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One of my longtime dreams was to purchase a DSLR—the acronym for digital single-lens reflex—camera. Whenever my wife and I visited an electronics store, I found myself longing for one of these handy devices. The DSLR contains a mirror that reflects light coming from the lens and sends it through a prism (on higher end models) or series of mirrors to the viewfinder. To simplify: what you see is what you get.
When I finally bought one, I realized how little I knew about this particular camera. It contained features I had never heard of, let alone understood. One thing I especially needed to learn, and which makes this camera special, is the difference between automatic and manual focus.
Previously, every camera I used had automatic focus. This would make a blurry image clear and yield a better-quality picture. Now, I had the option to choose manual focus. This required more practice, more patience, and a better understanding of the lens and the camera.
My challenges in adapting to the DSLR offers three parallel lessons when it comes to your leadership focus.
The switch between automatic and manual focus does not flip on its own. It requires an intentional choice. The photographer must decide that he wants more freedom than those offered by the presets. However, he must know how to use that freedom to snap the right picture.
Leadership is the same way. Making decisions and being intentional in a leadership setting is not something that happens by accident. Leaders are, by nature, people with purpose and intentionality. Decisions are made for a reason, and the wise leader knows why he or she made that particular decision.
We cannot be great leaders, servant leaders, or even good leaders, without being intentional each day. This intentionality is all-encompassing in a leader’s life.
A good leader is intentional in scheduling meetings. She is intentional in the choice of place and time spent for lunch. He is intentional in what time he gets to work and what time he leaves. She is intentional about shutting down the computer and closing her email (or not) when she gets home. Leaders are intentional.
Deciding to go from automatic to manual focus requires attention to detail. The photographer knows the camera and the subject of the photograph well enough to know the best image to capture comes when he has better control over the instrument.
This reminds me of the saying: “What you don’t know can hurt you.” I forget where I first heard that statement, but it stuck with me. Sometimes leaders can get lost in the details, which becomes a hindrance. But the opposite is also true: a leader who focuses only on the big picture and forgets the details can hinder a vision’s progress.
Leaders must pay attention to the details. This doesn’t mean a leader needs to micromanage and know every comma and period in a document, but a leader needs to be aware of what is going on. Regularly missing the small details can lead to major problems.
Using the manual function of a camera is not for everyone. I must confess that—even though I now possess the capability—I still tend to often use the automatic focus. It is easier, takes less time, and almost always produces a high-quality image.
Leadership is not for everyone. It takes a certain type of person to put up with all the extra “stuff” that comes into a leader’s life. People and companies are needy. That’s not a bad thing; it’s just the reality. That means that leadership can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. Being a leader can require a lot and sometimes doesn’t give much in return.
Consider the toll leadership takes on you and the necessity of breaks. If leaders consistently work rest into their weekly routine, they will be much healthier.
The next time you take a photo with an actual camera (and not your phone), ponder that automatic and manual button and take inventory of your leadership focus.
Photo source: istock
 | Ben Marshall is a Pastor at Pathway Church in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He works with teenagers and young adults. He is passionate about leadership and raising up the next generation of biblical leaders. He is a blogger, guitar player and sports enthusiast. Ben currently resides in Beaver Falls with his wife Connie and their two daughters, Aliya and Sophie Learn More » |
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