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Do you know the hardest part of writing a blog? The consistency of having to write another post. It comes up three times each week, like clockwork.

Ministry is the same. Sunday is always right around the bend (or Wednesday for many youth ministers).

Farming was the same. No matter how many years in a row you planted a seed, the next year it was time to plant it again.

I imagine CPAs have the same feeling. Regardless of how hard you work from January to April 15 one year, the next year you will have to work just as hard.

But in the midst of the mundane, there is beauty. In the midst of the repetition, there is opportunity.

Something a mentor pointed out to me not long ago is what he called the “redundancy of leadership.”

What does that mean? Simple: a major part of leadership is repetition.

Take, for instance, the three questions (you can read about them here). The three questions work great when you use them one time, but they find their greatest impact when they are asked and answered on a regular basis. The more frequently you answer them, the more integral they become to your leadership style and effectiveness.

The problem, however, is when redundancy carries a negative connotation. Who likes getting their teeth cleaned every six months? Or, who enjoys shooting hundreds of free throws? Or, what parent anticipates the excitement of yet another dirty diaper?

The redundancy of leadership means having the same conversation over and over. Sometimes the audience changes, but sometimes the message and audience remain the same.

The redundancy of leadership means yet again casting vision for your organization, even though you did it last week, or last month, or last year, or all of the above.

This week, embrace the redundancy. Find the beauty in the mundane. Excavate the excitement of the repetitive. And, above most other things, hang in there.

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12 Comments

Where We Are With 3 Questions | 3 Question Leadership · May 15, 2018 at 8:38 AM

[…] Today, I thought I would share where I am with these three questions. I have spent the last two years teaching these questions to my student leadership team, taking time after each mid-week program to evaluate how they did at answering the 3 questions. One of the key things I learned this year was the redundancy of asking the 3 questions. […]

The Power of the 3 Questions | 3 Question Leadership · September 4, 2018 at 8:30 AM

[…] The 3 Questions are simple. Some people take to them naturally. Others, it takes a little more effort, but it can happen. The key is in the repetition, the redundancy. […]

The Repetition Key | 3 Question Leadership · February 13, 2020 at 8:19 AM

[…] Leadership is redundant. As we teach students the ins and outs of leadership, we have to embrace the redundancy. […]

Redundancy, Again | 3 Question Leadership · May 5, 2020 at 8:33 AM

[…] There are a few topics here at 3QL that keep rising to the surface. The Redundancy of Leadership is one of those. […]

What's Your Focus? | Three Question Leadership · October 22, 2020 at 8:21 AM

[…] one way to do that? Implement the three questions and continually ask how they’re answering them. Over time, they will start to see opportunities and meet them […]

Two Repeating Leadership Threads | Three Question Leadership · November 17, 2020 at 8:19 AM

[…] The Redundancy of Leadership – I’ve come to realize leading is less casting the vision and moving forward and more casting the vision followed by casting the vision and casting more vision. This can be disheartening, but there’s something about embracing the redundancy of it all. You can read more about redundancy here or here. […]

Unlock The Power of Shared Language | Three Question Leadership · January 19, 2021 at 8:45 AM

[…] The Redundancy of Leadership […]

Take Responsibility and Grow | Three Question Leadership · January 28, 2021 at 8:41 AM

[…] influence. Read about and implement the three questions. Remind people why you do what you do, and then remind them again. Look for inspiration in the most unlikely […]

Say It Again and Again | Three Question Leadership · April 29, 2021 at 8:21 AM

[…] the redundancy of leadership may be one of my favorite and most central principles. I’ve written about it several times, […]

Here’s to Mile Markers | Three Question Leadership · August 19, 2021 at 8:24 AM

[…] The Redundancy of Leadership […]

Is This the Most Exhausting Part of Leadership? | Three Question Leadership · October 7, 2021 at 8:28 AM

[…] of Leadership. I’ve written about it before (fitting, right?). You can read about it here, here, here, and even […]

You Guessed It, Redundancy | Three Question Leadership · November 16, 2021 at 8:36 AM

[…] requires redundancy. I’ve said this over and over, and I’ll keep saying it. Here are three reasons […]

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