Leadership & Market Place Ministry: December 2014

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

10 Practices Of Leaders Who Dominate The Competition

“We come here (NCAA Final Four) with the best team..All you have to do is play your A-game and there’s no pressure on you. We try to diffuse the pressure by saying, ‘We’re the best team.'” – UConn girls head basketball coach Geno Auriemma

One of the most dominant leaders of any industry or area of discipline is The University of Connecticut girls head basketball coach Geno Auriemma. Having just finished with a perfect 40-0 record and winning has ninth NCAA championship, Coach Auriemma is one of the most accomplished leaders you will find.
In an ESPN championship post-game interview following the team’s victory over Notre Dame, Coach Auriemma discussed why his teams are so dominant. You can be see the full interview by clicking here.
Whether you lead a church, business, non-profit or athletic organization, the following 10 Practices Of Leaders Who Dominate The Competition will better equip you to achieve ultimate success:

Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Put People Over Results – This is counter-intuitive thinking. Great leaders know people not only have to be ABLE to help you but also WANT to help you. Auriemma said, “The numbers aren’t nearly as important as the people attached to those numbers.”
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Set High Expectations For Everyone Else – Referring to graduating seniors Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley, Auriemma remembered, “Right as freshman kids they had to get it done. They came in right in the middle of a 78-game winning streak.”
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Do Not Have False Humility – False humility is disingenuous and erodes trust. God does not hold great leaders responsible for denying their giftedness. He holds them responsible for properly investing it. All leaders should listen to Auriemma’s words, “We come here with the best team..All you have to do is play your A-game and there’s no pressure on you. We try to diffuse the pressure by saying, ‘We’re the best team.'”
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Instill A Sense Of Great Confidence - Doubt and uncertainty constrict a team’s ability to perform at maximum efficiency. Auriemma stresses, “You try to eliminate the doubts.”
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Overcome Adversity – Auriemma continues, “We had a lot of adversity as team and she (Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis) had a lot of adversity and I love the way she responded.”
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Embrace Pressure And Big Moments – Do you feel as if your leadership really counts? Auriemma does. He says, “You come to Connecticut for the big moments and you try to instill that in your players immediately from the time they get there so they want the big moments. They want the spotlight. They want the pressure games.” As leaders, we should all be so lucky.
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Count What Counts – John Maxwell teaches leaders should never confuse activity with accomplishment. At UConn, “You win the championship or it’s a lost season.”
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Properly Evaluate Reality – The fundamental responsibility of leadership is to evaluate reality. Regarding his record in championship games, Auriemma says, “9-0. Eight of those times we had the best team.”
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Expect To Do So – Excellence becomes average when it is all you have. As a result, even the greatest leaders are often taken for granted. Auriemma matter-of-factly acknowledges, “We’re supposed to win. That’s what the president and A.D. tell me.”
Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Celebrate – A leader who does not celebrate is not a leader worth following. Auriemma concluded, “There won’t be any sleeping tonight but in the next couple of days I’m going to try and catch up.”

Put People Over Results, Set High Expectations, Avoid False Humility, Build Confidence, Overcome Adversity, Embrace Pressure and Big Moments, Count What Counts, Evaluate Reality, Expect To Dominate and Celebrate when you do. If you practice these 10 things, you too may one day be a leader who dominates.

13 Things Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Do To Generate Momentum

Momentum is an interesting subject. You know when you see it. You feel it when you have lost it. It makes you better than you really are. But few leaders know anything about how to generate momentum.
In the December 26th edition of USA Today, the subject of momentum for football teams at the end of the season was looked at in great depth. There are great applications here for anyone who leads in a church, business, non-profit or athletic organization.
The following are 13 Things Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Do To Generate Momentum I gleaned from the article:

Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Perform With Excellence On A Daily Basis – Momentum visits leaders who perform with excellence on a daily basis regardless of the results. They do the right things consistently. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said, “It’s how we practice, how we prepare and how we stay calm throughout the season.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Just Want An Opportunity To Generate Momentum – For many leaders, as long as there is breath in their bodies there is an opportunity for momentum. Three of the last nine Super Bowl winners did not win their regular season division. Six of the last nine also did not receive first round byes in the playoffs.
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Have A Sense Of Urgency – Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said, “Everybody kind of kicks it into high gear, and everybody understands there has to be a heightened sense of urgency.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Finish Well – Once Flacco and head coach John Harbaugh arrived in 2008, the team has finished with a 28-16 record in November and December. They finish every season on a high note heading into the play-offs.
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Prepare Well – Intuitive leaders know momentum does not happen by accident. Great leaders prepare for it. Flacco said, “When these (coaches) think about December football, they’re altering our schedule in April, May and June and July…It’s very well thought out, and it’s worked well for us.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Add Youth – Young leaders bring fresh ideas, fresh perspectives, energy and enthusiasm. Many of the the NFL teams heading into the play-offs have rookies playing significant roles.
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Continually Improve – NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said, “They (New England Patriots) don’t every change. Their whole goal is to get a little better every day…They’re really suited well to play their best football at the end of the season.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Often Do It When No One Is Looking – Very interesting. High expectations create pressure. Conversely, low expectations is fertile ground for momentum. Trent Dilfer said, “You can’t run from the narrative.” Flacco adds, “It seems like we usually play under the radar, and people don’t really talk about us or give us that much credit. But in the end, we’re usually right there.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Develop A Culture Of Excellence – You develop a culture of leadership by adding as many leaders to your church or organization as possible. Dilfer said, “You never go tactics, you never go talent, you always go culture…Somebody right now is brewing a really special culture, a really special mindset.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Embrace Hard Work – The two most common qualities I have witnessed in researching great leaders is high character and the willingness to work very hard. Dilfer adds, “They embrace the hard stuff.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Perform Well In Chaos – Some leaders just know how to win and perform with excellence during times of crisis. They rise to the occasion. Dilfer goes on, “They’re not overwhelmed by the chaos of a championship run.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Focus On What Is Needed Today – Great leaders are not assumptive. They do not look ahead. They get small wins under their belt every day. Dilfer continues, “They’re living in the moment; they’re not looking ahead.”
Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Succeed – Dilfer concludes, “Those type of things are almost ways what you hear a championship team say.”

What other things do you see leaders do to generate momentum?

Sunday, December 28, 2014

23 Leadership Quotes And Principles From Unbroken The Movie

Unbroken, the inspirational real life story of Louis Zamperini, is UNBELIEVABLE. Angelina Jolie has made a timeless movie about a true American hero. Few films will teach you more about resiliency, perseverance and the power of forgiveness. This is a must-see film for everyone.
The following are 23 Leadership Quotes And Principles From Unbroken The Movie:

