What is a leader to do?

The challenge of leadership is always “how do I make it happen with what I have at hand?" In my pre-COS life, I was a Chief Nursing Officer in several different facilities where one of the constants of my career has always been the nursing shortage. You spend sleepless nights trying to figure out how you are going to staff the nurses when you already don’t have enough.  

Why do I talk about nursing here in COS?  One reason is that I hear a lot about needing more leaders and the truth is we do.  But when that becomes your language instead of how you can get something done; holding those meetings, bringing in the fresh troops that turn into those leaders, it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

One of the lessons I learned is that God gives you what you need when you need it – it may not be what you would like to have, but you have what you need at that moment.   

I know many COSA volunteers from my generation recall their grandparents talking about how hard it was in the great depression. Think, for a moment, about what they got through. A debilitating war, loss of their livelihoods, loss of loved ones. Pretty harsh times. But they got through and even managed to smile and have families and laugh and live on. The message is: we will live, we will prosper, we will grow!  

The answer to your problems is action! Not talk, not wishes, not if only. Action is the way! Do what you can! Spread the word, wear your COS t-shirts, your COS hats! Be approachable and think about your teammates who are feeling the crunch, too.

How do you get closer and bond more with that nucleus group of yours that regularly shows up? How do you keep their spirits up and keep them motivated?  

First, you acknowledge the problem for what it is and enlist their help in trying to deal with it. Ask them for creative ways to do the tasks at hand! Enlist them in the solutions.  

Focus on what you do have rather than what you don't. Always strive to achieve that level you dream of but don’t become inactive while you are building it. Don’t be discouraged as discouragement leads straight to failure.

God is here for you! Those you trust are here for you! So that leaves you to control your attitude and actions. Do what needs to be done that day to make it a better day tomorrow!! If it is one more call, one more meeting, whatever the task, just do it! You will be glad you did!