Leadership & Market Place Ministry: May 2014

Monday, May 19, 2014

What Non-Profits Can Learn From For-Profits – Live Notes From Orange ’14

Back for Day 2 of the Orange Conference! Just a reminder, in an effort to grow in my skills to better add value to pastors and church leaders I am being dispatched by Injoy Stewardship Solutions (ISS) to attend this amazing event.

The afternoon’s final breakout session was conducted by Joel Manby, CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, and David Salyers, Vice President of Chick-Fil-A entitled What Non-Profits Can Learn From For-Profits. The following are 40 leadership quotes I captured during this incredibly informative session: Joel and David’s initials are by their comments:

There are a lot of great business leaders who are Christians and making great decisions…Anytime we can get together and talk about what makes great leadership we can learn from each other. – JM
I know a lot of people who think biblical principle have no place in business. – DS
We’ve never had a year ever the sales were less than the year before. – DS
Church is the marketplace of love. My business, that’s what we’re about too. – DS
Churches and businesses are organizations made up of people and God made people. The principles are the same. – DS
If you’re in a business that’s not about love, that’s a problem. – DS
Every Sunday we fill the room with people who are involved in business. – Carey Nieuwhof (CN)
Biblical principles do work in for-profit business leadership. – JM
If you want to have excellence you have to measure what you’re going for. – JM
What makes us really unique is our B Goals. What can of leader do I want to be? – JM
In most non-profits there is a dearth of conversation about the leader but not enough about how you lead your teams and volunteers. – JM
We measure our leaders on how their doing their job as well as what they do. – JM
We ask our employees to give first to our foundation and we match it dollar for dollar to help our employees in need. – JM
You struggle with how to help everybody…There’s pain and suffering everywhere. – JM
Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone. – JM
How you run Herschend Family Entertainment is far more Christian than many churches. – CN
We are totally debt free as an organization. We are a $5 billion business without debt. – DS
In a non-profit world it’s all about being frugal…Don’t confuse frugality with morality. – DS
God is honored when we do things with excellence. In the non-profit world we start with the size of the budget instead the size of the dream. – DS
If you start with the size of the budget, people don’t show up. – DS
The best ideas win. The best ideas get funded. – DS
Part of stewardship is creating amazing value. Value is what you get divided by what you pay. – DS
The church has the most important message in the world. Why would we get cheap with that message? – DS
Do we want our epithet on our gravestone to read “We Kept Charity Budgets Low”? – DS
What happens in for-profit world things get eliminated more fastly…In the non-profit world there is a reluctance to cut what is not working. – JM
I hope the least important thing you ever get from Chick-Fil-A is a paycheck. – DS
Business is based on a flawed idea…Most businesses exist to extract value from other people. – DS
The best businesses think of itself as a platform to create value for people. – DS
We believe every life is a story. We have the opportunity everyday to edit that story. – DS
Giving an employee or volunteer greater meaning is something I took from the non-profit world. – JM
Our vision is to bring families together and create meaningful memories. – JM
You give employees and volunteers something to go for greater than themselves. – JM
No one has ever died from over-encouragement. – CN
I think people, including me, are too self-focused. – JM
God being a loving God made the most important things in life free and in abundance. – DS
It’s not fair to my competitors that I get to go to North Point Community Church and learn principles from Andy Stanley to use in my business. – DS
God interpreted us to interpret the world through stories…The church ought to be the best at story-telling. – DS
Businesses overestimate the value of the product. They underestimate the value of the story associated with the product. – DS
For home is the boardroom of Heaven. A place from where His glory flows. – DS
The most important story ever to be told will come out of the church. – DS
North Point is unusual where church leaders and business leaders have a common conversation. – CN
If you ask a leader how to be a better leader, that’s a great connection point. – JM
Most business leaders are disconnected from their children more than we want to be. – JM
Any reaching out to business leaders about their children is a great start. – JM
Find the right person and make a specific ask. – DS
Anybody equals nobody (when making a general ask). – CN
What attracted me about Reggie Joiner he had a strategy about reaching children from birth to when they went to college. – JM
If you ask a lousy question you get a lousy answer…If you ask a profound question you get a profound answer. We need to elevate the quality of our questions. – DS
The power of questions is underestimated in most organizations. – DS

20 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Amazing Spider Man 2

Today I saw The Amazing Spider Man 2. If you are looking for just a fun two hours, this is the movie for you. Plenty of action, special effects and a multitude of villains. It is definitely worth the time for any regular movie goer. And there are some GREAT leadership lessons in this film.
The following are 20 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Amazing Spider Man 2:

Leaders Must Manage People’s Expectations – Leaders must give the audience what it wants and more. As I entered the theater area, a nice lady said, “Stay for a weird scene after the credits. They originally didn’t have one but everybody got so mad, Sony put a scene from the upcoming X-Men movie in there.”
Everyone Has Value – The only appreciable asset in any church or organization is people. Upon Peter Parker/Spider Man’s initial meeting with Max Dillon/Electro, played by Jamie Foxx, Parker said, “You’re not a nobody. You’re somebody.”
Human Life Is Precious – The death rate for all humans is still hovering at 100%. Leaders must steward their time well because leadership is temporary. Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone, says in a graduation speech, “What makes life valuable is it doesn’t last for forever. What makes it precious is it ends.”
“Don’t just follow the path. Make you own trail.” - Leaders are trailblazers who take people where they cannot go on by themselves.
Leaders Need People Who Love Them Because Of Who You Are, Not What They Do – Stacy tells Parker, “You’re Spider Man but I love Peter Parker more.”
Good Leadership Is Often Unappreciated – Leaders often have monuments built of them from the stones previously thrown at them. Early in the film, there was a debate over whether Spider Man was a vigilante or hero.
Success Is Not Worth Sacrificing Your Family For – Both Parker as well as his father sacrificed relationships with those they love because of their work. Each would say the trade was not worth it.
Facilitating Change Is Not For Cowards - Experienced leaders know that no one likes change but a baby. Norman Osborn tells his son Harry on his death bed, “Change begins with hard work and persistence.”
Everyone Has Value – I once had a supervisor tell me, “Brian, be careful whose toes you step on. They may one day be attached to the rear end you have to kiss.” Therefore, treat everyone with respect. Dillon was treated by most at Oscorp with disrespect because he was simply an electrical engineer in a company full of scientists.
The Power Of A Godly Spouse – Leaders wrestle with complexity. The person who brings the most simplicity to my leadership is my wife. I was reminded of this when Oscorp told Stacy, “He (Parker) needs you to help make his choices clear.”
Power And Success Make Leaders More Of Who We Already Are - Becoming Electro made Dillon more of who he was – an angry individual longing for attention and acceptance.
Friendships Are Unexpected Casualties During The Leadership Journey - Because of his path and “calling”, Parker lost Harry and Dillon as friendships along the way.
Excellence Does Not Happen By Accident. It Takes Planning And Effort. – In an interview with Hollywood.com, director Marc Webb said regarding the massive Times Square scene, ““We shot for only one or two nights in the actual Times Square, and then we built and entire version of Times Square out in Long Island. Simply because the logistical obligations of that scene were so complex that we had to… and we could, amazingly. I remember that scene came up in the script and we worked on it a little bit, and I was denying myself the pain and fear of thinking about how I was going to [do it]. Like, ‘Oh, that’s so cool.’ I was like, ‘I don’t know how…I’m going to do this.’ And then I was like, ‘Well, we’ll just build part of Times Square.’ They’re like, ‘Okay.’ I kept on waiting for someone to be like, ‘Are you insane?’ But they were just like, ‘Oh, okay, yeah. We’ll just do this here…’ But it ended up being a logistically very difficult thing, just in terms of bringing the amount of lights that were required and the amount of cement that was required. Marc Friedberg, our production designer, did a really extraordinary thing, and there’s a huge spectacle, of course.”
Many Leaders Suffer In Silence – Because people always want something from leaders, they often have few people they can trust and be transparent with. They are forced to struggle with life’s issues alone and in secret. Aunt May told Parker, “Maybe everyone has a part of themselves they hide, even from the people they love.”
Many Leaders Trust Few People - Similar to point #14 regarding trust, Osborn says, “Everybody wants my money.”
The Power Of A Father Who Is Intentional – Because of an email his father sent him years before, Parker’s father prepared his son for a future he could not see. Whether you realize it or not, all fathers are preparing their children for a time we have yet to see.
Leaders Face And Then Embrace Challenges – Aunt May says, “The heavier the box the lighter I feel.”
Leaders Are Dealers Of Hope – At the movie’s conclusion, Parker revisits Stacy’s graduation speech where she says, “On days you feel alone, that’s when hope is needed most.”
Leaders Must Be The Picture Of The Desired Destination At Which Others Should Wish To Arrive – Stacy continues, “My wish for you is to become hope.”
Leaders Build A Sustainable Future – Marvel is just the best at making you leave wanting more. Pastors and church leaders should learn from this. The movie features villains Electro, Green Goblin and Rhino. They also provide a glimpse of Doc Oc and the Vulture. I have read that similar to The Avengers, the Spider-Man franchise is building towards a Sinister Six movie several years from now. What is your church or organization working towards that is BIG?

