When our oldest daughter was about six years old, I found myself in a very awkward situation. I had purchased a fireplace insert at full price and two months later found the exact insert at a significantly lower price. Unfortunately, I was using the insert purchased two months ago, so I couldn’t return it! Therefore, I decided to buy the insert on sale, switch boxes, and return the new insert in the old box.

This post is the first in a series about leading oneself intentionally. It was inspired one Sunday morning while listening to a sermon at our church. And now, the rest of the story…

When I approached the salesperson, she greeted me with a warm southern accent and asked me the standard questions. Everything was moving along until the salesperson asked if all of the original parts were in the box?

Well, I responded yes. She smiled and started the transaction to return the item, when out of the blue my daughter, who I thought was not paying attention, said “Mommy that’s not true. You put the insert you bought Saturday in that box.” Well, needless to say, I was very embarrassed and told my daughter she was mistaken.

When we returned to our car, I began to chastise my daughter for embarrassing me. My daughter began to cry and she asked was it okay for me not to tell the truth. I explained to her that it wasn’t really a lie because the store was getting the same item.

Like most parents, I wasn’t thinking about the mixed message I was giving my daughter…

As I reflected on the experience, I realized I was teaching my daughter “truth is relative.” Of course, that was not my intention.

You have to know who you are to grow to your potential. But you have to grow in order to know who you are.”
– Dr. John C. Maxwell

So what is truth? According to Merriam-Webster, truth is “a statement or idea that is true or accepted as true.” Society would have us believe truth is what society accepts, therefore there is no absolute truth. Tolstoy said, “Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.”

Are you grounded in the truth?

#YourLeadershipGuide
Kim


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  • Great post Kim.

    We are always influencing people around us whether we know it or not. Intentionally or unintentionally our behaviors have an influence on those around us.

    I have the pleasure of working with a client who is a servant leader. He has a team of about 160 employees. I often hear him say to his team “let’s keep it real, let’s live in the truth”.
    I have watched his influence, his “truth”, transform the people he works along side of everyday. His daily, intentional behaviors have caused a growth environment for his team to work in. I have also seen him have a rough “leadership” day and his team lifted him up and helped him and they adjusted their course together.

    A few months ago, I observed a conversation one of his key leaders was having with a team mate and I heard him say “let’s live in the truth” and I watched the team member shift his conversation to a higher level of intentionality. In that moment I saw the roots of the collective leaders bare the fruit. The seeds of growth are in the intentional behaviors we exhibit everyday.

    I’m lucky, I get to work with a client who loves developing leaders and he embraces personal growth in a work environment. I have grown more intentional in my leadership by being in their environment. I love the ripple effect of intentional living.

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    About the author

    I'm Kim, your Educational Leadership Guide. I equip educational leaders with research-based and experientially learned educational leadership principles and best practices to promote student success.


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