Quotable Quotes

"Don't mistake the edge or your rut for the horizon"
~Gary Hamel

Rogue waves

each year there is one conference I look forward. there is one conference, and one conference only, that I put on my calendar and schedule around. it is the annual Leadership Summit put on by Willow Creek Association. why am I such an avid follower of the Summit? because it challenges me to be better than I am today, it inspires me to dream bigger, it encourages my heart that the impossible is possible. each year they have a variety of faculty speakers from all walks of life, I like the diversity of perspective and expertise that they offer. this year I attended the annual conference from Kansas City and it did not disappoint.

Bill Hybels session on Leading in a New Reality was particularly challenging given events in my life over the past year. He said:

A rogue wave comes in unannounced and spells doom. We may never get back to the old normal. Seasoned leaders know rough patches force creativity and courage. A God appointed leader hears whispers from God in ferocious conditions.

Here's the part that really challenged me:

Whenever your leading in rogue wave situations, the best thing you bring to the table each day is a fresh spirit, grace filled demeanor, optimism and solid ground in God. Colleagues feed on it and believe they can get through.

this isn't just true in work environments, I believe this is true at home too. when the going gets rough, do I truly believe God is in control and do I come to the table with fresh spirit daily, optimism and grace? If so, I believe people in any context will respond to that. what do you think?

Impact "my" world

A few weeks ago I was at an annual staff meeting and one of the invited speakers was Mark DeMoss. Mark comes from a prominent family, he is the president of his own Public Relations firm. To many who do PR work he is like a rock star. One of my team were so excited to hear him speak because she had heard so much about his success when she was a marketing student. Mark is one of the most humble men I've ever met.

His first talk rocked my world and I cannot get what he said out of my mind. He said that he's given up the dream to change "the" world and instead has been challenged to impact "my" world.

What makes up "my" world according to Mark:

1. My family: ultimate legacy
2. My staff
3. My clients (for me this would be those our programs serve)
4. those select people God has put in my path

That's it, nothing more.

Greatness is then defined by a sustained impact on those in my world. He then challenged us to do our best to tackle the world God has entrusted to each of us.

How would you define your world? Can you write their names? How many people would mention your name as having an impact on their lives?

(spiritual) leadership application

Months before reading Spiritual Leadership I had done a study on the Holy Spirit through a little booklet produced by Campus Crusade for Christ on living the Spirit-filled life. Here are some of the highlights of that study.

You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. ~Acts 1:8

This scripture is often brought up in relation to missions work, I believe it is because of the "remotest parts of the earth" line. What struck me in reading it recently is the first part. You shall receive power. Wow! What a promise! It doesn't say might, or can, or should - it says you shall receive power. When? When the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

What does that look like? According to Bill Bright a spirit-filled life is one that is centered on Christ. Christ is in the life and on the throne. Self is yeilded to Christ. Personal interests (career, relationsips, how you spend your time) are directed by Christ. Resulting in harmony of God's plan.

The author states that walking in the spirit moment by moment will result in:

• a life that demonstrates more and more of the fruit of the spirit and will be conformed to the image of Christ (Galatians 5:22,23; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
• meaningful prayer life and study of God's word
• prepared for spiritual conflict against the world, the flesh and against Satan (I John 2:15-17; Galatians 5:16,17; I Peter 5:7-9; Ephesians 6:10-13)
• experience his power to resist temptation and sin (I Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 6:1-16)

I mentioned this earlier, but eventhough the way may be clear it certainly isn't easy. Is it worth it? Absolutely! If I want to reach Convergence, and I do, then it is essential.

Do you believe the Holy Spirit has a role in your daily life and in guiding your future? If not, what directs your path?

(spiritual) leadership development

In chapter three of Spiritual Leadership, the authors point to a different book titled The Making of a Leader by author Robert Clinton. Clinton offers a six stage model of how God develops leaders.

Phase One: Sovereign Foundations
God's activity during life's formative years. Parental love, birth order, childhood illness, prosperity or poverty, loss of loved ones, stability versus upheaval are factors over which children have no control...the way emerging leaders respond to these factors determines much of their leadership potential.

