Here are 10 tips for leaders to help you as you strive to motivate yourself and your team.

1. Tirelessly repeat the basics whenever and wherever you can

• Mission – what we do
• Vision – where we are going
• Values – how we relate
• Strategic directions or commitments – what is most important

2. Maintain a clear focus

• What we do and what we don’t do
• Focus guides people’s attention
• Mission
• Publishing categories and lines

3. Manage your environment

• Your work environment comes out of your values (personal values and corporate values)
• Physical environment
• Relational environment
• Spiritual environment

4. Know yourself

• Influencing others through your transparency, vulnerability and honesty
• Know your personality type
• Know your spiritual gifts
• Know your relational style
• Know your strengths and weaknesses

5. Never underestimate the power of food in the workplace

• To feed the body, encourage the spirit and improve fellowship
• The fuzzy line between work and play

6. View yourself as a coach first

• A coach is the best all-around analogy of a leader
• Coaches define expectations, evaluate performance, encourage and give vision, and develop skills
• Concerned about all spheres of life

7. Lead like a steward entrusted with someone else’s property

• Entrusted with people, finances, your mission, skilled authors, spiritual messages, etc.
• A steward must feel comfortable with risk (Matthew 25:14-30).

8. Take time to think

• Schedule regular time away from the office to think, read and pray.
• Practice “creative staring.”
• Develop the spiritual discipline of retreat and solitude.

9. Regular appointments with your direct reports are your most important commitments to them.

• Meet individually regularly every week or month with each person who reports directly to you.
• At these meetings discuss:
  • Problems they are encountering as they do their job
  • Encouragement or correction in how they are performing
  • Agree on priorities for the future
  • Is there anything I can do to help you?

10. Other Insider’s Tips:

• Failure is usually a better teacher than success. Occasionally share your own failures with others.
• Keep your word. Create a fool-proof system to remind you of commitments you make, and then keep them.
• Listen more than you talk.
• Once in awhile ask your employees, “How are you really doing?”

For more guidance purchase our Advanced Business Manual.