9 Things You Need To Build A Great Team

9 Things You Need To Build A Great Team

Great leaders are great team builders.  It is a fundamental reality you can accomplish more with a team than you can alone.  “We” is a greater force for good than “me”.  This is one of the many lessons we are learning from the United States Mens National Soccer Team as they compete in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, this year’s squad is generally considered the greatest team in U.S. men’s soccer history.  So how did Klinsmann construct such a talented squad?  We are given a glimpse into the process through a June 28th USA Today article which you can read in full by clicking here .
Regardless of if you lead a church, business, non-profit or sports team, the following are 9 Things You Need To Build A Great Team gleaned from the article which can help you achieve greater success:

1. To Build A Great Team The Leader Must Have A Clear Vision – There is little doubt this is Klinsmann’s team.  It is made in his image and reflects his personality and approach to soccer.
2. To Build A Great Team You Must Upgrade Your Personnel – Upgrading talent means improving current performance and/or changing your personnel.  Only six players remain from the 2010 World Cup roster.
3. To Build A Great Team Find Under-Valued And Undiscovered Talent Missed By Others - Do you have an eye for talent?  Great teams are often made up of individuals other people miss.  Midfielder Kyle Beckerman played only 10 matches for the U.S. team from 2007-09.  Fellow teammates Mix Diskerud, Omar Gonzalez, Graham Zusi, and Chris Wondolwoski played a combined 11 matches entering 2013.
4. To Build A Great Team You Must Invest In Talented Young People – Klinsmann added eight players under 25 years old to the World Cup team.  These eight players should form the nucleus of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup teams.
5. To Build A Great Team You Must Make Tough And Unpopular Decisions – Klinsmann decided Landon Donovan, the most decorated player in U.S. soccer history, should not be on the team.  As unpopular as the decision was, it has proven to be the correct call.
6. To Build A Great Team You Must Put Team Success Over Individual Accolades – Klinsmann feared Donovan would become bigger than the team itself.  This ran against the culture Klinsmann was hoping to create.  Veterans would make the squad but only those who put the team first.
7. To Build A Great Team Everyone Must Make Sacrifices – Klinsmann’s approach to leadership is to make “the decision to sacrifice one for the good of many.”
8. To Build A Great Team Veterans Must Lead By Putting The Team First – Klinsmann clearly defined the expectations for veteran players such as goalie Tim Howard and captain Clint Dempsey.  Because this is Klinsmann’s team, everyone plays a role and stays within the team concept.  No one rocks the boat.  The team has no stars (at least in Klinsmann’s eyes).
9. To Build A Great Team The Leader Must Pay The Greatest Price – Klinsmann has been extremely controversial in interviews discussing America’s limited chances of success.  His logic which was roundly criticized by the media put the pressure on himself, rather than his team.  While initially head-scratching and counter-cultural, it has proven to be a successful strategy.

Have A Clear Vision, Upgrade Personnel, Find Undiscovered Talent, Invest In Young Talent, Make Tough And Unpopular Decisions, Put Team Success First, Make Sacrifices, Have Generous Veterans, and Pay A Great Price.  If you do these 9 things, you too may lead the best team in your organization’s history.

5 Things Great Leaders Do

5 Things Great Leaders Do

1. Great leaders serve people rather than use them.
2. Great leaders help people get what they want rather than using people to get what they want.
3. Great leaders lift people up rather than tear them down.
4. Great leaders add value to people rather than extract value from them.
5. Great leaders give people solutions rather than adding stress to them.

10 Reasons Your Church Is Losing Leaders

10 Reasons Your Church Is Losing Leaders

For some pastors and church leaders these are difficult times.  Over the last several months some very talented leaders who you relied on greatly have left your church.

You have tried to rationalize it but deep down you know it could have been prevented.  Going through your mind are meetings which did not go well, little hints dropped, things said, poor attitudes and unexplained absences.  All the puzzle pieces are in place.  Things now make sense.  You should have seen it coming but are now left to make plans moving forward hoping to make up for their absence.

