Husbands…Read This Post and Make Plans for a Date

When was the last time you planned a date with your wife? I’m talking about a scheduled time spent together without interruptions. Could this be at home? Possibly. Could it be a walk down the street, or a walk to a nearby park with a blanket and some goodies on a Saturday afternoon, or a visit to a good coffee shop? Yes. Does it require a certain amount of money? No. What it does require is planning, intentionality and commitment to prioritizing your relationship. Ready? Good!

Recently, I reread parts of a book that had acquired dust on my bookshelf. Lencioni is one of my favorite authors on leadership and organization health. Perhaps you will recognize a few of his titles: The Advantage, Death by Meeting, The Ideal Team Player. This one is entitled The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Patrick Lencioni. It is a leadership fable about restoring sanity to the most important organization in your life, your family. The author’s purpose in writing the book is to help you run your family with “more clarity, context, and purposefulness” by generating three questions which you and your wife answer. To learn more about this system, visit his website at www.thefranticfamily.com or simply finish reading this M.M. Your family does not need to be in frantic mode to benefit! My hunch is that most have read several of Lencioni’s books on leadership so why not read this one on leading your family?

His system is not complicated. That is the beauty of it; it simplifies and brings clarity to your family’s values and goals. In short, here are Lencioni’s key points, but I would encourage you to visit his website or purchase the book. No margin for it now? No problem. Set yourself a goal. Scheduling a date night? Why not discuss the following?

1. Define what makes your family unique. (Write 2-3 sentences on your family core values or list 4-5 defining characteristics). This could even be your family’s mission statement.

2. What is the most important priority in your family right now? (Write your rallying cry or goal).

3. Define your objectives to get your family there. (Write 4-5 action items for #2). Short phrases will do!

4. Define your regular responsibilities as a family (Write responsibilities of 4-5 items, such as faith, finances, health, marriage, child rearing, pending decisions). Add or subtract 1 or 2.

5. Revisit #2 every 6 months, or as needed.

How do you maintain accountability and assessment of these five? Once discussed and decided, write out your answers on a whiteboard and evaluate them during your weekly 10 minute meeting. That’s it!

I’ll end where I started - date night. How about arranging some time to discuss this idea? What if it were to help you be the best CEO (Dad) of your family? Would a small investment of time/money be worth it? Optional - Purchase book: $10.52. Read it: 4 hours. Non-optional - Activate the date-night assignment as mentioned:1 hour. Maintain: 10 minutes per week.

Happy date night – with or without this idea! Any takers?! If so, please let me know how it goes!