Humility. Giving. Sacrifice.
Whether you consider it gospel, history, or myth, the traditional story of Christmas makes for a compelling tale filled with leadership lessons. A young peasant girl is chosen by God to fulfill an ancient prophecy and change the path of the entire world. Together with her fiancé she has to make a long journey that ends with the birth of baby Jesus in a dirty stable, surrounded by animals, and shepherds sent by angels.
As the holidays approach, we’re always reminded of what may be the worst boss of all time: Ebenezer Scrooge of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. So tightfisted that his name has come to be a synonym for a miser, Scrooge pays the lowest wages, provides the worst working conditions, requires the longest hours—even at Christmas!—refuses to give to charity, and is deeply unpleasant. Pre-redemption, Scrooge must have been a lot for even the saintly Bob Cratchit to bear.
How do you continue developing as a leader in the midst of the holiday rush?
You’ve worked hard to develop leadership skills and the results are starting to show. Now the holidays are approaching, and along with wood fires, sugar cookies, and a plethora of pumpkin and apple spiced edibles, you’re encountering rushed deadlines, overbooked calendars, and a flood of emails to your inbox.
But you can keep your leadership development momentum by challenging yourself to accomplish at least one of these four, right-now hacks: