ryan russell

from a distance it is way too easy to see other people’s success as the inevitable outcome of their leadership, timing and enviromental conditions. however, as you have probably read in other places, great gains certainly do not come without great risks. what i would like to add to this thought for next leaders is that small gains don’t come without small risks. often, when we are young and head strong, we just want to make a change because we don’t like the thing we have inherited or taken over and anything seems better than where the condition of it currently stands. but don’t change something for change sake. a place to start is to take some calculated, thought through, small risks in your organization and leadership. think them through. reason around the perimter of the risk with some wise people. look at the risk from all of the angels and when you are done, if it still looks like the risk will move you ahead…. have the courage to take it. be a strong enough leader to have others standing beside you when you do who are there to support you from those nay-sayers who like the comfort of the status quo BUT take the risk. if you won’t take some small risks you won’t be prepared to take bigger risks. if you aren’t willing to take some risks, then you aren’t ready to be a leader. Dr. Leroy Lawson, a veteran leader I respect and a man who has lead a church of over 4,000 members and also been the president of a university reflected back on his leadership in a conversation we had together and said, “i wish i had taken more risks”. his risks, decisions, leadership and returns have been plentliful. he started by taking small risks in leadership. he wish he had taken more.

which risks do you need to take to move your leadership enviroment forward?