After sharing my failures, here’s the other side: what I look like when I’m leading well. Great leadership isn’t about grand gestures — it’s about small, repeated practices that compound over time. When I do these 30 things consistently, I’m not just a better leader — I’m a better husband, father, and human being. Here’s what leadership looks like on my best days.
- I go to bed early enough not to be in a rush.
- I sleep well.
- I start the day in the Bible.
- I connect with Jesus and have a specific application from my Bible reading that impacts my day.
- I read my daily declaration, which is comprised of truths from God’s word.
- I read my daily promises that I created to capture the kind of man I want to be.
- I pray for my friends, family, and the world.
- I remember that work is a gift, not a curse.
- I see people. I do not see problems, but the people behind the problem.
- I love people — meaning I want what is best for them, defined by God’s word.
- I voice my love for Sarah, the kids, and my family. I tell my friends I love them.
- I shut up and listen.
- I ask questions.
- I pray before I act.
- I practice moments of silence and stillness so that my soul catches up to the frenzied pace of life.
- I walk our production floor to see people and opportunities.
- I voice my appreciation to people who help me. I use specifics and not generalizations.
- I remember those who came before me. I give thanks to God for their work and appreciate their toil.
- I encourage others.
- I give others space to shine and succeed.
- I help others when they are in the trenches.
- I wrap the day up with a devotional that gives me perspective.
- I write things I am grateful for in a journal, often before leaving the office, to reset my mind before continuing home.
- I ask questions when I get home.
- I am playful.
- I hug my wife and daughter.
- I force my boys to hug me like my mom forced me!
- I tell my kids I love them.
- I pray with Sarah.
- I always tell Sarah how grateful I am for her and how much I love her.