We're tempted to grab as much credit as we possible can because we’ve all been on the end of not getting credit we deserved. So here’s why this question is so important…

So you can be the opposite of what you’ve experienced in the past.

Reply all emails are the perfect opportunity to give credit to other people when we're tempted to make ourselves look better. 

We have an infatuation with being self-made, but in all reality, every "self-made" person had help along the way. They read a book. They had a friend. They listened to a podcast. They watched a Ted Talk. Would it hurt to give them some credit?

Not getting credit is the best thing for our pride. Giving credit is good for our relationships.

How much credit do you think you deserve for your department’s success? It's often over-inflated. It's always better to err on the side of giving more credit to others than taking more credit than you actually deserve.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

Is it money?

Is it status?

Is it position?

Is it proving it to somebody who didn’t think you’d ever amount to anything?

Beware of having a why that doesn’t line up with who you actually want to be.

Proving somebody wrong might actually help you win, but once you’ve proved them wrong, then what? 

There's a lot of people still trying to prove something to their parents or people they were in middle school with. They’ve been trying to keep up with Joneses they went to school with and the only problem is… the Joneses don’t live in their neighborhood anymore. 

Your why is for you, not them.

Your why needs to be strong enough to get you out of bed in the morning whether your leader has inspired you or not. 

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

The key to finding work-life balance is riding the waves of the ups and downs and realizing whatever season you are in.

You have control of the external things that you prioritize and can align them in an order that works for you.

When asked to do something I don't want to do, I tell myself, " it's not about the task. It's about how I execute the task and the standard I set for myself and that everything I do is for a bigger vision and much bigger purpose.

It's essential to take pride in the little things.

Happiness won't arrive at a milestone or destination. True happiness will arrive when you stop and enjoy what's right in front of you. Your life will feel full and rewarding.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

"You must be able to anticipate your leader's needs."   

"Knowing someone and how they approach things helps you be able to anticipate their needs."

"You don't blindly follow. You've got to understand who your following and why you're following them."

"It's important to understand the context or the why behind something that is asked of you. So you may determine what your leader truly needs."

"Followers must maintain their own point of view."   

"Active followers have their own emotions, thoughts, and feelings and know when to appropriately communicate them."

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

"You reap what you sow. The type of follower you sow is the type of follower you'll grow." 

"If Jesus, who is perfect, was submitted to God's authority and was not above submission, we must take a look at ourselves and not think we are above submission to our leaders." 

"If you're out of balance right now, you need three consecutive days to get your life back on track." 

"Don't give the best part of your day to people. Give the best part of your day to yourself. The greatest investment you can ever make is an investment in yourself."

"Your no is greater than your yes."  

"Leadership starts with becoming likable. People do not want to follow someone they do not like."  

 "Rather than being forceful in rooms, be adaptable." 

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

"Talk about nonwork-related things.- Connie James  "I'm a big believer that you have to focus on things you can control."

"A lot of people become focused on what is that next step. My counsel to them is to have a little patience but be absolutely excellent at what you do."-                            

"Even in the darkest of moments, there is often opportunities to turn those into a positive."

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

"When speaking with your boss or manager, you have to exude confidence."

"When you exude the confidence that you are taking control of your job and everything you handle is taken care of, there is less micromanagement and lack of confidence from management."

"Carrying your organization or company's culture well is the most crucial thing a follower can do."

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

" Big leaders want to be around fun people who lift the room."   

"People admire perfection, but they can't relate to it."

Take-Aways:

Knowing what questions to ask helps you understand your leader.   

Consistency and faithfulness are characteristics in followers that stand out to leaders.   

To be successful, it is essential to kill pride, be vulnerable, listen more, and slow down.

 Be a follower who comes with solutions, not problems.  

You can be doing things for God, and God does not want you to be doing them. 

We must discern the difference between a good opportunity for the kingdom and a God-ordained opportunity.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

"Great leaders are good thinkers, which pushes them towards asking great questions."  

"When you become a great leader, you ask more questions than you give answers. Your posture is more of curiosity."  

"Some leaders value being intimidating. At some point, they had an intimidating  leader they are trying to outdo, model, or emulate." 

 "We always lead like we've been led. Unless someone breaks the cycle."  

"99% of leaders who are intimidating would like you to treat them like you would anyone else who is a peer."

"Rather if it was an intern or rather it was someone who had been on the team for a long time. If they had appropriately approached me with feedback that was helpful, I was incredibly open to it."  

"You may not have any of the authority, no title, or position that allows you to sit at the table but, you have to have a mindset of an owner at every level."  

"If your feedback is more about helping you, people see through it."  

"Leaders want their teams to see what they see."  

"Focus on being faithful and a good steward of your current assignment."  

"Figure out how to make a bad leader a partner in your journey and how to make them better."

"Don't look at your leader as someone who is against you."  

"Figure out how to add value to a bad  leader."

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

Highlights from this episode:

"I found that communication is the key to wearing many hats well."  

"You have to be okay asking questions and knowing that you're not going to have the answer to everything."  

"Be willing to listen and learn from your peers and those who have more experience than you."  

"When someone asks you to do something you might not want to do, or you don't think it's your responsibility. Think about the fact that they trust you enough to put that  thing in your hands." 

"It's the relationships you foster offline that are invaluable."

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

"If you come into work knowing I am going to produce and be the best version of myself, that's a huge hurdle to overcome."

"You have to have mentors, friends, colleagues, confidants, and partners who are going to be in your corner."

"You don't overcome fear by running. You overcome fear by facing it."

"If you're afraid of saying something and then getting fired, you probably shouldn't work there anyway cause it's not a psychologically safe place to work."

“If followers step into hard places and have hard conversations they become leaders.”

"You need to say when is it appropriate to speak my truth and how do I not let the fear of my leader impact my integrity."

"Process where are my fears, What can I control, and what can I not control?"

"Rather, you are a follower or leader. I hope that we can use our power and privilege to lift and support those that are usually in the nondominant culture."

“If you start leaning into the ways you are naturally wired, it does two things for you. Number one it gives you permission to be who you are. Knowing that your perspective is unique and what you bring to the world is unique. The second thing is it gives you permission to not be who you are not.”

"Part of addressing your fear is naming and claiming this is who I am. This is what I bring to the world and do I believe in myself?"

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.

As a follower, you have to appreciate the challenge your leader is carrying. Give them grace. 

Leaders have a way of making it look easier than it really is, but it’s not easy at all. Often times, leaders are building the plane while flying. 

Followers can’t be obsessed with what’s next and forget to celebrate what’s current. 

You’re in control of your emotions and how you show up to work. You get a choice as to what Monday through Friday looks like. 

For years, Lacey has sent a Friday email every week to almost every manager she’s ever had. In that email, she laid out what she had done that week, 5 questions that will help her have an even better week the following week. Some of those questions are:

Can you provide clarity on various projects?

If this is where I’ve failed, can you provide feedback on how I can get better?

You can’t bank on your leader thinking about you every Monday morning, but if you’re in their inbox every Friday, you’ve positioned yourself to be a better follower.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE.