B-log

1. Know the needs of your organization
2. Hire with purpose
3. Test for integrity, personality
4. Check references
5. Use professional resources
6. Follow the recommendations of trusted & respected networks
7. Keep the bar raised high
8. Use advisory teams when contextually relevant

(notes from a talk by Mike Mowery)

Personal
Responsibility
In
Developing
Excellence

Trust builds when a follower is convinced that the leader is equally committed to excellence.

1. Personally purpose toward excellence.
2. Plan methodically
3. Plan ahead, but pay ahead to details now

• achievers will multi-task
• leaders will multi-plan
• high achievement leaders do both

Questions to ask when looking to expand your network:

1. What do you care about?
2. Who else cares what you care about?
3. What do others care about that you care about?
4. How can you build relationships with them?
5. Who do you already know who knows who you need to know?
6. Who are you to the people you’re looking to connect with?
7. What do you need to become to them to have greater influence?
8. How will you do what is necessary?

Maximum impact = high potency * clear communication * close proximity

(notes from 2007 staff retreat)

(from printed archives, unattributed)

Having a good reputation is an indispensable factor in succeeding at work. People trust top performers, and no one likes to do business with someone they don’t respect. The Bible says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches.” In other words, your self worth is more important than your net worth.

The common mistake most people make is thinking that reputation is a matter of “image.” So they worry themselves with questions like, “How do I look?” or “Did I say the right thing?” To build a long-term good reputation, you must focus on your character, not your image. Respect must be earned. The book of Proverbs in the Bible identifies seven character qualities found in people who are respected by others.

1. Respect is earned through common sense. Knowing and doing right, and common sense will fill you with living energy (Pr. 3:21). Men with common sense are admired as counselors.
2. Respect is earned through integrity. Respected people do not tell lies (17:7). The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out (10:9).
3. Respect is earned through humility. Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected (29:23). Anyone who listens to correction is respected (13:18).
4. Respect is earned through dependability. Like clouds and winds without rain is a man who boasts without gifts he does not give (25:15) He who keeps an oath even when it hurts will never be shaken (Ps. 15:4-5)
5. Respect is earned through having priorities. If your goals are good, you will be respected (11:27). You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good (14:22)
6. Respect is earned through generosity. He who gives generously to the needy and shows kindness will be powerful and respected (Ps. 112:9).
7. Respect is earned by putting God first in your life. If you want favor both with God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success (3:4-6).

• Clarify objectives and base all decisions on the organizations mission and vision statements.
• Lead members to establish and help accomplish common goals.
• Involve in the decision-making process the people who will be affected.
• Be flexible in meeting perceived needs.
• Distribute leadership responsibilities widely among responsible people.
• Learn from and do not be intimidated by possible failure or job loss.

From the Old Testament:

• Leadership comes from a divine appointment
• Leadership moves from a single person to multiple people
• Leadership requires defined accountability.
• Leadership requires preparation time.
• Leadership requires a heart sensitive to spiritual things.
• Leadership requires organizational skills.
• Leadership requires a deep conviction of God’s will for both leaders and followers.
• Leadership requires a clear theological perspective.

From the New Testament:

• Leadership is servanthood
• Leadership is stewardship
• Leadership is shared
• Leadership is ministry
• Leadership is modeling behavior
• Leadership is membership in the body
• Leadership can be difficult

(from Allan England, 07/24/2007)

Biblical team leadership takes place when divinely appointed men and women accept responsibility for obedience to God’s call. (Eph. 4:11)

They accept the importance of preparation time. It is in this time where they submit to the Holy Spirit, who will develop tenderness of heart and the skill of their hands.

The tenderness of heart addresses:

• The war against self (develops courage and sincerity)
• The war for your family (blesses spouse, children, extended kin)
• The war for your church (develops loyalty and honor)
• The war for others (develops service, compassion and justice)

They carry out their leadership roles with:

• a deep conviction of God’s will.
• a clear theological perspective of his Word.
• an acute awareness of the contemporary which they and their followers face.
• a determination to exercise leadership as servants and stewards.
• a commitment to share their leadership with their followers.
• affirmation that leadership is primarily ministry to others, modeling for others, and in mutual membership with others in Christ’s body.

“Leadership is the activity of influencing people to strive willingly for group objectives.”

Authority and influence are required for leadership. Authority is the power that is legitimized by virtue of the individual’s formal role in an organization. Influence is the resource that enables a leader to gain compliance or commitment from others usually achieved through credibility and integrity.

From the archives:

P - Predictors - They help mold our future.
R - Reminders - We are not self-sufficient. We need God and others for help.
O - Opportunities - They pull us out of a rut and cause us to think creatively.
B - Blessings - They open up doors we normally do not go through.
L - Lessons - Each new challenge will be a teacher.
E - Everywhere - No person or place is excluded from them.
M - Messages - They warn us of a potential disaster.
S - Solvable - No problem is without a solution.

(Credit: John Maxwell, The Winning Attitude)