HOW EFFECTIVE LEADERS PLAN
By Rick Warren
The old adage "If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail" is trite but it's still true. For every hour you spend in planning, you're likely to save five times that in execution.
One of the great leader/planners in ancient times was a guy named Nehemiah. You can read his fascinating biography in a book with his name ("Nehemiah" of course!) in the Bible. Space doesn't permit me to tell you his whole story but to summarize: Nehemiah took a group of discouraged, defeated people and managed to pull off an impossible building project in just 52 days. In the second chapter of his book, he illustrates...
The difference between leaders and followers begins with this: Leaders take the time to think about the future before it arrives. Followers just let the future happen to them.
"A wise person thinks ahead; a fool doesn't and even brags about it." Pr. 13:16
When opportunity knocks, will your business be ready to open the door? We miss so many great opportunities by not being prepared. Whenever I hear people say "Some people have all the luck." I usually reply, "Yes, and the more I plan, the luckier I get!"
Most people tend to make two major mistakes in goal-setting: (1) They set their goals too low, and (2) They attempt to achieve them too quickly. Make your goals large and long-term. Then break them down into short-term components.
Without a deadline you don't have a goal - it's just wishful thinking. Deadlines turn dreams into goals. This is the scheduling and calendaring phase of planning.
Leaders anticipate problems before they happen and seek solutions before they occur.
Leaders focus on solving tomorrow's problems. Managers focus on today's problems. Of course, both are necessary in a healthy organization.
Every goal has a pricetag attached to it. This is the budgeting part of planning.
Ask two questions: (1) What will it cost? (2) Is it worth it?
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