Friday, March 27, 2015

7 Things Every Leader Must Quit Now

By Ron Edmondson

All leaders need to know—and avoid—these unhealthy traps.

I work with a lot of hurting leaders, mostly who lead within our churches. My most recent Ministers Health Survey revealed there are some genuine concerns among our church’s leadership.
I’ve often wished I could say something to every leader. There are some things I’ve learned the hard way. I often share things leadership should do, but today I thought it wise to share some things not to do.

Here are seven things every leader needs to quit:

Measuring success compared to another’s success

Your leadership will not be like someone else’s leadership. It’s not designed to be. You’ll likely be successful in ways other leaders aren’t. Some of those may be visible and measurable, but some may not be.
The goal should be to be the best leader you can be and measure your success by your obedience to being the leader God has designed you to be.

Don’t Miss

Pretending to have all the answers

There’s an unfair expectation many leaders face to be the person with the answer in every situation. Seriously, how’s that working for you?
The sooner you admit you don’t have all the answers, the quicker your team will be willing to fill in your gaps.

Trying to be popular

If you want to be popular, be a celebrity. If you want to be a leader, be willing to do the hard tasks to take people where they need (and probably want to go) but may be resistant to along the way.
Leadership can be lonely at times. Be prepared.

Leading alone

Just because leadership can be lonely doesn’t mean you have to lead alone. Good leaders surround themselves with people who care, people who can hold them accountable and sharpen their character and their faith.
If you have a tendency to separate yourself from others, stop now and reach out to someone. Take a bold risk of being vulnerable and release some of the weight of responsibility you feel.

Acting like it doesn’t hurt

When people you trust betray you … it hurts. When people rebel against your leadership … it hurts. On days where it seems you have more enemies than friends … it hurts. Don’t pretend it doesn’t.
You won’t lead well if you’re a crybaby, but you should have some outlets where you can share your pain.

Trying to control every outcome

Three reasons not to: 1) It doesn’t work. 2) It limits others. 3) It’s not right. Leadership is not about control. It’s about relational influence.
When you control others, you limit people to your abilities. When you empower people, you limit people to their combined abilities as a team … and there’s strength in numbers.

Ignoring the warning signs of burnout

At some point in your leadership, if you really are leading through the deep waters of change, relational differences or simply the stress of wearing the leader hat, you’ll face burnout.
When you start to have more negative thoughts than positive thoughts, when the pressure of leadership is unbearable for a long period of time or when your leadership starts to negatively impact your physical or emotional health or your relationships, it’s time to seek help.
Be honest: Which of these do you most need to quit?
What else would you advise leaders to quit?

Ron Edmondson is a pastor and church leader passionate about planting churches, helping established churches thrive, and assisting pastors and those in ministry think through leadership, strategy and life. Ron has over 20 years business experience, mostly as a self-employed business owner, and he's been helping church grow vocationally for over 10 years. More from Ron Edmondson or visit Ron at http://www.ronedmondson.com/

Thursday, March 26, 2015

3 Financial Mistakes Which Will Sink Pastors And Their Ministry

One of the things that will sink a pastor’s ministry faster than nearly anything else is a mishandling of the church finances. In today’s climate, there is no margin for error when it comes to how you as a church leader handle financial decisions.
And it is not just the choices you make with church finances. Every aspect of your financial life and leadership is under the microscope when you are in ministry. This is why I recommend to all pastors and church leaders I interact with the team at MAG Bookkeeping.
Led by Bryan Miles and his wife Shannon, MAG Bookkeeping is an organization which helps churches maintain financial accountability. Once again, there is no one I recommend more. Click the links and image provided to learn more about this great organization.
The following are 3 Financial Mistakes Which Will Sink Pastors And Their Ministry MAG consistently sees church leaders making, and more importantly, how to avoid them. Please read their thoughts and guest blog below:

