How Santa is Jolly when he has Important Work to Do
The thing I like about Santa is he’s jolly. But how can you be happy when you have so much to do?
He has lots of help.
I don’t know how many elves work at the North Pole, but I think it’s a lot. The higher you want to reach, the more hands you need on your team.
You may reach high on your own, but superstars have lots of help. Who is helping you? A coach? Mentor? People who compensate for your weaknesses and extend your strengths?
Ego limits your potential.
How might you let others help you? I know you think about helping others. And rightly so. But profound success has many contributors.
The help Santa receives enables him to serve others.
Giving is central to his career.
Evaluate your leadership by how much you give, not just what you receive.
At the end of the day, when you’re walking to your car, evaluate your day by asking, “How did I pour from my cup into others?”
Santa asks, “What do you want?” Successful leaders know what their teammates want. Some want challenge. Others want opportunity. Perhaps a few want to be left alone. The list goes on. Some want:
- Respect in the form of affirmation, recognition, or reward.
- Development in the form of training.
- Advancement and more responsibility. Or some are happy right where they are.
Inspirational leaders know what others want.
A clear deadline dominates his work.
Santa’s deadline requires planning and discipline. Frankly, Santa must have weekly milestones. I don’t think a deadline that’s a year from now means much. But a deadline that’s due this Sunday (Christmas Eve) creates focus.
The end of the week is a natural deadline. What happens in your thinking if you actually stop working on Friday?
What leadership lessons do you learn from Santa?
Santa is always looking for hidden potential in his organization–selecting Rudolph to lead the sleigh.
Dan–Happy Holidays!!!
Keep up your good work. You’ve helped many of us to GROW as leaders in 2017.
Love it, Paul! He focused on strengths!
Thanks for the good word.
Merry Christmas, Dan!
Thank you for another year of insight and professional development. I love your leadership articles and the easy way you discuss difficult topics. The comments also add to the conversation and I know my leadership strengths have developed because of this community. Thank you!
Thank you, Lisa. It’s been another year of learning. Like you, the comments add so much. Merry Christmas.
Dan,
The mind seems to never shutdown on Friday or anyother day as well, you always have something in mind as a Leader, what did I miss, did that get done, was that ordered, did I return a call, etc? Santa teaches us all to delegate to the Team and build the team to handle he load!
Merry Christmas Dan & family, may you and yours have a prosporous and joyous New Year! Cheers
Thanks Tim. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.
Perhaps if we learned to delegate we might be able to shut down. But, as I read your comment, I realized why I’m always on. What did I miss? Could it be better? Is everything getting done.
Just the path we chose! 🙂
Thank you for the great leadership thoughts and ideas, Dan. I’ve gathered many insights all these years following your blog and some really resonate with me deeply at the personal level.
Being able to give and inspire like Santa frees up mind space to focus on the next steps for the organisation and anticipate any unforeseen circumstances, which should be done at the end of each week in preparation of the next. It is a virtuous cycle which must leaders should aspire towards.
Enjoy the festive period with your loved ones and wishing you a very fruitful year ahead in 2018!
Thanks Albert, Your insight about freeing the mind speaks to me. I think a controlling attitude is bondage for the mind and soul.
Thanks for the good word and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
He focused on building as a team….what would make US stronger, more efficient. He set goals which created focus! When you stop working on Friday, you pause. When you return on Monday, you don’t pick up where you left off. You go backwards and recap, then you proceed forward!
Thank you!
He’s got some seriously good teamwork happening. No dysfunction that I can see.
When they have to work late, you know Mrs. Claus is feeding them something better than a pizza delivery.