If you have been in church leadership long enough, you have experienced this.  Could it have been prevented?  Were there warning signs?  Read the following list and perhaps next time you can proactively retain your best and brightest leaders.

The following are 10 Reasons Your Church Is Losing Leaders:

1. Lack Of Vision - Leaders are attracted to vision.  If your church’s vision lacks clarity or is not compelling in nature, top leaders may choose to follow a different vision.
2. Unrealistic Goals - There is a difference between a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) and a Big Crazy Audacious Goal (BCAG).  Leaders know the difference.  When faced with a BCAG, leaders become apathetic and simply roll their eyes or literally throw their hands up in the air.
3. Dysfunctional Leadership - There is limited potential in organizations where the executive leadership lacks unity.  When this environment exists, top leaders know there is a lack of sustainability and longevity to be had.  They will go elsewhere seeking healthier options.
4. Kings Talks To Kings - Relationships matter.  If leaders with influence are leaving your team, others will follow.
5. False Starts - Have broken promises or unfulfilled expectations compounded in your church over time?  If so, trust is lost and leaders will join churches with leadership who consistently delivers.
6. Early Adopters - You can’t leapfrog leaders.  When leaders are not brought in early during the development of projects and initiatives, they intuitively know their thoughts and skills are not needed.  They will leverage their talents in alternative areas where they can make a difference.
7. Marginalization – When the opinions of leaders are dismissed they become exceedingly frustrated.  An exasperated phrase you hear during this stage is “They’re never going to get it!”  They will go somewhere where they do.
8. Lack Of Opportunity - Often leaders outgrow their position.  If they want additional responsibility or roles with significance, leaders will seek out and explore those possibilities.
9. Dismissed – High-capacity leaders do not desire position, but rather influence.  Ignoring or dismissing their ideas insults leaders.  Specifically, when financial leaders or skilled artists are ignored, they will move on to where their giftedness and influence can be properly leveraged.
10. Ungratefulness – Everyone likes to be told they’re pretty.  Always tell top leaders “Thank You!”  Even leaders are starving for appreciation.

My hope for you is not only do you continue to attract leaders to your church, but also retain the ones you currently have.  And don’t forget to tell them “Thank You”

13 Practices Of Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times

13 Practices Of Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times

“This is a tough team to manage.” – Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier

Are you facing a tough time for you as a leader?  Do the people you report to have unrealistic expectations?  Is your workplace filled with constant drama?  Are those on your team wasting their talent?  Are they undisciplined?  Have you done all you can as a leader yet there seems to be no loyalty to you?
If so, then you can relate to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.  Under the intense pressure of an ownership group with high expectations, Mattingly leads a team of high-priced, high-maintenance personalities.
In the June 18th edition of Sports Illustrated, the brilliant baseball writer Tom Verducci profiled the Dodgers manager.  Whether you lead a church, business, non-profit or athletic team, the following 13 Practices Of Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times will better equip you to lead during these trying times:

1. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Find Comfort In The Bible – Pressure, struggle and tough times drive leaders to their knees and into God’s Word.  Mattingly begins each day reading his Bible.  Verducci made note of its worn condition.  A Bible which is worn out is often reflective of a leader who is not.
2. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Must Teach Fundamentals – The Dodgers lead the league in running into the most outs on the bases.  In addition, their bullpen is second in the National League in walks and losses.  Great leaders address rebellion with discipline.  However, they address irresponsibility with training.  Leading during tough times requires you know the difference and prioritize training those on your team.
3. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Minimize Drama – Drama creates sideways energy and decreases productivity.  An unnamed rival general manager says, “The Dodgers have the most talent so what you root for with them is drama – internal drama.”
4. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Create Consistency – Consistency builds trust.  Mattingly says, “When I first took over I said I wanted a tough team.  Tough isn’t beating your chest and yelling and screaming.  Tough is getting ready to play every day…Can you trust them to come to the ballpark and be ready to play that night?  All 25 guys?”
5. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Are Resilient – Great leaders constantly deal with failure but keep coming back up for more.  In his Hall of Fame career, Mattingly has never appeared in a World Series during his over 3,400 games as a player, coach and manager.
6. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Often Face An Uncertain Future – Mattingly goes on, “It’s been a frustrating, tough year, honestly.  Because I think when you…come in basically as a lame duck with the payroll and the guys that you have, it puts you in a tough spot in the clubhouse…I like being there, but you don’t want to be anywhere you’re not wanted.”
7. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Bring Stability To Others – People who are insecure do not perform to their maximum potential.  Therefore, great leaders bring stability to those on their teams.  Mattingly reflected on his playing days, “I saw how instability affected a team and how guys talked.  They’d say, ‘Well, he’ll be gone soon,’ and they had no respect.”
8. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Develop Young Talent – Leaders must protect the future of their church or organization more than their past.  One of the ways this is done is by investing in young talent.  When Mattingly speaks of the 2nd-year player Yasiel Puig, he says, “I love the growth.  I love the development.  I love the talent.  I love the energy he plays with…That’s the best part of Yasiel. He loves playing.  He loves to win.  And some of the stuff he does on the field is incredible.”
9. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Install Healthy Processes And Systems – Systems are anything your team does more than once.  Putting healthy processes and systems in place will carry you through tough times and create positive momentum.  Mattingly told his team, “It’s about the process of winning.  You have enough talent.  Now if you go about your business the right way and hold yourself accountable, if you set those standards high, you’re going to win.”
10. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Maintain A Positive Attitude – Your attitude as a leader will determine your team’s altitude.  Mattingly had great insight when he said, “That interested me: the affect a manager could have.  The manager doesn’t change the way you play, but he affects the attitude, the whole atmosphere.”
11. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Add Leaders To Their Team – Followers will not see you through tough times, but leaders will.  Leaders multiply your mission and vision while making others better.  Mattingly reflected, “I’ve got to have guys in the locker room that it bothers them when we lose…I saw the middle-of-the-road guys, if they had a bunch of bad guys around them, they would drift the wrong way.  If you had enough good guys, [the middle guys] would fall on the good side of the fence and play the game right.”
12. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Build A Sustainable Plan – There is no success without succession.  Great leaders build lasting churches and organizations.  Mattingly acknowledged, “This organization has a chance to build something that’s really, really good for a really long time…Ownership talks about how we have to be good now.  But we also want to build a sustainable plan.”
13. Successful Leaders Facing Tough Times Do Not Neglect Their Familes But Rather Lean Into Them – Your family will love you when no one else will.  Your family will love you regardless of what happened at work today.  Clubhouse manager Mitch Poole says, “Look at Donnie’s office and you get an idea of the kind of guy he is.  It’s filled with pictures but none of himself.  He has a picture of his wife on his desk.  That’s it.”

Pastors and leaders, what additional things have learned about leading through difficult times?

6 Things Churches Communicate To Attract More Volunteers

6 Things Churches Communicate To Attract More Volunteers

Today I had the privilege of attending Piedmont Church in Marietta, GA.  This great church, led by the absolutely delightful Senior Pastor Ike Reighard, is impacting the lives of thousands in their community on a weekly basis.
Ike concluded today’s message with a plea for more volunteers to support their growing ministry.  I was so impressed with how he did “the ask”, I wanted to pass along his process to you.
The following are 6 Things Churches Communicate To Attract More Volunteers:

1. Scripture – Ike built a biblical foundation for the value of serving people.  Great leaders know nothing changes a human heart better than the Word of God.  The passage used was Matthew 5:13-16, “¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that^[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)”
2. Need – Ike told the congregation, “I need you.”  Great leaders know few things elicit as strong a response from those in their churches as those three words.
3. Response Cards – Included in today’s bulletin was a response card providing 12 different areas people could serve in.  Multiple opportunities provide multiple on-ramps for people to get involved.  In addition to online registration, I would also recommend having volunteer response cards in the backs of your seats on a weekly basis.  These cards should be readily available and constantly updated with current opportunities where people could be involved.
4. Stories – Ike spent specific time promoting the parking ministry.  When doing so, he told the story of a volunteer who had previously led Ike’s parking team and the impact this ministry had on the overall life of the church.  Stories move people to action because people see themselves and how God could use them in stories.  They say, “Well if he could do that, I could do that too!”
5. Statistics – The pre-school attendance has grown 156% in the last 12 months.  Statistics communicate momentum and give validity to the need for more volunteers.
6. Urgency – Ike concluded his plea by saying, “If you are not serving, you are not experiencing all that God has for you.”  Great leaders call people to action and abundant living.

