this link to review the definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intentional
Becoming Intentional
As Steven Covey once stated in his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, “Begin With The End In Mind”. Now, how I took his statement may not be quite what he had in mind, but it has worked for me. I start at the end. There are a few steps to get this done:
- What do I envision the final outcome to look like?
- What steps need to be outlined to reach the final outcome?
- How do I start? (note: not “when”)
Let’s take blogging as an example. The final outcome is to consistently write 3 blogs per week, published on the same day and time (not all 3 at once!). What’s needed to make this goal happen?
- a topic or idea;
- a relatable image or graphic for the featured image;
- a working computer — desktop or laptop;
- as a backup, a tablet or phone with a notepad and microphone embedded
- about 2 hours of time per blog.
The final step, “How do I start?”, is up to our schedules and time tables. I will point out that, without writing out this step, you won’t get started.
Why not?
Our brains are hardwired to keep/retain information if we write things down that are important for us to remember. If you had a really important meeting — one you could NOT afford to miss — would you write it down? Probably. If you didn’t write it down…well, you know that ending.
Conclusion
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share some strategies to help you bring out your own intentionality. If you have questions, send us an email on our Contact page. We may feature your question as both a blog and a video! (HINT: that means you should bookmark this website!)
Be strategic. Be visible. Be found.
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