Not being a financial leader. There’s a reason the Bible has so many verses dealing with money – the writers knew it would be a central issue in our lives here on Earth. As a senior leader in your church, you need to be directing your congregation to what the Bible says about how they should handle their money. Messages around generosity and giving should be frequently integrated into your ministry, not just once a year when you’re falling short of your budgeted giving amount or when the fiscal year is ending. You as the leader need to model generosity to your congregation as well.
Not managing personal finances well. When you’re speaking to your congregation about generosity and giving, do you understand that many (if not most) of the people hearing you are staggering under a huge weight of personal debt? Maybe they’d like to increase their giving to your ministry, but they don’t see any way to make that happen with their personal financial obligations. And if you as their spiritual leader are in the same place, you can’t exactly ask them to increase their giving if you’re not able to do it yourself. Ministry leaders, for better or worse, are going to have every aspect of their lives – including their personal finances – heavily scrutinized and often judged in the court of public opinion. Not having your personal finances in order could lead to a huge explosion that will sink your ministry efforts.
Not having proper oversight. Church finances are complex – as are the finances of church leaders. Even people with decades of experience in tax law and accounting may not understand the nuances of church finance. Find the right advisors and experts to help you manage both your personal and church finances. Check references, check experiences, and check the rules yourself so you have at least a working understanding of the law to compare against the advice you receive. If you need help finding those resources, contact us at MAG Bookkeeping – we’re happy to help point you in the right directions.

We really do believe, as you do, that the local church is the most important thing in the world. It’s the tool God has chosen to spread His gospel, and the people through which He’s working day in and day out. And because it’s so important, it’s crucial for you as a leader to steward it well. We’re here to help you do that at MAG Bookkeeping – just let us know!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

15 Practices Of Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant

One of the greatest mistakes churches have made for decades is the marginalization and sometimes outright dismissal of aging Christian leaders. I have had a front row seat to watch this play for over three decades. Being a 49-year-old man, this deeply concerns me because there is a chance if I do not stay relevant, continually learn and “think young”, I too may be dismissed in the near future.
Today, I came across a USA Today article entitled 15 over 50: Older actors still hot in Hollywood. As I read what made each actor and actress remain relevant, I felt the lessons had tremendous application for both myself and all other aging Christian leaders.
The following are 15 Practices Of Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant we learn from those in Hollywood:

Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Continually Takes Risks – Tom Cruise’s action sequences, particularly in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocal, continues to draw large audiences.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Play To Their Strengths – Harrison Ford is reprising his role of Hans Solo in the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Continually Surprise Us – While playing to your strengths is important, Bill Murray has taught us so is being eccentric and continually surprising us with your creativity.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Stay Busy – Relevant leaders stay active and in front of their constituents. Samuel L. Jackson will be in four movies scheduled to be released in 2015.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Respect The Next Generation – With 19 Oscar nominations to her credit, Meryl Streep is generally considered the greatest actress alive. However, she is equally beloved by insiders for the respect she has for those in her industry.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Connect With Others – Angela Bassett’s ability to connect with real life African-American women is generally considered t0 be one of her greatest strengths.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Have Developed Many Talents – They are not one-trick ponies. J.K. Simmons can do comedy, drama, horror and voice-overs.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Address Difficult Issues – Great aging leaders are not passive. They lean into issues and problems. John Leguizamo is one of Hollywood’s most outspoken critics of the typecasting of Hispanics.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Are Statesmen – Alfre Woodard is often admired for her grace and intelligence.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Expand Their Platforms – They want to continually make a larger impact in the lives of people. In addition to still being an A-list actor, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment production company ensures his relevance for many years to come.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Utilize Humor – Humor is your friend. People simply enjoy being around leaders who do not take themselves so seriously. Helen Mirren brings wit, charm and a sense of winsomeness to each role she plays.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Understand Pop Culture – They stay with the times. Julianne Moore continually engages pop culture.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Keep Young People Around Them – As in-demand as George Clooney was as a bachelor, he has gone to another level after his marriage with Amal Alamuddin.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Are Deeply Respected – Morgan Freeman brings a sense of moral authority to every role he plays.
Aging Leaders Who Stay Relevant Place Their Family First – Regardless of your age, leadership begins at home. The best leaders get this one right. Sandra Bullock is very selective of her roles after the adoption of her daughter.

