Category Archives: Vision

Leading with Intensity or Intentionality… Which One?

25 Friday Oct 2024

Posted by in Accountability, Actions, Align, Christian Worldview, Clarity, Culture, Decisions, Educational Leadership, Empower, Hope, Intensity, Intentional, Intentions, Know Your Why, Leader, Leadership, Learning, Mixed Signals, Opportunity, Relationships, Servant, Sincerity, Trust, Understanding, Unity, Useful, Value, Vision, Wisdom

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We see it almost every game in the world of sports… One word, intensity. On the other hand, we see the opposite, a stoicism of intentionality. As a former basketball coach, I get it… the need to motivate, fuss, correct, celebrate, etc. However, I became a better coach when I tapered off those moments of intensity. One of my coaching mentors, Stan Jones, told me once, “If you fuss and holler all the time, when you actually need to, the players will not know the difference.” I would give that same advice to young coaches now. I would also give it to all those at any leadership level.

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In leadership, the allure of leading with intensity is often strong. We live in a fast-paced world where results are expected quickly, and leaders usually feel pressured to drive people hard, pushing toward ambitious goals and maintaining relentless focus on outcomes. However, while it can achieve short-term gains, leading with intensity often leads to burnout, poor decision-making, and a gradual erosion of a positive culture over time. Every leader should be aware of these negative characteristics.

Leading with intentionality offers a more sustainable and effective approach. Think of it as a natural resource. When leaders are intentional, they focus on achieving goals and how those goals are pursued. Intentional leaders lead with clarity of purpose, ensuring that every decision aligns with the broader mission and values that determine who they are and who the organization is. Rather than pushing with an intensity of negativity and possible belittlement, intentional leaders take a step back to ensure engagement, support, and empowering others to become the standard. Intentional leadership prioritizes the why behind our actions rather than just the how or what, inspiring a sense of purpose and motivation. This fosters a culture of trust and collaboration, seeking results and holistic growth, encouraging personal development, and an opportunity for people to flourish.

While intensity might fuel a leader in moments of crisis or during short bursts of effort, I do not believe it should be a defining style. Leaders who consistently lead with intensity often need to catch up on the nuances that lead to lasting success. Intentionality, however, brings balance, purpose, and foresight, ensuring that both the leader and their team can sustain high performance over time. It would almost allow others to believe you are clairvoyant… 🙂 

From a Christian Worldview perspective, leading intentionally means listening, adapting, and seeking God’s wisdom in decision-making. This doesn’t necessarily mean waiting for divine intervention but rather using the principles and values found in the Bible to guide your leadership. Leadership rooted in intentionality reflects the servant-leader model of Christ, one that brings glory to God and leaves a lasting impact on the hearts of those we serve.

In the end, it’s not about how loudly or forcefully you lead; it’s about how wisely you guide others toward a shared vision. I have seen and been around many leaders of both styles and there is a drastic difference.  

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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A Leadership of Convenience is Inconvenient for Everyone

18 Friday Oct 2024

Posted by in Actions, Character, Consistency, Context, Effective, Facade, Honest, Importance, Integrity, Leader, Leadership, Sacrifice, Servant, Trust, Truth, Value, Vision

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Every morning, driving to school, I listen to the Wall Street Journal Report. I like being aware of what is going on in the world… Often, they have a report from MarketWatch, and yesterday’s report caught my attention. The piece is titled, Here’s why more Americans than ever now shop at Amazon (please note, this is not an endorsement of Amazon, but I do love Amazon). In the article, this statement was made, “Analysts and others note that Amazon’s success when it comes to selling household goods is rooted in three key factors: selection, pricing, and speed of delivery.”

As you have often heard me say, “It got me to thinking.” However, I’m going to encompass all three of the above factors with the thought of convenience. All in all, Amazon has a wide selection range, their prices are competitive, and the delivery speed is usually two days or less with Prime membership. As consumers, we place a significant amount of trust in the companies we buy from. This trust is not just about the products we purchase but also about the convenience these companies offer as a byproduct of that trust. The importance of trust in consumer relationships is a key element that parallels the role of trust in effective leadership. No one cares for the convenience of a product if trust is not gained or there to begin with.

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However, when it comes to leadership…

Leadership is a demanding responsibility that requires consistency, commitment, and a clear vision. I would think everyone can agree on that. Leadership of convenience, where decisions are made based on ease, comfort, short-term gain, or not knowing background or context, often misses the mark for true, lasting effectiveness. At its core, this approach prioritizes what is expedient over what is right, creating a leadership style that is reactionary, inconsistent, and unsustainable. The role of trust in leadership is paramount, as leaders who choose convenience over principle may win momentary victories but fail to build the trust, respect, and long-term success that real leadership requires.

Leadership should not be about self-interest or personal comfort, but often, we see it established in weak leadership. It’s about serving others and doing what is right by them, even when it’s tough, costly, or unpopular. Effective leadership demands sacrifice, putting the needs of others first, even when it’s inconvenient. The need for sacrifice in effective leadership is a key aspect that leaders must understand, as by only engaging when it’s comfortable, leaders signal that they are not invested in long-term success. This weight of leadership responsibility should be felt by every leader.

Leaders driven by convenience often lack vision and fail to inspire. When choices are made based on what is easy or comfortable rather than what aligns with core values or long-term goals, followers become disengaged and confused. 

