18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Left Behind: The Movie

18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Left Behind: The Movie

Thanks to Jesse Brooks and my friends at Allied Faith and Family, this past Thursday I attended an advance showing of the much anticipated full-length motion picture Left Behind.  This movie, opening on October 3rd, focuses on the events immediately following the rapture as millions of Christians and children are taken up into Heaven.
Ray Steele, played by Nicholas Cage, is the film’s central character.  Steele struggles with his marriage, infidelity, and his role as a father.  As a pilot who is in mid-flight when the rapture occurs, he is responsible for dozens of panic-stricken passengers whose loved ones sitting beside them suddenly disappear.
Based upon the best-selling book series, Left Behind provides an incredible opportunity to have meaningful conversations with unchurched friends about their eternal destiny.  No one will confuse the acting and production values with a Steven Spielberg film but the movie’s message completely eclipses some of the film’s shortcomings.
Also, it is important for Christians to fully support faith-based projects so Hollywood will hear our voice and produce more.  Make sure you see this film and most importantly, take unchurched friends with you to discuss the movie’s meaning.
After watching the trailer, the following are 18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Left Behind: The Movie:

1. Anticipation Of The Rapture – This was the biggest lesson of the movie for me. While watching the film, you are literally on the edge of your seat because you know the rapture is coming. You just do not know when. As a Christian, I fell under conviction because God had me deal with the question, “Why am I anticipating the rapture so much in a movie but not in real life.” I should anticipate the real rapture even more because I also know it is coming. I just do not know when.
2. Unchurched People Ask Legitimate Questions – The film’s opening scene dealt with many questions unchurched people ask such as “Where is God when natural disasters happen?” and “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?”
3. Jesus Continually Woos People Until The Very Last Minute – Both Steele and his daughter Chloe, played by Cassi Thomson, struggle with their wife/mother’s new-found faith.  Ray says, “The changes people go through between (age) 20 and 50 are enormous.”
4. “If she’s going to run off with another man, why not Jesus?” – Matthew 10:35-36 (NAS) says, “For I came to set a man against his father and the daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  And a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.”  This is an echoing of Old Testament prophecy found in Micah 7:6.
5. Christ Is Continually Bringing People To Himself – Buck Williams, played by Chad Michael Murray, said “If look hard enough you’ll see everything you’re looking for.”
6. Even Adults Need Stable Parents – The family is the primary foundational element of human history.  When it is not functioning as God intended, the affects are felt for generations.  Chloe, now in college, continually struggled with security as a result of her parent’s struggling marriage.
7. Prioritize Relationships – We are not promised our next breath.  When Chloe said hurtful things to her mother and stormed out of the house, she never realized it would be their last conversation.
8. It Will Be Much, More Worse – Chloe’s response after the rapture was, “It’s a bad dream.”  The rapture will literally usher in “hell on earth”.  As much calamity as the movie’s producers attempted to portray, I felt they softened it quite a bit so it could be seen in church’s and youth groups in the future.  The real post-rapture world will be unimaginably horrific.
9. Crisis Reveals Character.  It Does Not Create It. – It struck me people’s post-rapture behavior were simply amplified versions of their pre-rapture behavior.  Angry people got angrier.  Scared people became more frightened.  Insecure people were thrust into sheer panic.  People who rejected God their entire life did not repent.
10. Avoidance Of Reality – Non-Christians will have no decision grid for what just happened when the rapture occurs.  Therefore, they will attempt to rationalize the events.  In the movie, the plane’s passengers attempted to explain the sudden disappearances as an alien abduction, terrorist attack, wormhole, or they were still there, just invisible
11. God Is A Global God – We tend to think of God through an American lens.  However, God is constantly at work globally.  A person who remained in the hospital said, “It’s not just here.  It’s all over the world.”
12. Unspeakable Level Of Suffering – The movie’s most moving scenes were Chloe walking in an empty maternity ward at a hospital.  This was followed by walking through her neighborhood and seeing an emotionally-stricken elderly lady sitting on her porch beside an empty pair of clothes which were obviously worn by her husband just moments prior.
13. Many “Professing Christians” Will Miss The Rapture – Chloe went to her mother’s church where she encountered only one person, the pastor.  When wondering why he was still on earth, the pastor said, “Knowing the words isn’t enough.  You must believe.”  Matthew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.”
14. God Is For Us And Wants Our Very Best – The pastor continued, “He took them to protect them from the darkest time in this world – Persecution.”
15. The Power Of A Blameless Life – Only those who live a blameless life possess the gift of credibility.  Realizing the rapture had occurred, Steele tried to tell his mistress what had happened.  She rejected his ideas because he had forfeited his right to talk about God.
16. “As much as I want to see her when I get home I hope she’s not there.” – These were Ray’s words when thinking of his wife.  For the Christian, we experience a different set of feelings.  Our home is actually in Heaven.  We hope when we get home as many of our friends and loved ones are there as possible.
17. “Today is the saddest day of my life.” – Written by Chloe, these words will be echoed by everyone who misses the real rapture.
18. Eternity Is Just The Beginning – Williams says, “It looks like the end of the world.”  To which Chloe replies, “Not yet.  It’s just the beginning.”