Take Risks, Place To Your Strengths, Surprise Us, Remain Busy, Respect The Next Generation, Connect With People, Have Many Talents, Address Issues, Be Intelligent, Expand Your Platform, Use Humor, Understand Pop Culture, Keep Young People Around You, Be Respected and Place Family First. If you practice these 15 things, you too may be an aging leader who remains relevant.

Monday, March 23, 2015

5 Examples of Leading Outside the Norm

By Ron Edmondson

“In informal leadership environments, the way a leader leads is often more important than the knowledge or management abilities of the leader.”

Leadership is so much different today than when I first started leading over 30 years ago. To lead today we must learn to think outside the once considered normal lines of leadership.

Much has been written about the informal aspects of leadership being as important as the formal aspects of leadership. In addition to a set of systems and structures—for a leader to be successful today—leaders must engage a team. We must build team spirit. Energize. Motivate. Engage. Even sympathize. Those have always been important, but these days they may trump some of our policies and procedures.
In informal leadership environments, the way a leader leads is often more important than the knowledge or management abilities of the leader. Again, that may have always been important, but now it is critical.

Here are five examples of how a successful leader must lead in today’s environment:

Adapting leadership to followers’ individual needs and expectations
No more cookie-cutter leadership is allowed. Leaders must be wiling to individualize their leadership based on the current setting, economy and individualism of team members. We must know our teams uniquely and lead according to a person’s individual strengths and abilities.
Raising new leaders
Those on the team with the propensity or desire to lead must be given opportunity to help lead the organization. That’s not an option. Not only is this good for the organization by creating future leaders, it is key to keeping the best people on the team.
Balancing kindness or friendship with authority
John Maxwell’s axiom “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” has never been more true. People follow leaders they can trust. They follow leaders who believe in them and will invest in them. While leaders sometimes must make difficult and unpopular decisions, authoritarian leadership is not well received by today’s workforce.
Giving others ownership in the vision
People want and need to be stockholders—knowing they are making a difference with their work. To do that means they must have ownership in the vision and decision-making. Allowing a team to help shape the agenda helps assure their heart buys into completing the mission of the organization.

Creating for the greater good
Great leaders think beyond themselves. Even beyond their own team or the vision, goals and objectives of the organization. Today’s leaders must understand they play a part in a more global sense. We are much more connected these days through social media and online instant connections. The way an organization treats it’s employees, the environment and customers is considered important—and if it’s not done well—the world will know about it quickly.
Finding the right balance between a formal style of leadership where everything is clearly spelled out for people to follow and an informal style where a team helps to shape the course of action is critical to an organization’s success. In many ways, after 30 plus years of leadership, I’m from an “old school.” I’m still learning—and relearning.
But I know this: Leaders today must continually strive to find that balance.

You Can’t Follow Fear

You Can’t Follow Fear: 5 Signs Fear’s Getting the Best of You as a Leader

By Carey Nieuwhof

“Most leaders I talk to struggle with fear in one measure or another.”

Want to know what might be holding back your leadership?
Fear.
Most leaders I talk to struggle with fear in one measure or another.
Fear can be so difficult to wrestle down until you realize how fatal fear is to leadership.
What’s so problematic with the fear that lives inside leaders? It’s simple.
You can’t follow fear.
Fear will try to kill your courage, your leadership and any progress you’re making because it knows if it wins it can disable your mission and it can disable you.
Here’s why unchecked fear will disarm effective leadership every time. Leadership is about taking people places.
Fear doesn’t know where it’s going.
Fear only knows where it’s not going.
As a result, no one can follow fear. You can’t. And definitely the people you lead can’t. Because fear doesn’t go anywhere except backward or sideways.
And yet (be honest), fear is a constant companion for many leaders.
So how do you know whether fear is getting the best of you as a leader?
Here are five signs that show that fear is undermining your leadership:

1. You avoid doing the right thing because you fear a backlash.

Fear makes you sell your soul. Not all at once, but in little pieces over time.
You stop being a person of principle and start being a pragmatist, not in the best sense of pragmatism, but calculated pragmatism at its worst.
And in the process, you even lose respect for yourself.