True leadership embraces responsibility over comfort every day that ends in “y.” It requires courage to stand firm in one’s values and convictions, even when inconvenient. Leadership prioritizing conviction over convenience creates real change built on a foundation of integrity and is foundational to leadership. Without it, credibility crumbles like the façade a leader has created.

And with all of this, the speed of trust at which you can make true leadership happen as a leader speaks volumes about your leadership style and the characteristics you base your leadership on. Just don’t make it one of convenience. 

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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Leadership, in the movie “Reagan”

06 Friday Sep 2024

Posted by in Adversity, Appreciation, Clarity, Communication, Consistency, Decisions, Effective, Influence, Inspiration, Leader, Leadership, Mission, Perseverance, Purpose, Relationships, Respect, Sacrifice, Vision

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This past Monday, we went to the movies, enjoying our Labor Day afternoon to see the new film, Reagan, staring Dennis Quaid. I was eight years old in 1980 when Reagan was first elected as president. Over the course of the next eight years of his presidency, the movie allowed me to remember a few things here and there. Obviously, as I got older, and even now, I appreciate his leadership and the legacy he left America.

As I sat there, names and events from the past started surfacing in my mind. Looking back allows so much more reflection and enables us to see insights and the effect you didn’t know was happening in real time. At any present time, you can see leadership at work. However, looking past tense is where you see the starting results of leadership.

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Here are a few leadership takeaways from the movie Reagan that I gleaned…

Reagan was known as “The Great Communicator” and “The Great Persuader.” While he exhibited several leadership traits that resonated with political and business leaders alike, his ability to inspire through communication to the general public awarded him an audience of supporters. He knew when to be serious and when levity was needed. Being a great communicator allowed him to speak purposefully and to give and maintain direction, even when others doubted his approach to situations.

His optimism in the face of adversity and his strong sense of purpose emerged as key themes seen throughout the entire film. In all of his leadership, a sense of clear vision makes this possible. Reagan knew exactly what he wanted to do and when to do it. Many tried to hold him back from being who he was meant to be, while at the same time, there were those who championed him and encouraged him to be who he was meant to be.

Reagan embodied a rare talent for simplifying complex issues without diluting their importance. What impressed me most about watching his earlier life in Hollywood was his sacrifice of knowing his stance against the influx of communism would hurt his image and alienate him in Hollywood’s future. However, if there was ever anyone to look to for an example of having a vision and a mission, it was Reagan.

As with any great leader, Reagan’s willingness to listen to different perspectives is another hallmark of his leadership. He surrounded himself with a strong team of advisors and trusted them to help make decisions, demonstrating confidence in others while maintaining accountability (in one scene, Reagan asked a cabinet member, “What did I hire you for?”).

All in all, political differences and ideologies aside, Reagan was a dynamic leader. He always took every opportunity to rally people around a shared goal, inspiring pursuit while at the same time remaining resilient, even when faced with challenges. That’s what great leaders do.

If you get a chance, go watch Reagan. You will find leadership that can inspire and motivate you.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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Who do you want leading… A leader who leads by choice or chance?

23 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Accountability, Actions, Choice, Culture, Decisions, Effective, Encouragement, Essence, Influence, Inspiration, Intentional, Leader, Leadership, Opportunity, Passion, Purpose, Respect, Servant, Transformational, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Understanding, Useful, Value, Vision, Whole

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Leadership, call it what you want, but hopefully, you can agree that it is and will continue to be a journey. It demands conscious effort, a vision that is not blinded by self, and a deep understanding of who we are individually…

So, today’s discussion compares and contrasts leading by choice vs. leading by chance. Too many times I see people who are in leadership positions who have earned their way there or thrown into the position. Is there a difference? I believe so, and by the end of reading, hopefully you will discover which is better and why…

Leading by choice…
They are the leaders who embrace responsibilities and challenges with clarity and purpose. Driven by the desire to be a difference-maker for the good of others, inspiring and creating positive change because it is the right thing to do, not because they just think it will be better. They uphold deliberate leadership that is informed and backed for growth for all they lead. They constantly look to refine their leadership, learning from truth without blinders and adapting to challenges. Leading by choice is intentional and fosters trust, collaboration, and a shared vision. They believe in others and understand the impact of aligning actions with values for all to see.

Leading by chance…
They lack the intrinsic motivation required to truly succeed in it for themselves and lack preparedness. They lead from the hip, often finding themselves in leadership positions due to circumstance or out of necessity, without an actual desire to lead. This type of leadership becomes reactive rather than proactive. Purpose and direction lack consistency in decision-making, and opportunities for growth are missed. They struggle to connect on any level and only want loyalty and engagement that benefits a self-sense of purpose. This creates a hollow leadership that causes disengagement and a lack of cohesion.

From a Christian worldview, this aligns with the idea of servant leadership, all day, every day. Such leaders by choice are better equipped to serve others selflessly, making decisions that reflect wisdom and love, embodying the essence of servant leadership that transforms integrity and conviction in and for others.

We see it every day… Those who lead by choice and those who have to lead by chance. One allows you to succeed; the other, well, they give you a chance. You might ask, “Are opportunity and chance the same thing?” I say no. Ultimately, leaders who lead by choice are more effective because they approach leadership with a passion that spills over and over into the lives of others.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…