Friday, January 27, 2017

11 Observations Pastors, Coaches And Business Leaders Need To Be Aware Of

The following are 11 Leadership Observations You Need To Be Aware Of:

A major problem facing pastors of growing churches that no one is talking about is the relationship between vision and financial resources. Their vision is outpacing their church’s financial capacity and ability to fund it. Their vision is bigger than their provision. Vision in growing churches doesn’t slow down. It is white-hot. Pastors keep pouring gas on the vision but cold water on the provision.
How much is getting the right leader worth? My thoughts are you should do everything possible, or pay whatever price is needed, to get the right person in your leadership positions. To prove my point, look at the four remaining quarterbacks in the NFL playoffs. These four men –Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Matt Ryan – were the four best quarterbacks in the league this year. What would it be worth for you favorite team to have one of these quarterbacks? How many draft picks would you be willing to trade? Everything truly does rise and fall on leadership.
More people die coming down from Mount Everest than climbing it. There is a great lesson here for leaders. Do not exhaust all of your time, effort and resources getting to the top than you have nothing left to sustain you for what is next.
You never have to recover from a good start. January is the first month for all businesses, churches and non-profits who operate on the calendar year. Having a great January means you do not have to spend some portion or all of the year digging out of a hole.
Leaders need to think differently. Former San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh once said, “If we’re all thinking alike, no one is thinking.”
The intelligence community uses a process for developing assets and mutually beneficial relationships – M.I.C.E. First you try to persuade with Money. Then try to appeal to their Ideology. If that does not work, use Coercion. And when all else fails, appeal to their Ego. Pride gets them every time. Thank you to the CBS show Madam Secretary for the insights.
In two years, China will be the largest Christian country in the world. In case you were wondering, God is still at work and bringing people to Himself.
Sometimes working harder is working smarter. Too many people are expending too much energy and wasting too much time trying to figure out how to get out of things. We are in danger of institutionalizing laziness in the name of creativity.
Never attend a meeting without taking notes. If you are not writing anything down (or taking notes on your computer) you are not learning. Meetings should be a time to solve problems, learn, and get better. You should not miss the learnings from this type of environment. If you are not solving problems, learning, or getting better, do not have the meeting. Send an email instead.
Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney told his players prior to winning the national championship, “Make sure the light inside you is a lot brighter than the light on you.” No matter what I accomplish as a leader, if my life does not reflect the character of Jesus, it has no eternal value.
Great leaders are obsessed with fundamentals. Great leaders place a major emphasis on little things. I am watching the NFL Timeline profile on Peyton Manning’s summer training program. His focus on basics like footwork, how to take a snap, his throwing motion, handoffs, route concepts, and film study are obsessive. But that is why he is one of the greatest players in NFL history.
***Bonus*** As John Maxwell teaches, those closest to the leader determine the success of the leader. The movie Monster Trucks is 2017’s first box office bomb. Citing a Wall Street Journal report, USA Today reported in its January 12th edition the film was based on an idea from the 4-year-old son of then-Paramount president Adam Goldman. Now I am sure Goldman’s son is quite bright. However, I just wonder about investing the $125 million it cost to produce the film on an idea from any pre-schooler. I’m just saying.

What leadership principles are you currently learning?

Click HERE or on the image to the left and as a free gift for subscribing to this site, you can receive my new Ebook 1269 Leadership Quotes: Timeless Truths From 2016’s Top Christian Leadership Conferences. Featured are the Johnny Hunt Mens Conference, ReThink Leadership, Orange and Leadercast Conferences among others. If applied, these insights will make you an exponentially better leader. Enjoy!!!

Christianity Has Lost A Great Leader And Dear Friend And 9 More Most Read Leadership Posts Of December 2016

This post is dedicated to my friend Rob Cizik, the beloved executive pastor of Northshore Christian Church (WA), who passed away on December 5th. He is deeply missed by his friends and family. His impact will never be forgotten. More on this great man is in post #3 below.
The following are The Top 10 Most Read Leadership Posts Of December 2016 as determined by you the readers:

The following are three additional Hidden Gems which did not make the Top 10 but were personal favorites. I hope you enjoy them the second time around.

Thanks for your support in December. It helped make 2016 the most read year in the history of this site. It is an honor to invest in your leadership. I look forward to a great January!

Introverts Don’t Make Good Pastors

by Charles Stone

Or, maybe they do.

I’m a pastor and an introvert.
I get energy from being alone.
Being with people for long periods of time drains me, although I have strong people skills.
I love to read.
I go on silent retreats.
After church every Sunday I need to spend time without high people interaction.
Did I say I am an introvert?

