Leading Realities

Leadership Leaks

There are some individuals in whom leadership just leaks from their lives, where in the course of their normal speech leadership comes through.  Such is the case of Bill Hybels, senior and founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church.  And though last week at the Leadership Summit Site pastor's debrief  the content of the conversions were aimed at evaluation and review some great leadership truths and learnings were gleaned as Bill facilitated.

Here are some thoughts that I stood out ...

"Don't ever underestimate the power of inspiration."

"(in reference to the Leadership Summit) You just have to be serious minded believer to appreciate this event."

"No one wants a mild dose of God any more."

"You have to make a decision on whether you are going the coaching route -- sustainability; or the cheerleading route inspiration."

Leading Questions with Brad Franklin

I just got back last night from Chicago where I spent a couple of days with some tremendous leaders debriefing this year's Leadership Summit.  One of the benefits of serving as a host site (in the San Diego area) is the great relationships and friendships that are developed throughout the years by attending these events.

One such person that I have developed a great friendship with is Brad Franklin who serves as the lead pastor of Lakeside Church in Folsom California.  Brad is an incredible leader that I always glean great insights when I spend time with him.  Be sure to check out his blog Benediction.  You can also follow Brad on Twitter.

Recently I asked Brad to answer these Leading Questions:

What is your Favorite Leadership Movie?
Hmmm, I can’t nail it down to just one.
I love Crimson Tide, because of the conflict, the stakes of the decisions being made, and the fact that my son serves on a submarine. I also love Saving Private Ryan. Is the mission more important than a man? Or is a man more important than the mission? On a different emotional level, I like Dead Poets Society and Mr. Holland’s Opus. Good teachers are leaders, and good leaders are teachers.

What would you differently now in your leadership than you did five years ago?
I would be much more rigorous in the process of hiring leaders, or of installing volunteer leaders. Having the right people in the right seats in the bus, as Jim Collins says, is one of the most important things to an organization’s health, especially the church. I have not always done this well, and when I have messed up these processes, our staff and our church has paid the price.

What fresh/current leadership learning are you working through?
Let me give you some of my top take-aways from the Willow Creek Leadership Summit which just concluded:
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. (David Gergen)
The best thing you bring (as a leader) is a filled-up bucket. (Bill Hybels)
Listen to the Renegades. (Gary Hamel) One thing I’ve noticed about renegades: some are easier to listen to than others. In their passion for change, some renegades end up shooting at their own team. That is not helpful. But some renegades are able to express love for their people while at the same time espousing new initiatives and new ideas. Look for those kinds of renegades.

What is Your 3 Most Impactful Leadership Books You Have Read?
Axiom, by Bill Hybels. Best practical leadership book ever, hands down.
It’s Your Ship, by Michael Abrashoff. This navy captain altered the top-down leadership model of the US Navy and invited everybody on the boat to contribute to its improvement. Very useful in today’s Twittering, Facebooking, feedbacking world. Good to Great, by Jim Collins. His concept of a Level Five Leader is a clear picture of a biblically-informed, Christian leader, even though he didn’t arrive at his conclusions through Bible study.

Who is a leader dead or alive that you would like to meet?
Assuming that every Christian would say Jesus...and so would I…King DavidAbraham Lincoln

What refuels your leadership passions?
I am really enjoying the process of working with some younger leaders. This is a growing passion for me. I’ve known for a long time that the legacy of a pastor is not only how many people choose to follow Jesus through his ministry, but how many people he can send into ministry. Lately I’ve been having more opportunities to inspire and equip younger leaders. I find it a fulfilling part of my role as a leader. The other thing I love to do is cast the vision. I love to help people see it, feel it and get it.

Who has been the biggest or most impactful leadership influence in your life & why?
In the early days, the first pastor I worked with when I was a part-time youth pastor. He showed me wisdom and faith as he led our church. One of my first prayers almost everyday now is, Lord, give me wisdom and faith to lead.
In these recent years, Bill Hybels has been the greatest influence. Perhaps the greatest thing I have learned form him is to be generous with leadership opportunities for others. Perhaps that’s why I am engaging more with young leaders now.

To a young and emerging leader, what is one thing you would advise him or her in regarding leadership?
Read. As David Gergen said at the Leadership Summit: “Not every reader is a leader, but every leader is a reader.” Mentors are readily available to us now simply through books.
Ask. I didn’t ask enough questions early on. I probably thought I knew everything.

If leadership were a color what would it be and why?
It would have to be a rainbow, because the need of the followers changes as circumstances change. A good leader adapts to the situation and the need. As one of my mentors says: Leaders do what leadership requires. That might mean it is red hot one day, but low-key blue the next. Perhaps growth is required, so then green is the need. One-size fits all leadership is probably dangerous, or at least obsolescent.

What is an indicator that you are losing your leadership edge or that it is growing dull?
Nobody is following.