Once again, The Amazing Spider Man 2 is a fun movie you will enjoy. Let me know what additional leadership thoughts you have after seeing the film.
By popular demand the following is Stacy’s full speech:
“I know that we all think we’re immortal, we’re supposed to feel that way, we’re graduating. The future is and should be bright, but, like our brief four years in high school, what makes life valuable is that it doesn’t last forever, what makes it precious is that it ends. I know that now more than ever. And I say it today of all days to remind us that time is luck. So don’t waste it living someone else’s life, make yours count for something. Fight for what matters to you, no matter what. Because even if you fall short, what better way is there to live?”

The #1 Reason I Rejoined Injoy Stewardship Solutions

On Monday, April 28th I rejoined the team at Injoy Stewardship Solutions (ISS). From 2002 through early 2013, I helped pastors and churches with ISS capital campaign partnerships, leadership development, vision construction, increasing weekly giving and creating healthy cultures of generosity. Then in February 2013 I joined Casey Graham and The Rocket Company.
After 14 months, I rejoined ISS. Before I tell you what my primary decision point was, allow me to say a few words about The Rocket Company:

I loved working for The Rocket Company and my 14 months there. My position allowed me to impact the lives of hundreds, maybe thousands, of church leaders.
Casey, Michael Lukaszewski and the entire Rocket Company team treated me wonderfully and with great respect.
Casey Graham is an extraordinary leader who is marked by a lifestyle of incredible generosity. He was always very kind to me and my family. Casey is a lifelong friend.
Working with Michael was one of the great privileges I have had in ministry. He also has become a lifelong friend.
I cannot recommend enough the services they provide and would do anything within my power to help them.

So why then did I return to ISS? It all starts with a lunch I had with one of the ISS principals, Ken Friar. Ken and I have been friends for over 10 years. After several minutes getting reacquainted and catching up on each other’s families, Ken said the following words:
“Brian, it’s time to come back to the ISS family.”
Family. I could not get away from Ken’s use of words. Meaningful relationships matter deeply to me. I thought back and remembered what happened during my previous 10 years at ISS:

I developed deep relationships with most of the ISS staff which have stood the test of time.
We have buried family members together.
We have watched our children grow up together.
We have spent countless hours praying for each other as well as the pastors and churches God has allowed us to intersect with.
We have walked with each other’s families through severe medical issues.
Together we have celebrated the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
We have developed a healthy sense of community.

A family is marked by shared life experiences. There’s that word again – Family.
Leaders understand to get the results you desire you need to ask the right question and Ken asked the right question. Ken knew the key to my heart was not titles, finances, tasks or assignments. Those are important and necessary details to nail down but not what was most important to me.
What is most important to me is having the opportunity to create unbelievable resources which help pastors and church leaders do what they cannot do by themselves. What is most important to me is the creation of cultures of generosity which transform lives for eternity and do it all alongside of a group of individuals I have come to have a deep love, respect and appreciation for.
This was simply an offer I could not refuse. My prayer for you is you will one day receive such an offer.
The #1 Reason I Rejoined Injoy Stewardship Solutions is because Ken Friar asked the right question. Leaders, what is the right question you need to ask someone today?
Thanks for listening to my story. Oh, and I would be remiss if I did not say if your church needs a capital campaign, personal finance ministry and/or increase weekly giving, send me a note. I would be honored to serve you.

11 Tips To Leading During A Time Of Crisis

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10883135

“Leadership is only defined by crisis. Leadership shines brightest when there is its greatest threat.” – Crawford Loritts

Few leaders have faced a time of crisis similar to what Doc Rivers, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, encountered following owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments. Rivers did a masterful job holding his team together and navigating them from an emotional perspective through uncharted territory.
Rivers shared his thoughts and perspectives during a May 4th ESPN Sunday Conversation. His comments provide for us 11 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis.

Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Have Been Prepared For This Moment - Most organizations could not have survived the firestorm caused by Sterling but Doc Rivers was the man needed for such a time as this. Rivers remembered, “I was raised right. My dad and mom weren’t going to have race in their house.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Refuse To Be Victims - Rivers’s father taught his son a lesson he has never forgotten when he said, “Never be the victim…You’re never going to be the victim and I’m not going to let you be.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Do Not Play The Blame Game – You simply do not have time. During a time of crisis, the problem is to always define the problem. The solution becomes obvious. When asked who is responsible for Donald Sterling, Rivers replies, “No one.” He goes on, “Why does someone have to take the blame for someone else…The target should be on the guy who offended. Not anyone else.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Gather Information Before Making Decisions - Information is gathered from one level. Decisions are made at the next. Wise leaders always want to hear from those closest to the action, those with boots on the ground. Rivers said, “When I looked in their (Clippers players) faces, it was bothering them. They were angry. They wanted to do something.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Define Reality - Many leaders sanitize reality during times of crisis. Christian leaders, in particular, can become super-spiritual to gloss over reality. Rivers took a different approach. He acknowledged, “This was a distraction.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Bring Clarity To The Issue - As Rivers watched race riots in the 60′s, he asked his father who was a policeman, “What are they mad at?” His dad would reply, “They don’t know.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Focus On People - In six words Rivers summed up why he is such a great leader. He said, “There’s no race. There’s people.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Act Decisively – Rivers continues, “Once we had proof (of Sterling’s behavior) the league, and people in general, took action and got results.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Press Forward And Embrace The Daily Routine – The NBA play-offs did not stop just because of Sterling’s comments. There were still games to play. Rivers knew “We had to go to practice that first day right after it came out.”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Find Ways To Bring People Together – Rivers finds a sense of calm and reassurance in sports. He says, “Sports helps me. Sports, you don’t care what’s next to you. You just want to know can he play?”
Highly Successful Leaders During A Time Of Crisis Give A Vision For A Brighter Tomorrow – Rivers brings us hope by pointing out, “I think something good comes out of everything.”

