10 Habits Of Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions

July 10, 2013 0 Comments

Leaders work very hard and sacrifice much for the success of others.  Few things are then as satisfying as reaching your full potential in context of a championship team.
Leaders are also continual learners.  In the July 1st edition of Sports Illustrated, the 2013 NHL Champion Chicago Blackhawks were profiled.  Special attention was paid to goalie Corey Crawford.
As I reviewed the comments and leadership lessons from the article, I felt they were applicable to anyone who leads a church, sports team, non-profit or business.
The following are the 10 Habits Of Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions we learn from Corey Crawford and the Chicago Blackhawks:

1. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Carry A Heavier Load – No matter how good everything else may be, winning a Stanley Cup comes down to the quality of the goalie.
2. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Develop Inner-Strength –  Crawford says, “You can learn a lot from success but sometimes you learn more from being challenged.  It might now show on the outside, but it toughens you up.”
3. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Puts Mistakes Behind Them – Teammate Ray Emery says, “Corey has been fantastic for us and puts bad games behind him better than anyone.”
4. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Are Resilient – Teammate Duncan Keith says, “Nothing fazes [Corey] really.”
5. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Develop Balance – Keith goes on to add, ”He’ll talk to you before games.  He’s so relaxed.  He’s almost normal.”
6. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Don’t Always Get Their Due - Teammates Jonathan Toews says, ”People may not give him his due all the time, and I’m not sure he cares about taking credit.”
7. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Seize The Moment – Chicago Blackhawk coach Joel Quenelle says, ”It seems like the games get bigger and Corey gets better.”
8. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Give Credit To Others - Quenneville goes on, ”By the way he goes about his business, it’s like the spotlight will always be on someone else.  And he’s fine with it.  He doesn’t get noticed; he just needs to win hockey games.”
9. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Get The Most Criticism - In hockey, goalies get more pressure and criticism than anyone else on the team.
10. Highly Successful Leaders Who Are Champions Don’t Complain - Crawford sums it up when he says, ”When you’re down, you can kick and scream, but you know it won’t get you up.  None of that makes you better.  It won’t help you stop the next shot if you’re thinking about one that went by you.”

Carry A Heavier Load, Develop Inner-Strength, Put Mistakes Behind You, Be Resilient, Develop Balance, Understand You Won’t Get Your Due, Seize The Moment,  Give Credit To Others, Receive The Criticism, and Don’t Complain.
If you consistently do these 10 practices, you too may be a Highly Successful Leader Who Is A Champion.

15 TRUTHS ABOUT BROKENNES CHRISTIAN LEADERS MUST EXPERIENCE

15 Truths About Brokenness Christian Leaders Must Experience

July 8, 2013 5 Comments

“To the level that God will use you is the level at which He must break you.” – Ike Reighard

Many leadership blogs give the impression that the writer never makes mistakes, never fails, never comes up short, and basically has all the answers.  If that is the type of blog you are looking for, then you will be disappointed with this site because I have made more mistakes than I care to comment on.
This past weekend I had to relive one of the most difficult times of my life.  I was asked to teach a group of approximately 75 adults the subject of brokenness.  Brokenness is something all Christian leaders know well.  God uses brokenness to humble us, remind us of Who is in control, and mold and shape us into the image of Jesus.  As my pastor Crawford Loritts says, “Godly leaders lead with a limp.”
As I prepared my lesson from Genesis 32:22-32, the passage where Jacob wrestles with God, I discovered a 15 truths about brokenness leaders go through.  Here is the progression as found in the text.

