Learn a little more about what it means
to Lead Tough.Lead
Leading Tough vs. Leading Loud
You may be wondering what exactly I mean when I use the terms “Lead Tough” and “Lead Loud”. What you read below will help to give you more clarity on those two terms and hopefully make it easier for you to recognize the characteristics of each in yourself and those around you.
The most important things Tough Leaders do:
It takes time, energy and focus to recognize what leadership actions will truly have the greatest impact in your organization. These most important actions are not typical and are not a priority for the majority of organizations and their leaders. Some of the most important things that tough leaders do are create value, embrace candor, celebrate wins, foster growth, and cultivate community.
1
Create Value
Start with a foundational mindset that leadership is not about power but about creating value for others and the organization.
2
Embrace Candor
The art of transparent communication and candid feedback can strengthen trust and drive team performance.
3
Celebrate Wins
This isn’t just about big goals; it’s about appreciating the small victories that contribute to massive success.
4
Foster Growth
Leaders emphasize personal and professional development for their team by nurturing talents and promoting a culture of continuous learning.
5
Cultivate Community
Build a supportive and cohesive community within the team, reinforcing the belief that people need to experience a sense of belonging.
The most important qualities of tough leaders:
The reality is that at the core of good leadership is good character. The unfortunate thing is that leaders often end up sacrificing their character while trying to achieve a certain status or image. Being a great leader is about the forging of character not the pursuit of an image. Character lasts and images fade. There are specific qualities leaders should focus on developing in order to become the type of genuine person people want to follow. Below are some of these key qualities.
1
Integrity
Don’t make empty promises. Build trust from your team by letting your yes be yes and your no be no.
2
Perseverance
Develop the grit necessary not only to keep moving forward but to do what’s right even when it’s hard.
3
Humility
Lead the way in vulnerability, and an understanding that ultimate responsibility falls on you.
4
Wisdom
Create a strategy for making sound decisions independent of trends, emotions, and majorities.
5
Trust
Earn trust not by always taking charge, but by taking care of those in your charge.
Tough
Where do you lead?
Leading Tough at Work
Allowing character to create the image your organization needs.
As a leader in the workplace, your organization is looking to you to make the best decisions you can for the sake of the company. In a high pressure, results now, produce or you’re out type of culture it can often feel like you HAVE to lead loud to stay ahead of everyone else, or even to just keep your job. It seems like those who yell the loudest are the ones who always win.
I will admit that I’m not a business guru, and I’m not going to convince you that I have the answer to a great business strategy. That’s actually not what Lead Tough Not Loud is about. However, I do believe there’s value in leading tough in the workplace. I also believe that leading tough can help you win at work. And not just in the here and now, but consistently over time.
Please hear this. Your character can never be produced by an image you’re trying to pursue. However, the image you portray is always developed from your character. You have a great opportunity to create an image for your organization that is born from how you lead in your organization. The world is in need of more workplaces that make character, integrity and what’s best for the team a priority. There needs to be more places of work where people feel important, taken care of, and a part of something valuable. Choosing to lead tough can do just that.
Leading Tough at Church
Allowing character to create the image the world needs.
I believe that the local church is a major part of God’s plan for bringing hope to a lost and broken world. However, I also believe that the good that is done through local churches gets washed out when those same churches aren’t operating with high character and integrity among their leadership and staff. Churches should be the best run organizations on the planet with the best leaders who make character and integrity a priority. Sadly this isn’t the case in a vast amount of churches. The development of character has been replaced with the pursuit of an image. The role of a pastor in the local church needs to have a shift of focus to personal character development, integrity, and family health. These are at the core of strong church leadership.
I’ve seen the dark side of ministry where abuse of leadership happens and transparency is talked about but never lived out by those in charge. Personally, I’ve experienced the pain that comes with this reality. I believe at it’s root is a glorified focus on the mainstream image of the American pastor. I’m committed to helping churches and other ministry based organizations stop that trend. However, in order for that to happen leaders of these organizations need to make the tough decisions and do the tough things personally and organizationally that make character and integrity a priority. These tough decisions and tough things are hardly glamorous and often go unnoticed by the majority of people, but they are the things that will drive church and organizational leadership toward health, sustained growth, and long term influence.
Do you lead tough or lead loud?
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