Know You Are Prepared, Refuse To Be A Victim, Don’t Blame Others, Gather Information, Define Reality, Bring Clarity, Focus On People, Act Decisively, Embrace Your Daily Routine, Bring People Together and Point To A Brighter Tomorrow. If you do these 11 practices, you will successfully lead people through a time of crisis.

Helping Pastors With One Of The Greatest Disruptions In Church Life

Nowhere in the Bible does God call any leader to an easy task. Every Christian leader faces seasons of disruption. Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with the CEO of Cogun Church Builders Scott Couchenour who gave me some great perspective on ministry disruptions.
A little background on Scott. In addition to running an organization whose purpose is provide the greatest value of service possible in creating shelter for worship and ministry, he also runs the website ServingStrong which helps pastors deal with issues related to burnout. Scott and his family have been friends for years. If your church is looking at constructing new facilities in the next 3-5 years, I cannot recommend any more than Cogun Church Builders and Scott Couchenour.
I asked him if he would provide perspective for the readers of this site about the disruptions/challenges faced by church leaders during facility construction and planning. As you read Scott’s comments below, you will see the lessons are applicable to all areas of leadership, not just facilities.
______________________________________________________________________
3 Truths About Construction Disruption
If you have led a church for any length of time, you have experienced seasons of disruption. These are times when the questions are plentiful and the answers are few. Times of misunderstandings. Times of stress and strife and struggle.
Among the greater disruptions in the life of your congregation is the expansion of facilities. Rather than be tossed here and there by the winds of popular belief or strong personalities, here are 3 truths about Construction Disruption to help guide you through:
It Is Inevitable
Disruption will be a part of a building program, mark my words. The magnitude will vary, but it will be present. The process of planning, designing, and building a church facility leaves the leadership and congregation vulnerable to destructive results such as church splits and major donor exodus. Knowing this potential, you can hit it head on with prayer and conversation. Lead your church through the disruption armed with the awareness of the potential for good and bad.
It Produces Opportunity
It is said that doing the unrealistic is easier than doing the realistic. If your goals are realistic, you run the risk of giving up after the first couple of hurdles. Unrealistic goals, by contrast – those that stretch you to where your faith is without borders – provide the adrenalin needed to overcome these trials and tribulations. Why? Because the end result is worth it. View a construction process for the opportunities it provides. Put aside your fear and seize the moment. Inspire others to step out in faith armed with the awareness of opportunity.
It Requires Company
If you set out to conquer a Class VI rapids (the kind of run that exemplifies the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability, and dangers of whitewater rafting where the consequences of errors are very severe) you will need a guide who is both qualified and has been down the stream many times before. You need one who believes in your mission and is 100% trustworthy at every twist and turn in the river. Same is true when setting out on a construction program. The industry professional you choose will be the difference between a beautiful expression of God’s call on your church and total disaster. The fee you pay to a qualified guide for a Class VI whitewater run far outweighs the feeling of exhilaration and accomplishment at the end. Similarly, the fees you pay to a qualified design-build professional far outweigh the cost of spending too much time and resources on a building that doesn’t suit your mission. Seek out the right company armed with the awareness of risk.
If you’re a growing church, you will likely experience Construction Disruption at some point. When you do, I trust these 3 truths will help you navigate your way to success.

44 Leadership Lessons And Quotes From Simon Sinek And Bill McDermott

Live Notes From Leadercast – 44 Leadership Lessons And Quotes From Simon Sinek And Bill McDermott

Today I am being dispatched by Injoy Stewardship Solutions (ISS) to attend the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast. In an effort to grow in my skills to better add value to pastors and church leaders, I will be live blogging throughout.

The final session featured speakers was Bill McDermott and Simon Sinek. The following are their thoughts on Beyond You leadership:

Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why

I talk about being human and doing good for each other. There is a high demand for this and that is depressing.
The military gives medals to people so others may gain. In business we give bonuses to people when others do not gain.
We are social animals. We can put a good person in a bad environment and they are capable of bad things.
Leaders set the tone.
We can’t solve complex problems by ourselves but in groups we are remarkable.
The only thing which we have control of is the environment inside the organization.
At the sound of violence it’s a mother’s instinct to throw themselves on the top of their child.
When danger threatens, it’s the leaders instinct to save their teams.
Mass layoffs to balance the books is a new concept.
It’s better we all suffer a little than anyone suffer a lot.
We call someone a leader because they go first.
There is only one characteristic any successful leader needs to have – courage.
Leaders want to see their people grow up, have opportunity and get an education…It’s taking care of others.
Officers eat last.
Leadership is a responsibility, not a rank.
When we’re willing to put the well-being of someone ahead of us, they will do it for you.
You can measure leadership on a daily basis just like you can’t measure parenting on a daily basis.
The things that are easy to measure cause us to sacrifice good leadership.
Leadership is a practice, not an event. An off-site does not make us a leader. It is a daily practice of putting the well-being of others ahead of ourselves.
The more authority we are given to look out for the people around can have a magnificent impact on the organization.
Ours is a world lacking in great leaders today.
Congress is a mirror to us. We’re the polarized ones. We’re the divided ones. We’re the ones who don’t listen.
Of all the things we need to lead the most significant is telling the truth.
All we want to do is feel safe with the people we work.

Bill McDermott

Leaders have one thing perfectly in common, leaders have followers.
All winners have a dream.
As a teenager, I was broke but I had heart.
I had a feel for one thing – the customer. It all begins and ends with the customer.
Blue collars working are rich on Friday night and broke on Sunday morning.
All the bees come to the honey.
Dream jobs aren’t easy.
Always be open and agile for every situation. Every canned situation you have in your mind about meetings can always change. Be aware of who has the power to make things change.
There’s two kinds of people in corporations – Those that when opportunity knocks they head out for opportunity. And those who wait for the perfect opportunity. When opportunity knocks, you have to be ready to go.
I spent my first three weeks in my new position just listening as to why they were 66 out of 66 in production.
In business everybody so busy telling people what to do they forget to listen. And people always listen.
High level of expectation, with an incredibly simple plan, became the driving force of this underground coming from behind to win the race.
The plan built around the desires of the people with a great goal is powerful.
I am petrified of leaders who don’t understand the power of celebrated victories.
The first thing that has to change is the headset about what is possible.
Whatever your dreams are, double it.
This is a world where purpose matters more than ever before.
We’re either getting better, bored or broke.
Have an audacious bold dream of who you are and what you mean to this world.
Be strong, resilient and don’t let anybody take your winner’s dream away from you.