1. Brokenness is conceived in pain, fear, and/or bad decisions (Gen 27:41, 32:1-21) – Jacob feared meeting his estranged brother Esau the next day who he felt wished to kill him.
2. You will be forced to being alone with God (v. 24) – “Jacob was left alone”.  During times of brokenness, God wants no distractions or interruptions as He deals with us.
3. The struggle is real (v.24) – “a Man”.  Jacob fought a real man.  The issues we deal with during our times of brokenness are not figurative.  They are very, very real.
4. The struggle is intense (v. 24) – “wrestled”.  Jacob’s conflict was not a mild misunderstanding.  It was a wrestling match.
5. The struggle is prolonged (v.24) – “until the breaking of day.”  Does the struggle you are facing seem unending?  Jacob’s wrestling was not a short fight.  It lasted all night.  Think about a physical confrontation that goes on for hours.  It is exhausting.
6. The struggle is about a greater purpose.  Jacob was involved in a literal wrestling match with God, and a figurative one with greater consequences.  This is also true with the struggles we face.
7. Jesus sees our struggle (v.25).  - “He saw”.  We can take comfort knowing Jesus cares deeply for us and knows the pain we are facing.
8. We reach a point of feeling we are out of options and hope is lost (v.25).  ”he prevailed not”.  During times of brokenness, we will all reach a point when our skills, competencies, financial resources, and connections are no longer sufficient.  It is then we are forced to turn to God.
9. Jesus breaks us in all the RIGHT places (v.25) – “he touched the hollow of his thigh and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint”.  All Christian leaders will experience brokenness.  Either the world will break us or God will.  It is inescapable.  The difference is when the world breaks you, they discard you.  When God breaks you, He puts you back together better than you were before and for greater purposes.
10. All storms pass (v.26) – “for the day breaketh”. The one things all storms have in common is they pass.
11. Brokenness makes us hungry for God (v.26) – “I will not”.  If we properly go through a process of brokenness, it should make us have a deeper hunger for God.  This speaks to intimacy.
12. During times of struggle, hold onto God (v.26).  ”I will not let thee go.”  During times of brokenness, sometimes all you can do is hold onto Jesus.
13. Be honest with God (v.28) – “What is thy name?  And he said Jacob.”  Jacob’s name represented trickster, thief, dishonesty, and lies.  Jacob had to get transparent with God about who he was.  Likewise, brokenness happens when we reach a point of admitting our sin, inadequacy, inability to accomplish our leadership assignments apart from Him, and the fact we deserve death and hell except for the work of Jesus on the cross.
14. God brings victory (v.28) – “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel.”  Jesus, through the process of brokenness, gives us a new picture of who we are in light of Him.
15. Your struggle will be an enduring testimony of God’s faithfulness (v.32) – “Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.”  Your story of brokenness will become a testimony to God’s control and faithfulness in your life for generations.

If you are currently going through intense struggles I hope these lessons are a source of hope and encouragement.  Leaders, what did you learn from your brokenness experience?

6 KEYS PRINCIPLES TO DREAMING BIG

6 Key Principles to Dreaming Big

by Doug Franklin

 

Leaders rely on God alone.

There are six key principles that leaders follow to dream big. Each principle is biblically based and time tested. Give them a try — and see what happens!
1. Leaders imagine the impossible.
Was it likely that God would flood the entire earth and destroy everything? Of course not! But Noah imagined the impossible because he believed in a big God. What is it God wants to make possible through you?
2. Leaders set goals.
God told Noah to round up a male and female of every living animal and plant and bring them into the ark. That’s a God-size goal, but “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22). Don’t just dream. Set specific, measurable goals to fulfill the dream. For example, God gave two specific, measurable goals to Noah: 1) Find male and female specimens of every living creature; and 2) Bring them into the ark. The goal seemed impossible, but God helped Noah achieve it.
3. Leaders develop action plans.
What good is a goal if you don’t have a plan to accomplish it? It’s not going to happen by itself. Lay out a step-by-step plan. Noah’s action plan was simple and clear: 1) Build the ark; 2) Get the living creatures; 3) March them into the ark two by two; 3) Let God close the door; 4) Stay in the ark while it rains; 4) Release a dove until it doesn’t come back; and 6) Leave the ark. “And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him” (Genesis 7:5).
4. Leaders keep their eyes on the prize.
There was no sign of a monsoon when Noah built the ark. As he built the huge boat in his backyard, his neighbors probably ridiculed him. When a parade of animals headed into the ark, people probably laughed at him. How foolish — until it began to rain. Leaders do not allow criticism, mockery or anything else to hinder their pursuit of the dream.
5. Leaders rely on God alone.
They have confidence that God gave them the dream, crafted the goals, guided the action plan and provided the resources needed along the way. Whenever God gives a dream, He promises, “I will be with you.” Remember that when God closed the door to the ark, He wasn’t about to let Noah flounder or fail.
6. Leaders celebrate success.
The first thing Noah did after leaving the ark was build an altar to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. When big dreams come to pass, God’s people celebrate Him. 

