I know I haven’t posted in a while…twitter is the killer of the blog apparently. Alas I come back to the blogosphere to make a grand announcement…actually not that grand…(although I will be making a pretty big announcement in 2 weeks).
I mess up…a lot. In life, in ministry, in relationships…I mess up.
However, a leadership principle that I have adopted and I pass onto all of you leaders is that when you mess up…correct it…quickly.
I welcome critics and I get them often via email, phone, messenger or snide comments made just in earshot. When I hear criticism I place it in one of three camps.
1) legit concerns that need my attention.
2) concerns that are suspect but I understand the reasons for them.
3) garbage from people who don’t deserve my time or energy.
If it is in the first camp, I immediately go into P&P mode. That is Prayer and Planning. I pray for wisdom and then I assume God will grant me that wisdom and I begin to tweek, adjust or bulldoze whatever is needed.
If it is in the second camp, I make a note and seek council from others to see if it is something that is due my attention and energy.
If it is the third I try to take that criticism captive and throw it away. I say try because I won’t pretend that I haven’t let stupid people with poor motives wreck a good day, week or even month. However, we have to learn to compartmentalize these criticisms and deal with them accordingly.
There is nothing wrong with messing up. However, it is leadership negligence to ignore or fail to learn from it. .
Sean Rheaume 