Am I automatically disadvantaged as a pastor?

Do only the gregarious, back slapping pastors lead big churches?

Some years ago I learned that my introversion offended a church leader where I once served. We held an overnight leadership retreat at a local retreat center. After the last session ended around nine, we provided snacks and games. At about ten, I went to bed as was my habit. Most of the other leaders stayed up past midnight. Had I stayed up with them, I would have been toast for the sessions to follow the next morning.

I learned months later that my leaving the group to go to bed offended him. He brought it up more than once. He was an extrovert and did not like me yielding to my introversion.

Should I have stayed up to “work the crowd?” Perhaps. But that incident illustrates the challenges introverts often face when they serve in ministry.

As I’ve pondered this issue more deeply, I read the book Quiet, the Power of Introverts that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain, a great read. As an introvert, Susan presents a compelling case for the the power of introverts. If you are an introvert, you will feel affirmed if you read it.

Here’s a good article on introverts here.

If you are an introvert, what challenges have you experienced in ministry?

Should Pastors Abstain from Drinking Alcohol?

by Charles Stone

I grew up in the south and in a denomination where drinking alcohol was frowned upon for the average church attender and definitely considered taboo for pastors. I served in the central valley of California where I could drive to several wineries within five minutes and where the church didn’t frown upon social drinking. I served in another part of the country when at my first board meeting the elder host literally provided an open bar. I was offered a choice of about a half dozen alcoholic beverages that night. So, who’s right? Should pastors abstain from drinking alcohol or should pastors not even think about it?

I’ve noticed that in the past few years several leaders in the emerging church movement seem to portray through their teaching, blogs, and twitter profiles an, “I drink and that makes me really cool,” attitude. I heard one well-known teacher play off the popularity of the WWJD craze by changing ‘What Would Jesus Do’ to ‘What Would Jesus Drink.’ He then spent several minutes talking about how much he enjoyed alcohol.
On the other hand, I know a guy who won’t even go into a restaurant if it serves alcohol.
I’ve never preached a message against alcohol and I don’t believe the bible prohibits drinking in moderation. After all, Jesus turned water into wine and Paul encouraged Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach.
I even occasionally went to a bar with my improv class friends to hang out after class. I ordered a beer of the non-alcoholic root variety.
However, I’ve chosen to refrain from even social drinking for these reasons.

I want to maximize my health and keep my brain humming at maximum efficiency. A recent meta-study has shown a linkage of even moderate alcohol drinking to a heightened risk of some cancers. And, I hope to keep my ‘senior moments’ down to a minimum as I get older. Alcohol has shown to have negative effects on the brain.
I don’t want to play Russian roulette. A quarter of people who drink are considered problem drinkers and almost 10% are considered alcoholics. I don’t want to risk becoming one of those statistics.
I want to practice the principle of deference as best I can. Based on Paul’s admonition in Romans 14.21, I would not want a behavior such as drinking to potentially cause a weaker brother to stumble.
- It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. (NLT)
As a leader, I’ve chosen a higher standard for my leadership life. Proverbs 31.4 has influenced my thinking.
- Kings and leaders should not get drunk or even want to drink. (CEV)

I recognize that pastors and church people hold multiple views on this subject.

If you are a pastor, do you think a pastor should refrain or not?
If you are not a pastor, what do you think about pastors who do drink socially?

Here’s another thoughtful post on this subject.
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19 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Resurrection Of Gavin Stone

The Resurrection Of Gavin Stone

is wonderful, delightful, humorous, inspiring and should be watched by everyone this weekend! If you are looking for second chances and redemption, this film is for you.
Gavin Stone, played by Brett Dalton, is a former child actor whose life has become quite wayward to say the least. Assigned to perform community service at the local Masonville Bible Church, Stone gets a part in the church play performing the role of Jesus. What happens next becomes a transformational experience in Stone’s life.
The following are 19 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Resurrection Of Gavin Stone:

Experienced pastors have seen everything – Masonville’s pastor Allen Richardson, played by D.B. Sweeney, said, “I’ve been a pastor for decades. I’ve seen everything.”
Second chances are not free. They come with responsibilities – Richardson told Stone, “We believe in second chances but they’re not to be taken lightly.”
Unchurched people do not understand church customs. We assume a lot about those who visit our churches on Sundays. Stone, who had no church background, did not know how to dress for services, speak to people in the lobby, sing, when to stand, or take communion,
The Leadership Of Jesus was marked by Humility – Kelly Richardson, played by Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, was both the pastor’s daughter and director of the church play. She told Stone, “Humility. Don’t you pick on that when you read the Gospels?”
Being Single is Nothing to Ashamed Of – It was noted of Kelly who was not married, “There’s only room for one man in her life that man was Jesus.”
Christians have their own nomenclature – Stone noted, “Christians talk so weird.”
Great Leaders Are Great Listeners – While coaching his fellow actors, Stone said, “Acting is listening.”
Great Leaders Do Not Seek The Spotlight. They Shine It On Others. – Kelly told Stone, “He (Jesus) wasn’t about spectacle. He was humble. He made Himself low.”
Simplicity Is Underrated – Kelly said, “Bigger sets come with bigger problems and bigger egos.”
In church everyone can play a role. A man named Doug, played by former WWE wrestler Shawn Michaels, ran a wonderful ministry repairing cars for single moms. To see Shawn’s testimony watched this video:

Love Makes A House A Home – Stone was serving his community service in the town he grew up in. While staying at the house of his estranged father, he told him, “This house is a mess but it’s not empty.”
Unchurched people have legitimate questions about the Scriptures. As Stone practiced various scenes, he had numerous questions which experienced Christians just take for granted.
Leaders Either Serve Others Or Serve Themselves – Early in Stone’s life and career, his motto taught to him as an 8-year-old boy, “Gavin comes first.”
The world teaches everything you need to know about conditional love. Jesus Christ teaches you everything you need to know about unconditional love. Stone said, “Hollywood isn’t like church. It doesn’t give you second chances.”
Churches need to give people opportunities. – Everyone needs a place where God’s light can shine through their life. It was through acting that God created a pathway where Stone could show the love of Jesus Christ and have his life changed forever.
Brokenness Is Required For Sustainable Leadership ***Spoiler Alert*** When Stone returned backed at the church play after a brief return to Hollywood, he told Kelly, “I’m sorry doesn’t help.” To which she replied, “It doesn’t hurt.”
Churches Are God’s Instrument For Saving The World – Kelly told a freshly-redeemed Stone, “This is what we do.”
God’s grace is more than enough. The second most moving scene in the movie was when Stone, playing Jesus, wrote in dirt at the possible stoning of Mary, GRACE. We all need God’s grace.
“I surrender. My way didn’t work.” – These are the words of Stone during the crucifixion scene. For all human beings, it God’s way that works. Not ours.

Once again, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! Make sure you check it out this weekend.

12 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

After last Sunday’s stunning performance in the 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers entered the rarified air of being in the conversation with Joe Montana and Tom Brady as the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
With a Super Bowl appearance on the line this weekend against the Atlanta Falcons, I thought it would be a great time to look at the leadership skills of this incredible athlete. In the September 21, 2016 edition of Sports Illustrated, writer Greg Bishop profiled the future Hall of Famer.
As I read Bishop’s article, I gleaned the following 12 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers:

Rodgers Still Has Something To Prove – A.W. Tozer once said, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a mangreatly until He has hurt him deeply.” Rodgers remembers every slight. He keeps all his rejection letters from college. The pictures of Rodgers extended wait in the 2005 NFL Draft green room are well-known. Former teammate Greg Jennings said, “He holds on to things longer than you would hope. He definitely has the mind-set of being slighted.”
Rodgers Is A Continual Learner – The day you stop learning you stop leading. One off-season, Rodgers read the book Earthling just for fun. Just in case you are wondering about its contents, the book “explains how the physical disconnect between human beings and nature (mainly because of things like shoes and beds) contributes to inflammation, pain, fatigue, stress and poor sleep. For fun, I read Sports Illustrated. Teammate Josh Sitton said, “he’s smart to the point where he’s kind of annoying.”
Rodgers Processes Information Quickly – As a contestant on Celebrity Jeopardy, Rodgers defeated astronaut Mark Kelly and Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary because of his intelligence and reflexes.
Rodgers Creates Multiples Options – As the quarterback, he ensures all his receivers are viable options.
Rodgers Senses And Seizes Opportunity – Successful leaders maximize margins in their life. When the NFL players briefly went on strike in 2011, Rodgers took it as an opportunity to begin meeting with Angelo Poli of Whole Body Fitness to improve overall health and performance.
Rodgers MultiTasks Very Well – Poli said, “Most athletes have good coordination. But Aaron can mange, calculate and strategize multiple things at once.”
Rodgers Is Committed To Continual Personal Growth – Rodgers said, “It’s all about the challenge. Innovate and evolve and stay on top for a while. It can’t be Groundhog Day. I can’t be Bill Murray. I’d go as crazy as he did in that movie.”
Rodgers Is Comfortable In His Own Skin – Rodgers wants to be just another one of his teammates and does not crave attention. Packers general manager Ted Thompson said, “I don’t think he’s afraid of the spotlight. But he doesn’t crave it.”
Rodgers Is Relatable – Each year, Rodgers becomes familiar with the stories of all the rookies including their birthdays.
Rodgers Is Fiercely Competitive – Teammate Clay Matthews says, “Aaron wants to step on your throat.” As a backup to Brett Favre for three seasons and leader of the practice squad, he consistently dominated the starting defense.
Rodgers Is Always In Control – Rodgers dictates the terms of interviews with reporters. On the football field, former college head coach Cal’s Jeff Tedford said of the quarterback, “It’s the toughest position in sports to play. He makes it look easy. So effortless. So in control.”
Leaders Like Aaron Rodgers Are Rare – When an NFL general manager was doing pre-draft research on Rodgers, his high school coach Ron Souza said, “Guys like this don’t fall out of the sky.”

