I try to read everything I can get my hands on about leadership. I am particularly drawn to books that create a “buzz.” You know, the ones everybody on the plane is reading and everybody at Starbuck’s is talking about.
Several years ago I read a book that was the latest rage on leadership. I think it was the first of many books this author has written on leadership and related topics.
To be honest, I was appalled. Two things jumped out at me as I read the book. First, the author absolutely wore out the “vertical pronoun.” If we had a dollar for every time he used “I,” there would be no recession and no need for a bail out.
The second thing that bothered me was the author’s discussion of capital campaigns and building programs as indicators of his effectiveness and success as a leader.
These are violations of what I think are two of the most important aspects of legacy leadership.
First: Leadership is not about me. It begins with me, but it is not about me. My character, my integrity, and the way I deal with people hopefully make me a leader worth imitating. But my leadership is not about me.
Second: Authentic leadership is transformational. The real measure of a leader’s effectiveness is changed lives. Leadership is not about market share, return on investment, revenue growth, “the bottom line,” the size of the capital campaign, or the square footage and number of buildings on a campus. Those outcomes may occur as an indirect result of lives being changed, but that is not the real measure of a leader’s effectiveness.
Authentic leadership is about being a leader that is worthy of imitation. Authentic leaders seek to create an environment where people can flourish as they become all that God intended them to be.
How do you measure leader effectiveness?
Friday, March 13, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
"Sir"
I have never been one for the formality of language. I didn’t say “yes, sir” and “no, ma'am” to my parents when I was a kid. And we didn’t insist that our kids do that with us.
Interestingly, they always did this with other adults.
I know some people think that’s a sign of respect, but I am just not that hung up about it.
I don’t insist that people refer to me as “Doctor” either. In fact my students call me by my first name…even the freshmen call me by my first name. It rankles some of my colleagues who demand that students show respect.
If you want to be respected, you need to be respectable. And if you are, people will respect you. If you have to demand that others respect you, then something’s missing.
This week I ran into a young friend of mine twice. Jeff is twenty years younger than I am. And every time I see him, I am reminded of a conversation we had a few years ago.
We had gone out to eat with Jeff and his wife. The parking lot at Northpark Mall was crowded and we knew we would have to park way out, so we dropped our wives off at the door. As Jeff and I were walking to the restaurant, I said something and Jeff responded, “Yes, sir.”
I said, “Jeff, don’t call me sir. You make me feel old.”
Jeff grinned and said, “You are old, sir.”
Interestingly, they always did this with other adults.
I know some people think that’s a sign of respect, but I am just not that hung up about it.
I don’t insist that people refer to me as “Doctor” either. In fact my students call me by my first name…even the freshmen call me by my first name. It rankles some of my colleagues who demand that students show respect.
If you want to be respected, you need to be respectable. And if you are, people will respect you. If you have to demand that others respect you, then something’s missing.
This week I ran into a young friend of mine twice. Jeff is twenty years younger than I am. And every time I see him, I am reminded of a conversation we had a few years ago.
We had gone out to eat with Jeff and his wife. The parking lot at Northpark Mall was crowded and we knew we would have to park way out, so we dropped our wives off at the door. As Jeff and I were walking to the restaurant, I said something and Jeff responded, “Yes, sir.”
I said, “Jeff, don’t call me sir. You make me feel old.”
Jeff grinned and said, “You are old, sir.”
Monday, March 2, 2009
Weedy
Springtime has snuck up on me again this year. I am still waiting for winter and the trees are blooming…and so are the weeds!
Fortunately, our yard doesn’t have a lot of weeds growing in it this year. I can’t take credit for that though. I attribute it to our lawn care guys who have been regularly treating our yard for the last two years. They have rehabilitated our yard after I almost destroyed it during my war on crab grass a few years ago.
Yep, I declared war on crabgrass. And I won the war – the crab grass was eliminated - along with significant portions of our entire lawn. It looked like I had adopted a scorched earth strategy in my campaign. It all began with my thought that if a little crabgrass pre-emergent is a good thing, then more would be better. Wrong. It has taken two years to recover from that war.