The Most Important Ability For A Leader To Have Is…

What is the most important ability for a leader to have? Is it communication skills? Conflict management? Team building? Vision casting and/or construction? Hard decisions? Fiscal responsibility? What about something as complex as succession? All of these are important, even vital, but they are not the most important ability for a leader to have.
The Most Important Ability For A Leader To Have Is…Availability.
I was reminded of this leadership truth in the May 5th edition of Sports Illustrated. In an article written by Brian Cazeneuve on professional hockey players playing through pain, I gleaned following 9 leadership lessons about Available Leaders:

Available Leaders Learn To Pay A High Price Early In Life - Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland says, “Kids who play hockey grow up carrying their own bags. Their feet freeze. They’re not pampered. There’s no special treatment. They owe the game; the game owes them nothing.”
Available Leaders Understand There Are Times You Have To Pay A Higher Price Than At Other Times - Every church or business has busy seasons. You must pay a higher price during these times. Holland continues, “Two months of playoffs will age a player more than an 82-game regular season.”
Available Leaders Are Willing To Pay A Physical Price – The world is run by tired leaders. Ryan Getzlaf, captain of the Anaheim Ducks, said after taking a puck to the face, “Once we established my jaw wasn’t broken – if it was set in place and everything was O.K. – then I was going to be able to go.”
Available Leaders Know Which Prices Are Worth Paying – Some prices are worth paying while others are not. Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic said after slicing his foot, “It wasn’t so bad. A couple of stitches, but a long way from the heart.”
Available Leaders Have Access To All Their Resources – Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson said, “Sometimes I stop the puck with my face because it’s the playoffs.”
Available Leaders Understand Their Responsibility To Their Teammates - Boston Bruins Gregory Campbell says, “If you’re not hurt that bad, you don’t want to be the guy laying on the ice. I’m not the most skilled guy. Playing in the playoffs is a privilege.”
Available Leaders Give Their Team A Chance For Long-Term Success - Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau says, “We have 14 forwards and seven defensemen. That’s a luxury this time of year, but it won’t last through the playoffs. It never does.”
Available Leaders Are Resilient - Hollands concludes, “People talk about getting hot in the playoffs. Sometimes that just means staying healthy. Every round you lick your wounds, count who’s left, and it’s last team standing all over again.”
Available Leaders Often Achieve Ultimate Success – In Wayne Gretzky’s biography he tells of entering the victorious New York Islanders locker room after losing in his first trip to the Stanley Cup finals, “Guys were limping around with black eyes and bloody mouths. It looked more like a morgue in there than a champion’s locker room. And here we were perfectly fine and healthy. That’s why they won and we lost. The took more punishment than we did…They sacrificed everything they had. And that’s when (Edmonton teammate) Kevin (Lowe) said something I’ll never forget. He said, ‘That’s how you win championships.’” The Oilers won five of the next seven Stanley Cups.

Leaders must be available. Available leaders show up consistently. They are reliable and can be counted on. Available leaders are present and in the moment. Available leaders are a constant presence and an ever-present picture of the desired destination at which others should wish to arrive.
Leaders, here is an important question for you to consider – Are you available?

10 Leadership Lessons That Are Changing How I Lead

My job as a leader is not to make all the decisions. My job as a leader is to ensure all the right decisions are made. This means I must surround myself with talented people and then trust them to do their jobs. Also, my focus is on accomplishment. Empowerment means allowing my team to go about their assignments completely differently than perhaps I would. However, as long as the task is completed, as long as the job gets done, we can celebrate our uniqueness and the accomplishment of our assignment. This requires a secure leader.

On The Edge

“The majority of deaths on big peaks occur after people have reached the summit, because they have used every ounce of energy they have to get to the top and have nothing left to get themselves back down.” – Explorer-extraordinaire, author and motivational speaker Alison Levine. For leaders, success means finishing well.

Creativity, Inc.

“When faced with a challenge, get smarter…I’ve made a policy of trying to trying to hire people who are smarter than I am. The obvious payoff of exceptional people are that they innovate, excel, and generally make your company – and, by extension you – look good.” – Ed Catmull from his incredible book. The answer to any problem is a person. Add smart people to address the issues you face as a leader

Sports Illustrated – April 28th

In 2013, MLB batters hit .255 with a .387 OBP with a 2-1 count. They hit .179 with a .228 OBP with a 1-2 count. Leaders never have to recover from a good start.
“For any receiver, the best chance to create separation from a defender comes at the moment he plants a cleat and changes course.” – Andy Staples. A new direction generates momentum. Many leaders reading this post who need an injection of momentum should consider a change of course.
“That step might buy six inches of daylight, and that might be the difference between a four-yard gain and an 40-yard touchdown. And over the course of a decade that step, executed with precision every time, could be the difference between an average career and a Hall of Fame jacket.” – Staples. Good leadership decisions and behavior, compounded over an extended period of time, yield dramatic results.

Sports Illustrated – April 21st

“It’s not golf. It’s different than that. It’s like a symphony, a painting, sculpture. It’s artistic expression. (two-time Masters champion) Bubba (Watson) sees the course in a big parabolas and arcs, not in straight lines. The power is one thing, but what makes him so unique is the creativity.” – Ben Crenshaw. Creative leaders continually discipline themselves to view the world, people and the issues they face in a new and different light.

Sports Illustrated – April 14th

“Never give away the rights to something with an unknown future value.” – Scott Rosner, professor of Sports Business at Wharton. Successful leaders gather information before making decisions. Successful leaders also view people, assets and opportunities as investments rather than an expense.

Others

“He’s on the ground too much.” – NFL analyst Greg Cosell describing Notre Dame DT Louis Nix III prior to the draft. If you are on the ground as a defensive player you are unavailable to make a tackle. The most important ability a leader needs to have is availability. To read more on the importance of being an Available Leader, click here.
“Any open space is a runway.” – Cherith McCrum. I attended Cherith’s funeral today. I can’t think of a more wonderful way to look at life’s possibilities than how this wonderful, Godly lady did.

What leadership lessons are you currently learning?

15 Practices Of Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church

“There is an undeniable relationship between pastoral tenure and church growth. While most growing churches have long-term pastorates, and some non-growing churches have long-term pastorates, it is almost unheard of to find a growing church with many short-term pastorates. Frequent change of pastors seems to negate all the other complicated ingredients that go into a church’s growth mix.” – Charles Arn

Arn’s words create a great sense of urgency for those of us in church leadership to do everything within our sphere of influence to ensure our pastors have long, productive tenures. The church’s growth and ability to impact our respective communities for Christ depends on it.
As I began to learn from leaders who have long tenures at their organizations, I came across this article on ESPN.com about Florida Gators head basketball coach Billy Donovan. Coach Donovan has been at Florida for 18 years and is arguably (sorry Coach K) the best coach in college basketball.
The following are 15 Practices Of Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church we can learn from Coach Donovan’s tenure with the Gators:

Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Often Began At Churches With Great Need – Prior to Donovan’s arrival in , the Florida Gators had only been to five NCAA tournaments in 81 years.
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Have A Business As Usual Mindset – After making it to the Final Four last Saturday, Donovan enjoyed Sunday off. On Monday he was back at work dealing with reporters, preparing for the next week’s game, and entering back into a normal routine.
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Are Above Little Things – After 18 seasons, Donovan has learned to answer annoying questions from the media with a humorous responses.
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Must Have People Who Believe In Them - In 1996, athletic director Jeremy Foley hired the 30-year-old Donovan after just two head coaching seasons at Marshall University where he amassed a 35-20 record.
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Required Patience And Time To Succeed - Donovan had a losing record in each of his first two seasons in Gainesville. In his third year, however, the team reached the Sweet Sixteen.
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Produce Results – In his 18 seasons as head coach, Donovan’s teams have been to 14 NCAA tournaments, won six SEC championships and two national championships.
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Possess A Grateful Spirit – Donovan said, “I think, for me, I’ve been very, very blessed, one, to be at a place for 18 years.”
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Have Had Quality Staff And Lay Leadership Along The Way – Donovan adds, “I’ve been very, very blessed that I’ve had a chance to coach some good players and some great kids. As a coach, you’re only as good as your players are.”
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Are Humble – Donovan continues, “There’s a lot of great coaches out there that have never had a chance to get to a Final Four.”
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Have Established A Healthy Culture With Clearly Defined Expectations - A healthy culture with clearly defined expectations provides clarity, direction and security for you and those you lead. Florida forward Dorian Finney-Smith said, “You know what’s expected of you when you come in to a program like this. It’s established.”
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Face Less Pressure – Because of Donovan’s continued success, he has been freed up from the pressure to continually succeed which faces many coaches. He says, “When you’re a young coach, you’re always in a position where you’re trying to prove yourself.”
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Appreciate What They Have – Whether Florida wins the national championship or not, Donovan will keep it all in proper perspective. He says, “We all want to win, and I hope we go all the way through, I’d love that. But that stuff, I probably have a lot more appreciation for now than maybe I did when I was younger.”
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Have Worked REALLY, REALLY Hard – Donovan acknowledges, “It is really, really hard to stay at a place for a long, long period of time. I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to be here for 18 years.
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Have Turned Down Other Opportunities - Donovan admits, “I flirted with the NBA eight years ago — seven years ago, whenever it was — and for whatever reason, at that time, it wasn’t right for me.”
Pastors With Long Tenures At Their Church Take One Day At A Time – Finally, Donovan concludes, “But I’m very, very happy where I’m at right now, and all I’ve tried to do is live each day in front of me trying to be the best I can be for Florida.”