Phase Two: Inner Life Growth
The period in which people develop their character as well as their spiritual life - no longer subject to whims of fate but are in a position where they can systematically be transformed to think and act like Christ. Leaders without the Holy Spirit are much more subject to their pasts than those whose characters are shaped by the Holy Spirit working within them.

Phase Three: Ministry Maturity
This is when people make their earliest attempts at Spiritual leadership, perhaps volunteering in some capacity in their church. What leaders learn from these early experiences will largely determine how they advance in leadership ability.

Phase Four: Life Maturing
When spiritual leaders begin to focus on their strengths and find leadership opportunities in which they can be most effective - God moves from working in the leader to working through the leader.

Phase Five: Convergence
When people's ministry experiences and their life experiences meet in a specific job or responsibility wherein they draw on all they have learned in order to enjoy maximum effectiveness. This will be the job or role for which they are best known and in which they experience their greatest fulfillment.

Unfortunately, many never reach convergence. Some leaders never find jobs or challenges that bring to fruition all that has gone before in their lives. When leaders neglect the Holy Spirit's role in their lives, they never reach their full potential.

Phase Six: Afterglow or Celebration
This is a level of leadership few achieve. It comes after one has successfully led others for a significant period of time. A time for teaching the next generation. These leaders have nothing to prove. Others respect them not because of their position of influence, or even because they are continuing to lead, but because of who they are and what they represent.

What an impressive trajectory! What makes the difference between those who complete the phases and those who don't? According to the authors, it is reliance on the Holy Spirit's promptings. I believe I have passed through phases 1-4. I hope and pray for convergence. I long to find the right opportunity that utilizes my experiences in a God honoring way. I want to reach that culmination of effort. God has led me to this place, which exceeds my wildest dreams, I trust he will lead me on.

Which phase are you in? Is that where you would like to be?

(spiritual) leadership

I am currently working my way through the Spiritual Leadership:Interactive Study. The book is written by Henry T. & Richard Blackaby. It has been a challenging read, not just because of the content, but also because of our current circumstances.

The basic premise of the book is that people are more than just physical beings - they have a soul, a spiritual component. I think that is why people want their work to be rewarding, fulfilling and part of something greater.

Which leads to the second premise, work is not just about producing results, but it is part of a divine purpose whether you are placed in ministry or the marketplace.

Thus, leaders don't just achieve goals, they point people toward God and Kingdom purposes. Talk about responsibility!

Since my early days of leadership I have wanted to be a leader worth following, not just someone who holds a position and wields power. To me that was about developing character and integrity. After reading this book, I am realizing how little leadership has to do with me. I am not placed in a position of leadership for my own purposes, but for Kingdom purposes. My ambition should not be to garner recognition and praise, but rather to build up those who are entrusted to me under my leadership. The most encouraging thing about all of this, is my only responsibility is to be obedient to God. That's it. If I am faithful in that, He will take care of the rest. Not that it is always easy, but at least the way is clear.

My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. ~Psalm 62:7

can leadership be taught?

This question comes up from time to time in my life: is leadership a gift, or is it something that can be taught?

When I used to teach a leadership class at KU my answer was unequivicably, it can be taught or I wouldn't bother teaching the class. But, over the years I am questioning that answer. Let me explain...leadership is not done in isolation, it involves other people. Some people just do not have the interpersonal skills to pull it off. You can teach them about decision-making, casting vision, and effective project management - but they still have to deal with people to make things happen. Some people just don't have it in them to be able to effectively lead others toward anything and it ends up a mess.

Also, leadership requires a certain amount of ambition. By definition, the leader is in front of the pack showing the way. But, what if someone is just happy to sit and stay where they are or where they've always been? They might hold the title of manager, but they aren't leading a group anywhere. True leadership takes a certain amount of initiative, drive and gumption. Maybe someone else has the answer to this, but I don't know how to motivate the unmotivated. In my experience, they either have it or they don't...period.

So, I ask you, can leadership be taught?

Who are you?

