John Stanko

"It took Solomon thirteen years, however,
to complete the construction of his palace" - 1 Kings 7:1.

Solomon was a builder and spent 20 years constructing the Temple and his personal residence. What he wanted to build could not be finished quickly, so he had to learn how to plan and work for the long term. Leaders are under tremendous pressure sometimes to produce short-term results, causing them to avoid or lose sight of the long-term benefits they can bring to their organizations. Thus they should be asking where the company wants to be in five, ten, fifteen or even twenty years - and what needs to happen today to hasten and contribute to those long-term goals.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Your Step today is to give some thought to the long-term goals you would like to be associated with and remembered for in your organization. You don't have to do this by yourself, but you can convene various groups to deliberate the long-term company (or family) vision. Then facilitate a process to identify the goals that will make the vision a reality. Be prepared to stay the course as short-term urgencies try to steal your momentum and zeal.