LeadershiftSample

Would you consider yourself a “maintainer” or a “creator”? If you’re not sure, consider if you…

• Are content with the status quo


• Strive to do as little as possible and to stay in your comfort zone as much as possible


• Are simply managing a well-oiled traditional machine

If you found yourself nodding, then you’re a maintainer.

But if…

• Your tomorrow will likely look different than your today


• You’re willing to take risks and open your mind to new possibilities


• You like to do what hasn’t been done before


• You strive to think what hasn’t been thought of before

Then you are a creator.

When David became the second king of Israel, one of the first decisions he had to make was where to establish his kingdom. King Saul, being from the tribe of Benjamin, had built his headquarters in the Benjaminite capital of Gibeah.

So when David became king over all of Israel, no one would’ve blamed him if he had remained in Hebron, the capital of his tribe of Judah. In fact, he had already begun his kingship in Hebron, as he was named king of Judah before all of Israel recognized him as king. So it made sense to stay there.

But David wasn’t king of the status quo. He sought to lead all of Israel, not merely Judah, so he decided that the fortified city of Jerusalem would be the more accessible and stronger place to set up his kingdom. Except Jerusalem was controlled by the Jebusites; David would have to lay siege to the city in order to make it his capital.

Even with his mighty men in tow, taking Jerusalem would be a challenge. There was only one road into the city. But there was one unlikely way—and David took it: he was willing to sneak in through what was basically Jerusalem’s sewage system. Now that is a creative leader!

Any leader who desires to take an organization to a whole new level, must make the intentional shift from maintaining the status quo to creating all new possibilities. Creativity and possibility thinking are the best ways to maximize the potential of yourself, your organization, and your team.

But creativity requires consistency—you can’t just do it once and then return to your comfort zone. An effective leader must live full-time in the creative zone. Are you ready to make that shift?

Questions to ask yourself:

Why is it more comfortable to maintain the status quo? Have you found enjoyment while remaining in your comfort zone? How has being a maintainer hampered both you and your organization?

Who or what has kept you from entering the creative zone? How can you overcome this hurdle and move from maintainer to creator?