2. You imagine reactions to change more than you imagine the benefits of change.

If this is true, you’ve stopped running offense. You only run defense.
You stop leading out of conviction. You only now worry about how people will react.
When you won’t lead because of any anticipated reactions, fear has won.

3. You decide not to say something because you are afraid of the response.

Eventually, fear doesn’t just impact your decisions, it even cripples conversations that could lead to action.
Fear will make you hesitant in your conversations and meetings because you are afraid of the email, the complaint, the gossip or whatever else might ensue because of what you have to say. When that’s true, fear has taught you to unfriend the truth.
You don’t even like yourself any more because you feel like you are two persons—who you used to be, and then who you’ve become.

4. Your reactions become unhealthy.

Often we get angry at fear, but we get angry in unhealthy ways. Rather than staring fear in the face, we take our frustration out on someone or something else.
Maybe it shows up in aggressive driving. Or maybe because you can’t control things at work any more you try to control everything in your home. Or you fly off the handle with your spouse or kids.
Sometimes being the ‘nice’ guy at work when you should have been the brave guy means you stop being the nice guy at home.

5. You’ve stopped dreaming.

This is the worst of all. And it’s a sure sign that fear is winning or has won.
You stop leading from what is possible and start leading from what is probable, uninspired as that is. You stop dreaming and start dreading.
Hope is a hallmark of the Christian faith, but you don’t hope anymore. Fear killed hope.

Want Something Good to Fear? Fear This.

So what’s the antidote to fear?
While there are a few, believe it or not, I think one of the antidotes to fear is the fear of the right thing.
If you’re going to be afraid, I suggest you fear this:
Be afraid of never accomplishing your mission.
That will give you courage, or at least determination. And that in turn, will grow your faith.
Unlike fear, courage knows where it’s going. It has a destination. It leads somewhere. It looks ahead, not back.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear. Every courageous person I know deals with fear. Courage is just a decision that fear won’t win.
So today … be courageous. Tell fear it won’t win. Just lead, as frightening as that might sound. You’ll be so glad you did.
If you want more, no one writes about fear better these days than Jon Acuff. Not only is he awesome, he punches fear in the face. Click this link to check out some of his best writing on fear, and maybe start with this post, 10 Things Fear Fears. It’s brilliant.
In the meantime, what signs do you see that fear might be undermining your leadership?
What are you doing about it?

Carey Nieuwhof is Lead Pastor of Connexus Church north of Toronto, Canada, blogs at www.careynieuwhof.com and is host of The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast available for free on iTunes. More from Carey Nieuwhof or visit Carey at http://careynieuwhof.com

41 Leadership Lessons And Quotes From Do You Believe? The Movie

Do you believe? Yes I do!!! Today, my family had the incredible privilege to watch the movie Do You Believe? It is the best movie I have seen since God’s Not Dead. Do not miss this incredible film. It is a gift to the Body of Christ.
Do You Believe chronicles the stories of 12 individuals who comes to terms with the cross of Jesus Christ and what it means to each of them personally. It also vividly demonstrates the incredible tapestry God is weaving through human history and how individual stories are woven together.
The following are 41 Leadership Lessons And Quotes From Do You Believe? The Movie. As you read each of these, think about what the cross of Jesus Christ means to you. And this weekend, take your entire family to see this amazing motion picture.

