Monday Morning Leadership Tip #181: How sharp is your ax?

How is your "workplace ax"? Does it need sharpening?

When a woodcutter spends a day cutting trees and never stops to sharpen his ax, what happens? His ax becomes dull, and the longer the day goes on, the harder he has to work, and the less wood gets cut.

sharpen Do you have days like that? Weeks or months like that, when you know you are not working at your best, but you don't have time to stop to sharpen your ax?

What sharpens your ax? That can look different for different people, but consider some of these ways to keep it sharp:

Focus on what you can control. You only have so much time in a day, so don't waste a minute of it engaging in activities that reap no benefits. Above all, remember that all you can really control are your own decisions and responses, not those of others.
Recognize unhealthy patterns. Then work to change them. When you know you respond to something continually in a way that is not healthy for you, be intentional about trying a different response. When we do or learn something new, the brain creates a new pathway. The brain can be trained to use this new pathway when it is used often.
Make one physical change. Even if you care for your physical body well, there is at least one area where you can make an improvement. We live in a culture of excess in many areas, and it takes its toll on our bodies. With just one little change, you will feel better because of the accomplishment itself, and when you feel better, you perform better.
Give yourself space to ponder. This probably feels as odd as wearing someone else's shoes, but try it. This does not have to be a long period of time; it can be 10 minutes in the middle of your day. Or any part of your day that works best. But just stop, sit quietly and ponder - let the agenda come on its own. In our fast-paced culture, we don't take time to stop...hardly ever. The brain and the heart needs to ponder, if even briefly, things that are going on, so you can absorb, process, and make decisions that bring excellence to your life.
Add to the list - what sharpens your ax? What areas do you need to sharpen today?
Check out the 1 hour module The Healthy Leader and learn more ways to keep your ax sharp, and bring the excellence in your leadership that you desire!