Great Leaders Remain Calm During Crisis – In the film’s opening scene, Zamperini’s plane was under attack during a bombing mission but everyone remained strikingly calm.
Life’s Greatest Lessons Are Often Learned Early In Life – “God created two great lights. The greater light is over the day. The lesser light is over the night…You must live through the night. Don’t battle with it…God sent Jesus to forgive sin. Accept darkness. Live through the night. Love thine enemy.” – Zamperini’s pastor while he was a young child. These words would define his life.
The Power Of A Praying Mom – Zamperini’s mother was constantly praying for her son beginning at a young age. I imagine your mom spent a lot of time praying for you as well.
The Power Of Encouragement – Louis’s brother Pete constantly encouraged a young Louis by saying, “If you can take it, you can make it.”
The Power Of Someone Believing In You – After Pete’s encouragement about what Louis was capable of, Louis responded, “I don’t believe.” Pete replied, “I do.”
The Value Of Training And Hard Work – When Zamperini graduated high school he was the fastest miler in United States high school history.
The Reward Of Struggle – Before heading off to the Olympics, Pete’s final words to Louis were “A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory.”
The Power Of Prayer – After a successful bombing mission, an unbelieving Zamperini found fellow airman Phil Phillips praying. When Zamperini asked him what he was doing, Phil said, “A lot of people do this.”
Great Leaders Finish Well – Zamperini was always his fastest when the gun sounded for the final lap. He always had something left in his tank.
Great Leaders Are Dealers Of Hope – After a plane crash at sea, there was obvious fear by the three survivors who took refuge in a life raft. Fellow airman Mac said, “We’re going to die.” Zamperini responded, “No we’re not Mac.”
Great Leaders Always Have Contingency Plans – They expect the unexpected. After getting in a life raft with Phil and Mac, Zamperini immediately began rationing chocolate and water.
Great Leaders Sense AND Seize Opportunity – When a seagull landed on their raft, Zamperini captured the bird and killed it for food.
Great Leaders Are Resourceful – Upon realizing the bird’s insides were not digestible, rather than throwing the bird in the ocean they used the meat for fishing purposes.
The Reality Of Heaven And Hell – When Zamperini asked Phil about God, the stars and death, Phil said, “You go on living the best you can. You try to have some fun along the way. Then it’s over and there’s an angel at the end of your bed.”
Great Leaders Have Integrity. They Keep Their Word – While a raging storm at sea, Zamperini said, “If you get me through this I swear I’ll dedicate my whole life to you. Please.” These were promises kept by Zamperini.
Christianity And Death – During an initial prison camp scene, Phil and Zamperini both felt they were about to be executed. Phil’s Christian faith gave him a sense of peace. On the other hand, Zamperini reacted with a great sense of fear and panic.
Great Leaders Are Survivors – A fellow prison captive said, “We beat them by making it to the end of the war alive. That’s our revenge.”
Great Leaders Make You Think You Are Better Than You Really Are – Zamperini said, “My brother Pete said I could do anything. He made me think I’m better than I really am.” The words sustained Zamperini while being tortured.
Great Leaders Do Not Take Shortcuts – The Japanese offered Zamperini an easy life if he would only defame America. Rather than compromising his principles, Zamperini chose to return to the prison camp where he faced certain tortured by the camp’s leader, Mutsuhiro Watanabe know as “The Bird”.
Great Leaders Make Great Sacrifices – Rather than watch a fellow prisoner beaten, Zamperini took countless punches to the face in his place.
Great Leaders Have Unimaginable Perseverance And Resiliency. Great Leaders Do Not Quit. – It is truly indescribable the level of suffering experienced by Zamperini. The lesson for all leaders is few if any of us have his level of inner-strength. However, we still need to persevere and be resilient during whatever trials we may face.
Forgiveness Is Stronger Than Hate – I am so glad Jolie chose to note Zamperini kept his promise to follow Jesus. She also acknowledged he returned to Japan where he located and forgave his captors. It is true – hard times will make you better or bitter. Zamperini shows us what happens when a person chooses to forgive.
A True Prison Camp – Had Zamperini not chosen to forgive The Bird and his other captors, he may have physically left the prison camp in the 1940s, but he would have still remained enslaved to them the remainder of his life.

Once again, I cannot recommend enough EVERYONE go see this movie. Zamperini’s life is an example to all of us facing crisis and struggling with bitterness.

11 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders You Want To Hire In 2015

There are a number of churches, business, non-profits and athletic teams reading this post who will be looking to hire great leaders in 2015. Do you have a decision-grid in which to make your selection or is this process intuitive? Chemistry matters, right?
Well, chemistry is important but there also has to be a well thought-out framework for evaluation. This framework should identify the credentials needed in selecting your leader. In his incredible new book The Game Plan: The Art Of Building A Winning Football Team, legendary general manager Bill Polian shares the decision process he created in 1994 while hiring the expansion Carolina Panthers first head coach and Tony Dungy for the Indianapolis Colts. These thoughts will help you make equally effective decisions when hiring leaders in 2015.
The following are 11 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders You Want To Hire In 2015:

