Leadership

Leadership is an invisible strand as mysterious as it is powerful. It pulls and it bonds. It is a catalyst that creates unity out of disorder. Yet, it defies definition. No combination of talents can guarantee it. No process of training can create it where the spark does not exist. The qualities of leadership are universal. They are found in the poor and the rich, the humble and the proud, the common man, and the brilliant thinker; they are qualities that suggest paradox rather than pattern. But wherever they are found, leadership makes things happen. The most precious and intangible quality of leadership is trust: the confidence that the one who leads will act in the best interest of those who follow, the assurance that he will serve the group without sacrificing the rights of the individual. Leadership’s imperative is a ‘sense of rightness,’ knowing when to advance and when to pause, when to criticize and when to praise, how to encourage others to excel. From the leader’s reserves of energy and optimism, his followers draw strength. In his determination and self-confidence, they find inspiration. In the highest sense, leadership is integrity. This command by conscience asserts itself more by commitment and example than by directive. Integrity recognizes external obligation, but it heeds the quiet voice within, rather than the clamor without. - Anonymous

A Godly Leader

A Godly leader ... finds strength by realizing his weakness
finds authority by being under authority
finds direction by laying down his plans
finds vision by seeing the needs of others
finds credibility by being an example
finds loyalty by expressing compassion
finds honor by being faithful
finds greatness by being a servant
[Roy Lessin]

The Law of Victory

Law #15 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of Victory: Leaders Find a Way for the Team to Win

With this law, Maxwell highlights the necessity of the single-minded determination a leader must have to achieve his/her goals and to lead the team to victory. He points out that, despite many differences in leader personalities and leadership styles and organizational goals, the one characteristic of victorious leaders is their unwillingness to accept defeat. They push and work to achieve the objective- because there is no ‘Plan B’.

“When the pressure is on, great leaders are at their best. Whatever is inside them comes to the surface.”

In their view:

• Leadership is responsible
• Losing is unacceptable
• Passion is unquenchable
• Creativity is essential
• Quitting is unthinkable
• Commitment is unquestionable
• Victory is inevitable

Three Components of Victory

1. Unity of Vision. Teams succeed only when the team members have a common goal. A team cannot win a championship if the players have different agendas.

2. Diversity of Skills. You can’t have a successful hockey team made up of only goalies…or a successful non-profit with just fund-raisers. You need diversity of skills. Many leaders have a blind spot to this and think that if everyone on the team could just ‘be like him/her,’ then the team will be successful. Recognize how each person contributes with his/her unique skills and show appreciation for him/her. The newer you are to leadership and the stronger your natural leadership skills, the more likely you are to overlook the importance of others on the team---which is a big mistake.

3. A leader dedicated to victory and raising players to their potential. “You’ve got to have great athletes to win, I don’t care who the coach is. You can’t win without good athletes, but you can lose with them. This is where coaching makes the difference.” -Lou Holtz.

You may need to buy time for people to buy in. Do that by focusing on them…adding value to them. This will build your credibility.

Applying the Law of The Buy In to Your Life

1. Take responsibility for the success of the team. Your commitment, passion and dedication must be higher than everyone else’s and unquestioned. Do you currently demonstrate that type of commitment? If not, then examine yourself. If you cannot convince yourself to bring that level of commitment- then of the following is probably true: [a] you are pursuing the wrong vision; [b] you are in the wrong organization; [c] you are not the right leader for the job. – You will have to adjust accordingly.

2. If you are dedicated to leading the team to victory- you must have the right people on the team. Think about the skills necessary to achieve the goals. Write them down. Then, compare those skills to those of your team members. If there is a discrepancy, then you either need to train your team or get new people with the necessary skills.

3. In order to achieve your goals- you must have unity of vision. Do an informal survey to find out what is important to your team members; what do they want to achieve personally and professionally. Ask them to describe the purpose and mission of the team/organization. If there is not a universal understanding of the vision, you need to work on communicating the common goals clearly. Also, work with each team member to show how his/her personal goals can align with the overall team vision.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 15- The Law of Victory. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

More Grace- His Grace is Sufficient...

"Soar back through all your own experiences. Think of how the Lord has led you in the wilderness and has fed and clothed you every day. How God has borne with your ill manners, and put up with all your murmurings and all your longings after the 'sensual pleasures of Egypt!' Think of how the Lord's grace has been sufficient for you in all your troubles." - Charles H. Spurgeon

Leadership

Leadership is getting people to work for you when they are not obligated.
Fred Price

This August will be Hot, Hot Hot!

Connect Hot Items from FRC on Vimeo.

This August will be Hot, Hot, Hot with 3 BIG events planned for our Connection Team!

Be sure to put these dates on your calendar!