Seeing the pre-spring condition of our yard and comparing it to some other yards in our neighborhood (You do it too, so don’t shake your finger at me!), I am reminded of gardening expert Neil Sperry’s advice on having a nice lawn:
The best way to prevent weeds is to develop a healthy turf.
After 25 years in leadership positions, I have decided that’s a pretty good leadership principle too. There have been seasons when I spent an inordinate amount of my time and energy trying to pull the weeds in the organizations I was leading. And just like the yard, when you think you have cleaned up one area, another needs your attention. By the time you take care of that area, the first area is all weedy (is that a word?) again. As with the yard, it’s frustrating!
A better way to deal with this is to build a healthy organization to begin with. A good way to do that is to focus on what’s working well. Leverage the positives, grow those, and they will drive out the weeds. It’s difficult for weeds to take root in healthy soil.
Most leaders spend way too much time pulling weeds. Let’s look for ways to strengthen what’s working and build a healthy turf where our teams can flourish.
Fortunately, our yard doesn’t have a lot of weeds growing in it this year. I can’t take credit for that though. I attribute it to our lawn care guys who have been regularly treating our yard for the last two years. They have rehabilitated our yard after I almost destroyed it during my war on crab grass a few years ago.
Yep, I declared war on crabgrass. And I won the war – the crab grass was eliminated - along with significant portions of our entire lawn. It looked like I had adopted a scorched earth strategy in my campaign. It all began with my thought that if a little crabgrass pre-emergent is a good thing, then more would be better. Wrong. It has taken two years to recover from that war.
Seeing the pre-spring condition of our yard and comparing it to some other yards in our neighborhood (You do it too, so don’t shake your finger at me!), I am reminded of gardening expert Neil Sperry’s advice on having a nice lawn:
The best way to prevent weeds is to develop a healthy turf.
After 25 years in leadership positions, I have decided that’s a pretty good leadership principle too. There have been seasons when I spent an inordinate amount of my time and energy trying to pull the weeds in the organizations I was leading. And just like the yard, when you think you have cleaned up one area, another needs your attention. By the time you take care of that area, the first area is all weedy (is that a word?) again. As with the yard, it’s frustrating!
A better way to deal with this is to build a healthy organization to begin with. A good way to do that is to focus on what’s working well. Leverage the positives, grow those, and they will drive out the weeds. It’s difficult for weeds to take root in healthy soil.
Most leaders spend way too much time pulling weeds. Let’s look for ways to strengthen what’s working and build a healthy turf where our teams can flourish.
Friday, February 27, 2009
What's Your Motive?
Motive Matters.
There is a central fact that those of us in leadership positions cannot escape: people are dependent on us. They depend on us to anticipate the future and make appropriate course corrections. They depend on us to provide them with the resources they need to do their jobs. And, they depend on us to do the right thing in terms of recognition and rewards.
There is a central fact that those of us in leadership positions cannot escape: people are dependent on us. They depend on us to anticipate the future and make appropriate course corrections. They depend on us to provide them with the resources they need to do their jobs. And, they depend on us to do the right thing in terms of recognition and rewards.
The fact that they are dependent on us gives us a lot of power. In fact, we could call this the elasticity of power because the more dependent a person is on us, the more power we have. Sadly, I can think of former colleagues that abused the power of their position and manipulated people who were very dependent upon them.
For the math and engineering types, here’s the functional notation:
POWER = f (DEPENDENCY)
Kind of scary to think about isn’t it? So, here’s the issue:
For the math and engineering types, here’s the functional notation:
POWER = f (DEPENDENCY)
Kind of scary to think about isn’t it? So, here’s the issue:
How will I handle their dependency?
How will I use my power?
At the heart of the issue is a more fundamental question: What is your motive?
Those of us who have been entrusted with leadership roles – and, remember there are many more leadership roles than the ones with formal authority and titles – need to consistently evaluate our motives. And the question – What is Your Motive?– is the single most important question we as leaders must ask.
To help with this, I have developed a motive check using the following questions:
Motive Check
> In any decision, ask yourself, “What is your intent?”
> Take time to examine why you are doing what you are doing.
