What Leaders Can Learn From a Shampoo Bottle

Leaders shampoo bottle
Leaders can learn a lot from a shampoo bottle. (Artur84/Free Digital Photos)

Leadership isn't "out there somewhere." It's right here ... in the now. It's how we do what we say we will do in a predictable manner.

Shampoo labels instruct us to "do it again." Rinse and repeat is great copywriting, but it also serves as a reminder to the essence of a leader's walk. Leaders who persevere are predictable in their behavior and vision for doing the right thing. Leaders do the right thing with repetition. Managers do things right, often with variability.

Successful businesses, churches or ministries became that way because something worked and the something became systematized (bottled) and repeated. The repetition of seemingly little things—coupled with unusual excellence is the amoeba cell of a system. Leaders get things done with systems. Systems make excellence simpler.

Simple is a great separator. Young managers tend to complicate things with ambiguity and added steps in order to justify that work is happening. Complex is very difficult to repeat. A more-difficult-than-necessary process of work becomes people-dependent.

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Rinse and repeat is a simple checklist that is more dependent upon the check than the checker.

3 Quick Tips to Simple:

1. Clarify systems with checklists. Checklists are the definition of simple.

2. Inspect the simple. Left alone, systems will become complex. More stuff gets added. We lose our simple alignment. Demand simple.

3. Don't change what works. If your formula is working, keep the shampoo flowing. Resist the urge to launch change for the sake of change.

Take some time to really think about what works in your leadership. Become predictable because your system is working.

Einstein said, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."  

Jesus said, "I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Every day can be a good hair day.

Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president of the media group at Charisma Media and executive producer of the Charisma Podcast Network. His book, Love Leads: The Spiritual Connection Between Your Relationships and Productivity, is now available.

Leaders, Dr. Greene wants to help you understand the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity. Read his new blog, here.

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Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.



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