Organization – Polian states this “ranges from how he organizes his playbook to practice plans, from year-round staff assignments to his off-season program.” In other words, how he conducts business on a day-to-day basis. In addition, as a leader you must be able to explain the details of your organization to those you report to while demonstrating a clear understanding of your plan.
Leadership – Polian’s definition of leadership is “the philosophical approach, verbal skills, physical presence, stability and courage to lead and motivate the coaching staff, players, and support staff.”
Communication – This includes verbal, written and listening skills. Can you sell your program, department or area of ministry to key stakeholders? Are you approachable? Is your communication two-way or one-way?
Emotional Stability – The only difference between anger and danger is a “d”. Can you handle pressure? Are you composed and have a plan when things go wrong or do you make knee-jerk reactions? Do you have the ability to keep people focused during times of crisis?
Vision – Polian feels this is the most important quality when looking for a leader. Do you have a clear picture of where you want to take your organization? Can you communicate this in a way that causes others to follow? What is interesting is what Polian adds, “Can he (the coach) make long-term decisions in order to implement his vision when pressure is great for him to make a short-term, quick-fix decision?” In other words, how committed are you as the leader to your own vision?
Strategy – Are you mentally prepared or reactionary? Do people feel you are an effective decision-maker? You must also be able to explain your decisions in a coherent fashion to the press and those you report to.
Flexibility – Blessed are the flexible for they will never be bent out of shape. The speed of change in our world is constantly accelerating. Can you adjust to current trends, rule changes, legal changes and the changing personalities and the cultural differences we see in our society? Great leaders also understand changing tactics can be done without changing your core values and fundamentals.
Ability To Judge Talent – My former boss John Maxwell used to always say, “There’s gold in them there pews.” What John was saying is great leaders always see potential in their people. They are your only appreciable asset as a church, business, non-profit or athletic team. Your opinion of your team will greatly determine the level of your team’s success. One of Dungy’s greatest qualities was “he knows his system and understands the relative value of personnel within that system.”
Public Relations – A leadership position has public responsibilities. First, are you a continual learner? You are constantly answering questions in public forums from parishioners, stockholders, the media and others. This is a skill which continually needs improving. Dealing with the public is a leadership obligation. Can you also make converts of those you are speaking to?
Respect From Others – Will those you lead look up to you? Discipline and coaching are key areas where leaders gain or lose respect. Is your approach fair? Can you raise people up without burning bridges?
Character – The greatest leadership tragedy is when a person’s talent takes them to a place where their character cannot sustain them. What a waste! When hiring a leader, your final questions should always be do you want this man or woman representing your organization?

I recommend The Game Plan: The Art Of Building A Winning Football Team for all leaders, sports fans or otherwise. Along with Creativity, Inc., it one of the top two best leadership books I have read in the past year .

Thursday, December 25, 2014

10 Practices Of The Most Frustrating Leaders

I have worked for several leaders who were a source of constant frustration for me and my teammates. It seemed the greatest impediment to our team’s success was overcoming our leader. If you work long enough you will also eventually encounter someone similar.
As leaders, we must make sure we do everything within our power not to become Frustrating Leaders as well. We must recognize the warning signs and make course corrections immediately before losing influence.
Recently, TheRichest.com ranked its Top 10 Current Athletes Who Frustrate Their Teammates. You can read the list more in-depth by clicking here. I felt the article provided a wonderful profile of the behaviors of leaders who frustrate their teammates. This is something all leaders must know in order to reach their full potential.
The following are the 10 Practices Of The Most Frustrating Leaders:

The Most Frustrating Leaders Are Not Available – The most important ability a leader must have is availability. New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was noted for being constantly injured and unable to perform.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Do Not Put In The Proper Amount Of Effort – The most successful organizations have leaders who are their hardest workers. Despite being a three-time MVP, Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin is criticized for his lack of hustle and support of his teammates on the ice.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Have A Lack Of Production In Critical Moments – Tom Brady says, “To me what separates really good players from great players – executive well under pressure. The biggest game. The biggest stage.” The Houston Rockets Dwight Howard lack urgency revealed itself in mid-season losses in big games against Oklahoma City and Indiana.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Constantly Make Poor Decisions – Dallas Stars goalie Tim Thomas declined the traditional White House visit after his 2011 Stanley Cup victory with the Boston Bruins.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Create Too Much Drama – Leaders should relieve drama, not create it. In addition to a perceived poor relationship with teammates and coaches, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger seems to over-exagerate injuries further angering his teammates.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Lack Self-Awareness – Few things are as worse as when the king has no clothes. I am surprised Alex Rodriguez is not ranked even higher. Despite wanting to be liked by everyone, few athletes in history have been more despised than Rodriguez. This reached a new low when he sued his own players union.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Are Selfish – Leaders are to serve others, not be served. AC Milan’s Mario Balotelli has a long and dubious history of constantly putting his personal interest ahead of the team’s.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Lack Personal Discipline – The hardest person to lead is yourself. In addition to several comical errors on the field, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig came into this season overweight and has also benched for tardiness.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Are High Maintenance – If your team has to overcome you to achieve success, you are a frustrating leader. Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is a constant source of headaches for teammates, management and officials. His inability to get along with others culminated by being dismissed from Team USA Basketball as they prepared for the London Olympics.
The Most Frustrating Leaders Constantly Make Excuses – Leaders focus on producing results while not making excuses. Despite his immense talent, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has only had two 1,000 yard seasons and his teams have never finished above 8-8. He always excuses his explosive temper away by discussing his “passion” for the game.