My name is Doug Franklin and I serve youth workers through a ministry called LeaderTreks. I love youth ministry and the people who serve in it. I work with an incredible team creating tools and resources enabling youth workers to develop students into leaders. I want to influence youth workers to challenge students and prepare them for leadership in the kingdom of God. More from Doug Franklin or visit Doug at www.dougfranklinonline.com/

13 Things Highly Successful Leaders REALLY Think But Often Don’t Tell Anyone

July 4, 2013 0 Comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWbGx53XydA&feature=player_embedded 

Many leaders I know are very guarded.  This often shows social intelligence because leaders should not risk losing influence. fragmenting the team, or building walls between people.  Honesty delivered without love and grace divides people.  At worst though, guarded leaders are political and concerned with protecting their position.
Therefore, it is rare to hear a leader completely unguarded.  That is why I love the interview with LeBron James shown above.  Watching the interview with the ESPN crew you get the sense LeBron was completely relaxed and transparent.
As a result, leaders can learn much from how the greatest leaders truly think and feel.  The following are 11 Things Highly Successful Leaders REALLY Think But Often Don’t Tell Anyone.  See if you don’t agree.

• Highly Successful Leaders Are Often Very Tired – “Winning a championship gives you all the energy in the world…A week or two from now, I ain’t got nothing left.  I’m done.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Prepared Very Hard When No One Was Watching – “The first two and a half games I said, ‘Is this how they’re going to play me long-term.’  I watched the film.  I broke it down.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Are Very Good At What They Do – “I’m one of the best mid-range shooters this season.  I shot a career-high from the 3-point line.  All the repetition, all the work you put in, don’t abandon it.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Never Forget Their Humble Beginnings – “I’m a kid from Akron, OH.  Statistically, I’m not even supposed to be here.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Know They’re Not That Good.  - “The Man Above gave me some athletic ability, gave me some talent and I’m just trying to take advantage of it.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Hate Maintenance And Want To Attack -”You see him on the post.  You see him on attack.  Even the dunk he got blocked by Tim Duncan you seeing him attacking the rim.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Need Some Luck – “You need a little bit of luck to win a NBA championship and that’s exactly what we had.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Are Often Insecure – “9 months is going down the drain until we actually got life.” – LeBron’s comments when he feared losing Game 6.
• Highly Successful Leaders Will Take Over If They Have To - “Game 6 coming out in the fourth quarter down by double-digits, basically I’m like if we’re going to go down, I’m going to go down giving everything I got.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Need Help – “My shooters made some shots and then defensively we made some plays.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Will Find A Way To Succeed – “Tonight we got 48 minutes of all out ball.”

And in the famous video below, a triumphant LeBron proudly proclaims two additional items Highly Successful Leaders REALLY Think But Don’t Tell Anyone:

• Highly Successful Leaders Can’t Worry About What Everyone Thinks – “Listen, I can’t worry about what everybody says about me.  I’m LeBron James from Akron, OH, from the inner-city, I’m not even supposed to be here.  That’s enough.”
• Highly Successful Leaders Love Winning – “I’m blessed.  So whatever everybody says about me off the court, it don’t matter.  I ain’t got no worries.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBxj2I_P9jQ&feature=player_embedded

The Top 10 Leadership Posts I Read The Week Of July 1st

July 5, 2013 0 Comments

The following are the Top 10 Leadership Posts I Read The Week Of July 1st.  This is a special collection of posts.  Each one centers on growth, advancement, mission, vision, great teams, and also the challenges that face growing churches and organizations.