Scripture, Need, Response Cards, Stories, Stats, and Urgency.  If you communicate these six things on a regular basis, you will see a substantial increase in the number of volunteers serving in your church.
What other things do you do to attract volunteers in your church?

8 Practices Of Leaders Who Build Great Teams

8 Practices Of Leaders Who Build Great Teams

Smart leaders know building a great team is critical to their success.  Teams allow you to multiply your influence and accomplish more than you ever could by yourself.  So the question begs, how do you build a great team?  Are there qualities you should look for in those you wish to add to your organization?
Many experts feel the Dallas Cowboys have the finest offensive line in the NFL.  In the November 17th edition of Sports Illustrated, Greg Bedard recounted how the unit was constructed.  As I read the article I gleaned the following 8 Practices Of Leaders Who Build Great Teams:
Whether you lead a church, business, athletic team or non-profit, these practices will make you a better team.

1. Leaders Who Build Great Teams Recognize Defining Moments – Calamity brings clarity and causes wise leaders to make necessary changes.  When quarterback Tony Romo missed the final 10 games of the 2010 season because of a broken clavicle after being sacked, Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones knew the offensive line needed to be upgraded.  He said, “Tony started to take some licks.  You could see he (had) less confidence…we’ve got to start the process (of rebuilding the line).”
2. Leaders Who Build Great Teams Put Existing Team Members In The Right Seat On The Bus – While 80% of the offensive line would eventually be replaced, left tackle Doug Free was moved to right tackle where he has flourished.
3. Leaders Who Build Great Teams Interview Several Highly Qualified Candidates – Heading into the 2011 NFL Draft, offensive line coach Hudson Houck looked at three top prospects for the left tackle position to be selected with the team’s top pick – Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo, Colorado’s Nate Solder and USC’s Tyron Smith.  Smith was eventually chosen.
4. Leaders Who Build Great Teams Hire Hard-Working People – What separated Smith from the other two tackles was his superlative work ethic.  Today, Smith is considered one of the top two left tackles in the game.  Current offensive line coach Bill Callahan says, “Of all the guys I’ve ever coached, and I’ve been doing this for 37 years, this is the hardest working lineman I’ve ever been around.”
5. Leaders Who Build Great Teams Hire Hungry People – Recently Tony Robbins was asked what was the common thread separating successful and highly successful people.  He said, “It’s very simple.  Hunger.  Hunger to be more.  To do more. To give more.  To create more.”  In 2012, the Cowboys signed undrafted free agent left guard Ronald Leary.  Leary says, “Going undrafted will be something that I’ll never forget.  It keeps me from getting complacent or comfortable.”
6. Leaders Who Build Great Teams Hire Highly-Intelligent People – In 2013, the Cowboys selected a slow but highly-intelligent center from Wisconsin Travis Frederick with the 31st pick.  Frederick, who now runs the offensive line and calls out all the signals, majored in both computer engineering and computer science.  Callahan says of Frederick, “He’ll grasp anything the first time you tell him.  His recall is incredible.”
7. Leaders Who Build Great Teams Hire The Best People – Sign your 1st Round draft picks.  Do not take “No” for an answer.  Needing to fill one more position on the offensive line, the Cowboys desperately wanted Notre Dame guard Zack Martin.  Callahan was so enamored with Martin he did not even require him to participate in a private workout.  He said, “He just popped all over the film.  This was a no-brainer.”  The best teams get the people they want while others make excuses or settle for lesser options.
8. Leaders Who Build Great Teams Add Quality Depth – In 2012, the team added Mackenzy Bernadeau while continuing to develop four-year veteran Jermy Parnell.

