Leadership as helping

Everyone needs some help with something. Some people need money; others need wisdom; still others just need a chance. You know what I mean, because right now if you were to take the time and consider the question you could probably produce a list of things you could use some help with.

I also remind you that the help you so often need resides in some person you already know. Putting it another way: you have some gift, some talent, some ability, some provision that can help someone else. That’s the beautiful thing about this world and the way it was created is that within our collective grasp are the tools to help one another in many meaningful ways.

The hard part is Continue reading “Leadership as helping”

Teamwork Principles from Sports

Teams are all the rage today in business. Surely some of this comes from our love for sports and the beauty of seeing a group of people on the field or court, working together in unity and skillfully executing a play. But furthermore we love to talk about teams today because of the camaraderie represented, the importance of each team member knowing and executing their job and the synergy that occurs through mutual trust and proficient performance. But loving the concept of “team” and actually building a team and helping it realize its potential are completely different things. I would like to propose 4 sports-themed warnings to help you build a better team.

Going 5-wide just isn’t possible; Going 4 wide isn’t sustainable Continue reading “Teamwork Principles from Sports”

New Beginnings

Everyone loves to have a new beginning.

To be sure, we all need new beginnings.

Some come everyday. Some come during certain seasons in life.

A new beginning is the end of what has come before and starting on the path to what is next.

Spring is a season of new beginnings. After the winter when everything has either died or gone dormant, Spring is the time when things are “reborn”, “revitalized” or “reawakened”. Continue reading “New Beginnings”

Motivation and the Greater Good

I want to take a moment to examine the heart, character, inner thoughts and motives of one who desires to lead. This is a helpful practice that we each ought to engage in on a regular basis. Without self-examination, accountability and attention to moral development even the best of leaders will slowly drift and become overtaken by the allure of power, pleasure, greed and self-satisfying behaviors.

At the heart of every leadership attitude and behavior should be the inherent desire to help our fellow humans. Leadership is not some kind of encapsulated behavior that gets things done without human interaction or personal influence. Instead leadership is with and for people. Continue reading “Motivation and the Greater Good”

20 Fundamental Questions for Team Building

In my last post I shared 5 sports-themed principles of team building. In this post I would like to give you a practical tool to help you build a team, unify them, point them in one direction and then let them execute the plan.

One of the best leadership practices is question-asking. Accordingly I would like to give you 20 questions that you first answer yourself and then work through with your team. As you think through these questions and collaborate with your team on possible answers and implications I believe you begin will see the true potential of team-effort. There can be a beautiful synergy between team members co-laboring on mission, vision and goals but as the leader you have to ask the right questions.Continue reading “20 Fundamental Questions for Team Building”

Treasure hunting

I love to hunt for treasure. In books, at yard sales, even metal detecting. It is fun and adventurous! There is something in me that simply loves to go out and try and discover the hidden, the lost and the forgotten. I also love to find things of great value! It brings me great satisfaction to find something of great worth.

One thing I have noticed though is that I may occasionally stumble upon a treasure while in everyday living, but most of the time I have to intentionally seek after it. It takes time and effort and planning to go metal detecting or to look for the best deals at a store. Continue reading “Treasure hunting”

Making or Tending

“What do you have that you did not receive?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

Perhaps one of the most difficult things in this life is “making” something of our lives.

You and I both desire to make our lives count for something.

We want our lives to have purpose and meaning and so we set out to:

  • Make a name for ourselves
  • Prove our worth
  • Create something both impactful and lasting

And yet, I wonder if we are really on the wrong track here. Continue reading “Making or Tending”

Leading an underachieving team

Underachiever's Manifesto

There are times in our various leadership roles that we will have times of great productivity, effectiveness and performance. These times are wonderful and full of promise and excitement. But there are other times when it seems like instead of the Midas touch turning everything to gold, our leadership or our team keeps missing the mark. So what do you do when the group, team or organization that you are leading is unproductive, ineffective and non­-performing? In this post I would like to propose ten basic principles / leadership behaviors that will help you in these dry / difficult times and help you and your team discover your full potential.Continue reading “Leading an underachieving team”

Leading without a title

Hello-My-Job-Title-IsSo what can a “leader” do without a title?

What can a “leader” do without a position?

There are many times in life, work and ministry that we may find ourselves without a formal title or position and yet still feel a call to lead. But who will follow? And who are we leading? And for what purpose? And toward what end result?

All of these are questions we may face when we feel a burning desire within to help others, to see lasting change in lives, organizations and communities and yet don’t have an official “platform” from which we can lead.

So what are some principles of leadership that are applicable regardless of title or position?

Continue reading “Leading without a title”