Representation and Work Ethic Build a Better Leader (Part Two)

In part one of this blog, I talked about how serving can make you a great leader, and by serving you are being a great representation of who and what you work for. 

If you have not already, I recommend you read part one of this blog. Representing yourself, representing who you are serving, and work ethic can be very vital to your leadership.

In any military branch you have two name tapes on your chest, one showing who you “belong” to, and one identifying who you are. The one on the left is typically the branch you are serving, which also goes over your heart because it is service before self. On your right side it’s going to be your last name. When going into some career fields such as mine, they expect us to grow as leaders every day.

Representation of Self

When wearing that uniform every day, I wear it knowing that I have two names to uphold, one of those being myself. I have to be the best worker I can be every day, and I can’t just say I’m going to take it easy today because that could seriously hurt someone or hurt myself. 

When being a leader, we need to be diligent at all times and be sure that, when leading, we don’t dishonor ourselves. 

For example, I do not use profanity, and despise calling people names. I have done it before, and I learned from experience why you should not do it. You could seriously hurt someone. 

However, the moment I start cursing and calling people derogatory names, I’ve destroyed what I’ve built up — I have destroyed my credibility.

Representation of Who You Are Serving

Serving in a higher position/rank, you are expected to lead. Not only lead but make sure the job gets done and gets done correctly. 

A good representation of who you are serving is making sure the ones that are below you are well taken care of. You need to make sure you are credible from the ones below you and above you at all times. 

These things tie directly into who you are serving because leadership anywhere likes to see these things.

Since this is such a large topic and very broad, I want to keep it brief by saying this:

Know your job and get good at it. Know your personal strengths and weaknesses and find a way to work with it. Lastly, always communicate. Communicating will be the best thing you can do. By communicating things, it makes you less vulnerable for mistakes within your position.

Work Ethic

Remain diligent and assertive, and do the best you can at your job. 

Whether you are sitting at a desk, coaching a team, leading a congregation, or getting to lead that club at school, keep going at it with all that you are. 

Apply representation of yourself and who you are representing to your work ethic. 

A football team can be good or bad based on how hard you coached them, how good you lead, mentored them, and even respected them.  A team can really only work as hard as their coach, especially if that is the only time they decide to put in the work, it matters in the long run.

Narrowing your life to one day at a time and not stressing about the future can make your work for one day much more thorough and organized. There is nothing wrong for planning for the future, but getting too far ahead can get you disorganized and can get messy.

---