I trust this post will help thousands of pastors lengthen the time of their current ministry assignment. The Kingdom wins. The church wins. The pastor wins. The community wins. Everyone wins when pastors have long tenures at their churches.

24 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier

The Avengers Assembled

Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier has challenged The Avengers for the best Marvel film yet. This movie is loaded with action and the audience responded with applause throughout. Marvel has developed an incredibly loyal following while creating characters people have made an emotional investment in.
In addition to being incredibly fun entertainment, there were also 24 Leadership Quotes From Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier from the movie I want to pass onto you.

Friends And Theater Employees

Leaders Point To A Brighter Future – Pictured to the left holding Captain America’s shield is the manager of the theater I attended. Before the movie’s opening he and the Avengers (shown above) came into our individual theater and said, “Turn your phones off. You won’t need it during the next two-and-a-half hours.” We knew then we were going to have a great time.
Create Memorable Experiences – As part of closing out his pre-show announcements and inviting us to return to the theater, he proudly proclaimed, “This is the sumer of awesome!” Pastors and church leaders should prioritize telling people why they should return to next week’s service.
Competing Agendas Hurt Organizational Performance - There is a difference between being aligned and being attuned. In the initial action sequence Captain America/Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) and Agent Romanoff (played by Scarlett Johansson) had different missions. This threatened the safety of both.
Trust Is The Foundation Of Any Successful Team – Rogers says, “Soldiers trust each other. That is what makes us an army.”
Silos Harm Team Performance – Most members of S.H.I.E.L.D had limited knowledge of the organization’s activities. Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, said, “Compartmentalization. Nobody shares all their secrets because nobody knows them all.”
Every Organization Has Varying Levels Of Access - Intuitive leaders know not to involve themselves in discussions with those of higher rank unless invited into the conversation.
Acknowledge The Past – One thing we all have in common is we have a past. Each character in the film had to deal with issues from theirs. We will all sit down to a banquet of consequences.
Honor The Past – Leaders know you cannot lead people into their future unless you first touch their past. The movie does an excellent job catching people up-to-speed on Captain America’s story by utilizing a history exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute.
The Difference Between Loving People And Trusting Them – Christian leaders realize there is a big difference between forgiveness and trust. Forgiveness is what we are called to do. Trust must be earned. Fury said, “Granddad loved people but didn’t trust them very much.”
Leaders Think The Best Of Their People – As seen in the movie’s trailer, when Rogers sees the artillery S.H.I.E.L.D. is amassing he notes, “This isn’t freedom. This is fear.”
The Power Of Motivation – If you know what a person laughs about, cries about and dreams about, you will be able to more effectively lead them. Rogers said, “For as long as I can remember I just wanted to do what it right.”
The Strength Of Your Team Is Determined By The Number Of Leaders You Have – To overcome the issues he was facing, Rogers had to enlist the help of Falcon/Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, and Agent 13, played by Emily VanCamp.
Leaders Have Guilt And Regret - Wilson said, “We all got the same problems – guilt, regret.”
Leaders Provide Solutions – Smart leaders provide solutions but never rush to judgment. The problem leaders face is properly identify the right problem. The solution then become obvious. Andrew Pierce, played by Robert Redford, says, “To build a better world sometimes means tearing the old one down.”
Leaders Are Real People With Real Feelings - “It’s not personal. It’s just business” is a selfish and short-sided statement. If human beings are involved, it is always personal. When Brock Rumlow, played by Frank Grillo, attempts to kill Rogers and says, “It’s nothing personal.” Rogers responds by saying, “It feels personal.”
Relationships Are Strengthened By Shared Experiences – When discussing finding a girlfriend, Rogers says, “I’m 95. I’m not dead. It’s hard to find someone with shared experiences.”
Leaders Must Address The Insecurities Of People – Pierce acknowledges, “The world is finally ready to give up their freedom for security.”
People Follow Leaders Worth Following – If your pastors requests your help, do you have to think about it before saying, “Yes!”? Wilson says, “Captain America needs my help. There’s no better reason to get in.”
Leaders Who Are Secure And Emotionally Healthy Are More Effective – When Fury said, “They can’t kill you if you’re already dead” I remembered the words of the Apostle Paul to the church in ancient Phillipi. He said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21 ESV)
The Speed Of The Leader Is The Speed Of The Team – No organization can rise above the speed of the leader. When Wilson is asked about his skills, he looks at Rogers and says, “I do what he does. Just slower.”
Leaders Make Hard Choices – Prior to the climatic battle between Captain America and The Winter Soldier, Wilson advises Rogers, “He’s not the kind you save. He’s the kind you stop.”
To Be Successful You Need The Right Tools – Rogers noted, “If you’re going to fight a war you have to have a uniform.”
The Cost Of Leadership – Successful leaders have paid a higher cost than others were willing to pay. Rogers says, “The price of freedom is high but I am willing to pay it.”
Smart Leaders Leave People Wanting More - People should leave your church services wanting more. Captain America 2: Winter Soldier has two post-credit previews which make you can’t wait for Avengers 2 premiering in May 2015.

Bottom line- great movie. Go see it and have a great time. After watching, let me know your thoughts on Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier.

10 Things I Have Had Enough Of

“If it bleeds, it leads!” This is the traditional philosophy of producers of news programming. They feel you will get higher ratings if you begin telecasts with the most tragic and saddening reports as possible.
If you live in a metropolitan area you are familiar with rubbernecking. Everyone must stop and look at auto accidents causing traffic to be backed up for miles.
At a society we cannot take our eyes off of tragedy and misery. I am often reminded of this as a writer. Look at three of the top four posts I wrote in February - 5 Lies Men Believe, 12 Signs A Leader Is Failing and A Major Reason Churches Plateau And Get Old. It may not be television ratings, but readership for blogs often increases with negative headlines.
In August of 1983, Anne Murray released a single entitled A Little Good News which rose to the top spot on the country music charts. Its tag line is “I sure could use a little good news today.” Anne was right.