If any of these 10 practices describes your leadership, you are frustrating those you are called to serve. The good news is there is still time to change and make the necessary improvements.

3 Things A Pastor Should Never Delegate

There are perks to leadership and there is a price to leadership. One cost of leadership is there are some items which simply must be owned by leaders and cannot be delegated to others. This is especially true for pastors.
In Ilan Machori’s Inc.com article entitled “3 Things A CEO Should Never Delegate.” entrepreneur Dan Shapiro, who recently sold his company Sparkbuy to Google, is profiled. His upcoming book Startup CEO Secrets shares what his learnings from those experiences.
As he discussed those things CEOs should never delegate, I felt the information had significant application for pastors. Read the following 3 Things A Pastor Should Never Delegate and see if you agree.

Fundraising – Kings talk to kings and financial leaders want to speak with the pastor. Machori says, “Investors will always want a direct line to the CEO.” The same is true with pastors. Whether documented or not, all experienced pastors know one of their primary job responsibilities is CFO – Chief Fundraising Officer.
Financial Leader Relations – A financial leader is anyone who tithes $10,000 or more annually OR the top 10% of those giving to your church. Wise pastors know relationships with these individuals is critical to the success of the church. Financial leaders who are fully-engaged help ministry go farther, faster. Listen to Machori’s brilliant insights, “Fundraising is the actual act of raising money…Investor relations are all of the conversations you’ll have with your investors afterwards, explaining to them how you’re spending the money…if you’re building a company for the long-haul, you will know these investors for a long time…happy investors will continue to nourish your company and help it grow.”
Church Culture – The pulpit drives the ministry. Therefore, like it or not, the pastor becomes the embodiment of the vision. The pastor should be the desired destination at which others should wish to arrive. Shapiro concludes, “Whatever the culture is, it comes from the leader.” He goes on, “You may be forming a cult of personality around your best or worst quirks…try to guide it toward something positive.”

Fundraising, Financial Leader Relations and Church Culture. These 3 Things A Pastor Should Never Delegate. Pastors, is engaging financial leaders difficult for you? If so, tell us why.

One Thing Every Church Must Have To Disciple Next Generation Christians

Each week I try to give pastors and Christian leaders to a quality resource which will help them succeed in your ministry efforts. This week I want to introduce you to my good friend Matt Steen. Matt runs the popular website ChurchThought.com and along with Todd Rhoades has helped countless church leaders.
I was speaking with Matt earlier this week and he was sharing me the work he is doing helping churches with digital giving. I thought the statistics he gave along the services he provides should be passed on to you. After reading the information below, if your church needs to purchase a kiosk or put into place the technology necessary to begin digital giving, please contact Matt. He will treat you right and give you the best pricing available.
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In my role as Senior Vice President of eGive, I get to help churches implement online giving strategies. Working at eGive is a great deal of fun for me because I love the local church, I love hearing what God is up to in churches all over the country, and I love knowing that I am helping churches better fund their ministries. While I have been an advocate of online giving for quite some time, I was pretty shocked by some of the statistics that I came across while putting together a report on why online giving works for churches:

According to the 2013 State of the Plate survey, 36% of church members donated electronically.
As of 2012, 42% of churches offered online giving. That’s a jump from 11% in 2011.
Online giving for faith-based organizations grew by 18.1% in 2013, the largest increase in any sector.
A 2011 report found that online giving increased donations by 10-30%.
63% of churches with a budget surplus used online giving in a 2012 survey.

If you are interested in checking out our report, click here for your free copy of Why Online Giving Works for Churches.
The stats are impressive, online giving is on the rise in the nonprofit world… but this isn’t why your church needs to consider offering online giving.
The benefits of online giving are numerous (like minimizing the summer giving slump)… but this isn’t why your church needs to consider offering online giving.

For me, online giving is ultimately a discipleship decision:
Churches who do not offer an alternative to the traditional offering plate are placing a significant roadblock in the paths of Millennials and Gen-Xers who want to worship through giving, but typically do not carry cash or checks.
How is YOUR church approaching online giving?
Interested in learning more about how eGive can serve your church? Click here and let’s talk!

