The story of Sir William Osler (Watson, 1951, pp. 215-219) contains an important leadership lesson. As a leader it can be easy to become overwhelmed by how many things need to get done and how little time there seems to be to do them. Osler lived by a principle very similar to carpe diem (“Carpe Diem”, 2018) where he was concerned about completing the task in front of him with excellence, and planned for the future but did not worry about it (Watson, 1951, p. 215). This is a principle that is important for all leaders to remember. “To lead means to influence others and create visions for change” (Northouse, 2016, p. 14). In my experience as a leader, as well as in my observation of other leaders around me, I have seen how casting vision can cause us to be more concerned with the future than with the current tasks in front of us. It is important that we remember to “live for the day and its allotted task” (Watson, 1951, p. 215). Furthermore, especially as Christian leaders I think it is important for us to remember to trust God with the future. Matthew 6:34 reminds us of this: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (ESV).

This lesson is particularly relevant to my life and leadership at the moment as I am going to be taking a sabbatical in order to pursue studies full-time. It is easy for me to get caught up in planning for what is next and worrying about the details of what the future looks like instead of focusing on finishing well. One of the projects I am currently working on is a manual to leave for my successor. This is a rather tedious task, but as I work on it I must remember Osler’s advice: “the best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well” (Watson, 1951, p. 216).

Another leadership lesson is in this idea of creating “day-tight compartments” (Watson, 1951, p. 216). These compartments are created through self-discipline and focus on the tasks of the day, rather than dwelling on the past or the future. As easy as it is to become fixated on the future as a leader, it can also be easy to become fixated on past mistakes. To be authentic, ethical and servant leaders we need to be willing to be honest with followers, part of which involves admitting mistakes (Northouse, 2016). When a leader apologizes for transgressions it is good for their own well-being and is “positively associated with followers’ psychological well-being and positive emotional health” (Byrne, Barling, & Dupré, 2014, p. 100). This is pertinent to me as a leader because as I look back on my time in the role I am soon taking a sabbatical from I can look back and see mistakes that I have made. I have been honest with followers about those mistakes, and I have apologized and made efforts to make things right, but beyond that I need to not allow those mistakes to weigh me down.

Lastly, one way I think leaders can practice being present and focusing on the tasks that are in front of them is by having good time management skills. Time management is essential for all organizations, and could be considered a core competency of leaders (Farpohunda, as cited in Pidgeon, 2017, p. 339). A good way to practice time management is through setting SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely (Campbell, 2015). By setting SMART goals, leaders are able to look to and plan for the future, while prioritizing what tasks they need to accomplish to get there. As I am planning for my transition, and even as I continue in graduate studies, setting SMART goals as a way to manage my time will help me prioritize tasks, track my progress, and feel a sense of achievement.

References:

Byrne, A., Barling, J., & Dupré, K. E. (2014). Leader apologies and employee and leader well-being. Journal of Business Ethics, 121(1), 91–106. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.student.twu.ca:2420/10.1007/s10551-013-1685-3

Campbell, J. (2015). SMART criteria. Salem Press Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.student.twu.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=100259301&site=eds-live

Carpe Diem. (2018). In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpe%20diem

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice, Seventh Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Pidgeon, K. (2017). The keys for success: Leadership core competencies. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 24(6), 338–341. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.student.twu.ca:2420/10.1097/JTN.0000000000000322

Watson, L.E. (1951). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon and Schuster.