Like I said, make sure you take your unchurched friends to see this movie and prepare to discuss its meaning afterwards.

10 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders Who Invest In Students And Twenty-Somethings

10 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders Who Invest In Students And Twenty-Somethings

Every intuitive leader understands the importance of investing in the next generation of students and twenty-somethings.  The question we all must deal with is what is the best way to go about this?  The Bible gives us great insights and offers King David as a model for an ideal way for serving the next crop of leaders.
In chapters 28 and 29 of I Chronicles an aging King David transitions the leadership of the Jewish people from himself to his son Solomon.  In doing so, he gives us 10 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders Who Invest In Students And Twenty-Somethings.

1. Tell Them Stories Of Your Great God – Seasoned leaders should constantly remind students and twenty-somethings of what God did in their lives at that age.  Tell the stories of His faithfulness and sustaining power during those formative years.  Share with them how your faith grew as you came through trial after trial.  David began by pointing Solomon to God in v. 28:9 when he said, “As for you my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of your thoughts.”
2. Encourage Them – Tell young leaders the incredible potential you see in their lives and how much Jesus will use them for people’s good and His glory.  In v. 28:10, King David said, “Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary, be strong, and do it.”  He reaffirms this to his son in v. 20 saying, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it, do not fear or be dismayed, for Lord God – my God – will be with you.”
3. Give Them Your Expertise – Great leaders generously share their wisdom and experience.  In v. 28:11 history records, “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans…and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit.”
4. Help Fund Their Dreams – Seasoned leaders simply have more money and resources than most young leaders and students.  We may not have a lot but we have more than they do.  There is no better investment we can make than in the appreciable asset of students and twenty-somethings.  David modeled this in v. 28:14-18 “He gave gold by the weight of gold…”.
5. Use Your Platform To Bring People Together – The best leaders are bridge builders.  They are constantly bringing people together.  To effectively invest in students and twenty-somethings, seasoned leaders should introduce them to their fellow seasoned friends.  In v. 29:1, the Bible tells us, “King David said to all the assembly”
6. Reaffirm Them Publicly – Students and twenty-somethings need public support from older leaders.  We need to give them platforms and publicly shine the spotlight on them saying, “Look at what God is doing over there.”  In v. 29:1, David proudly said, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen”
7. Remind Them Their Is Work Left To Do – It cannot all be rah-rah.  Leaders evaluate reality and coach young leaders accordingly.  David reminded Solomon in v. 29:1 “The work is great”.
8. Tell Them It Is All About Jesus – Students and twenty-somethings are long on passion and short on perspective simply because of a lack of life experience.  Therefore, seasoned leaders should always be pointing them back towards Jesus.  Inv. 29:1, David provides Solomon perspective with the reminder, “The temple is not for man but for the Lord God.”
9. Reassure Them God’s Work Is Doable – King David did a wonderful job of telling Solomon the construction was already underway.  In v. 29:2 he said, “Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might”
10. Call Others To Commitment – Leaders have a bias towards action.  King David’s task would not have been complete without leveraging his influence to call the entire nation to follow Solomon’s leadership and invest in their future.  In a crescendo moment, he challenged all the Jewish people in v. 29:5 by saying, “Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?”