My Monday Morning Ritual

I love working on Mondays!  It is the day when most of my colleagues take the day off so I can get a lot of uninterrupted routine assignments done.  And getting these routine tasks done really sets the tone for my week knowing that I don't have a letter to send, a phone call to return, a form to submit lingering -- simple tasks but when left undone can be like a small pebble in your shoe. 

Usually after a couple hours I head down to Starbucks for my second Venti coffee of the day --  though there are many locations in the area I choose the one connected to a Barnes and Noble Booksellers so I can participate in my Monday morning ritual of checking out the latest leadership and business book offerings.  I do so I can never be without something to read.  I usually find about 2 to 4 titles that I jot down and create an on-going list.  Now I don't read every book on the list, but atleast I have a catalog to go to.  It amazes when I hear people say "I don't know what to read?" For a leader this question should never be raised.  Performing some type of ritual like this, it does not have to be weekly, solves this problem.

So as a result of today here is what is being sent to my Kindle:

• Free by Chris Anderson

• Monday Morning Choices by David Cottrell

• The Silver Lining by Scott D. Anthony

New discovery for me today -- Social Media has its own section in bookstores -- amazing.

Leading Questions with Kristen Chandler Founder Kick of For Hope

You do not have to look far to find great leaders that you can learn and glean from.  Often they are in the midst of your organization.  Such is the case with Kristen Chandler.  Kristen has been a part of my church for  8 years and recently she has been given a platform where her leadership giftings has flourished in the founding of an organization Kick for Hope.

To read Kristen's incredible story and how she founded Kick for Hope less than a year ago click here.

I asked Kristen to share her thoughts in response to these Leading Questions:

What is your Favorite Leadership Movie?
Freedom Writers

What would you do differently now in your leadership than you did five years ago?
Delegate more, control less—micro-management kills time and growth.

What fresh/current leadership learning are you working through?
Because K4H is still in its infancy and run entirely by volunteers, I am learning to establish a culture in which volunteers gain a sense of ownership, commit whole-heartedly, share ideas freely, and know their contribution matters.

What is Your 3 Most Impactful Leadership Books You Have Read?
Created for Commitment, Axiom, Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands.
(Reading leadership books is a fairly new endeavor for me.)

Who is a leader dead or alive that you would like to meet?
Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America

What refuels your leadership passions?
The Leadership Summit & reading “leadership” books (which I’ve only recently begun doing) is definitely leadership fuel. I also revisit God’s calling to me in my journal. Through the Psalms, God reminds me that He’s carrying me: without Him I have no good thing, but with Him I can scale a wall. Then I can dare to envision what the future of K4h could look like if we do this thing right...and consider the consequences if we don’t. And reading stories of Africa’s poorest children not only fuels my vision, it fuels my passion to lead K4H to reach its full potential because ultimately growth means improving and saving lives.

Who has been the biggest or most impactful leadership influence in your life & why? 

Each BSF teaching leader I trained under and served with over a 10-year span. All three showed me how to lead with excellence (not to be confused with perfection).

To a young and emerging leader, what is one thing you would advise him or her in regarding leadership?

Investing the time to build authentic relationships is critical to success. This will yield an eager group/team with a vibrant exchange of ideas as well as a willingness to help realize the vision you’ve cast.
 
If leadership were a color what would it be and why?
Red. A good leader is sacrificial. He sacrifices speaking for listening, fights the urge to tell others how to think for drawing out their ideas, exchanges personal gain for team growth…etc.
 
What is an indicator that you are losing your leadership edge or that it is growing dull? 

Personal growth flat-lines. Ideas stop flowing. Your group or team lacks energy and enthusiasm.  Volunteers or group members disengage. Passion is replaced with passivity and eventually even dread.

Do Not Underestimate Your "Leadership Influence" as Parents

Last Thursday at this time I was trying to calm down a mind that was racing with thoughts and ideas after taking in day one of the Leadership Summit.  One of the highlights of the day was an interview of Jessica Jackley co-founder of Kiva -- a micro financing organization that in less than 4 years has served as a platform to raise close to 100 million dollars in loans primarily to entrepreneurs in third-world countries.  For more on Kiva click here.

It was an inspiring session that showed how by going for it and doing something you can make a difference.  In fact I loved how host Nancy Beach commented at the conclusion of the interview, which I believe would sum up many attendees response to the interview: "Oh my goodness, I just, I don't know about you? I just want to get around a group of people and solve something."

As inspiring and impressive as Jessica Jackley and the Kiva organization are, my greatest leadership takeaway was somewhat unexpected.  What stood out for me is how critical a role we as parents can have in the life of our children.  We play so many different roles in our children's lives and one I need to be paying attention more to is my role as leadership example in their lives. I have a six year old boy and three year old girl.

Here is what was revealed in the interview of Jackley in respect to her parents role in her life.

When asked who had a significant or the biggest influence in her life, she said ... "My mom and dad ofcourse influenced me greatly.  They convinced me that somehow I could do anything and I believed them and that set me on a path."

