Leadership vs. Management

I have really learned to enjoy corporate America.  At first I was caught off guard by the cut throat abrasiveness that comes with it but I have also been fortunate enough to connect with some key individuals which I have learned a lot from.  One of the biggest differences between the church and corporate America is that in the church, generally, the mindset is one of service.  Where as in corporate America there does tend to be more of a selfish mindset.  That doesn’t mean that you don’t find both of these mindsets in both organizations from time to time.

So here are some of my observations that I have seen between Leadership vs. Management.

Management:

Managers tend to be more about using people than utilizing people.  They tend to have a personal agenda and are focused on moving up quickly.  Managers tend to be more standoffish.  They don’t let others into their lives in fear that it will appear to be a weak spot or show vulnerability.  They only take risks that benefit them.  They do just enough to get to the next level.  They don’t listen to those around them.  They don’t take criticism well.  They use their title to threaten others.  They tend to take others ideas and sell them as their own.  They do not earn trust or buy in.  They surround themselves with others who are weaker so they appear to be stronger.

Leaders:

Leaders tend to be more about investing in people than the program.  They show a loyalty to those who they work with.  They tend to be more about utilizing people than using people.  They are transparent and vulnerable which earns trust and buy in to the vision.  They are not afraid to take calculated risks for the sake of all concerned.  They listen to the stories of those that follow them so they can better understand who they are and put them in positions to be successful.  They have learned to surround themselves with people who’s strengths represent their own personal weaknesses so together as a team they are more complete.  Leaders tend not to be tied up in titles.  They embrace those who are a stronger than them and are not intimated by others success.  They are focused on the goals, mission and vision of the organization and project.  They want you to be successful.  They reproduce themselves in others.

This is not true of every manger or every leader.  These are just some of my observations that I have seen in both the church and corporate America.  I do believe there are managers who are leaders and will one day posses the title and authority to accompany their characteristics.  I also believe there are leaders by title and position only who simply management and will potentially never take it to the next level.

I am learning more and more to learn from everyone I can.  I have so far to go as a young leader.  I believe wholeheartedly that no matter the age you can learn from the life lessons of others.  My challenge to you is don’t just manage what you have but be a leader.  Be more concerned about others than you are yourself.  Step outside your comfort zone strive to make others better than yourself.

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140 Characters or less

A picture is worth a 1000 words but I don’t find myself moved by pictures nearly as much as I am by words.

Words carry so much meaning and words have the potential to motivate and inspire or to deflate and destroy lives.

Words can say how we feel, describe something we want and words have the ability to ironically paint pictures.

Everyday I am constantly challenged by 140 characters.

Today I wanted to share some of those 140 characters that have shaped me, challenged me, intimidated me, made me cry, made me angry, made me laugh and inspired me to be better.

 

