The Ultimate Test of Leadership: Creating Positive Change

Machiavelli said, “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”  Yes, he’s talking about change.  Where would we be without change?  Still in caves trying to get a fire going.  All change is not good.  But no change cannot be good. 

So, having said that let’s look at more of John Maxwell’s wisdom from Developing The Leader Within You:

The more you change, the more you become an instrument of change in the lives of others (50).

To be a leader you must preserve all through your life the attitude of being receptive to new ideas.  The quality of leadership you will give will depend on your ability to evaluate new ideas, to separate change for the sake of change from change for the sake of men (51).

Why people resist change: The change isn’t self initiated.  Routine is disrupted.  Change creates fear of the unknown.  The purpose of the change is unclear.  Change creates fear of failure.  The rewards for change don’t match the effort change requires.  People are too satsified with the way things are.  Change won’t happen when people engage in negative thinking.  The followers lack respect for the leader.  The leader is susceptible to feelings of personal criticism.  Change may mean personal loss.  Change requires additional commitment (56-61).

People change when they hurt  enough they have to change; learn enough they want to change; receive enough they are able to change.  The leader must recognize when people are in one of these 3 stages.  In fact, top leaders create an atmosphere that causes one of these three things to occur (63).

The longer an organization has gone without change, the more effort introducing it will require (67).

Not all change is improvement, but without change there can be no improvement.  Change=Growth or Change=Grief (73)

How hard is it for you to initiate or accept change in your life, your work, and your church?

Who is “Church” for?

Who is “Church” for?  Well, the Church IS the body of Christ and so we are called TO BE the body of Christ in the world and wherever we are for that matter.  Here’s a great post at the LeadingSmart blog by Tim Stevens: I Thought Church was for Believers.  Check it out and tell me whether you agree with Tim.

Hammertime Improv

Sunday Morning Setlist #10

Here’s today’s set list of music at the Awakening Service at FCC.  This will be linked to Fred McKinnon’s blog where other worship bloggers post their setlists.  Today I tried some new things in terms of breaking up the “set” but I think it was too choppy.  Oh well, you live you learn.   Here’s what we did:

Giving it all to you

BAPTISM OF COLIN HUDSON

Overflow

Message on “As Long as Nobody Gets Hurt it must be Right?”

Amazing Grace (my chains are gone)

All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises

Your Name (communion song)

Everlasting God

The Most Important Ingredient of Leadership: Integrity

In light of Sen. Ensign’s and Gov. Sanford’s recent scandals, I thought I’d re-post this from last fall.

Socrates reminds us, “The first key to greatness is to be in reality what we appear to be.”  Integrity.  Not a topic I like to talk about because I’m afraid people will hold me up to a standard I can’t keep.  So let quote some more from John Maxwell from his Developing the Leader Within You.

The dictionary defines integrity as “the state of being complete, unified.”  When I have integrity, my words and my deeds match up.  I am who I am, no matter where I am or who I am with (35).

People with integrity are “whole” people; they can be identified by their single-mindedness.  People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear (36).

What people need is not a motto to say, but a model to see.  Integrity builds trust (38).

Image is what people think we are.  Integrity is hat we really are (41).

Integrity helps a leader be credible, not just clever.  Integrity is a hard-won achievement (44).

This creates a question: if none of us are perfect, and we have high standards, how can we know if we have integrity, without displaying pride?

Happy Anniversary!

No, not the anniversay of this blog…my anniversay of marital bliss with my wife Jennifer.  OK, it hasn’t all been bliss, but more than not! 

I couldn’t have done better.  And she certainly didn’t have to marry down…but I’m grateful to God that she did!

That's my girl!

Spiritual Self-Examinaton Question #4

  What has God taught you recently regarding your marriage or parenting?

Today’s question may not pertain to everybody.  I know many single people without children.  If that describes you then maybe you can answer a slightly different question, “What has God taught you recently about relationships?”

I’m Glad I’m Not a Celebrity

I’ve been at Summer In the Son this week so I’ve been a little out of it in terms of news but I’ve heard that Jon and Kate are split and that Michael Jackson is dead. 

Both things to be sad about.  Why?  Because their stories have become part of OUR story because they are in the limelight.  Who can forget a young MJ singing “ABC is easy as 1-2-3.”  And his early career was simply brilliant.  And then something happened.  I certainly don’t want to judge that because I don’t know everything…but it’s sad nonetheless…and the media didn’t help.

Then you have Jon and Kate.  Didn’t know who they were a year ago until Jen started watching their show.  Can say that I’ve only really watched one full episode and it was kind of interesting.  Certainly nothing for me to get excited about.  But what is it about taking people who are just like you and me and making them a “celebrity.”  I don’t think we’re meant to be like that.  I certainly couldn’t handle it…I’ve got enough pride issues.

And then throw in Sen. Ensign from NV and Gov. Sanford from SC and their recent state of affairs.  The more public we become the harder it is to stay centered, grounded, authentic.  I don’t want to lose any of those.

God, I’m happy not to be famous or a celebrity.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

My son Micah is 7, but when he was 4 I wrote down 2 funny incidents that took place less than a week apart:

Micah went up to our neighbor whose lawn was especially long because their mower was broke.  He said, “When are you gonna cut your grass?  Aren’t you embarrassed?”

We were getting into the church elevator (the old, small one) with a very large woman.  I said, “Micah, head to the back.  This is a small elevator.”  To which he replied, “No dad, she’s just a large woman.”

Do you have any funny stories to share about your children?

The Definition of Leadership: Influence

I’m a fan of John Maxwell.  If you are a leader or an aspiring leader then you need to get a hold of his books.  I haven’t read all of them but many of them.  Here are a few nuggets from Developing the Leader Within You:

Leadership is influence.  That’s it (1).

The prominent leader of any group is quite easily discovered.  Just observe the people as they gather.  If an issue is to be decided, who is the person whose opinion seems most valuable?  Who is the one others watch the most when the issue is being discussed?  Who is the one with whom people quickly agree.  Most importantly, who is the one the others follow?  Answers to these questions will help you discern who the real leader is in a particular group (3).

Influence is a skill that can be developed (4).

A real leader knows the difference between being the boss and being a leader (5).

That last quote deals with the reality that it doesn’t matter what your “title” is.  That doesn’t make you a leader.  You can be the President of the U.S. and not be a true leader, i.e. Jimmy Carter.  You can be the “Sr. Pastor” and not be a leader.  Position does not equal leadership.  Influence does.  If you want to know if you are a leader then ask how much influence you have.  If you want to grow in your leadership then you have to figure out how to grow in your ability to influence.  Any leaders out there?