I have had enough complexity. I need simplicity.
I have had enough dysfunctional people in my life. I need emotionally healthy people.
I have had enough trials, tragedy and sadness. I need joy.
I have had enough desert experiences. I need an oasis for refreshment.
I have had enough pain. I need comfort.
I have had enough bondage. I need freedom and liberation.
I have had enough things destroyed. I need some things which are sustainable.
I have had enough negativity. I need up-lifting.
I have had enough challenges. I need more victories.
I have had enough bad news. In the words of Anne Murray, I sure could use a little good news today.

The best news is for Christian leaders you are not taking this journey alone. Jesus Christ is with you the entire way and as the songs says above “Christ Is Enough.”
What other things have you had enough of?
For the complete list, the following are The Top 10 Most Read Leadership Posts Of February 2014:

The following are 3 Hidden Gems which did not make the Top 10. I hope you enjoy them the second time around.

15 Practices Of Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others

You can tell a lot about a leader by what happens when they walk in a room. Does everyone brighten up or does energy leave the room? As a leader are you a ray of sunshine on a rainy day or dark cloud which just hovers over the organization? Do you bring solutions or cause additional problems when you come upon the scene.
In the March 24th edition of Sports Illustrated, writer Lee Jenkins profiles Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson. Since arriving as a free agent this past off-season, Jefferson has been a wonderful addition and catalyst for the team’s improved performance. As I read the article, I gleaned 15 Practices Of Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others which all leaders can learn from:

Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Often Come From Humble Beginnings – With his dad tragically passing away when he was six months old, Jefferson was raised by his mother and 14 relatives in tiny Prentiss, MS.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Work Hard – Rather than playing video games as a teenager, Jefferson mowed enough lawns to buy his first car.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Take Advantage Of Opportunity – When NBA legend and general manager Jerry West showed up to watch Jefferson play a high school game, he responded by scoring 62 points along with 21 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Are Optimistic - When on a pre-draft visit with the Boston Celtics, Jefferson had a great attitude when general manager Chris Wallace could not locate his car at the airport despite wearing shorts and a jersey in 40 degree weather.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Have Struggled Through Difficult Circumstances – Struggle is necessary for strength. Jefferson played on poor teams in Boston, Minnesota, and Utah.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Put The Interest Of Others Ahead Of Themselves - Great leaders are generous. While in Utah, Jefferson helped develop his back-up, Derrick Favors, even though he knew Favors would one day get his job.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Are Never Out Of Options – When asked why he helped Favors, Jefferson responded, “I’ll be good as long as there’s a spot for me somewhere in the league.”
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Are Often Taken For Granted – Despite almost unequaled numbers for his position, Jefferson has never made an All-Star game.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Play To Their Strengths – Great leaders do not try to be something they are not. Jefferson does not have the outside shooting skills of Kevin Love or the athletic ability of Blake Griffin. But he does have some of, if not the best low-post moves of any big man in the game.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Improve The Entire Organization – Clippers head coach Doc Rivers says of Jefferson, “You know how there are people in your life who just bring sunshine? That’s what Big Al does for the NBA. He’s sunshine. He brings it wherever he goes.”
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Are Always Wanted – If you consistently make life better for others, you will always have employment opportunities. During the off-season, Bobcats guard notified Jefferson, “We’re going to come after you hard. Give us a look.”
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Provide Constructive Feedback – Jefferson advised Josh McRoberts to not worry about the officiating, Walker on his body language and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on making good decisions.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Give Perspective – After LeBron James scored 61 points against the team last month, Jefferson reminded Kidd-Gilchrist, “He didn’t score 61 on you. He scored 61 on all of us.”
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Improve Their Performance – After listening to Jefferson, Kidd-Gilchrist then held all-star Paul George to 0 for 9 shooting and two points.
Leaders Who Make Life Better For Others Lead By Example – Great leaders are marked by consistent production. From 2004 to 2007, Jefferson averaged 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game with the Celtics. From 2007 to 2010, Jefferson averaged 20.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game with the Timberwolves. From 2010 to 2013, Jefferson averaged 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds with game with the Jazz. This year, he is averaging 21.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game with the Bobcats

What are other practices you have seen from leaders who make life better for other people?

18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Tony Dungy On Being An All-Pro Dad

Earlier this morning, legendary head coach Tony Dungy visited Fellowship Bible Church and School where I attend to speak with approximately 700 men about his All-Pro Dad organization and the importance of being a Godly man, husband and father.
The following are 18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons from his inspirational and life-changing session:

“Tony has more under the counter than he has on display.” – Crawford Loritts introducing Coach Dungy
“People trust him because of his transparent Godliness.” – Loritts
“During my time in the NFL, a very public job, a job that many think is special, is not the most important thing. Being a dad there is nothing more important than that.”
“So many dads are feeling the same thing – they want to do a better job.”
“The rookies we got in 1981 their families came to the game – their moms, their dads, brothers and sisters. In 2008, guys would introduce me to their family, ‘Here’s my mom.”’
“I have some things more important in my life – my family.” (Interviewing for a head coaching job and asked, “Will this be the most important thing in your life?”)
“(Communicating) They (your kids) are more important than anything else in life is so important to them.”
“Being an All-Pro dad starts with loving your wife.”
“My oldest daughter is 29. My youngest is 10 months. And she wants more.”
“The way you’re successful in a marriage is by putting Christ in the center of it.”
“When I got to Indianapolis…everything was going to revolve around family.”
“Saturdays were always family day in Indianapolis.”
“Peyton (Manning) is a perfectionist at parenting too.”
“When Mel Blount (Hall of Fame cornerback of the Pittsburgh Steelers) says you need to go to team chapel, you go to team chapel. These guys were Christian athletes. Christians first.”
“One of the most important people on our team was Brock Huard – Peyton Manning’s back-up. He never played but he always shared his faith and encouraged others to live out their faith…He encouraged others that is was O.K. to be a Christian in the workplace.”
“Mark Richt – One of my favorite guys in life because of how he coaches his team.”
“Unity and mindset is the most important thing in building a team.”
“We had a sign in our locker room for 13 years. – Expectations. Execution. No Excuses. No Explanations. – What we think and what we do. Not what we say.”

Please click here for the All Pro Dad website and see how you can get involved in helping dads live out their God-given responsibilities.

19 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Disappointing Kevin Costner Movie Draft Day

I was so excited to see the new Kevin Costner movie Draft Day. You see, I am HUGE Draftnik. One of the three items on my bucket list is to be in a NFL war room on draft day. This is why I am sad to write this post.
In 10 days we will be celebrating Easter and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus is my king, my best friend, my comfort, my security, my provider, my Savior, my assurance of Heaven and much, much more. He is everything to me. As a Christian, I am especially using this season to have an increased focus on the cross where He shed His blood for my sins.
With that as my personal belief, I do not know how many G.D.s you can put in a movie and keep it rated PG-13 but the film’s producers went to the limit. They even threw in a F-bomb for good measure. While some say this movie accurately reflects NFL culture, I felt extremely uncomfortable and could not enjoy the movie.
Sadly, I cannot recommend this film to any Christian leader. Go see God’s Not Dead or Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier instead.
However, to add value to you as a leader, the following are 19 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Draft Day. Beware – SPOILERS ahead:

Leaders Must Deal With Real Life Issues – On the busiest day of a general manager’s year, Sonny Weaver Jr., played by Kevin Costner, had to deal with his father’s will being read, his mother, ex-wife, and girlfriend being pregnant.
Leaders Must Endure Criticism – If you are getting kicked in the rear, it usually means you are out front. Weaver faced criticism from social media, talk radio, the team’s players, head coach and owner.
Leaders Bring Perspective – “They’ll be a lot of ups and downs. Keep a sense of humor.” – Weaver advising potential draftees.
Leaders Who Last Enjoy The Moment – “Enjoy today. You only get drafted once.” – Additional advice from Weaver
Leaders Embrace Reality - “You play where you play. That’s how it works.” – This was the advice one of the potential draftees received from his father.
Poor Leaders Favor Style Over Substance – Wanting the team to make a splash on draft day, the team’s owner told Weaver, “People pay to get wet.”
When Leaders Panic They Make Poor Decisions – Weaver traded three first round picks to get the top pick in the draft after the owner implied he would be fired if he did not make a splash. Later, the general manager of the Seattle Seahawks made an equally poor decision when they feared not getting a franchise quarterback.
Leaders Must Be Willing To Stand Alone - Weaver’s mother even criticized him for the initial trade. She said, “You sold a cow for magic beans.”
Leaders Must Embrace Social Media – “You’re on Twitter,” Weaver asks his mother. She replies, “You’re not.”
Leaders Must Process Large Volumes Of Information – Between scouting reports, background checks, salary cap implications, countless advice from inside the organization and faulty information from outside, much goes into deciding which talent to acquire.
Women Bring A Unique Skill-Set To Leadership – Team salary cap specialist and Weaver’s girlfriend Ali, played by Jennifer Garner, was my favorite character in the film. She was calm when others were not. She compassionately protected interns but was also tough with the head coach. She said, “I wasn’t born into this game. I had to fight my way in.”
Leaders Do Not Confuse Activity With Accomplishment – Results matter. Referring to the Super Bowl ring, Ali noted, “How is it the most macho thing in this sport is a piece of jewelry?”
Leaders Are Incessant Teambuilders – Great leaders are teambuilders but they want to select those who will make up the squad. Weaver said, “I just want the team I want.”
Great Leaders Change Culture – “No one can stop a ticking clock. But the great ones can slow it down.”
Character Counts – The draft’s top player dropped five slots over concerns about his character.
Leaders Know What They Can Control And What They Cannot – Leaders must make the best decisions with the information they have. They must then live with the results. Ali reminds Weaver,”There’s no such thing as a sure thing.”
Leaders Change What Needs Changing - Weaver turned in the team’s first pick in private rather than with traditional team involvement. He advised those in the war room, “New tradition. When the team starts winning we will go back to that.”
Leaders Pay A Higher Price Than Anyone Else – Ali told Weaver, “Sometimes the correct path is a tortured one.”
Approval Comes With A Twin Brother Named Results – Weaver was criticized throughout the entire movie – except the last 10 minutes when he made a second trade which landed him two of the draft’s top six selections. Everybody loves a winner.

These are my thoughts on the movie. What are yours?

11 Qualities The Greatest Leaders Look For When Hiring New Team Members

You cannot take a person to a place you have not been yourself. Therefore, if you want to raise up leaders in your church or organization, you need people who have been there before - People who have built teams, made hard decisions, created strategy, leveraged resources, persevered and had the character needed to have sustained success.
In short, it takes leaders to raise up other leaders in your church and organization.
This is why I want to point you to one of the smartest leaders you can read on Twitter, Louis Riddick of ESPN. Riddick if a former NFL player, scout and Director of Pro Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles. Therefore, he has a unique perspective on talent acquisition.
As the NFL Draft approaches, I want to provide you 75 leadership posts from Riddick’s Twitter account over the last 30 days. As you will read, he knows communicates information you will get nowhere else in a concise and descriptively compelling fashion. If it takes a leader to raise up another leader, the following are just 11 of the qualities we learn Riddick looks for in a player:

Organizational Fit
Functional Intelligence
Motivation
Current Production
Competitive Toughness/Resiliency
Ability To Execute Under Pressue
Chemistry With Team
Good Decision-Making
Minimizes Risk
Hard Workers
Identify And Attack Personal Weaknesses

If you want to read what leadership intelligence looks like, then check out 75 of Riddick’s tweets from the last month:
April 12th

“Tier 2 QB’s” looking more like successful NFL projections than “Tier 1″ from what I am seeing/hearing.
Late game LSU vs ‘Bama’13, LSU had to throw/were 1-dimensional & ‘Bama brought variety of pressures, Mettenberger decision making suffered.
Not much not to like about how Aaron Murray plays the QB position. FL game in’12 great example of his resiliency, as was Auburn ’13.

April 11th

Tape does not “lie” so to speak, but it never tells the whole story by itself alone, not even close.
Test-taking intelligence is never a bad thing as far as I am concerned, but it is the application on the field that matters.
Have played with/against many book smart intelligent guys who crumbled under pressure and played less than intelligently under duress.
3 step frm under OC, catch & release quick game frm gun, 5/7 step frm under OC, sprint/boot action, pocket navigation, 3-level accuracy…courage under pressure, movement in pocket, situational execution, multiple pro-style offense…..Aaron Murray, Georgia.

April 10th

The context in which QB evaluations are talked about is so vague @ this point that the suggested draft day values have little correlation.
Putting “round” grades on players is a waste of time anyway. The emphasis needs to be on evaluating players “within a specific context”.
Rounds only matter on draft day, & when that day comes, the selection process is so affected by emotion, that it takes on a life of its own.

April 9th

Biggest challenge during top 30 pre-draft visit process is getting kids to trust you so they show as much of their real self as possible.
Been saying….there is something special brewing in Jacksonville w/#Jaguars. They get it. Spend 30 minutes actually talking to someone on the #Jaguars staff and getting your mind around how they think about player development….and then repeat with multiple other teams. Then you will understand what “it” is.
Has to be better at converting contested catches.

April 8th

There is no “secret” 2 separating a cluster of similarly graded players like this draft has. Secret is what u do w/them after u have them.
Pointed out to me…”How many times does Manziel have what looks to be his first read available BUT still won’t deliver the ball, and why?”
Evaluate what really matters. Not what is easiest to quantify.

April 7th

Young players that identify weaknesses in their game and attack them stick out to me. Great sign going forward.
New HC for NFL team = head start for off-season conditioning program “should” = near 100% 1st day attendance. #1stimpressionsmatter

April 5th

Good “teams” are under-appreciated until it is those same good teams that rise to the occasion when it matters the most.

April 4th

Coaches r largely responsible 4 driving the train when it comes 2 draft decisions at QB, especially those that have real credibility. Their expertise is essential. They look far beyond “arm talent”. Why I say that it is a must that you get exposure to their way of thinking.
Who is E.J’s sounding board, his go-to guy in the meeting room other than the coach, who can really help him with his development?
New coach, lose the respect of the staff and players in the locker room=you are on your way out the door as soon as they can make it happen.

April 3rd

“2nd-tier” QB’s in ’14 draft, if there is such a thing, generating as much/more intrigue internally than those QB’s receiving more publicity
Deep drafts w/many prospects grouped together from a value perspective make the emphasis on functional scheme fit/program fit the priority.
From those who played with/against LT: Forget how gifted of an athlete he was; His football intellect & competitiveness was transcendent. he knew what was going to happen before it would happen. Combined with his physical gifts, he was unstoppable.

March 31st

At some point in your career u r able 2 realize that the best fit 4 u is not always the place willing to pay you the most $..#NFLFreeAgency

March 28th

Hardest thing to obtain when making veteran player acquisitions is accurate information.
Ideal situation = when your best players are also your best character guys/best workers. When they aren’t, roster-avalanche can hit at any moment.