• “The common problem facing employees at all levels is not their own motivation. It’s work environments that demotivate.” @tonymorganlive
• “We need less religious professionals & more people who will put themselves in a position to do whatever God is asking.” @perrynoble
• “We will either be defined by the voice of the critic or the voice of Jesus…who we listen to the most will determine our direction!” @perrynoble
• “The level of influence increases the level of criticism.” @theswizzle
• “Leaders are not concerned about who is catching them but who is watching them.” @brandonaldson
• “God can’t give you the blessings He has for you until you first put down the other things you are clutching in your hands.” @jennicatron
• “God is much more worried about who we’re becoming rather than where we’re going.” @jennicatron
• “Instead of focusing on building your platform, build your character.” @flowerdust
• “A great leader doesn’t care about being the leader, but instead cares about the mission, the vision & the people they lead.” @jeremyerndt
• “If the size of your vision isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.” @stevenfurtick
• “In this season of your life, what is the main role, the primary job God has given you to advance His kingdom?” @wilmington
• “If we’re not secure in our own skin, we’ll spend our whole lives either: 1. copying everyone else; 2. condemning everyone else.” @shawnlovejoy
• “Either the size of your vision will determine the size of your budget or the size of your budget will determine the size of your vision.” @markbatterson
• “The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers.” @johncmaxwell
• “The end of an era does not mean the COMPLETION of your destiny. When something comes to an end, commit to the future.” @brianchouston
• “There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is every nourished by memorizing menus.” @scottiesellers
• “Leadership goal: Surrounded by leaders who are WISE enough to say NO, but COURAGEOUS enough when they need to say YES.” @brianchouston
• “People who purposely choose an unfrosted pop tart when frosted is available should not be trusted with big decisions.” @jonacuff
• “You’ve lost focus of your purpose when you are more focused on what your against instead of what you are for.” @garylamb
• “Loyalty is a two way street…the leader who always demands it but never offers it doesn’t understand it!” @perrynoble
• “Presumption, assumption and miss-communication KILL organizational unity” @pastorjgerdes
• “How do you know your church has become a social club? You don’t associate with people who need Jesus but talk about how much you love them.” @jeffwhickman
• “The higher up in an organization you go the harder it is to get honest feedback” @pwilson
• “More people will visit your church website than will visit your church building.” @edstetzer
• “Geniuses aim at targets that others can’t see and hit them.” @mark_sanborn
• “A fundamental of leadership is to develop & attract people who will flourish in your unique culture.” @maclake
• “The 3 “C’s” of team-building have been Character, Competency, and Chemistry… it’s time to add a new “C”: Culture.” @taddgrandstaff
• “There are times you sit back and watch certain things change and it confirms why you were called to do something months earlier.” @garylamb
• “Your wisdom, not your age, is what matters in leadership. Age only matters if you’re cheese.” @johncremeans
• “Never follow a leader who cares more about WHAT you do than WHO you are!” @perrynoble
• “Most great people attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” @czaucha
• “Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.” @jarrettstevens
• “I believe that no matter what you are going through if you are willing to place yourself in God’s hands he will carry you to the other side.” @scottchapmanorg
• “It’s always harder than it looks. Never desire to succeed like others until you know what they gave up to get there.” @rickwarren
• “I find it interesting that not all leaders actually lead. Some just seem to want a title!” @joelabell
• “No one likes religious people except other religious people.” @trippcrosby
• “Before the success of your goals can be realized, the success of the people you lead must be prioritized.” @stevenfurtick
• “Ever noticed that hospitals don’t do much marketing. If your church welcomes the sick and broken u wont have 2 either.” @cmsucks
• “Don’t be so quick to judge people or write them off. People who are willing to learn can always change.” @stovallweems
• “When people tell u it can’t be done u just found out who’s not willing to do it with u.” @timjchambers
• “Often times a single act of courage, is the tipping point for something extraordinary.” @andystanley
• “Never be ashamed of your scars-they are proof that healing has taken place!” @buddycremeans
• “The only way to make it look easy when everybody’s watching, is to bust your butt when nobody’s watching” @matt_ortiz
• “A CHURCH is only a church if it’s about REACHING the UNCHURCHED!!!” @edyoung
• “So thankful for those people that you just know are put into your life for a reason.. If for no other reason, just to be there.” @jonathonpearson
• “To have authority one day you have to learn to work under authority today.” @shaneduffy
• “When senior leadership hold themselves to different standards than those they oversee there are no real standards.” @rickowerton
• “How you treat those who can do nothing for you is a true judge of your character.” @thelock
• “Conflict leads 2 making up. Making up leads to making out. Making out is good, therefore conflict is good!” @jeffkapusta
• “success is connecting with people in your communities who have pain and staying with them” @bradlomenick
• “People often associate their value with their place on an org chart. Your best value is doing what you’re wired to do.” @anthonycoppedge
• “A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.” @pastormark
• “God loves the version of me now, not the version 10 years from now.” @mattchandler74
• “Continuously improve your processes. Always ask “why,” but more importantly ask “why not?” @disneyinstitute
• “RELATIONSHIPS: Some need to be initiated, Some need to be developed, Some need to be restored & Some need to be severed.” @scottwilliams

 

Andy Stanley-Catalyst East 2010

12 Characteristics For Leadership

Read this over on the Catalyst Blog…

12 Characteristics For Leadership

1. Be Humble

2. Be Authentic

3. Be Generous

4. Be Christ-like

5. Be the Best at What you do

6. Be Consistent

7. Be Courageous, willing to go first and take risks

8. Be Honest and trustworthy

9. Be Thankful

10. Be a Learner

11. Be Inspiring and vision giving

12. Be Adaptable and open to change

What’s your thoughts?

Empower Your Team

I follow a large number of blogs and came across this and was reminded about how true it is. I had a chance to interview Brad Lomenick who is the genius behind the Catalyst Conference and this guy oozes humility, leadership, creativity and loyalty. Everything I have heard about him is good and reveals his heart of loving God and serving others. Great example to look at.  During my interview with him on Backstage Leadership he talked about the need to empower those around you.  What blows my mind is that Catalyst is run by 10 full time paid staff people and the willingness of a mega amount of volunteers.  Brad has appeared to master the art of empowering others to greatness.

Couple things I have learned.  Empowerment is not just delegation.  It is not micro-management.  It is not public permission but private control.  It is not easy.  It may never be done like you would have done it.  It is necessary to be successful.  It is needed for a team to stay motivated.

Leaders: one of the key things you must ALWAYS do is empower your team. As I’ve learned over the years, most leaders at their core are control freaks, which is part of the reason they are successful. But we all must learn and recognize the need to empower those around us to succeed and do what they do well. Most leaders think they can do it all on their own, and many try, but ultimately in order to grow a successful organization that outlives the leader you have to empower those around you.

Here are a few thoughts on Empowering your Team:

1. Give them the opportunity to make decisions, and don’t second guess them. A lot of us as leaders are willing to allow our team members to make decisions, but want to step in as soon as we see something done differently than we would do. Don’t make that mistake. It is totally demoralizing to your team.