And the people responded wholeheartedly.  If you are looking for a biblical model for how best to invest in students and twenty-somethings, look no farther than these 10 principles from the life of David.

20 Practices Of Leaders Who Lead Leaders

20 Practices Of Leaders Who Lead Leaders

One of the signs of a maturing leader is they make a fundamental shift from leading followers to leading leaders.  This requires a different focus and an enhanced level of skill.
The Elite 11 QB Camp is run each summer by former Super Bowl champion and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer.  The one-of-kind competition brings together the top 11 high school senior quarterbacks.  These are the best of the best.  However, Dilfer has a different set of intentions for these young leaders than just showcasing their athletic gifts.  He says, “They thought they were coming to a summer camp and they’re getting in-depth life lessons taught to them.”
Recently, ESPN did a one-hour special on the 2014 Elite 11 QB Camp.  As I watched Dilfer and his assistants coach these talented athletes, I gleaned the following 20 Practices Of Leaders Who Lead Leaders.  All quotes are from Dilfer unless otherwise noted.

1. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Change The Way They See The World – “This journey we take them on for a week, they start to see life through a different lens.”
2. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Help Others Discover Their Purpose – “Life is very unpredictable and at different times in our life God reveals to us what our purpose is.”
3. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Are Highly Competent – “The problem with the term ‘coachable’ is who is delivering the message.”
4. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Have Uncommon Influence – “Are you the type of individual who will be a future influencer?”
5. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Relentlessly Pursue Excellence – “The underdog intrigues me because of their fight and human spirit.”
6. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Have A History Of Facing And Overcoming Adversity – “Every quarterback here thinks they’re the dude.  They think they’re going to win the Heisman.  They think they’re going to play forever.  And they think they’re going to make it to the Hall of Fame.  What they have never done is face true, true adversity in this kind of environment.” – camp coach Yogi Roth
7. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Embraced The Journey – “The victory is in the journey you’re about to embark on.”
8. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Ask Others To Leave Their Comfort Zone – “At the edge of uncomfortable is where greatness happens.” – Roth
9. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Remain Calm In The Midst of Chaos – “When things get chaotic can you quiet your mind?”
10. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Have Organizational Skills – “The best leaders come with a plan.  We didn’t come in first because we didn’t have a plan.”  – high school quarterback Ryan Brand
11. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Teach Both Business Skills AND Life Skills – “They thought they were coming to a summer camp and they’re getting in-depth life lessons taught to them.”
12. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Own The Result – “It’s a combination of passion and perseverance.”
13. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Ask For Great Commitment – “What they’re being asked to do is buy into THIS system.”
14. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Keep Things Simple For Others – “I got myself in a lot of trouble as a player over-thinking stuff.”
15. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Prepare Them For Future Leadership Assignments – “We are trying to groom guys who will dominate at the next level and have a NFL caliber ceiling.”
16. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Handle Pressure Well – “It’s a big, big stage.  The lights are bright.  There’s a lot of pressure.”
17. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Properly Define Success – “Life is so much bigger than football…You’ll still be empty if you attach greatness to whatever awards you receive.  I truly believe the victory was in the journey.”
18. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Focus On Personal Growth And Continual Improvement – “I love seeing people change for the better.”
19. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Are Learners And Surround Themselves With Like-Minded Individuals – “I’m going to be a quarterback and I don’t care what other people say about me.  Just say, ‘Yes sir’ and keep getting better.”
20. Leaders Who Lead Leaders Are Not Overnight Successes.  It Was A Process – “All we really hope to do is plant that simple seed in all these quarterbacks about life being a journey.” – Roth

What other practices are needed to effectively lead leaders?

7 Challenges Immature Leaders Cause A Church Or Organization

7 Challenges Immature Leaders Cause A Church Or Organization

John Maxwell famously said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”  So what happens when you have immature individuals in key areas of leadership?
Because of the off-the-field behavior of Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston, the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles are currently dealing this very issue.  The team has become a real-life case study many leaders are watching and commenting on.
One such leader is the incredible ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.  On Wednesday, September 24th, the former scout and league executive appeared on The Herd With Colin Cowherd radio show to discuss many issues, one being Winston.
As Riddick spoke, I gleaned the following 7 Challenges Immature Leaders Cause A Church Or Organization.  All the comments below are from Riddick unless otherwise noted.

