We see it among less successful leaders in every industry and in every walk of life. Millions of leaders, and literally billions of people spend their entire lives, and their entire career ‘majoring in minor activities.’
I have been a formal and informal leader in the healthcare industry, and in business in general, for over forty years. As a hospital and healthcare CEO, as the chair of a national hospital association, as a real estate investor, as the founder of several companies, and as a leader, author, and speaker, I have witnessed countless leaders and aspiring leaders who ‘majored in minor activities.’
None of these leaders who continued to major in minor activities reached even close to their full leadership potential. Some were insecure, some were control freaks, some thought no one else could do it as well as they could, some didn’t want to give up direct engagement in favorite projects or activities in order to focus on the critical major activities versus far less critical minor activities.
Whatever the reason, none of these leaders and aspiring leaders who majored in minor activities achieved their full potential. Not even close! It was impossible. They were majoring in minor activities!
In his excellent book titled Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less, Greg McKeown addresses the ineffectiveness and wasted effort and potential of those who major in minor activities.
Carefully study the book, and at the same time, closely examine your life and your leadership.
Do you spend priceless, irreplaceable time and effort majoring in minor activities? Close examination of your own life and your own leadership may result in some surprises. And, some great opportunities for more effective, powerful, and impactful leadership!
