“ODWOYCD”…. No, this is not Swahili nor a typo. This string of alphabets represents the best advice I’ve ever received when it comes to playing to my strengths as a leader. It stands for “Only Do What Only You Can Do.”
One of my favorite leaders, Andy Stanley, shared this concept in a presentation at the Catalyst West 2010 Conference. In this 3 minute and 15 second video clip you’ll hear about the 2 best kept secrets of leadership that could take you to a whole new level in your career and you’re effectiveness: “The 2 Best Kept Secrets Of Leadership”
Here are the 3 points he drives home in this brief clip:
- It is natural and necessary for leaders to try to prove themselves by doing everything. But what may seem natural and necessary, will ultimately limit your effectiveness as a leader.
- The 2 best kept secrets of leadership:
- The less you do the more you accomplish
- The less you do the more you enable others to accomplish
- At some point along the way, you must begin leaning into…
- Playing to your strengths, and
- Delegating your weaknesses
The target is to only do what only you can do. Most people never get to this point. We all need to stop occasionally and ask ourselves, “What are the things I need to stop doing?”
Natural to want to do it all yourself? Yes. Necessary? No! Go and do less. You’ll accomplish more!
Note: For those of you who would like to go deeper with Andy on this subject you can watch this 48 minute clip: “When Less Is More”. Also, I highly recommend his monthly podcast: “The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast”
Bill Edmonds is an “Outside-Insider” (an Executive Coach and Consultant), who works with leaders to help them reach their full potential by specializing in areas of organizational and personal development. He spent 24 years with Merrill Lynch until his retirement in 2014, where he led a $100+ million per year revenue wealth management business unit as a Director with the firm.
Have a comment? Share you thoughts about this post on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
(click a social media share button below to share you comments)