August 5-6: Leadership Summit at Flamingo Cooper City

August 13: iBar-B-Que at Flamingo Cooper City Campus Courtyard for all Connectors, Connect Group Leaders, and Champions. Great eats and important information that will impact Connections this fall!

August 28 iLEAD Explosion. Awesome leadership training as you continue your leadership growth in the Connection Ministry

Grace

Such as do not grow in grace, decay in grace. There is no standing at a stay in religion, either we go forward or backward; if faith does not grow, unbelief will; if heavenly mindedness doth not grow, covetousness will. A man that doth not increase his stock diminisheth it; if you do not improve your stock of grace, your stock will decay. The angels on Jacob's ladder were either ascending or descending; if you do not ascend in religion, you descend. –Thomas Watson

[21 Laws of Leadership continues next week]

-In Him

Influence

There have been meetings of only a moment which have left impressions for life ...for eternity. No one can understand that mysterious thing we call ‘influence’ ...yet everyone of us continually exerts influence, either to heal, to bless, to leave marks of beauty; or to wound, to hurt, to poison, to stain other lives. [J.B. Miller]

- Isaiah - Chapter 30:

¹⁸ Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

19 Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. ²⁰Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. ²¹And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ ²²Then you will defile your silver-covered idols and your gold-plated images. You will scatter them like filthy rags; you will say to them, ‘Away with you!

Despite having to struggle at times- and despite having to learn hard lessons- God will be there for us. He will show us the way we should go. His glory will shine amidst our darkness- which will, in turn, lighten our hearts and our lives. This should make us more faithful- and more trusting...preparing us for the next trila we will face....ever growing closer to Him.

-In Him

The Law Of The Buy In

Law #14 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of The Buy In: People Buy Into The Leader, Then The Vision

“The leaders find the dream and then the vision. The people find the leader and then the dream.”

Maxwell points out that many leaders who approach realizing their vision “have it all backward.” We think that if we have a ‘good cause,’ people will automatically buy in and follow. But he notes that this is not how it works…that people do not follow worthy causes- they follow worthy leaders who can promote a cause they can believe in.

You Are The Message: “Every message that people receive is filtered through the messenger.” It is about credibility. If you think the messenger is credible, you will think the message has value.

LEADER	+	VISION	=	RESULT
Don’t Buy In		Don’t Buy In		Get Another Leader
Don’t Buy In		Buy In		Get Another Leader
Buy In		Don’t Buy In		Get Another Vision
Buy In		Buy In		Get Behind The Leader

1. When followers don’t like the leader or the vision, they look for another leader. Maxwell notes that the only time people will follow a leader they don’t like with a vision they don’t believe in is when the leader has some kind of leverage. This could be anything from something extreme, like physical violence, to merely being able to withhold a paycheck…or be the only potential source of a paycheck.

2. When followers don’t like the leader but they do like the vision, they look for another leader. Maxwell gives an example of why pro-sports team coaches are so often replaced. The vision is most always common- win. But players don’t always buy into the leader. So, does the CEO get rid of all the players-or just get a new leader?

3. When followers like the leader but not the vision, they change the vision. In this case. Sometimes the followers work to convince the leader to change the vision…or they may abandon their point of view and adopt the leader’s…or they may reach a compromise. But, they rarely flat out reject the leader.

4. When followers like the leader and the vision, they get behind both. Having a great vision is not enough. As a leader- you must get the team to buy into you…so they will follow and heal realize the goals. This is the price you have to pay.

You may need to buy time for people to buy in. Do that by focusing on them…adding value to them. This will build your credibility.

Applying the Law of The Buy In to Your Life

1. Why do you lead? What is your vision for your leadership and organization? What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish? Write your thoughts in a vision statement. Is this vision worthy of your time and energy? Are you willing to sacrifice for it? If not, then rethink what you are doing and why.

2. What is the level of buy in for the people you lead? List the members or key members of your team. Rate each person’s buy-in [their willingness to follow you – even despite tough times] on a scale from 1-10. If your people do not buy into you, they will not help you realize your vision [even if they love it]. They will find a new leader to lead them.

3. Consider ways you can earn credibility with others. For example- by:

a. Developing a good relationship

b. Being honest, authentic and developing trust

c. Holding yourself to high standards and setting a good example

d. Giving them tools to do their job better

e. Helping them achieve their personal goals

f. Developing them as leaders.

Develop a strategy with each person. If you make your goal to add value to each of them, your credibility will rise rapidly.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 14- The Law of The Buy In. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Boasting That Delights The Lord

Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord. – Jeremiah 9:23-24.