1. Immature Leaders Must Be Constantly Evaluated – “People have been building the case for and/or against him already.”
2. Immature Leaders Make Poor Decisions – “What usually determines success or failure on a large scale where guys blow up and don’t make it or blow up and become superstars is about competitive make-up.  It’s about their mentality.  It’s about the decisions they make off the field.”
3. Immature Leaders Are Irresponsible – “If you keep saying, “He’s going to grow up.  He’s doing the same things I used to do.  He’s just being a young kid.’  Well, that may fly in regular life but that doesn’t fly when you’re the quarterback of a National Football League team.”
4. Immature Leaders Are Constantly Surrounded By Chaos – “The 61 last quarterbacks drafted in the NFL, (only) six are thriving.  All six that are thriving (have) no chaos outside of football.” – Cowherd
5. Immature Leaders Are High Maintenance – “At that position all you’re trying to do as a personnel guy is remove obstacles that would preclude someone from becoming a success.  You’re trying constantly to eliminate the possibility of you being wrong.  So you want as ‘clean’ a prospect as possible, especially at quarterback.”
6. Immature Leaders Prepare Poorly And (7.) Lack Accountability – “It’s just more difficult as a coach when you know you’re dealing with someone who off the field you know is probably not doing everything they can possibly do to hold themselves accountable and preparing themselves to be as good as they can be.”

As a bonus, Riddick provided three additional insights into New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith and what the team needs to do to ensure this young leader’s success:

1. You Can Ensure A Young Leader’s Success By Creating A Healthy Culture – “That relationship between the back-up and starter is critical.  That relationship can make the quarterback better or tear it apart.”
2. You Can Ensure A Young Leader’s Success By Removing Doubt And Insecurity – “When you do that (threaten their position) it will create doubt in a young quarterback’s head.”
3. You Can Ensure A Young Leader’s Success By Putting Great Teammates And Resources Around Him – “Keep putting better stuff around him.  Keep helping him out and he’ll come along.”

What challenges have immature leaders caused you?

23 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From 23 Blast The Movie

23 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From 23 Blast The Movie

 

2 Corinthians 5:7 – “for we walk by faith, not sight.” (ESV)

Brian Dodd and Travis Freeman

I cannot recommend the film 23 Blast enough.  The movie is based upon the life of Travis Freeman, who bravely competed in high school football after being suddenly struck with irreversible blindness.  Through our mutual friend, Senior Pastor Drew Mahan of Forward Community Church in Corbin, KY, I had the privilege of recently spending some time with Travis (see the picture on the left).
Travis is a wonderfully Godly man whose life deserves to be memorialized in film.  His story will encourage and inspire anyone currently facing overwhelming challenges in their life.  The following are 23 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From 23 Blast.  Enjoy!