I receive weekly stats on my blog and each week the stats say more than 100 people visit...yet, I don't hear from that many on a regular basis through comments or email. So, I'm wondering...who are you? I'd like to get to know you. Please post a comment below letting me know your name and where you live (yes, that includes you mom). I look forward to meeting you (virtually).

Forgiveness

I recently heard Andy Stanley speak on the importance of moral authority for leadership.

Moral authority = alignment between creed and deed; what we say and what we do; our belief and our action.

Andy mentioned there are three areas we must have alignment in order to earn moral authority:

• Family -prioritize your family; someone else can do your job, no one else can parent your children
  
• Finances - give, save, live on the rest; leaders set the example in this
  
• Forgiveness - don't carry in to the future the hurt of the past; there is no excuse for bitterness, because our message is the message of forgiveness

All of these have challenged me at different times, but what struck me most was the importance of forgiveness. Our message of love and hope won't have validity if we can't forgive those who have hurt us. I have often said, "revenge is natural, forgiveness only happens in the supernatural." When someone wrongs me, I want them to pay for the pain they caused me. I somehow feel justified in holding a grudge. God calls us to a different standard.

In life, I have been hurt. It would be impossible to live and not be hurt. What we do with that hurt is our choice - we can nurture it, coddle it, hold on to it OR we can forgive and move on. forgiveness is difficult. it is required of us as Christians regardless of whether the other apologizes or not.

There was a point in my life when I was feeding a wounded heart. I had been wronged and wanted an apology that was never going to come. I asked God what he expected of me and he answered, but not in a way I was expecting. He led me to Micah 6:8 -

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Mercy? At that point in my life I did not love mercy. I was rather fond of justice; justice seemed balanced and fair, getting what was deserved. Then God showed me another scripture that rocked me to my core. James 2:13 -

...judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

If I expect mercy...and I do because I give myself the benefit of the doubt, that is just human nature, you do it too...then I have to be merciful. Yikes! As a result of what I learned, I offered forgiveness to the one who had hurt me. It wasn't easy, it took time; but it brought incredible freedom. As time went on, I was hurt again, but each time it was easier to forgive. I expect the hurts of life have not ended, I will be hurt again...that's life. I pray that I will continue to choose forgiveness over bitterness.

coincidence?

A few weeks ago Kenyon had to attend a training session in Charlotte. It was a prerequisite to applying for an EMT job. In June, Kenyon successfully passed the NC state exam on the first attempt and is working his way through the checklist of requirements to apply. I decided to spend the weekend with Kenyon in Charlotte and we rented a hotel room. Sunday morning I dropped him off at class and decided I would drop in on a church in the area. I saw a sign for a church meeting at a near by school, so I stopped in. This was the church and this is their pastor.

This week I was in Atlanta for work. To my surprise, this young pastor, Steven Furtick of Elevation Church, was one of the speakers. He gave an impassioned message that has stuck with me. He talked about how God gives us a promise for the future, something that stirs our soul. We start down the path, but before we reach the pay off we often experience challenges. He was encouraging the leaders in the audience to be faithful in the process between the promise and the payoff. In Pastor Steven's words: "God is preparing you for what He's prepared for you; don't faint in the process."

Powerful words and a great reminder!

The Great Adventure

When I was graduating from high school my AP English teacher asked us to write our life story. The title of my story was "The Great Adventure." I had been on one mission trip with Teen Mania to Costa Rica and I had experienced a few leadership opportunities in my youth group and at school. The story I wrote was about my walk with God and my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I referred to it as the experience that changed my life forever.

I don't think I fully realized the impact of those words, because I could not have possibly predicted the future. The rest of the story is about the adventures God had brought me on through my high school years and anticipation of where he might lead me next. I ended the paper with the lines of a Stephen Curtis Chapman song:

The journey of life begins for another day with God's grace streching out as far as the eye can see and beyond...far beyond. Only the Author of life know completely what lies ahead...the moutaintops of joy to be experienced as well as the valleys of sorrow to be endured. To Him there are no surprises but He takes pleasure in filling our lives with them, and all the while His consuming love for those He created keeps Him never more than a heartbeat away. This is the miracle of grace in motions given freely to those who will receive it by faith...this is a life like no other...this is the great adventure!