• The Most Post-Christian Cities In America by The Barna Group
• 12 Ways Churches Flail by Steve Caton
• Four Reasons Your Brainstorming Sessions Aren’t Working by Phil Cooke
• 7 “Tricks” To Improve Your Writing Overnight by Ray Edward via Michael Hyatt
• The Boz Says He Had A Feud With God by Mike Florio.  Great insights into the thought process of those far from God.
• How The Rocket Company Grew By 832% In Three Years + Our Key Performance Indicators Revealed by Casey Graham
• Why Almost Everything Rides On How You Lead At Home by Carey Nieuwhof
• The Twelve Biggest Challenges Pastors And Church Staff Face by Thom Rainer
• The Parable Of The Janitor Or Job Versus Mission by Matt Steen at www.ChurchThought.com.  For more on Matt, check out my comments below.
• 10 Leadership Lessons From Tim Duncan’s Career by Scott Williams

The Top 10 Leadership Posts I Read The Week Of June 24th

June 28, 2013 0 Comments

Leadership is very complex.  Below are 10 posts from the past week.  Many of these deal with serious issues currently facing our society, changes in our culture, and the way we behave.  I would like to hear your thoughts after reading these compelling posts.
The following are The Top 10 Leadership Posts I Read The Week Of June 24th.

• Reading Habits In The Digital World by www.Barna.org
• 4 Frameworks For Church Service Review Meetings (And 20 Evaluation Questions) by Rich Birch
• The Self-Esteem Generation Gives President Obama an “A” for Effort by Phil Cooke
• Chiefs Personnel Man Delivers Pointed Message To Rookies by Curtis Crabtree
• 50 Ways For Church Leaders To Be Generous by Generous Church
• That Time I Was On The Today Show by Jen Hatmaker
• Making Films With, Not About, The Homeless by Tim Hoiland of www.ChristianityToday.com
• 6 Ways Leaders Leave An Impression On Their Followers by Joseph Lalonde
• Buckeyes Plan For Life After Football by Bill Rabinowitz
• There Is Hope For America by Dr. Michael Youssef

Well that is my Top 10 for the week.  What other great posts did you read?

11 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From White House Down

June 29, 2013 0 Comments

Leaders need fun too.  There are times in a leader’s life when he/she simply needs to turn the brain off, relax, and have a great time.  That is why I love White House Down.  It is all action, adventure, and testosterone.  Guys, this is the movie for you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_wonLfgO5p8

1. “Voters today want somebody cool.” – President James Sawyer, played by Jamie Foxx.  President Sawyer knows leaders must make a connection with those they serve.  If not, people will not consistently follow those they do not like.
2. For Fathers Special Events Are Defining Moments – Early in the movie, John Cale, played by the great Channing Tatum, misses his daughter’s talent show.  Special events are defining moments in the lives of children and should be the highest priority for fathers.
3. “You only have so much time to do good things when you’re in the chair.” – Leadership is temporary.  It is a brief opportunity which must be maximized and stewarded well.
4. “We’re in the safest house in the world” says a White House tour guide.  ”Not today it’s not” responds Cale - Leaders know that your greatest strength can often become your greatest weakness.
5. The Law Of The Inner Circle – In his book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership, John Maxwell teaches that a leader’s success is determined by those closest to them.
6. Elevate Solutions Over Procedures – Leaders simply find a way to get the job done.  When the president was thought to be deceased, there was a pointless conversation about constitutional procedures while the White House was burning down.  I have been in many meetings when procedures were elevated over solutions.
7. The Sustaining Power Of Idealism – Leaders must believe deeply in what they are doing and why they are doing it.  This deep belief will sustain them through good times and bad.
8. The Influence Of Children – Fathers often do things they would rather not because their children want them to.  Agent Cail advised President Sawyer that he did not vote for him.  However, his daughter loved him because President Sawyer brought her daddy home from war.  Therefore, he would protect the man his daughter loves.
9. “Being president is about re-election.” – When leaders worry more about keeping their job than doing their job, churches and organizations suffer.
10. “I don’t want to make history.  I want to make a difference.” – President Sawyer
11. Reward Your Top Performers Generously - Smart leaders take care of those who take care of them.  President Sawyer made sure Cail was well rewarded at the movie’s conclusion.

Once again, just a fun movie to go see.  Have a great time and tell me what you think.