John Stanko

"The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice" - Proverbs 12:15.

Leaders are usually skilled at foresight and strategic planning, but that doesn't make them infallible. They should be aware of the fact that they regularly need advice as they face new and difficult challenges. However, as today's verse warns us, a fool assumes he or she has all the answers because they already smarter than anyone else in the department or even organization just because they're the leader. Yet wisdom dictates even the smartest need to seek the expertise and perspective of others. The advice may be about specific decisions or it can pertain to the leader's overall capacity and ability to lead—the latter advice usually coming in the form of coaching.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Today, identify some area(s) in which you need coaching. It may be in a particular area like finance or team building, or it may be around your areas of personal ineffectiveness like time management or communication. Once you have identified the area(s), then ask around and secure a coach in those particular discipline. That may come in the form of reading expert material, going back to school, or securing the services of a coach.