Here are some of the ways she mentioned how her parents influenced her:

• From her middle school years all the way through college was challenged by her dad to come up with "a theme for the year."  A theme that she would be base her decisions and serve as background for all that she did that year.
• Her parents provided a spiritual influence in her life.  They took her to church and it was in Sunday School that she heard this lesson, "the poor will always be with us ... what you do to least of these you did unto me."  It was this message that would serve as the nexus of her heart to help the underresourced.
• They took her places where she could be inspired and have her world expanded.  In college her dad took her to the Leadership Summit where she heard numerous vision-expanding messages that had a great effect on her life.
• They believed in what she did.  When Kiva was in its beta phase it was her mom and dad and other family members that raised the first $3000 to help the first group of entreperneurs.

Volunteerism -- The Power of Choice

 My wife was i-chatting with a friend about the difference between being on staff versus being a volunteer -- she asked my thoughts which prompted the writing of this blog post.

I have worked vocationally in the non-profit sector for 17 years serving on staffs of churches.  Yet when people ask me when was my most memorable and/or meaningful time of serving in this environment was -- I always refer back to the five years prior when I served as a volunteer during my college years for both a local church and another non-profit organization.

The reason that I look upon my volunteering experience so fondly is summed up in one word "choice." 

To have a choice is powerful! Choice is a luxury.  Choice gives you freedom.  Choice gives you the optimum of circumstances.

It always bugs me when I hear of a professional athlete saying that money has not changed them, in spite of having a multimillion dollar contract.  Their proof is that they drive the same car (i.e. a 79 Ford Pick Up) and live in the same house (1200 square feet) and in the same neighborhood (middle class).  However, I believe whether they are conscientious of this or not, somewhere embedded in the back of their mind is the notion that if they wanted to they could change their current lifestyle in a minute. 

They have to understand that by choosing to drive the same car, stay in the same house and live in the same neighborhood they have elevated their car to be the equivalent of a Mercedes Benz,  their house to a Mansion and their modest neighborhood to a prestigious gated community.  It is a lot different when this is your living condition and you have no choice -- this is simply the hand you have been dealt.

Here is another example ... when a multimillionaire chooses to eat at McDonald's because he loves their Big Macs that again is in many ways  making it the equivalent of a Ruth Cris Steak House Filet Mignon because he has a choice.  On the other hand it is different for the single mom with two kids trying to make a budget work by eating off of the dollar menu -- that is survival.

I believe you are getting my point regarding choice. 

So how does this tie into volunteerism.  The very word volunteer is a verb defined as "to do with a choice."  And there is something incredibly rewarding, fulfilling and life giving when you make "a choice" to give of your time, giftings and resources for the benefit of others.

I remember as a college student juggling a work schedule of 24 plus hours a week, a full course load and using what ever discretionary time I had to help at my church and campus ministry -- it was truly the best time!!!  Why?  Because I knew I could be watching the latest movie,  playing video games, going to the beach or just hanging out or working more hours at work, but I chose to volunteer instead.

On the other hand in a vocational staff role to a certain extent "you have to be there."  Now if someone "chooses" to work at a church or any non-profit organization the argument could be made that don't you want to be there?  Absolutely.  Yet at the same time, embedded somewhere in the back of my mind is the thought that this is a part of my job.  This is not a bad thing -- it is simply the truth.

I really believe and now speaking specifically of those who are serving in a local church -- the call of a vocational staff is giving up there right to choose.  And this is a very noble calling.  Jesus said this ...

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.  For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?"

Do the Simple Things (notes from Bill Hybels Closing Remarks of the 2009 Leadership Summit)

Over the course of this week I will be sharing some of my notes from the various sessions of the Leadership Summit.  My first entry is from the last session of the Leadership Summit.  These are notes from Bill Hybels' closing remarks to wrap up the two-day conference.  

I get numerous solicitations to attend various leadership conferences and seminars from the non-profit and business sector and I have often said that Bill Hybels is the differentiating factor that separates the Leadership Summit from all other conferences.  Even in his brief 20 minute closing there were incredible words of wisdom -- very "simple" yet at the same time very needed to be heard.

My notes are below right out of my Livescribe Journal. I hope you will be challenged to do the simple things.

Leading Thanks

A critical role in the life of a leader is to be leading the way in giving thanks.  This week one of my main objectives is to thank as many people as possible in as many means as possible for making a our Leadership Summit experience this past week such a huge success!  This year we had our biggest attendance in five years, up 115 from the previous 2 years.

In this picture is a part of a team that gave selflessly over the two-day Leadership Summit experience.  That is in addition to, for many, a prep day the day before the event and for the point leaders of the various volunteer teams -- as it is almost a year-round commitment to some degree.

The amazing thing is that we have yet to do a public recruitment for this event in six years of hosting.  Since year one we have mobilized volunteers from existing teams, who perform these task regularly, and most end up staying on for the next year and the next and so on.  In fact we find ourselves turning away volunteers who ask to be involved and have found ways to reduce the amount of team members so more of our church team can be apart of the experience as an attendee.

So thank you Journey Community Church Summit Site #44 Team -- I hold you in highest regard!!!