Recognize Defining Moments, Position Current Team Members Appropriately, Interview Several Highly Qualified Candidates, Hire People Who Are Hard-Working, Hungry, Highly-Intelligent and the Best.  And add quality depth.  Practice these 8 things and you will build a great team.
What is one thing you as a leader could do better in this area?

17 Things Leaders Must Do To Overcome Their Greatest Challenge

17 Things Leaders Must Do To Overcome Their Greatest Challenge

 

There comes a time when every leader must face and overcome their “greatest challenge.”  Before I go any farther with the “greatest challenge” theme, I must put a disclaimer in this post acknowledging a person’s greatest challenge is their need to overcome sin and death.  This is only done through Jesus Christ.
With that said, the greatest challenge facing college football’s top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide is their arch-rival the Auburn Tigers.  Likewise, Auburn’s greatest challenge is Alabama.  Just in case you missed the classic 2013 conclusion, check out the video above.
As I watched today’s ESPN College Gameday, I gleaned the 17 Things Leaders Must Do To Overcome Their Greatest Challenge:

1. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Start Well – You never have to recover from a good start.  “It is really critical for Auburn to have a chance to pull the upset they have to have success on first down on offense.” – Jesse Palmer
2. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Take Away What Their Competition Does Well – “You’ve got to keep the ball of out of his (Amari Cooper) hands.” – Gus Malzahn
3. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Plan Well – You will prepare or repair.  “They have a unique blend of talent and scheme that give Kirby Smart and Nick Saban fits.” – Desmond Howard
4. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Produce Results – “As long as Nick Marshall is in uniform Auburn has a chance to win because every game that they play because they can score points.” – Kirk Herbstreit
5. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Keep It Simple – Genius is making the complicated things simple, not the simple things complicated.  “They’re (Alabama) second in the nation in run defense…They’re very, very simple but it works” – Lee Corso
6. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Manage Their Emotions Well – “You have to channel your energy and emotion in the right place…You can get misplaced emotion which doesn’t help you play well.” – Nick Saban
7. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Are Not Passive – “These kind of games are always going to be a fight.” – Saban
8. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Execute Well – “Trust in your tools, your technique, the plan, the discipline to execute all those things.” – Saban
9. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Have Faith In Others – “You gotta have a lot of faith and confidence in your teammates.” – Saban
10. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Have Great Memories – “These games never die here in this state.” – Saban
11. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Are High Capacity Individuals – Average leaders rarely overcome great challenges.  Saban said, “They have a capacity to make big plays.”
12. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Continually Press Forward – “Next man up.  Whoever has to come up and play has to take advantage of the opportunity they have.” – Saban
13. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Embrace The Process – Experienced leaders know it is never “one thing” which leads to success or failure.  Saban reminded us, “The big thing for our team last year was the way we played the last 5 minutes, not just the last 1 second.  We didn’t play exact.  We didn’t play disciplined football.”
14. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Avoid Disappointment – “The most disappointing thing is sometimes the way you lose.” – Saban
15. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Surround Themselves With Other Talented Leaders – “They’ve got an outstanding player at every position.” – Malzahn
16. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Play To Their Strengths – “Auburn’s best chance is to throw the ball to Sammy Coates.” – Corso
17. Leaders Who Overcome Their Greatest Challenge Minimize Their Weaknesses – “The only time Alabama loses games is special teams.” – David Pollack

Bonus – The following are 5 additional leadership quotes from Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer, one of the great leaders in any sport, from today’s show:

• “We’re not average.  There’s average players on the team.  There’s average coaches.  Sometimes I’m average.  Certainly this is not an average team.”
• “When I was putting together this coaching staff, out of nine coaches, eight are from the state of Ohio and that is not by accident.  People don’t understand this rivalry (Michigan).”
• “I’ve yet to be in a game where luck was involved…If you don’t believe that why do you ask your guys to practice so hard?”
• “Great players make great coaches.”
• “He’s a product of those around him.” – on quarterback J.T. Barrett