What is it that we should be proud of? Being wealthy is fine enough, fun, opens many doors, may represent your hard work and diligence…but it that what gets you into heaven? Being wise is even better…worth far more than material wealth. Wisdom may help you sin less, but will it forgive and wash away the sins you do commit? What is it that ultimately delights God? Our love of, dependence on, and seeking of HIM. Everything else will follow.

Which Path to Take

The plans of the mind belong to mortals. But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:1-3

How many times do we plan something in our lives- something as simple as what activity we will do on a given day, to something major like a job or career choice…and it turns out totally differently than we thought?

We have so many of our own thoughts and plans. And we should. God gives us dreams and desires, goals and passions. But, we must remember to always have His will as a sounding board. It certainly is not always easy to discern His will…in fact, it is usually quite difficult initially. That is where seeking Him is key. He WILL give us what we need. And He knows infinitely better than we what is best for us.

Plan on! But - Seek Him. Commit to Him. He will make the path clear.

As it has been said, “He might not show up early, but He will be on time.”

In Him

The Law of The Picture: People Do What People See

Law #13 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of The Picture: People Do What People See

This law addresses the idea that ‘you need to practice what you preach.’ You can teach and talk all day long, but you need right actions along with that to provide a model for your followers that they can respect and emulate. When leaders show the way with the right actions, their followers copy them and succeed.”

Making The Picture Come Alive

“Great leaders always seem to embody two seemingly disparate qualities. They are both highly visionary and highly practical.”

Mission provides purpose- answering the question, Why?

Vision provides a picture- answering the question, What?

Strategy provides a plan- answering the question How?

This does not mean that leaders have all the answers. Uncertainty is certain. It is a necessary component of change…which is a necessary component of progress and growth. It is actually during times of uncertainly that leadership is most important. And how you model dealing with times of uncertainty will significantly impact your team.

Modeling Insights for Leaders:

1. Followers are always watching what you do. “Followers may doubt what their leaders say, but they usually believe what they do. And they imitate it.

2. It’s easier to teach what’s right than to do what’s right. “It is a challenge to raise your living to the level of your teaching.” But, “nothing is more convincing than people who give good advice and set a good example.”

3. We should work on changing ourselves before trying to improve others. In order to be a credible leader, you do need to practice what you preach. Your standards of excellence need to be highest for yourself. “As a leader, the first person I need to lead is me.”

4. The most valuable gift a leader can give is being a good example. Following are results from a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for a finance company. American workers were asked to select the one trait most important for a person to lead them…

RANK	CHARACTERISTIC	PERCENTAGE
1	Leading by example	26%
2	Strong ethics/morals	19%
3	Knowledge of the business	17%
4	Fairness	14%
5	Overall intelligence/competence	13%
6	Recognition of employees	10%

Applying the Law of The Picture to Your Life

1. The primary example you set for your followers will be in the area of character. This is the area you need to address first before trying to change others. Give yourself a character audit. Make a list of your core values [eg integrity, honesty, hard work, etc]. Next, notes any incident in the past month when you have acted inconsistently with respect to those values. Don’t dismiss anything. No excuses. Work on changing your actions and attitude in these areas.

2. Ask a trusted colleague to watch you for at least 2 weeks and compare what you teach to how you act. Have him/her record the inconsistencies and review them with you at the end of the time you determine. You can ask for clarification, but do not defend yourself. Plan to change either your actions or the philosophy you are teaching- so that they are consistent.

3. What are 3-5 things you wish your current people did better than they do now? List them, and then grade your performance in each. If your numbers are low, then you need to working on improving those qualities/actions in yourself. If your numbers are high, you need to make your example more visible to the team.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 13- The Law of The Picture. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Work For It

I passed by the field of one who was lazy,
by the vineyard of a stupid person;
and see, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.

A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want, like an armed warrior.
Proverb 24:30-34


God can give us our dreams- and then some
But not without work on our part
We must seek God, that our dreams are of Him- and then go after them.

Imagination + Inspiration + Perspiration = Realization
[Pastor Buddy Cremeans]

-In Him

More Than We Could Ever Imagine

Pastor Troy gave a sermon relatively recently talking about making progress in our lives. If we are not moving forward, we are declining. And, if we are at a plateau- we are just ‘pre-decline.’ Just this past weekend, Pastor Buddy Cremeans, Northway Church- NY, took this a step further with the notion that our imaginations are one of our greatest gifts from God. He challenged us to dream big and set goals for ourselves.

Ephesians 3:20-21 says: Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Just consider this verse. God can accomplish far more than we could EVER IMAGINE. That is awesome. How much can you imagine? How big can you dream? Wherever your mind can go in fantasy- God can take your reality even further… And all through His power within US!

“If your not an agent of change, your ate best a steward of something which is going to erode, and why would you want a job if all you’re going to do is perpetuate what previously existed?” -Stephen Friedman

-In Him