What is one thing you can take from Aaron Rodgers to become a better leader?

3 Ways Stress is Actually Good for You

by Charles Stone

I’ve often written about stress, here, here, and here. Most of my writing about it has focused on the detrimental effects upon our body, leadership, and brain. However, I’m now reading an eye opening book by health psychologist Dr. Kelly McGonical, The Upside of Stress, Why Stress is Good for You and How to Get Good at It. I highly recommend it. She also presented a TED talk on the subject that millions have watched. You can watch it here. In this post I summarize three ways stress is actually good for you.

First, a caveat. Prolonged stress is NOT good for us. When our body remains on high alert for long periods of time research has discovered many bad effects result including dampened immunity, digestive problems, heart disease, anxiety, weight gain, impaired brain functioning (especially memory), and sleep impairment.
On the other hand, God wired our bodies to produce a stress response to keep us from being eaten by wild tigers in the Serengeti. Fortunately, he also gave us brains so that we could grow and make our lives safer and more comfortable. So, such a response that He created in us to keep us safe isn’t needed in that same way today, at least for most of us in the west.
At the core of rethinking stress lies a concept McGonical calls mindsets. The term is self explanatory. It simply means the beliefs that shape how we view things. The key to making stress work on our behalf lies in changing our mindsets. If we view periodic stress as beneficial, it actually transforms how the body responds to it. She gives several interesting studies that show how changing our mindsets toward it benefits us. Changing this mindset increases the production of a neurotransmitter called DHEA which helps mitigate the negative effects of the stress hormone, cortisol (among other positive benefits). In fact, studies show that having a positive mindset on aging can add an average of nearly eight years to your life.

Here are the three benefits.

It gives us more energy to rise to the challenges we face in life. As a pastor I speak every Sunday when I give a 30-40 minute sermon. My stress response system revs up right before I speak. This process actually dumps fat and sugar in to my bloodstream that gives me fuel. The processes in my brain speed up resulting in better focus and concentration. My motivation increases as chemicals get released in my brain and bloodstream. My body uses energy more efficiently. I’m more prepared for the challenge at hand, to bring what I hope is a God inspired talk to encourage others in their relationship with Christ. McGonical calls this the ‘excite and delight’ side of stress.
It motivates us toward greater social connection. When I read about this benefit, my first thought was, “When we get stressed we tend to pull back to protect ourselves.” That is the case for some. But again, changing our mindset is key. When the stress response activates, it actually releases oxytocin, also called the trust hormone. Oxytocin helps us build bonds with others. A hug can release it. A mom breastfeeding her baby causes the baby’s brain to release it. Oxytocin gives us a greater sense of empathy toward others. This part of the stress response is called the ‘tend and befriend’ response. We might even call this what Scripture describes as community. We need each other, especially in times of difficulty.
It can actually help us grow and learn. McGonical writes that this benefit occurs when we are in the recovery phase, when we return to a non-stress baseline. The various stress hormones and neurotransmitters actually help us recover from it as much as they help us rise to challenges. For several hours after a stress induced experience our body slowly returns to what is called homeostasis, when our body’s chemicals come back into normal balance. In doing do, the brain learns from the experience. After such an experience we often replay it in our minds or even talk to a friend about it. That process helps cement learnings in our minds so that we know how to better handle similar stressful experiences in the future.

So, stress definitely carries an upside, but the key is mindset. I believe Paul had mindset in mind when he wrote these words.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. (Phil 4.8)

What are your initial thoughts about the benefits of stress?
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