The H3 Leader Podcast

There is more to the team celebration than meets the eye.

Though it can be awkward, and not everyone celebrates in the same way or with the same level of enthusiasm...

Taking the time to celebrate wins, transitions, great ideas, consistent track records, and more can go a long way toward building health into the culture.

Celebrating in community - when done in an authentic, considerate way - builds depth and cohesiveness into the community.

Figuring out how to do that well in your context may be difficult, but it's worth the effort.

You know. #dohardthings and all that...

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P.S. Building a business is hard, and doing so as a Christian leader adds a whole 'nother layer of complexity. But, you don’t have to run this race alone. If you would like to learn more about The H3 Leader and our services, please reach out to me directly.

There is incredible power in simplicity...

It is a super-simple illustration, but one we must understand if we are to be at all efficient on our quest to the next big thing.

If one is simply meandering - with no purpose other than be-ing - no worries. Enjoy the walk.

But if efficiency is needed (as it absolutely is in most cases), three key understandings are imperative:

1. Where are we now? (Our "Here")

2. Where are we going? (Our "There")

3. What are the steps we need to take to go "from Here to There"?

Yes, it sounds so simple.

But too often we dive deep into a journey without clearly defining one of these three components.

Sometimes two. And in worst-case scenarios, we neglect all three...We just "GO!"

And we justify our lack of direction and precision with an abundance of action.

The next time you start a new project - a journey of any kind - take the time to define these three key understandings before you take a single step forward.

I can almost guarantee you will get to "There" in a much more timely fashion, with less energy expended, and less money spent.

Added bonus: Your team will appreciate you for it as well...

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P.S. Building a business is hard, and doing so as a Christian leader adds a whole 'nother layer of complexity. But remember, you don’t have to run this race alone. If you would like to learn more about The H3 Leader and our services, please reach out to me directly.

How often should a leader "check under the hood" (self-reflect, re-orient, tune up)?
It's a great question - and one of my favorite segments from this conversation with my good friend Andy Thornton (CEO - Greater Peoria YMCA).
Are you a daily driver?
Then you're probably good with a daily dashboard scan and a quarterly oil change. While changing the oil, take a look around. If you see anything suspicious (or if lights are staring at you from the dashboard), take yourself to an occasional expert.
Are you a high-performance machine?
Now that's a different story. Your engine (and if we're honest, every part of your operational being) needs a thorough inspection and rebuild on a consistent basis. The higher the performance, the more frequent and deeper the dive needed.
"High performance" in any field is incredibly demanding. To get peak performance, all systems involved need incessant tuning, perfected integration, and constant development.
Everything needs Attention and Intention.
What's true in cars and bikes is also true in life.
That's why the high performance leaders in my sphere open the hood not only 2x/month with our Convene team and me, but they also work with high performance coaches and consultants (mechanics) in other arenas of their lives - industry specific, health & nutrition, operational performance, marriage, and more!
If you are a daily driver, be sure to check under the hood once in awhile, and be on the look out for the occasional check engine light.
But if you're a high-performance leader on a quest to bring your full potential to the race every single day?
I do hope you have a stable of mechanics at the ready. Your pace and expectations demand more than you, as the driver, will be able to sustain.
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P.S. I help high-performing Christian business owners, executive leaders, and their leadership teams find clarity, confidence, and consistent growth through the power of peer groups, executive coaching, and workshops. If you would like to learn more about The H3 Leader and our services, please reach out to me directly. 👋🤠

It's really a time allocation issue as much as anything else...

Who we are and how we show up to lead is more dynamic than we may care to admit.

My first exposure to this concept came from Marcus Buckingham's "Now, Discover Your Strengths" over 20 years ago. I was fascinated by his "Trombone Player Wanted" videos that came alongside the book.

Just in case anyone wants to see the entire conversation in context. Stay tuned for daily shorts pulled from this block of wisdom, baby!

I believe there is "a force of nature" - similar to gravity - that is ever-present in our desire to move forward in this life.

Be it in business, in life, or in faith, there is a force that feels like it's pulling us down. Holding us back. Keeping us from soaring with the eagles...

Business is hard. Life is hard. Faith is hard.

And integrating the three well is a whole 'nother level of hard.

Even so, with lots of practice, trial & error, and help along the way, we eventually learn to crawl - and walk - and run - before we (hopefully) take on our wings and begin to soar.

But even then, the force is there.

A force that deserves great respect. Because though valuable and necessary in the grand scheme of things, it can bite you.

And when it bites, it bites hard.

Just remember, you don't have to run this race alone.

Blessings to you, my friends!

Transition periods are little more than change being dragged out over time.

They are disruptive. They are disorienting. And they are inevitable.

As leaders, we wish we could get on the other side of transitions quickly. Our eyes are on the prize - the future state we envisioned when we started.

But quick transitions are often impossible within an organization (or in life, for that matter). There are too many moving parts, dependencies, engrained habits, mindsets, rhythms, biases, and more at play.

In short: People and Process are a complex mix.

Just knowing the fact that transition periods are hard, they take time, and they involve a lot of moving parts can help us to be more confident and encouraging in our efforts to lead others through them.