I could not have predicted the adventures I have experienced with God. I didn't even know a life like this existed.

At the Leadership Summit Gary Haugen of the International Justice Mission spoke. He talked about how God calls us on an adventure to work that is often hopeless, scary and hard. Why? Because it is only with Him that the work can be accomplished. I know this to be true, because I've experienced it in my life. I'm experiencing it now.

I am so grateful for the great adventure God has brought me on and I plan to continue this path all the days of my life. Where to next? I don't know. A few years ago I stopped trying to predict. I'm just enjoying the ride.

Ax.i.oms?

American Heritage Dictionary defines an axiom as: An established rule, principle, or law.

Bill Hybels just released a book titled Ax.i.om. The idea behind the book is that leaders make decisions based on succinct, practical, portable leadership proverbs. Last year at the Leadership Summit Colin Powell shared his, he calls it the Powell Principles.

I'm fascinated by this concept of axioms - principles to live by condensed in a sentence that can be shared with others. I know I have some fundamental principles, I don't know if I've ever put them in to words. It is something I plan to work on, probably on a plane ride to some foreign place when I can't sleep and I've seen all the movies.

An example of an axiom I heard that I liked is a line in the movie The Great Debaters. This was something that Denzel Washington used to tell his children:

"We do what we have to do, so we can do what we want to do."

What are your axioms? What principles do you use in guiding life decisions?

Inspirational quotes

One of my favorite sources for inspirational quotes is Teddy Roosevelt. His quotes are always action oriented - they address failure as a learning opportunity, not as a defining moment. This week I am attending the Willow Creek Leadership Summit. It is a time to refresh my spirit and be inspired by other leaders. I expect this year to be like past years and leave with some innovative ideas.

Tomorrow morning an opening presentation is on decision making. Teddy has a quote on that:

"In any moment of decision,
the best thing you can do is the right thing.
The worst thing you can do is nothing."

--Theodore Roosevelt

I don't know who the author of the quote is, but I often heard people say, "choosing to do nothing is still a choice." I choose to do something and if it doesn't work out, I learn from the mistake and keep going.

Grace at work?

So, I'm still reading Ascent of a Leader. In chapter 2 they introduced the idea of grace at work. Providing a safe environment where people can make mistakes, where they are shown grace for their shortcomings, produces innovation, risk-taking, and giving the best to the employer. I know failure is part of learning and growth, but I've never thought of it in the context of grace - unmerited favor.

In chapter 3, the authors expound on this idea and discuss the fruit of relationships of grace.

1. Acceptance: when human flaws are accepted, we tend to try harder to please the one who accepted our shortcomings. Interesting paradox...acceptance of "as is" results in change. Hmmm...

2. Honesty: humans are more likely to admit mistakes, and learn from them, rather than hide mistakes in relationships of grace.

Reading this, it all seems like common sense, right? But, I have found it much more difficult to practice. Creating this kind of environment takes a tremendous amount of patience, time, and persistence. The book asserts, that those who've received grace find it easier to give because they know and understand it's power.

I've thought a lot about this. I learned more about grace through immense heartache and failure than any other source. I experienced grace and in the process came to appreciate it. What about you?

Have you received grace? Are you sharing it with others?

--
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The Ascent of a Leader

Recently, I've been reading a book titled Ascent of a Leader. The basic premise of the book is, in order to be a leader worth following you need to pay as much attention to the development of your character as you do capacity building. They demonstrate this through the illustration of two ladders - climbing the rungs of the capacity ladder and the character ladder.

I've only completed the second chapter of the book, but there was a startling statistic in this chapter. According to a leadership professor at Fuller Theological Seminary - at least 70% of leaders fail. The number one reason for failure - a moral (character) failure. Yikes! That is just so disappointing to me. Seventy percent!!!

I don't want to fall in to that statistic. Rather, I want to be the faithful servant, the one who finishes the race to win the prize. This book offers some very practical tips to being a leader of influence worthy of the calling - the number one thing I've learned so far. It's all about relationships - involve others, guide others, encourage others. Borrowing from Rick Warren's famous saying: "It's not about you."