1. Lack Of Preparation Causes People To Lose Trust In Leaders – Early in the film, quarterback Jerry Baker (who was also Freeman’s best friend) was benched for his refusal to learn the plays.
2. Adversity Is Rarely Planned.  It Almost Always Arrives Unexpectedly – Freeman was a star athlete who suddenly developed headaches for no reason.  This resulted from a virus which then caused severe facial swelling and ultimately blindness.
3. Leaders Call For High Commitment – Head Coach Farris told Baker, “You’re focused.  I need you to step up.”
4. Improvisation As A Strategy Is Unsustainable – Successful leaders do not “wing it”.  Because he did not know the plays, Baker would just have Freeman go deep for a pass.  This proved to be an unsustainable strategy.  For more on the dangers of relying on outliers and improvisation, click HERE.
5. Leaders Always Point To A Brighter Tomorrow – When visiting Freeman in the hospital, Baker said, “You’re going to be fine.  You’re Travis Freeman.”
6. Leaders Are Encouragers – Freeman’s mother Mary said, “He lost his way but he’ll figure it out.”
7. Leaders Improve With Great Coaching – Freeman got increasingly better when state-appointed skills coach Patty Wheatley helped him re-learn how to navigate life.
8. Everyone On The Team Has Something To Contribute – Before Freeman joined the team, Coach Farris allowed him to speak into defensive personnel alignments.
9. Losing Never Gets Easy For Leaders – Like all leaders would, Coach Farris was emotionally spent after losing the first game of the season.
10. Leaders Are Passionate About Their Assignments – Coach Farris told Freeman, “I’ve never coached a boy who loves football as much as you.”
11. Leaders Are Flexible – Blessed are the flexible because they will never be bent out of shape.  Because of Freeman’s blindness, he could no longer play wide receiver.  Coach Farris said, “You’re not a gazelle anymore.  You’re a pit bull.”
12. Leaders Create Memorable Moments – The real life Travis Freeman has a cameo in the movie playing a pastor who speaks into the fictitious Freeman’s life.  As Travis humorously told me during our lunch together, “The sexiest actor in the movie is the guy playing the pastor!”
13. Leaders Expand The Worldview Of Those On Their Teams – Great leaders make you look at life differently.  The pastor said, “How would you respond if what you saw right now is what you would see the rest of your life.”
14. Leaders Are Self-Aware – Upon his decision to return to playing football, Freeman tells his parents, “I’m Travis Freeman.  I’m going to play football.”
15. Everyone Needs An Advocate – The school’s inept athletic director did not want Freeman to play football.  This resulted in state employee Wheatley intervening with possible legal action.
16. Great Leadership Has A Foundation Of Trust – When the assistant coach was questioned about the seriousness of Coach Farris letting a blind athlete play football, he said, “If the coach says he’s going to do something, he does it.”
17. Great Leaders Sacrifice For The Good Of The Team – Star lineman Cameron Marshall was willing to move from his center position to guard allowing Freeman to play.
18. Extra Practice Improves Performance – While experiencing initial failure, extra late night practices improved Freeman’s ability to play the position.
19. Extra Repetitions Improve Performance – This is something all public speakers know.  The more evaulted reps you get, the more you will improve.
20. Leaders Are Resilient – Freeman kept coming back again and again despite constant disappointment.
21. Not Everyone Wants Leaders To Succeed – And this is not just the competition.  Jealousy is a constant unwelcome companion of successful leaders.
22. Leaders Give Others Security And Confidence – As the team prepared to score the game-winning touchdown which put them in the state playoffs, Baker confidently said, “I’m the quarterback.  You’re Travis Freeman.”
23. Christian Leaders Can Overcome Anything With God – Just prior to scoring that touchdown, Freeman said, “Whom shall I fear?”

Once again, this movie holds a special place in my heart because of my friendships with those involved in the film.  You should go see it.  It will give you the confidence to overcome the challenges you currently face.

30 Extreme Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Alison Levine’s Book On The Edge

30 Extreme Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Alison Levine’s Book On The Edge

 

Are you experiencing extreme leadership challenges?  If so, you will want to get to know Alison Levine.  Alison has climbed the highest peak on each continent and served as team captain of the very first American Women’s Everest Expedition.  In addition, she has skied to both the North and South Poles.  See her incredible Ted Talk above.
In her book On The Edge, Alison gives the leadership insights she has gained in these extreme environments.  I cannot recommend this book enough.  The following are just 30 leadership quotes from someone who knows the difference between exposure and experience:

1. “We can’t control the environment; all we can control is the way we react to it.”
2. “Everyone is in a leadership position…Leadership is everyone’s responsibility…Everyone in an organization is responsible for helping to move forward with the mission.”
3. “The top is only the halfway point.  The majority of deaths on big peaks occur after people have reached the summit, because they have used every ounce of energy they have to get to the top.”
4. “In extreme environments you will vastly increase your odds of success if you add proper training and preparation.”
5. “Leaders have got to show up ready for battle.  People will expect more from you than they do from others.”
6. “To be an effective leader, its important that you condition yourself for times when sleep is not an option.”
7. “Identify folks who are going to push you and make you push yourself, and spend as much time as you can observing their technique and absorbing information from them.”
8. “If you surround yourself with talented people and you’re willing to learn from them, your skills will improve and you will get better.”
9. “One of the most important keys to successful performance…is empowering everyone on the team to think and act like a leader.”
10. “Good leaders understand it’s their duty to develop leadership skills in others by routinely asking team members to step into roles of greater responsibility.”
11. “A great fallacy regarding progress is that it is defined by constant forward motion in the same direction.”
12. “Champion athletes on the court, on the field, or in the ring, keep in mind that they got there by focusing on the fundamentals – over and over again.”
13. “When you’re taking on a big mountain, you have to find people who are the perfect mix of skill, experience, and desire.  And not just desire to climb, but desire to be team players.”
14. “When you are trying to put together a high-performing team, you want people who are good and who know they’re good – because that gives them confidence to know they can win.”
15. “A group is only a team when every member of the group cares as much about helping the other members as they care about helping themselves.”
16. “Don’t leave the relationship building to others.  Be strategic…Make sure you have relationships in place before you need the help.”
17. “People will always be more inclined to help people they know as opposed to people they don’t.”
18. “If you don’t have money to do something you are passionate about, you can find the money if you are willing to put in the time.”
19. “No deal is a done deal until the check is in hand.”
20. “Risk exists all the time, even when things feel calm.”
21. “In extreme situations – when the stakes are exceptionally high, when the environment is precarious, and when the hurdles are extraordinarily tough – the way you deal with the weak link on your team often means the difference between success and failure.”
22. “Leadership involvers compensating for your own weakness and helping other people do the same for themselves.  Good leaders know it’s their responsibility to help every team member become more productive, so that everyone on the team benefits.”
23. “Leaders are supposed to know what skills and equipment are needed to get a job done right or to achieve a goal.  If you have one but not the other – if you have the right skills but don’t have the right equipment – you’ll fail.”
24. “As a leader, it’s your job, even when new to a particular role, to know what you need in order to achieve a particular goal.”
25. “Never discount the value of courtesy and compassion when it comes to achieving a goal.”
26. “Don’t ever underestimate the importance of treating others with respect and kindness.”
27. “You also need to show your team that you are willing to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and work side by side with them in order to achieve the common goal.  You need to demonstrate that you are willing to take the same risks, endure the same pain, and make the same sacrifices as everyone else.”
28. “It’s important for leaders to come off as human.”
29. “Great damage can be done when you robotically follow rules.”
30. “The key to surviving storms is the ability to take action based on the situation at the time, regardless of the plan.  Because whatever plan you came up with last year, last month, last week – or even this morning – it is already out-dated.”

And this is just scratching the surface of all the leadership principles in this book.  Once again, I cannot recommend you purchase On The Edge fast enough.  Click HERE to do so today.

20 Practices Of Leaders Who Destroy Churches, Teams And Businesses

20 Practices Of Leaders Who Destroy Churches, Teams And Businesses

There are some leaders who are just toxic.  They literally destroy every relationship, department and organization they come in contact with.  No one wants to work with them.  Resources do not flow in their direction.  Dysfunction is a daily reality and constant companion.  Morale is low and production suffers.  Have you ever worked for or with this type of leader?
Last week, Henry Abbott wrote a scathing cover story for ESPN The Magazine entitled, “Is Kobe Bryant The Reason For The Lakers Downfall?”  Team executives have rushed to Kobe’s defense and denounced the article but if Abbott’s article is even partially true, it provides a fascinating profile of a leader who has destroyed an organization.  I found the principles applicable to anyone running a church, teams or businesses.
The following are 20 Practices Of Leaders Who Destroy Churches, Teams and Businesses as learned from Kobe Bryant:

1. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Miss Opportunities – In 2010, John Hollinger of ESPN.com rated the Lakers the NBA’s top franchise.  He said, “When it comes to superstars, the Lakers are so far out in front of everybody else it’s not even funny.”  Since then, the team has had five coaches, three early playoff exits and two key departures of quality big men.
2. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Are Selfish – In the last 10 NBA seasons, Bryant has led the NBA with 21.7 shots per game.  This almost two shots per game more than LeBron James.
3. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Are Petty – When the Lakers were recruiting Steve Nash in 2012, the point guard wanted to hear from Bryant personally about his proposed role in the offense.  When asked to contact Nash, Bryant declined wanting Nash call him.
4. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Force Others To Work Around Them – An agent of a recent Lakers player said, “Kobe is like the big rock in their front yard.  You can’t mow over it, so you just have to mow around it.”
5. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Blame Others (Often Publicly) – Former teammates Andrew Bynum, Pao Gasol and Dwight Howard have all received media blame without any support from Bryant.  An unnamed prominent agent says, “They (potential free agent acquisitions) see that his teammates become the chronic public whipping boys. Anyone who could possibly challenge Kobe for the spotlight ends up becoming a pincushion for the media. Even Shaq.”
6. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Are Insecure – Insecurity is a destructive cancer for organizations because when times get tough insecure leaders will always default to self-preservation.  Others told Abbott “he undermines anyone who threatens his supremacy.”
7. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Are Relationally Dysfunctional – Another agent who had a free agent decline an opportunity to join the Lakers said, “I saw some things in the players’ parking lot. Conversations between Bynum and his people and some people with the Lakers. It got pretty rough and heated.”
8. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Also Destroy People’s Lives – A front office executive from a rival team said, “It’s horrendous. It’s evil…Kobe has cost the Lakers dearly in human capital. Kobe has hurt a lot of people. In some cases jeopardized careers.”
9. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Cannot Be Led – During an attempt to resign Howard, Mitch Kupchak advised Bryant and Nash to treat the time together as a sales presentation.  He asked them dress up with proper attire.  According to an unnamed person in the room, Bryant showed up in “hoops shorts, a T-shirt and a gold chain.”
10. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Lack Self Awareness – While in the meeting with Howard, rather than attempting to woo him back to the Lakers, Bryant “offered a crash course in developing thick skin and a mini lecture on learning how to win.”  ESPN’s Chris Broussard was told Bryant was “a complete turnoff” to Howard.
11. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Cause Good People To Leave The Organization – Howard soon joined the Houston Rockets for approximately $30 million in less money.  For more on his decision click HERE.  Former player Ramon Sessions chose to back up Kemba Walker of the then last-place Charlotte Bobcats than start alongside Bryant.  He has said, playing with Bryant was “definitely different”.
12. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Lack Accountability – One Lakers source said Howard felt “he saw one particular player play outside that scheme with carte blanche, with no accountability.”
13. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Refuse To Change – The NBA has changed a lot since the Lakers last championship.  Motion offense, ball movement, attacking the rim, shooting 3s, finding spot-up shooters, and coordinated defensive attacks are the current staples of successful teams.  None of these are Kobe’s strengths.
14. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Do Not Allow Others To Thrive – Nash told Grantland’s Zach Lowe, “When you play with Kobe Bryant, the ball is gonna be with him most of the time.”
15. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Have Major Blindspots – One Lakers insider said, “The problem is, he’s just not as good as he thinks he is.  He’s just not as efficient as he thinks he is.”
16. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Limit Who Is Willing To Join Your Team – A rival front office executive said, “I’m sure Mitch already investigated and found out he didn’t need two max slots because the destination isn’t all that attractive until Kobe has completely left the premises.”  An agent of current Lakers players was asked whether Bryant inhibited the team’s rebuilding efforts by alienating would-be free agent recruits. “Well, duh.  Isn’t that obvious?”
17. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Are Their Own Worst Enemies – A Lakers source said, “He wants to win.  But only as long as he’s the reason we’re winning, as long as the performance is not affecting his numbers. No one works harder than Kobe. And no one sabotages his own efforts more.”
18. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Are Left With A Poor Team – The same Lakers source added, “He’s scaring off the free agents we’re trying to get. We’re trying to surround you with talent and your ego is getting in the way.”  Rather than a team of All-Stars, the current Lakers playing alongside Bryant are Jeremy Lin, rookie Julius Randle and journeyman bigs Jordan Hill and Ed Davis.
19. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Are Eventually Asked To Leave - A Lakers insider says, “This has finally come home.  Major players don’t want to play with Kobe, and Jimmy (Buss) is waiting for him to leave.”
20. Leaders Who Destroy These Organizations Destroy Cultures – A longtime NBA agent said, “Peek behind the banners and it’s rotten.”

Are you a leader who is destroying an organization?