In 1956, Will Jones published a column in the Minneapolis Morning Tribune that first contained the phrase, “Let’s get down to where the rubber meets the road.” In business the colloquial is most often a substitute for how much is it going to cost? But more broadly it’s the term we use when putting theory into practice, or when considering important facts or realities. In leadership and in life, deliverables are where the rubber meets the road.
No matter your industry, deliverables at work are the quantifiable goods or services that must be provided. They can be tangible, like a product for sale, or intangible, like software or an installation. For a leader, the quality and timeliness of deliverables can make or break overall performance. To confirm your role as a leader in your organization, on a regular basis you will have to bring deliverables on time, on budget, and of high quality, to meet the demands of your clients and company executives. Being a good guy ultimately will not protect you at work if you cannot get the job done. Your personality, character, work ethic and other positive traits won’t bring you accolades if you don’t perform where the rubber meets the road.
The leader’s attitude is important with respect to deliverables. For the faith-centered leader, the book of James has excellent teaching for life and work when it comes to deliverables. Scripture focuses on the attitude of the leader through stressful times and hard work. James 1:2 reminds us we should “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” James goes on to say that we “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” Despite the burden of getting the job done, the faith-centered leader should work confidently and enthusiastically in his processes, and keep his team working together and without complaint.
Deliverables define project completion. Unclear goals and objectives weaken the leader and his team. This will be shown in the quality and timeliness of deliverables. The quality of deliverables reveals a leader’s ability to set expectations for workers, communicate clearly and work with excellence. Whether it is a contract to be signed or a box of goods to be shipped, deliverables will show your ability to execute on a given project all the way to completion.
Deliverables are a tangible measure. Businesses use their volume of deliverables to measure throughput and growth. If you are selling more products, signing more leases, booking more appointments, you’re showing the organization’s good leadership in terms of planning, scheduling, marketing and communication. Items piled high in the warehouse or silent phones and stagnant email accounts show a lack of connection and follow through.
Deliverables benefit and retain the client. Ultimately the purpose of deliverables is to benefit the client or customer. Delivering well may have a profound positive impact on your business. If the customer is satisfied, they will likely return. Consider:
On average, loyal customers are worth ten times as much as their first purchase.[1]
It can cost five times more to acquire a new customer than to keep a current one.[2]
A 5% increase in customer retention can increase a company’s profitability by 75%.[3]
Deliverables, then, are tremendously important, not only for the business, but evaluation of the leader. When looking at your deliverables, ask yourself three key questions:
Am I bringing deliverables on time, on budget, and of high quality?
Are my deliverables increasing in volume over time?
Do my deliverables bring genuine benefit to the client or customer, so that they will want to come back for more?
Aristotle (384-322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts.
A hack is a clever trick or shortcut for accomplishing something. There are hacks for smartphones and cooking and driving. What about in your leadership? Is being a good leader something that has hacks?
The key facet of leadership development—that is, investing in others for the purpose of seeing them exhibit excellence through their own lives and leadership—is “baked in” to New Testament teaching.
Here are some common questions we receive from table leaders, and some suggestions for how to maintain best practices and grow in life and leadership.
American politics is getting more intense and divisive by the day. The democratic tradition of debate and discourse, leading to compromise and unity, is all but gone in the US. Instead, we gather into tribes based on deeply held political beliefs, we deride the opposition.
Jesus and His disciples traveled and ministered together, day and night, for three years. We don’t know of all the meals they had together, the conversations as the walked from town to town, or what Jesus said when they fished, and started campfires, and woke up in the mornings.
William Whiting Borden (1887-1913) was an American philanthropist, millionaire and Christian missionary. Borden surrendered his life to Christ as a child as a result of the witness of his mother. Borden wrote three phrases in his Bible that defined his life: “No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.”
Dietrick Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a German pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident. He was opposed to Hitler’s genocide of the Jews, and ran “underground seminaries” during the war. In 1943 he was imprisoned by the Gestapo. Bonhoeffer was executed in the spring of 1945.
The table is an amazing leadership development platform. Our time at a Friday Morning Men’s Fellowship table is designed around three key words and actions that will help you grow in relational leadership.
As a leader, you’re not over a what, but a who. To lead is to influence others in a way that helps them grow personally, professionally and spiritually. Leadership is fundamentally about influencing people.
When performance trumps people, an eclipse of leadership occurs. The leader himself overshadows the team. His priorities, ideas, thoughts, decisions, become the elements of first importance.
Charlemagne (747-814) united the majority of Western and Central Europe during the Middle Ages. People call him the “Father of Europe,” and the Pope made him the first Holy Roman Emperor.
When a C-suite staff member moves on or retires, it takes an average of four months, and can cost thousands of dollars, to find a replacement. Yet, 50-70% of all executive searches fail. They end with the new hire being unsuccessful and leaving the position.
Salvation through Christ is a gift of grace. Christ Himself is described as “full of grace” (John 1:14). A common definition of grace as used throughout the Bible is undeserved favor.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 – 1892) was an English pastor of the New Park Street Chapel (later renamed Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years. He became known as the “Prince of Preachers” for his spellbinding sermons, which sometimes ran two hours or more.
What if you could know what God Himself was thinking? What if you were able to discern the very thoughts of God? How would that skill and divine knowledge benefit your life and leadership?
James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. (1924 - ) is an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th President of the United States. Though many believe his presidency a failure, his post-Oval Office years have been nothing short of phenomenal.
Saint Nicholas of Myra (270-373) was an early Christian bishop from the city of Myra in Asia Minor during the time of the Roman Empire. That he loved children and was tremendously generous is widely accepted, and gave rise to the modern day tales of Santa Claus.
For clarity, consider each message in light of the question, “Is what I am about to say of benefit to the listener?” Even difficult statements are beneficial if they truly help the receiver, and are delivered with proper tone and context.
The Bible tells faith-centered leaders to live as optimists. This confidence is a spiritual character trait based on our trust in God. Joshua 1:9 promises, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed...”
We must measure to lead. Self-examination is integral to leadership. A leader who is not looking inward to see progress and pitfalls will not grow outwardly in decisions, relationships and vision.
Some leaders see themselves as a steward of their position. Others want to claim a top position in business. Still others want to accomplish something specific. None of these purposes, however, outlast the leader himself.
In leadership we might go out on a limb, try something new, give an idea a season. But when the result isn’t what we wanted or hoped for, our minds turn to the idea that we “need to get back”. Back the basics. Back to reality. Back to normal.
There are aspects of the Father that go above our heads. Though we can’t possibly know all the ways of God, we can know, in a broad sense, how God’s ways are higher our ways.
Once a person surrenders their life to Christ, faith and leadership cannot be separated. It is “baked in”. The difference in Christian leadership is that faith takes point for the leader.
Elvis Aaron Presley (1935 – 1977) was known as the “King of Rock and Roll”. He began his music career in 1954, and over the next 30 years would sell 300 million albums, make 33 movies, and become one of the most well-known and celebrated artists in history.
Positive leadership is a product of a leader’s relationships, for it is in knowing, helping and serving people that he can elicit a compelling and uplifting emotional response.
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone at all who has not had some kind of dysfunction in their environment growing up. But the Bible tends to confirm that this is independent of the person he or she will become.
Is there a summary for us of the Christian faith? Is there a simple statement that a leader can read that brings all of what we believe as Christ-followers into focus? Jesus Himself summarized the teachings of God in a few words.
There are a number of avenues to go deeper and explore a bible topic for leadership that might be specific to your table group. Is it okay for a table leader to deviate from what is provided? Yes, of course!