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

4 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders Who Help Others Achieve Their Full Potential

Helping others achieve their full potential is one of the most important things leaders can do. The most insightful leaders have learned over time some secrets to ensuring success in this area.
Hall of Famer pitcher Nolan Ryan holds the record for the most career no-hitters with seven. However, I bet you don’t know who holds the record for catching the most no-hitters. This honor goes to former Boston Red Sox Jason Varitek with four.
A May 10th, 2010 Sporting News article recapped Varitek’s thoughts from each historic effort. The following are 4 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders Who Help Others Achieve Their Full Potential from the former Red Sox captain.

Highly Successful Leaders Who Help Others Achieve Their Full Potential Are Aggressive - Hideo Nomo (April 4, 2001) “stayed aggressive…and kept the hitters on the defensive.” Great leaders are not passive. They are catalysts and agents of change. Leaders are constantly moving forward and taking people somewhere.
Highly Successful Leaders Who Help Others Achieve Their Full Potential Provide Stability - Derek Lowe (April 27, 2002) and Varitek had been teammates since the minor leagues in 1995. While leaders are agents of change, they also bring security and stability to the organization. This stability allows their teams time to develop and mature resulting in success over time.
Highly Successful Leaders Who Help Others Achieve Their Full Potential Sense And Seize Opportunity - Clay Buchholz (September 1, 2007) went into the game with Varitek not realizing his full capabilities. Afterwards, Buchholz became a mainstay in the rotation. Opportunity has a twin brother named preparation. John Wooden once said “When opportunity presents itself, it’s too late to prepare.”
Highly Successful Leaders Who Help Others Achieve Their Full Potential Give Their Team’s Confidence - Jon Lester (May 19, 2008) had been previously diagnosed with lymphoma and was having difficulty gripping the ball on that windy, cool day. However, Varitek noted “his confidence kicked in around the sixth inning, and he became a different pitcher.” Leaders make a conscious effort to install confidence in their team members.

Aggressiveness, Stability, Opportunity and Confidence. Give those on your team these 4 things and you will likely help others achieve their full potential.

Monday, December 22, 2014

25 Leadership Lessons For Parents

Michael Lukaszewski and I are great friends. Prior to rejoining the Injoy Stewardship Solutions team (more on that next week) we worked together for the last year at The Rocket Company. He has just authored an amazing parenting book entitled “No Matter What: 10 Lessons From A Father“. I cannot recommend this book enough. You can order your copy HERE or on the image to the left.
The following are 25 Leadership Lessons For Parents from the book No Matter What every parent should read:

“The most important book I’ve ever written is aimed squarely at a micro slice of the population…my three children.”
“I think the most important things fathers leave their children are wisdom and knowledge, memories and love.”
“When I put you to bed, I tell you ‘I will always love you no matter what.’ I want you to grow up knowing that. I want you to know it’s not your performance or obedience that keeps our relationship strong.”
“I’ve often wondered why terrible things like slavery, genocide and homelessness happen on wide scales. I don’t image people wake up with a natural acceptance of these things. But gradually, bad things become normal. We accept them, and we’re inoculated to their horror.”
“Anyone can (and will) join a movement when it’s popular and comfortable. But it takes a person of strength and integrity to stand up and stand out from the crowd.”
“Here’s what I know about God: Who He is trumps what you’ve done. Our sin is a big deal, but God’s grace is even bigger.”
“God is a God of second chances. He wants to do the right thing and make the right choices. He wants us to follow Him with our lives. He wants us to trust Him with our whole hearts. But when we don’t, He doesn’t abandon us.”
“The name-calling will sting for a brief moment, but you will learn it doesn’t really matter because there are far greater insults that may come your way…One of the realities of life is people will say hurtful things to you and you will feel pain.”
“You can’t control other people’s actions. You can’t reach into their lives and make decisions for them. You’re also not responsible for other people’s actions. But you can control your own actions. And you are responsible for your own behavior.”
“Doing easy stuff won’t bring you deep satisfaction. But accomplishing hard things will.”
“Look beneath the surface and you’ll find natural talent is cultivated through years of practice.”
“Real accomplishments are measured in days and years, not in seconds and minutes.”
“Today, young people are starting things, making things, and building things. There are people younger than you serving people, helping people and making a difference. Youth is not a barrier to accomplishment if you’re willing to do the work.”
“Going to church is a good thing, but it’s not the same as putting your faith in Jesus and becoming a Christian.”
“I look back on my time in church and my decision to follow Jesus, I don’t regret it one bit. I might have missed some of the things other people did, but most of those things turned out to be harmful.”
“God’s way isn’t always popular, but it is always best.”
“Adults don’t only compare themselves to other adults; they compare their kids to other people’s kids.”
“Comparison is a depressing friend, sharing a drink from the pitcher of pity.”
“I’d rather you spend your time and energy trying to be like the real heroes all around us. Hollywood doesn’t tell their stories in blockbuster movies,and the news doesn’t report on their actions. But everyday civil servants, doctors, nurses, teachers, pastors and people from all walks of life perform unreported heroic acts.”
“Back in the 1960s, people said their biggest influences in life were parents, teachers and pastors. Today, friends and media are at the top of the list.”
“Foolish people might know the right thing to do, but they make decisions based on feelings instead of principles.”
“I’d choose people (as friends) who loved Jesus and the church.”
“I hope you do great things that matter. But even if people forget your accomplishments, they won’t forget you took the time to be a friend when it mattered most.”
“Money helps meet your needs but won’t ultimately satisfy your soul.”
“One of the reasons I want you to have money is so you can be in a position to respond to God when He gives you opportunities…Broke people can’t give.”

