In(tense)tional

Yesterday in staff meeting Dwight Mason (my boss,mentor,friend) said something that really made me think. When leading in a volunteer organization with a high calling there is always a tension to manage when it comes to leading with specific outcomes in mind.

The word we throw around when we talk about this is the word intentionality.

Vision leaks and it's a key part of engaging volunteers with the why behind the what. Serving God is a pretty big deal and we believe that we should only give our absolute best and that requires a lot of intentional conversations. But yesterday Dwight pointed out that the word tense is a necessary part of leading intentionally. That tension is a part of leading well because we need to have conversations that drive questions and push-back in order to achieve what we believe what God has called us to and is critical in making vision stick.

Are you being in(tense)tional?

Hey, no one said this would be easy! Whoop! Kev

Monday Morning Choices Part 1

"Change your Monday's Change Your Life"

Every Monday is choc full of opportunity and yet if your like me sometimes Monday becomes the day of the week that can set the tone for me on the negative side of things. In ministry it's the day I feel most attacked especially after the adrenalin of the weekend doing my part and playing a role in leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

So..how do we battle this?

I believe with some intentional choices. The first area dealing with Character Choices.

Character Choice 1) The No Victim Choice.....Don't let your past eat your future!

Character Choice 2) The Commitment Choice....Be passionate to succeed!

Character Choice 3) The Values Choice........Choose the right enemies!

Character Choice 4) The Integrity Choice.....Do the right thing!

I know they seem a little vague but you need to break these down for yourself. Take some time and think about the choices you need to make each and every week. I know for me these are tough, so camp out here for a while on a Monday it will impact your week!

Shorten the Gap

Challenges are good....why?

Cause challenges force us to shorten gaps in our leadership.

I have come to find that gaps exist in my leadership.
Trust, Communication,Evaluation...even Vision gaps. There is always a point in our leadership that what we lead goes from Ideas to Processes. When that happens is when gaps begin to form in our leadership. The Idea, the reason we are leading what we are leading in the first place takes a backseat to the processes that make the Idea happen....why?
Because people complain about the processes, the team manages the processes, we have meetings about the processes, it gets our time and attention. So we don't have time for challenges because challenges force us to come up with Solutions..ie New Ideas.....Ding!

In the past I have complained about challenges but not any more, because every problem I have to solve reinforces a vision that needs attention. Remember that the next time you have a challenge...perhaps you need to seek out a challenge.

Hey, nobody said this would be easy! Whoop! Kev

Flatten The Org Chart!

One of the challenges I face as a leader is that of scale. I cannot do everything that needs to be done! I cannot hire everyone I need to accomplish everything that's on my heart to do. The truth is that it's real easy to start making excuses about why things can't and don't get done. As I put together an org chart I put my name in the boxes of all the positions and stare at it and cry out to God about how this is going to wreck me...da...da...da....

Tension...to much to do.....not enough human energy to do it!

Solution...ask, trust and lead.

Hustle is the code word for Hard Work. Spending time and energy meeting people and building teams to replace your name in the org chart...one by one. You never stop Hustling... you never stop asking. If you have two of the same position you create a box for their name...bottom line is you stay after the human energy part...it never ends...Never!

Trust is the key to taking the lines between the boxes and shortening them. flattening your org chart values the team in a big way because your saying I trust you and your judgment, when that happens the communication structure changes from a seek and ask deal on your end to a self reporting and problem solving relationship. Trust will help you discover high capacity volunteers faster than anything else because of that relationship!.... and it tightens the execution side of your ministry objectives.

Hustle,(asking) and Trusting takes a high level of leading on your part. it grows a key skill of listening and valuing leaders in such a way that they on their own evaluate themselves and embrace accountability and feedback. Your impact becomes personal and you find that you org chart begins to look like a messy piece of art!
Lines are short and impact is strong inside and outside the org chart.

Hey no one said this would be easy! Whoop! Kev

The Hard Way

Usually there are a number of approaches to accomplishing a goal, no matter how you shake down the processes the bottom line is that there is a Way and a Hard Way. Truth be told I have been told to just find a way....to just get it done....and I bought into that thinking, that assumption. You know.."I did what you asked" "isn't that good enough?".

NO!

Leadership that prevails goes way beyond the influence of the Leader. It's about leading through people, leaning on their influence and shaping their assumptions about "The Way" they approach the goal.

When you lead "The Hard Way" you....

Trust at a higher level.

Build relationships of candor and clarity.

Understand that you will have less control

Communicate clearly and often.

The Win...

Problems are solved better with collaboration.

Trust Breeds Confidence and a culture of trust grows.

Accountability is shared and accepted.

Communication is no longer the whipping boy.

Apprenticeship rises in value.

Bottom Line: Leadership the "Hard Way" is the Invisible when it comes to accomplishing a goal that leaves a legacy and makes a difference.

Whoop! Kev