March 27th

The volume in terms of fundamentals, recall, functional execution, etc. for non-pro-style QB’s to learn once they get to the #NFL is huge.
Have had QB coaches/ex pro QBs explain that getting a QB’s footwork, under duress, to be “2nd nature” is not close to being a given.
65.3% cmp and 8.3yds/att from the pocket for Russell Wilson in ’13. Only Philly as a team, Rivers, and P. Manning had better yds/att.
Russell gets pushed down to 3rd rd, and there are prospects in this class w/o the same context being pushed up into the top 10. #Backwards

March 26th

“Doing the best deals within the market place that minimize risk to the club.” Interesting how differently teams view this ideology.
“There is a difference between diagramming plays/concepts and installing/teaching the game.”
Where/by who this class of ’14 QBs are drafted/ coached will largely determine their relative success/failure more than anything else.

March 25th

Elway mentioning the type of competitive “mentality” of the new players signed as UFA’s very telling.
Mornhinweg the best I have been around at designing the downfield passing game. Has great feel for what “stresses” secondary defenders.

March 24th

Tends to be a natural variance between coaching & scouting evaluations w/draft prospects, particularly at QB.
The reason Y Foles is an Eagle is because of coaching evaluation. Andy Reid’s evaluation.Watch film/listen 2 Andy coach QB’s, u see why. Bill Walsh felt the same way when it came to the role of coaches in the QB eval. process.
There reaches a point when players just are who they are, and no “change of scenery, fresh start’ etc” is going to make a difference.
You don’t put enough time and effort into player “makeup” as it pertains to evaluation, you are missing more than 1/2 of the point.
You don’t downgrade a prospect for being a good player on a team with other good players. Makes no sense.

March 23rd

1.Good decision making. 2.Timing/accuracy within offenses that are being run at NFL level is what those who have played/coached QB in NFL…have told me they want to see.
I keep coming back to that when watching this group of ’14 QB’s …how they play the position, like it’s played in NFL under duress.
Examine Zuttah’s game at OC, you see exactly why he is ideal for Kubiak’s scheme. Will struggle 1 on 1 vs power in pass pro, but VG trade.
Makes sense philosophically, but only philosophically (if that makes sense).

March 22nd

Always more that is going on behind closed doors of an #NFL franchise than you can possibly imagine – good and bad.
Team building is very delicate. Winning/losing not just a talent thing. Chemistry/camaraderie not as “fun” to talk about, but equally impt.

March 21st

Because you are a veteran and happen to play QB does not automatically equal veteran leader…
When I see a QB take a vicious hit in a scramble, then the very next play convert on 3rd down thru the air, it tells me 2 things….He has competitive toughness, and the coaching staff believes in his ability to execute when he is not “right”. Big indicator for me.
Vick will walk in the door knowing Marty’s version of the West Coast Off. better than anyone in that locker room. Huge positive.

March 20th

Finally getting to watch QB Tom Savage closely, and as some have told me, he makes some serious big-time throws. This should be fun..Considering circumstances – background, play history, character, scheme, talent played with….Savage should be getting much more attention. No QB in this draft class making the 18-22yd opposite “college” hash corner and comeback throws like Savage can. Mad I am late watching him.
How many QB’s in this draft can work from under OC, get thru 3 progressions play side, then come backside to his 4th read & complete it?

March 19th

Workouts either confirm game action..both good and bad, or cause you to continue evaluation. Not do a 180 degree turn.
Their “rings” and past performance value means nothing. At all.

March 18th

Two keys 4 personnel depts this time of year: 1: Current real-time data/evaluation entry from scouts @ pro days. 2. Knowing more about less not less about more. Have to have your “eyes” on the right guys and not chasing ghosts all over the country.
Coaches on the road at Pro Days play crucial role this time of year as well. Have to be sent to the “right” places.
Competitiveness issues very frustrating when watching him play. Should be so much better than he is. Needs strong group around him.
Can’t see signing a bunch of 29+/30+ veteran UFA’s without anyone currently in the development pipeline ending well.
50% hit rate in the draft won’t be close to being good enough.

March 16th

Can’t think of too many things more overrated in the pre-draft scouting process than a scripted, controlled QB workout. Largely a waste of time as far as I am concerned.

March 15th

It’s about 1 thing w/Peppers for me. Is he motivated to play at a high level anymore.
NFL front offices apparently seeing Jared Allen’s past vs future performance value as being much different.
The team is the side assuming risk in this particular situation when it comes 2 having a plan 4 utilization/reducing risk of it not working.
A lot of new high priced/high profile parts that will need to be integrated w/#Broncos in ’14. A lot of risk involved.

March 14th

Leadership matters in certain positions down the middle of the field.
Emmanuel Sanders, all things being equal, would be a very good schematic and WR-composition fit for the #Chiefs.
If: 1) You don’t draft well &/or 2) Switch to a scheme that you don’t have players to run effectively & 3) Face make/break season…you over-pay in free agency for average players.
Selling “hope” only goes so far. It gets old quick..
Big difference between agreeing on the evaluation and valuation of a player, particularly in 1st wave of UFA’s.

March 13th

It’s a team-builder’s league above all else.
Really like what the #Jaguars are doing. Have made no secret about the fact that I am a big believer in their program building approach.
Look at the PT% of the top 5 highest paid veteran DT’s in the league the yr b4 they signed new deals, and all were above 50%. In fact, all were above 65%.

March 12th

Fit is everything in free agency. Watch how #Steelers play, and you see why they coveted Mitchell’s skill set at FS. By same token, look at what #Redskins need most..leadership/intelligence at the safety position, and you know why Ryan Clark is on his way..
Every move in the off-season seems like the right move until players actually start playing. On the field. In real games.
1. Evaluation 2.Valuation & selection 3. Development & utilization. UFA’s no different than the draft. No. 3 is what REALLY matters.
#Seahawks top 6 secondary players in ’13: 1st rd, 5th rd, 5th rd, 6th rd, 4th rd, and 6th rd. Home grown. #howquicklyweforget

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF COURAGES LEADERSHIP

Top 10 Benefits Of Courageous Leadership

I have been involved in a number of complex leadership situations lately. These situations have reminded me leaders must have COURAGE and be willing to STAND ALONE. Leaders face too many competing agendas, polarizing personalities, complexity and uncertainty to not lead with conviction and a resolute spirit.
Those whom God has called us to lead want to follow leaders who own the vision and its results. They want leaders who will take responsibility. Our teams want to know “if you cut us, we will bleed it.”
Reviewing the Top 10 Most Read Leadership Posts Of March 2014 confirmed these principles. The post 18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From God’s Not Dead The Movie became one of this site’s most all-time popular posts.
People have responded to this film because its characters must have the courage to defend their faith in the face of overwhelming circumstances. They must stand for what they believe in. And as a leader, so must you.
Courageous leaders who are willing to stand alone receive the following Top 10 Benefits:

Courage gives your team security.
Courage gives your team confidence. They borrow your courage.
Courage gives you the grid of what you say “No” to.
Courage gives you the opportunity to live with a good conscience.
Courage gives you the platform to attract other strong leaders.
Courage gives you a healthy sense pride.
Courage gives you strong boundaries and clear marching orders.
Courage gives you an increased likelihood of success.
Courage gives you more influence.
Courage helps make you a leader worth following.

Leaders, I have two questions for you – What do you need courage for today? Are you willing to stand alone?
For the full list, the following are The Top 10 Most Read Leadership Posts Of March 2014:

The following are 4 hidden gems which did not make the Top 10 but were some of my personal favorites: