So far, I have posted twice about Routines vs Ruts. Click here to read part 1 and part 2.
Today, let’s get back to basics: expanding your leadership influence.
Would you care to hear a secret? The people you lead can probably identify your ruts long before you can.
Some ruts are secrets, but some are not.
Routines can serve to give us energy, but ruts drain us. When we are drained, people around us notice. When we lose focus, people around us notice.
Sure, you can fool some people, but the ones who know you can spot the struggle.
So, let me ask you: what would the people around you identify as a rut you’re currently fighting through? Seriously think about it.
Now, ask yourself: is this truly a rut in my leadership?
A while back I wrote about the redundancy of leadership. The more I think about it, the more I realize that redundancy does not bother me the way it bothers other people. I do not mind the mundane nature of some tasks. In fact, I find energy in the redundancy. But that’s a post for another day.
The danger of embracing redundancy is simple: redundancy can dig a rut, too.
In my own leadership, there are areas where the redundancy of leadership has actually become a rut. Maybe the same is true for you?
So, what your next step? Identify the rut and choose a course of action–stick it through and wait for the terrain to change, or steer hard to one side and see what breaks loose.
Either one may not work the way you expect, but at least now you know you’re in a rut.
Lead well today.