I told you Michael’s thoughts were worth reading. Once again, click HERE or on the image below and order his book today.

6 Mistakes Irrelevant Churches Made

“Everybody wants to be relevant. We want to be relevant personally. We want to be relevant in our businesses.” – Rick Warren

I agree with Pastor Rick’s words from a recent TED Talk. No one purposefully wants to become irrelevant and neither does a church. So how does a once-thriving, prevailing church suddenly become irrelevant? When you inspect it closely, it was not a sudden transition at all. There were warning signs.
After close inspection, the following are 6 Mistakes Irrelevant Churches Made comes to the forefront.

Irrelevant Churches Made The Mistake Of Resisting Change – General Erick Shineki says, “If you don’t like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less.” To support General Shineki’s comments, the last 10 words of a dying church are “We’ve Never Done It That Way Before. We’re Not Changing.”
Irrelevant Churches Made The Mistake Of Having A False Sense Of Security – Irrelevance must be combated with diligence. “Irrelevance could never happen to us” proclaims many church leaders. However, the natural default mode of every church is to drift towards comfort and irrelevance. Carey Nieuwhof said at the recent Orange Conference, “Irrelevance is always subtle, but inevitable.”
Irrelevant Churches Made The Mistake Of Ignoring The Next Generation – Irrelevance was also be combated with intentionality. Nieuwhof goes on to add, “If you’re a leader and you’re over 40 you’re going to have to work to stay relevant and you’re going to have to work to stay around young leaders.”
Irrelevant Churches Made The Mistake Of Ignoring Their Changing Communities – Warren goes on to add, “When the speed of change around an organization is faster than the speed of change within the organization, the organization becomes irrelevant.” In the North Atlanta area where I live, there are dozens of former urban Mega and SuperMega churches which are dying because their communities became multi-cultural while they remained a homogenous caucasian congregation. The speed of the community changed faster than the speed of the church.
Irrelevant Churches Made The Mistake Of Not Taking Risks - In Ed Catmull’s phenomenal book Creativity, Inc, he observes, “Being too risk-averse causes many companies to stop innovating and to reject new ideas, which is the first step on the path to irrelevance.” The same is true with churches.
Irrelevant Churches Made The Mistake Of Thinking They Had More Time – Are your services programmed to reach your changing community and next generation? Churches must target the next generation. They must be green and growing. If not, your decline towards irrelevance is accelerating. Warren concludes, “Everything is getting faster…Nothing is slowing down. The tendency towards irrelevance is much faster than it was 10 years ago.”

So I ask you, after reading the 6 Mistakes Irrelevant Churches Made, is your church in danger of becoming irrelevant? If so, what are you prepared to do to reverse this decline?