Excellence Points People To Jesus Christ – The thing I love most about current Christian films is the excellence in which they are delivered. Do You Believe? features established stars like Sean Astin, Mira Sorvino, Lee Majors, Cybill Shepherd and Delroy Lindo. Along with Brian Bosworth, it is such a blessing to see such component and well-known actors and actresses using their gifts for God’s glory. Great acting!
Anything Sustainable Is Based Upon The Word Of God – There are streams in the Christian faith who advise people to avoid saying, “The Bible says.” I could not disagree more. Anything good and sustainable in this world has a Biblical foundation. The movie’s opening words are from James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead.”
“10 millions souls (are) looking for meaning. But how many find it?” – Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
“Thousands pass under the cross. But how many people know what it means?” – I Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
God Can Start A Movement With Courage And Conviction Of A Single Individual - God launched an entire series of events into motion by using a single street preacher played by Lindo. Perhaps God can start a great movement through you as well.
Leaders Go First – Majors’s character told his wife of 40 years, played by Shepherd, “We’re both going to die.” To which she replied, “If you were a gentleman, you would let me go first.”
There Are Unique Expectations For Christian Leaders – Pastor Matthew, played by Ted McGinley, said “The cross is bloodstained. It loves. It forgives. It demands.”
Christianity Demands Action – Pastor Matthew added, “It (the cross) should bring you to your knees and bring you to your feet.”
The Cross Alone Offers Hope To Everyone – Do not be fooled by counterfeit solutions or options. Pastor Matthew correctly points out, “The cross offers us a way out. The only way out.”
Jesus love you so much He keeps trying to reach you even until your last breath. – This is evidenced when EMT named Bobby leading a man to a personal relationship with Jesus just seconds before his death.
Leaders Must Overcome Great Challenges – Because of the unexpected passing of their only daughter, Majors told his wife, “We’ve turned our grief into our most prized possession.”
The Remedy To Grief And Selfishness Is Gratitude And Compassionate Service – Christian leaders are to leverage their gifts, resources and influence for the good of others, particularly those who are suffering and under-resourced. This also removes the attention from yourself and places it on Jesus and others.
Good Parents Do Whatever Is Necessary For The Good Of Their Children – Samantha, played wonderfully by Sorvino, made whatever sacrifices needed to meet the needs of her daughter Lily.
Responsible Christian Leaders Steward Their Time Well – Majors said, “I want to do more with the time I’ve got left.” He began by serving in a Salvation Army homeless shelter.
The Only Hope For The Suffering In This World Is Jesus Christ Working Though The Local Church – Upon meeting Samantha and Lily, Majors painfully discerned, “Every time it rains they sleep wet. Every time it’s cold they sleep cold.”
Pride Goes Before Destruction And A Haughty Spirit Before A Fall – Dr. Farell, played by Astin, said “I do His work. I should get the credit.”
Personal Pride Is An Unattractive Quality – Farell’s girlfriend advised him, “You’ve got a God complex.”
Great Leaders Have Great Faith – Refusing to lie about his faith, Bobby said, “I’m not trying to prove a point. I’m trying to be faithful.”
The Power Of Fathers – The question was asked in the movie, “What would you change if you were God?” My change would be every father would be a passionate believer in Jesus Christ who would die for his family. It was striking how many of the 12 stories did not include a father.
Great Leaders Make God-honoring Decisions – Little B’s, played by Arthur Cartwright, mother told him, “You’ve got voices pulling you in all different directions. There’s only one voice that matters.”
Leaders Are Not Passive – Obedience and compassion are not passive. When bad weather arrived, Majors said, “I’m going to get them (Samantha and Lily) while it’s cold, wet and raining.”
Pastors Have Amazing Influence. Steward It Well – Even a young man who was living a life of crime pointed out, “Sheep follow their shepherd.”
Great Leaders Focus On Legacy And The Next Generation – When discussing how his decision to remain faithful to biblical truth would impact their two sons, Bobby said, “I am thinking about the boys and how they I want them to turn out when they become men.”
Trying Times Reveal Personal Character – Trying times do not cause problems. They reveal them. A returning soldier with many regrets said, “The funny thing about war is it show you who you are, not who you want to be.”
God Can Use Anyone – A young lady told the same soldier, “I don’t know what you did over there but you saved me.”
We All Have A Past – It is the one thing everyone has in common. We all have a past. God can redeem it for His glory and still use you.
Great Leaders Have Great Character – When faced with possibility of losing his career, home and family because of his personal testimony, Bobby said, “If what I’ve done is a crime I’m proud to plead guilty.”
Christians Must Be Willing To Pay Whatever Price Necessary To Follow Jesus – A lawyer told Bobby who was being sued for sharing his faith, “This cross is going to cost you.”
Life Is Temporary And Should Not Be Wasted – Joe, played by Bosworth, said, “Everyone’s dying. I’m just at the head of the line.”
All Leaders Need Forgiveness And A Savior – When others learned Joe was part of a prison release compassion program, he acknowledged, “Jesus has a soft spot for sinners.”
Christianity Is A Crutch – Of course it is. But that is comforting for me because as Joe said, “We’re all broken.”
Jesus Is More Than Enough – Little B said to his abusive older brother after getting saved, “I’m already forgiven but not by you.”
Leaders Die As They Lived – When facing certain death, Pastor Matthew acknowledged his love and dependance upon Jesus.
When You Have A Relationship With Jesus Christ, You Are Never Alone – As he lay on his deathbed Joe said, “My whole life I’ve been afraid of dying alone.”
Christian Leaders Are Called To A Higher Standard - After saving the life of the lawyer who cost him his job, Bobby told her,”Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. I’ll be praying for you.”
Great Leaders Finish Well – Lying in the hospital with a broken leg, Majors said to Shepherd, “Have I told you I love you?” To which she replies, “Everyday for 40 years.”
Not Everyone Will Believe Despite The Overwhelming Evidence – Despite witnessing a significant miracle, Dr. Farell was still rejecting the love of Jesus at the movie’s end.
God Is Still In The Miracle Business – It is Jesus Christ who is the author and finisher of life.
“God really does love us.” - Yes, He does.
Christian Leaders Have a Great Destiny – The movie’s narrator concludes the movie with the following thoughts, “The genius of God’s handiwork will one day become clear. At the center of it all we’ll see the cross…I can’t wait to see His masterpiece.”
Not Everyone Will Believe Despite The Overwhelming Evidence – Despite witnessing a significant miracle, Dr. Farell was still rejecting the love of Jesus at the movie’s end.