> Examine what your gain will be from what you do. It is not a bad thing to gain something from your actions. But, you need to be aware of what you will gain and how that influences your actions.
> Determine whose approval is most important.
> Are you seeking the approval of God or of people?
> We also need to cultivate a set of friends who will love us enough to tell us about our blindspots and question us about our motives.
> We need to allow ourselves the discomfort of letting people ask us the tough questions and challenge our motives. Who is somebody in your life that you are comfortable checking your motives?
> Will you be a servant-leader who uses your power to serve others?
> Or, will you be a self-serving leader who uses power to benefit yourself and advance your personal agenda?
What is your motive?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
In Need of Resurrection
I have to confess that I stumbled into last week like a marathon runner stumbling across the finish line.
(OK, so I have never run a marathon...but I did stumble across the finish line of the Cowtown 10K - twice!)
I was depleted. As with so many activities, I don't realize the amount of physical and emotional energy I am expending while I am doing it. But the week before I had poured myself out and didn't realize until Monday that I was running on empty. I was experiencing what our pastor has labeled a "holy hangover."
I was so glad we had the C3 (Creative Church Conference) scheduled for last week. We also had C3 nights, which meant I did not have to prep and deliver talks for the classes I am currently teaching at Fellowship Church on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The C3 has been my annual pep rally for the last several years. But, this year I needed more than a pep rally. I needed a full blown revival, or as one of my favorite worship songs says: "Here I am, in need of resurrection."
For me the highlight of the C3 Conference the last three years has been getting to hear Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House. He was again the highlight for me; but, this year his message seemed to be aimed right at me. His message was titled "Let It Flow!"
There were several great points that he made, but the most appropriate for me were these:
(OK, so I have never run a marathon...but I did stumble across the finish line of the Cowtown 10K - twice!)
I was depleted. As with so many activities, I don't realize the amount of physical and emotional energy I am expending while I am doing it. But the week before I had poured myself out and didn't realize until Monday that I was running on empty. I was experiencing what our pastor has labeled a "holy hangover."
I was so glad we had the C3 (Creative Church Conference) scheduled for last week. We also had C3 nights, which meant I did not have to prep and deliver talks for the classes I am currently teaching at Fellowship Church on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The C3 has been my annual pep rally for the last several years. But, this year I needed more than a pep rally. I needed a full blown revival, or as one of my favorite worship songs says: "Here I am, in need of resurrection."
For me the highlight of the C3 Conference the last three years has been getting to hear Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House. He was again the highlight for me; but, this year his message seemed to be aimed right at me. His message was titled "Let It Flow!"
There were several great points that he made, but the most appropriate for me were these:
- "If we will use what we've got, God will replenish it: LET IT FLOW!"
- "We understimate the supplier. We need to take the limits off of God."
- "We hold on to what we should be pouring out."
I needed to hear that because when I am depleted, my natural reaction is to say that I am not going to do that again...I am going to hold back.
But God said to me Friday night: "Don't hold back what I have put in you. Don't hold back what you should be pouring out. If you will use what you've got, I will take care of building your capacity. If you pour it out, I will replenish you."
And He did!
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Leadership Imperative
A recent book was titled “Why Should Anyone Be Led By You?” That’s a really good question. Why should anyone be led by you? Why should anyone follow you?
If you had to take a philosophy or ethics class in college, you probably remember Immanuel Kant. He is famous for his “categorical imperative.” This was a general rule that Kant developed for ethical decision-making. According to this rule, we should "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."
Here’s my paraphrase: In any situation I should act in such a way that if other people in the same situation acted the same way it would be OK with me. (Now, some of my philosophy colleagues might not give me an A for that, but I think it gets to the essence of Kant’s meaning).
What about a “Leadership Imperative”? Could we develop a general rule for leaders?
A good way to get at this issue is to answer this question: Are you worthy of imitation?
As I study the leadership model provide by the Apostle Paul, I see that this was a recurring theme for him.
“Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.” (1 Corinthians 4:16)
“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1)
“You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:6)
In his letter to the Philippians, he provides us with a great test to evaluate how worthy we are of imitation:
“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)
Can I say that what people:
· Learn from me
· Receive from me
· Hear from me
· See in me
Is worthy of imitation? Is worthy of practicing?
