Four times a year I travel throughout my territories to meet with my brokers in council meetings. Multiple times a year I’m on stage speaking at academies, retreats, and training events. Other days you’ll find me sitting across a desk from a broker, talking through challenges, solving problems, celebrating wins, or helping them navigate difficult decisions. I never take those opportunities lightly. Every single time I prepare for a meeting, I pray. Not because I want to sound good or deliver the perfect presentation, but because I ask God for one thing, and that is to help me deliver something of value.
I never want someone to leave one of my meetings thinking that was a waste of my drive, or that was a waste of my time away from my office. The worst thing they could say is that was a waste of an afternoon I’ll never get back. People are giving me something they can never get back and that is their time. That means I owe them my preparation. I study. I research. I think through every agenda. I ask questions before I arrive. I pray over what needs to be said and what doesn’t. Sometimes the most important thing I bring isn’t what’s on my PowerPoint, it’s the encouragement someone desperately needed or the difficult conversation that helps them grow.
Leadership isn’t showing up and hoping you inspire someone. Leadership is preparing so you can serve someone. John Maxwell says that leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. So what are you trying to influence?
The higher you climb in leadership, the greater your responsibility becomes. People are watching. They’re listening. They’re trusting you with their businesses, their careers, their families, and sometimes even their confidence. That’s a weight we should never take casually. Whether you’re leading a company, a church, a classroom, a team, or simply your family around the dinner table, leadership is a gift God has entrusted to you, and with every gift comes responsibility.
Too many people chase the title without understanding the assignment. They want the influence but not the preparation. They want the recognition but not the sacrifice. Real leaders serve first. They prepare when no one is watching so they can add value when everyone is.
I don’t always get it right. There are meetings I wish I had handled differently or conversations I replay in my mind, but one thing I hope people never question is whether I cared enough to prepare because people deserve our best.
If God has entrusted you with influence, even over one person, don’t take it lightly. Pray before you speak, or meditate, whatever you do, but prepare before you lead. Show up ready to serve instead of ready to impress. Someone may walk into your meeting carrying a burden you know nothing about. One sentence, one question, one moment of encouragement could change the direction of their day, or even their life.
That’s the responsibility of leadership, and it’s one worth taking seriously. Today, ask yourself this question: Am I simply showing up, or am I showing up prepared to add value?
With love for you all,
Shauna
Journey on Yourself 