Once again, make time this weekend to see this incredible movie. Once again, it truly is a gift from God. You will be blessed and encouraged. Let me know your thoughts after watching.

Friday, March 20, 2015

8 Lessons I Learned From Being Attacked By The Liberal Media

“Attacked” is such a strong word. I use this term only because it is what most people use in cases like this. A much better term would be “mentioned”. I was not attacked.
Today I was mentioned in an article by the liberal site Salon.com. Salon is described by Wikipedia as “a left-wing news aggregation website…It focuses on U.S. politics and current affairs, and on reviews and articles about music, books and films.”
The actual focus of article was author Malcolm Gladwell. One of the questions the article’s author Alex Pareene asks is, “Is Gladwell good or bad for America?”
Pareene answers his own question by saying, “His books can be used for bad purposes, like providing facile ‘leadership quotes’ for evangelical leadership gurus. But they can also be used to open people’s minds to good ideas.”
You can read Pareene’s full article by clicking here.
If you click on the link provided, you will learn that when Pareene refers to “facile leadership quotes for evangelical leadership gurus”, he is referring to me and linking to a post I wrote entitled 30 Leadership Quotes From Malcolm Gladwell’s Book David And Goliath.
Pareene’s article taught me 8 Lessons about Being Attacked (make the Mentioned) By The Liberal Media.

Rather than being offended, I was truly honored to be mentioned. It means you are making a difference.
Civility matters. Though I disagree with Pareene, his article is well-written and I respect his right to express his opinion.
Just because you disagree with someone does not mean they lack influence. Pareene has significant influence and proved it today. Several hundred people have visited my site today as a result of his link.
Pareene was actually generous. He did not have to provide a link to my site but did so anyway. For this I wish to tell him, “Thank You.”
“Facile” means too simple: not showing enough thought or effort. : done or achieved in a way that is too easy. I respectfully disagree with his assessment. I took the time to read the book, dog-tagged and high-lighted the pages, and then compiled all of the information for the readers to enjoy. Nothing easy about that.
Leaders value resources. By providing the quotes and pointing people to Gladwell’s book, leaders got better. To answer Pareene’s question, I think this is “good for America.”
People need simplicity, not complexity. Therefore, being facile is actually a strength. By providing leaders easy access to quality teaching, you make easier to “open people’s minds to good ideas.”
Christian writers should boldly and proudly associate with Jesus. Calling me an “evangelical” is a HUGE compliment. Being a follower of Jesus Christ is my fundamental identity. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone that believes.

