In my previous post I spoke about the power of being effective, so I wanted to pick up on the thread in this post.  Effective was defined as doing the right things as opposed to only doing things right. 

If this is the case, which I believe it to be, then how does one become effective? The answer is relatively complex but I will start with the first steps in the process which is to understand yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, your natural talents and gifts and how to use them.  

So let me ask you a question:  

How much time have you spent in your life developing your skills as opposed to how much time you have spent developing yourself? 

And it might sound a little confusing but, given some thought, you will understand that they are not the same thing. For example, you may better your education by attending courses to become a better software developer or driver or marksman or attend gym to improve your health and appearance but when last did you do anything to improve your character or develop your integrity? 

I believe that we are so caught up in becoming better at what we do that we have forgotten, or failed to, prioritize the need to develop ourselves as people.  

This is where I believe leadership development comes in, because leadership is about personal development and encompasses a number of attributes that contribute towards being a better, more effective you.  

The first of these is the ability to communicate effectively (and efficiently).  

This illustration does well to highlight the difference between effective and efficient, because we can deliver a message clearly and concisely, with much charisma but the message itself could be completely ineffective and inappropriate.  

Just think that it’s knowing what to say as opposed to knowing how it is to be said.  

And truthfully, communication is a powerful tool that can be used and abused by the user but when we have spent time developing ourselves to become better people, we will not only know how to deliver the message but, more importantly, we will know what message to deliver.  

And as we develop into better people, we deliver stronger and more powerful messages to others … messages of love, hope and of encouragement and we can only do so when we, as individuals, are strengthened and mature and developed to be all we can be. 

In closing, let me say that we communicate every day, and mostly unknowingly, without saying anything at all. We communicate our character in everything we do; from the way we dress to the way we behave to that way we do things. Our character is constantly communicating the WHO we are to others … let that sink in for a minute. 

Be driven by love and fueled by desire 

Shalom