How do you manage yourself?

Do you consider yourself a manager? An executive? We often times find ourselves managing businesses, ministries, and, mostly, other people. But what about managing yourself?

The name Peter Drucker is synonymous with management. He was an expert who wrote the classic book, The Effective Executive. Drucker says,

[blockquote author=”Peter Drucker” link=”” target=”_blank”]…executives who do not manage themselves for effectiveness cannot possibly expect to manage their associates and subordinates.[/blockquote]

He writes that effectiveness is the key. Intelligence, knowledge, and imagination, are important. But it is effectiveness that converts them into results.

The good news? Effectiveness can be learned. Drucker lays out five practices, habits of the mind, that have to be acquired for a leader to be an effective executive. Here is a synopsis of his list.

1. Effective executives know where their time goes. Everyone demands time from the executive, so it is essential that the leader bring his time under control.

2. Effective executives focus on outward contributions…gearing their efforts toward results rather than to just work.

3. Effective executives build on strengths…their strengths, the strengths of their superiors, colleagues, and even on the situation.

4. Effective executives concentrate on the few major areas where superior performance will produce outstanding results.

5. Effective executives make effective decisions. Not a lot of quick decisions, but the few, fundamental ones.

(The Effective Executive, Peter F. Drucker, Harper & Row, Publishers, 1966)

Of course, there is much more, but even this brief summary can propel you to a more effective leadership style, and ultimately to a more effective ministry.

[blockquote author=”II Timothy 2:15 MSG” link=”” target=”_blank”]Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.[/blockquote]