Is That Leadership Lingo?

Jim Collins calls them BHAGs: Big Hairy Audacious Goals and in the book The 4 Disciplines of Execution, Chris McChesney and fellow authors Jim Huling, Sean Covey, and Stephen Covey of the Franklin Covey Institute call them WIGs: Wildly Important Goals.  I prefer the presentation in The 4 Disciplines of Execution.  It is thorough and follows a logical, practical, and systematic approach to success of the leader manager or executive. 

You can watch a great 5-minute video of The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney at the following link.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=aEJDliThj7g

“Seventy percent of strategic failures are due to poor execution of leadership. It’s rarely for lack of smarts or vision.” 

-—Ram Charan, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

The 4 Disciplines of Execution attempts to tackle this “strategy/execution gap.” The gap occurs for any goal that needs behavioral change. The biggest reason people fail to execute on goals is “the whirlwind.” The whirlwind is the day job; it’s the things that must get done to run the business.

I encourage you to read the book.  But if you must go for the summary for now and read the book later, ReadinGraphics offers a beautifully written and illustrative summary which can be found at the link below.  https://readingraphics.com/book-summary-the-4-disciplines-of-execution/

“Execution typically fails due to a lack of clarity, commitment and accountability. But above all, it fails because we get so caught up in the whirlwind of urgent daily work that we’re distracted from our most vital goals.”

The 4 Disciplines of Execution are not like the 21 Laws of Leadership which can each one stand alone and be learned and applied individually for an improvement in one’s leadership.  No, not individual principles, these 4 Disciplines work synergistically to provide a system that has proved effective in leadership and execution.  Here only the 4 Disciplines will be mentioned.  But they cannot be deeply appreciated without the work the authors put into writing this short book.

1. THE DISCIPLINE OF FOCUS: Focus on your Wildly Important Goals (WIGs)

2. THE DISCIPLINE OF LEVERAGE: Work on the Lead Measures

3. THE DISCIPLINE OF ENGAGEMENT: Keep a Compelling Scoreboard

4. THE DISCIPLINE OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Create a Rhythm of Accountability

Key words and phrases to guide your thoughts, plans, and actions in the SWD GC COG7, Southwest District General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) are some of those you have heard for years and some which have just been added in the last several months.  You will recognize them quickly and as you work in your area of leadership use them to guide your thoughts, plans, and actions.  Think outside the box as well as using traditional proven methods.  But in every case test your thoughts, plans and actions to see if they move the body of members and ministries towards the following.

• The Vision of a Vibrant 21st Century Church

• Transforming that Vision into reality

• Focus on Jesus and Follow His Plan

• We are Better Together

• 400 Congregations by 2026 in the SWD, providing an opportunity for fellowship for many that will be within a half hours drive of their home, will offer a style and practice of ministry and fellowship that fits with what they believe God has called them to do, whether a House Church, Mega Church, Family Church, or something in between