Am I Too Busy to Lead?

by Steve Parker

Steve Parker is Director of Sandow Generation, a lignite plant in south central Texas, a part of Luminant Fossil Generation.  Sandow has an operating capacity of 1,137 MW, enough to power about 570,000 homes in normal conditions.  Steve has been on a journey of leadership development and shares the benefits of finding times for intentional leadership with his people at the plant in this recent letter to Ann.

During a coaching session with Ann McGee-Cooper, I mentioned that I was pondering the question “Am I too busy to lead?”  This question struck me as I realized the message I am unintentionally sending in my day-to-day rush to keep up with unit status, reading and responding to e-mails, preparing for meetings, and attending meetings.  Many people must quietly think “Steve is too busy to hear or consider what I have to say.”  What a loss of opportunity when words and thoughts are never shared.

No question, I have a lot on my plate; but, when I really think about it, I realize I am too focused on short term reactionary management of the facility and not taking care of what is most important:what pays big dividends for everyone “being the servant-leader I want to be.”

I must do my day-to-day management job but most importantly I must focus the majority of my time on leading.   Leading is a whole lot more enjoyable and rewarding than managing and I actually get more done through others when I choose to lead rather than do.

Click here to read the rest of Steve’s story on our site.