Us Westerners have the unfortunate tendency to link our identity to what we do for a living. “I’m a plumber,” one says, or “I’m a teacher,” another says.
When someone asks me what I do – often on an airplane – I might answer, “I’m a speaker,” or “I’m an author,” or “I’m an executive consultant.”
I’m answering truthfully; those are things I do. Often. And, I might add, I do them really well.
But I am not what I do. Neither are you. Who we are is different than what we do.
Sometimes I’m presenting my culture leadership concepts in a speech on a stage. Sometimes I’m doing my working musician thing, playing guitar on a stage. Sometimes I’m doing the laundry. Sometimes I’m exercising or stretching. Sometimes I’m cooking. Sometimes I’m writing.
I “do” a number of things every day. But I don’t think of myself as a “doer of things” as much as I think of myself as a person of faith trying to keep aligned to my personal constitution, every day.
If I didn’t have a formal declaration of my personal constitution – my servant purpose, values, behaviors, and leadership philosophy – I’d probably see myself as a “doer of things” instead of a focused being on a journey of service.
It’s easy to fall into that tactical view of our world and our lives. There is a better way – a more inspiring, engaging, productive way of viewing our reason for being on this planet.
During these uncertain, trying times for everyone, take the time to formalize your personal constitution.
In today’s three minute episode of my Culture Leadership Charge video series, I present greater detail on what to include in your personal constitution and how to live in alignment with those elements.
This is episode eighty-nine of my Culture Leadership Charge series. Each episode is a 3-4 minute video that describes proven culture leadership and servant leadership practices that boost engagement, service, and results across your work teams, departments, regions, companies – and even homes and neighborhoods.
You’ll find my Culture Leadership Charge episodes and more on my YouTube and my iTunes channels. If you like what you see or hear, please subscribe!
Have you responded to this month’s culture leadership poll? Add your perspective to two questions – it’ll take you less than a minute. Then click the “results” link to see what others from around the globe think!
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