And if they do, will it bring them closer to God?
Are you worthy of imitation?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Legacy Now
Two weeks ago we began a new teaching series at Fellowship Church. The title of the class is A Marriage That Lasts and the background for the class is the book, Legacy Now: Why Everything About You Matters.
Our Married Life Pastor, Jimmy York, kicked the series off with a great lesson on the meaning of legacy. He pointed out that we are all going to leave a legacy. We can do it by default or on purpose. He defined legacy for us as “organizing the way you live so that you will be a blessing to other people for generations to come.” By doing this, we will ensure that our relationships and our resources will outlive and outlast our time on this earth.
Jimmy was captured by an image of a grand banquet described in that book. He asked us to close our eyes and imagine a huge banquet table. At the table we see several people we recognize from our life…our parents, our grandparents, our spouses, our children. But there are also people we don’t recognize…some dressed in clothing from various past historical periods; others dressed in futuristic costumes we have never seen before.
This is your legacy banquet. At that grand table are all of the people from the past who influenced who you are today, … and all of the people for generations to come who will be influenced by who you are today. He also pointed out that those of who are Christ-followers are joint heirs of the ongoing legacy of our Savior.
There was a sense of urgency in Jimmy’s message that night. He wanted to shake all of us out of our comfort zones so that we would realize that everything we do now has an impact on eternity. He challenged us to develop a generational mindset for our lives. He wanted us to understand that every decision we make today has implications for tomorrow. He wanted us to know that legacy isn’t something that occurs when our life is over, but rather something that we are to live out now.
Early this morning, the Lord called Jimmy home. He is now sitting in the presence of the Lord at the banquet table the Lord prepared for him. Jimmy is getting to see his legacy past.
In his all too short life of 33 years, Jimmy lived out the definition of legacy that he gave us that night. He lived a life that has been a blessing to all of us. His leadership and vision for the Married Life ministry and the Men’s Influence Groups has been a blessing and will continue to be a blessing for generations to come.
Someday, we will join Jimmy at that banquet table. Let us all honor Jimmy by living in light of his Legacy Now message. Let us follow his example and live a life that is a blessing to others and that will be a blessing – like his was – for generations to come.
Our Married Life Pastor, Jimmy York, kicked the series off with a great lesson on the meaning of legacy. He pointed out that we are all going to leave a legacy. We can do it by default or on purpose. He defined legacy for us as “organizing the way you live so that you will be a blessing to other people for generations to come.” By doing this, we will ensure that our relationships and our resources will outlive and outlast our time on this earth.
Jimmy was captured by an image of a grand banquet described in that book. He asked us to close our eyes and imagine a huge banquet table. At the table we see several people we recognize from our life…our parents, our grandparents, our spouses, our children. But there are also people we don’t recognize…some dressed in clothing from various past historical periods; others dressed in futuristic costumes we have never seen before.
This is your legacy banquet. At that grand table are all of the people from the past who influenced who you are today, … and all of the people for generations to come who will be influenced by who you are today. He also pointed out that those of who are Christ-followers are joint heirs of the ongoing legacy of our Savior.
There was a sense of urgency in Jimmy’s message that night. He wanted to shake all of us out of our comfort zones so that we would realize that everything we do now has an impact on eternity. He challenged us to develop a generational mindset for our lives. He wanted us to understand that every decision we make today has implications for tomorrow. He wanted us to know that legacy isn’t something that occurs when our life is over, but rather something that we are to live out now.
Early this morning, the Lord called Jimmy home. He is now sitting in the presence of the Lord at the banquet table the Lord prepared for him. Jimmy is getting to see his legacy past.
In his all too short life of 33 years, Jimmy lived out the definition of legacy that he gave us that night. He lived a life that has been a blessing to all of us. His leadership and vision for the Married Life ministry and the Men’s Influence Groups has been a blessing and will continue to be a blessing for generations to come.
Someday, we will join Jimmy at that banquet table. Let us all honor Jimmy by living in light of his Legacy Now message. Let us follow his example and live a life that is a blessing to others and that will be a blessing – like his was – for generations to come.
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