Though I disagreed with today’s Salon.com article, I was honored to be included in the larger conversation which is taking place on the public square. Hopefully it will not be the last time.

14 Practices Of Leaders Who Overcome Failure

“It’s O.K. to make a mistake as long as you leave it behind.” – Kevin Love

A significant part of being a great leader is knowing how to handle failure. We have all failed. It is part of the human experience. It is inevitable.
The ability to learn lessons in the midst of failure while having the perseverance to keep moving forward is the mark of a successful leader. Failure is not falling down. It is staying down.
In the December 16th edition of Sports Illustrated, writer Alan Shipnuck profiles Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love. For those of you unfamiliar with Love, he is currently the finest player in the NBA at his position.
Shipnuck vividly tells the story of Love’s commitment to improvement and passion to make others around him better. The following are 14 Practices Of Leaders Who Overcome Failure I gleaned from the article. These lessons will make you a better leader.

Leaders Who Overcome Failure Learn The Relationship Between Risk And Reward – Love is the NBA’s best rebounder. He is also recognized as one of the best outlet passers in NBA history. He says, “Whenever the ball is in the air that long, there’s a chance of a turnover (after the pass), so it’s always a risk. You have to be smart about it.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Value Chemistry With Their Teammates – Recently acquired Corey Brewer says, “We got signals…He knows when I’m gonna go. I know when he’s gonna throw it.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Work Hard To Continually Improve – Love says, “I’m a big fan of Malcolm Gladwell. I believe it takes 10,000 hours to be an outlier at something…I pride myself on putting in the work.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Recognize Opportunity – He goes on, “You’ve just gotta assume everything is a miss. In this league every shot is contested.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Are No Longer Complacent – Personal trainer Rob McClanaghan says, “He’s willing to pay the price to be great. He won’t be complacent. Ever. He brings his best effort to every workout, every time. He’s a professional in everything he does.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Begin Focusing On Making Others Successful – Love proudly proclaims, “I’m getting a lot of excitement and joy out of setting uys up for shots and getting guys going.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Become Increasingly Aware Of Obstacles – He goes on to add, “I know a guy like (Dallas Mavericks center Bernard James) is gonna want to toss my shot into the third or fifth row.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Are Resilient – Once you fail, you understand failure is simply part of leadership. Love acknowledges, “In this league you’re going to get your shot blocked, it’s just part of the deal. You can pout about it or you can keep playing. I choose to keep playing.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Are Humble And Learn From Others – Love recounts the story, “Bill Russell told me before my rookie year that he believes 80% of rebounds are taken below the rim, and I’ve taken that to heart. If I do my work early I don’t have to jump high.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Develop Great Anticipation – Teammate Ricky Rubio says, “He has an amazingly high basketball IQ. He sees everything that is happening on the floor, and a lot of times what’s going to happen before it happens.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Trust In Their Preparation – “I really love shots that hold a lot of weight…I’m very at peace, I’m very confident. I know I’ve put in a lot of work to put myself in that situation,” says Love.
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Now Focus On Their Successes, Not Their Failures – Love adds, “You’re gonna miss some (game-ending shots), I know that. But what matters are the ones you make.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Know Failure Is Never Final – Love knows leadership is an oval track. No matter how good or bad an individual lap may be, it is always on to the next lap. He says, “All that matters to me is the next game.”
Leaders Who Overcome Failure Leave Their Mistakes Behind - That’s grace. Love concludes, “One thing Flip (head coach Saunders) has talked to me a lot about is how to fail quickly. It’s O.K. to make a mistake as long as you leave it behind.”