The Power Of The Personal Pain A Christian Leader Faces

Today I am being dispatched by Injoy Stewardship Solutions (ISS) (check out a free gift from them below) to attend Day 2 of the Purpose Driven Leadership Conference. In an effort to grow in my skills to better add value to pastors and church leaders, I will be live blogging throughout.
David Chrzan, Saddleback Church’s Chief of Staff along with Jim and Jennifer Cowart, Founding Pastors of Harvest Church continued their teaching in the next session. The following were their thoughts on Purpose Driven Leadership. Pay particular attention to the lessons on personal pain:

The preacher is the hired salesman. The testimony is the satisfied customer. – David
Use testimonies to model the behavior you want repeated. – David
You don’t want the guy who wants to give his testimony every week and do it publically. – David
One of the least understood things about life is there is unity and understanding in pain. – David
I want to invest in your dreams but I don’t want to fund your failures. – David
You’re only as sick as your secrets. – David
Your greatest ministry is not going to come out of your success. Your greatest ministry is going to come out of your deepest pain. – David

Additional Leadership Thoughts:

We often miss what is already coming in the calendar. Christmas and Easter should be your Super Bowl Sundays. – David
The emphasis is shifting from Easter to Christmas. Christmas is a whole season. – David
Throw away the broken toys. The nursery is the last place to get funding and parents will not come back to a church with a bad nursery. – Jennifer
Are you friendly to your friends or are you friendly to everybody? – Jennifer
We have a 3-Minute Rule. Spend the first three minutes after a service speaking to someone they didn’t know. – Jim
Unless you as a pastor have shared your story about where you are, your people don’t want to hear about your private devotional life…They don’t care about what you’re learning. – David
In seminary we’re taught to convey information. You can have a bunch of information and be mean as a snake…The goal of preaching is a call to an action. You were asked to do something. You want your people to get better. – Jim
Our church is going to look like what Heaven is. We want you to get used to it now…We want to be a church where anyone can feel at home. – David
The #1 question first-time visitors ask is not a theological question. They are asking a sociological question. And there asking it with their eyes. They look around the room and ask, “Is there anyone else in the room like me.” – David
Jesus LOVED “Those People”. – David

This has been a great event.

As a special gift to everyone reading this post, ISS is pleased to offer our latest resource Nothing Grows A Church Faster absolutely FREE. This complimentary eBook contains 5 sermon outlines you can use this fall to speak on money and possessions. Click HERE or on the image to the left to receive your copy today. Enjoy!!!

4 Questions Christian Leaders Must Answer About Money

Because of Christmas and year-end giving, December is one of the most generous times of the year for Christians. However, for many it is also a time of great financial stress. It is my desire for you to have the most joy-filled Christmas as possible and winning with your finances God’s way is a significant part of this.
Recently, I have had numerous conversations about the subject of year-end giving. This prompted me to revisit some old sermon notes from my pastor Dr. Crawford Loritts. To reveal the current condition of your heart, Dr. Loritts identified 4 Questions Every Christian Must Ask And Answer About Money And Generosity:

Has money become too big a deal to you?
Where is your money going?
Is your heart divided?
Is God enough?

The following are 17 truths about money and possessions he then gave to assist in answering these important questions. These truths, if applied, will assist you in becoming the generous Christian God has called you to be:

The Bible knows nothing of a private Christianity.
Money is not neutral.
A right attitude toward money is a mark of mature spirituality. If you’re not giving don’t tell me how spiritual you are.
Generosity is not determined by how much we have. Generosity is determined by our gratitude.
Don’t be selfish and short-sided in the use of the resources God has given to us. Noticed I said, “given to us”, not earned.
Decide which direction you send your money. If my passion is tied up in that which is transient, it’s going to go somewhere. Use all you have for the glory of God.
Money leads your heart. Use resources to direct your heart.
It is not wrong to possess things. It is wrong for things to possess us.
How you use money reveals and determines the condition of your heart.
Don’t hunger for what is not yours.
Keep your heart and mind pure concerning money and possessions.
Don’t judge other people.
Don’t let money stand between you and God.
Make the decision to make right decisions about money. Money is not passive.
Make your money worship God. Tell it where to go.
If money is our objective, we will pay a great price for that money.
The most materialistic people are the ones struggling to get it.

What is one thing you learned from these lessons which you can apply today?