2. Assign them responsibility by them owning key projects from START to FINISH. So once we allow team members to make key decisions, now we have to allow them to own projects and feel the responsibility of completion.

3. Fight for them. Whether it’s standing up for them to your boss, or standing beside them and supporting them in a disagreement with a vendor, always take the stance of fighting for them and being willing to go to battle for them.

4. Encourage them. This is the one we so often forget. But can go the furthest in creating team chemistry, longevity, and commitment.

5. Counsel, coach and instruct. Not necessarily the same as encouragement. Great coaches do this well. They scream and you and make you better, while also putting their arm around you and giving you “ego biscuits” when needed. Two different parts of empowering, but both equally important. Instruction is key for releasing again and assigning more responsibility.

6. Overwhelm them. Not on a continual basis, but ultimately your team members should constantly feel a bit overwhelmed by the projects or assignments they are working on, not underwhelmed. Many of their projects should cause them to feel like they are not prepared or ready. If they feel underwhelmed, they will probably end up looking elsewhere for greater assignments and more responsibility.

Public Opinion 101

I have had some time to slow down and look at my life over the last couple months and for me to slow down is a rare thing.  I thrive on pressure situations and being in charge.  I thrive on pushing myself and pleasing others.  Pleasing others will ALWAYS get us into trouble and burn us out because the reward at the end is not fulfilling enough to sustain us.  Sure it feels like it is and will be while in the midst of the insanity but somewhere along the way you forget who you really are and why you really do what you do.  I am sure I am not alone in my feeling this way because no matter if it is ministry or business there is a constant battle of the rat race that surrounds us.  It slowly slips in and takes away valuable time away from God and our families until were standing there alone and questioning what happened.

I have learned that living my life in fear of what others think of me is no way to live at all.  Maybe you are there…right now. You are worn-out. You are weary. You have forgotten who you are because you have spent so much time trying to be something for someone else. I was worn-out.  I was weary.  I had forgotten who I was was.

• Tired of performing
• Tired of persuading
• Tired of impressing
• Tired of posing
• Tired of faking
• Tired from my past
• Tired of fighting for approval
• Tired of trying to make up for mistakes
• Tired of proving myself
• Tired of not being seen for who I really was

When you become so tired your natural inclination is to try harder only to find yourself more tired.  At least that was the cycle and struggle for me.  In that time I forgot who I am in Christ.  I lived so much for the opinion of others that I lost sight of God’s opinion of me:

• My past is forgiven
• My future is secure
• I am loved for who I am
• My true self is all God desires
• My mistakes are wiped clean
• My performance doesn’t earn God’s love
• Who I am is impressive enough

I have loved this time away to slow down and to realize who I am.  I dream again.  I laugh again.  I believe again.  To finally get to the point in my life that other people’s opinions of me doesn’t matter is a great place.  That doesn’t mean I won’t listen and learn from others and take criticism in stride but I am convinced more than ever that your never as bad as people say you are and your never as good as people say you are.  Being content in what I was created for has been a humbling journey but one I would not change for anything.

Life Lessons From Trader Joe’s

I have been working part-time at Trader Joe’s for the last three weeks and there are several things that I have noticed that I wanted to share.  I am extremely impressed at how Trader Joe’s as a company is managed and operated.  From the accuracy of the crew members in how they order products to eliminate massive back room storage to management and how they delegate responsibility.  They truly give ownership of the store to the crew members and coach them when it is needed.

Key Concepts::

• It is more about the customer than it is about the project.
• Telling someone where to go is not as important as showing them where to go.
• How can you purchase something until you know if you like, so try it.  Are you serious?
• It is all about creating a “wow” experience for customers.

It made me think about the church and it is not really any different or at least it shouldn’t be.  It should always be more about people than a project or a program.  Yes projects and programs bring people in but it is relationships that keeps them coming in.  It is more important to lead by example than to tell people how to live.  Actions will always speak louder than words.  There are different churches for different people.  I love the idea of trying out a church until you find the one that you feel connected to that you can serve in and grow in.  Jesus was not boring and neither should the church.  There should be an obvious sign that a church is growing and excited and passionate about what they are doing.  When people walk in they should be in “wow” of the creativity, passion, excitement and commitment.

I’ve watched people walk in to Trader Joe’s and spend a ton of money not just for the product but for the experience.  I wonder if people would be willing to invest whatever it took to enjoy their experience in their church?

“People” People

Teddy Roosevelt said, “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success in leadership is knowing how to get along with people.”  Were told in Proverbs 27 to be diligent to know those around us.  I learned in college the 10 ideas to becoming a “people” person and since it was a Baptist school at the time, all of the ideas start with the letter “R”.

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1. REACH out to people.
2. REMEMBER a person’s name.
3. RECOGNIZE a person’s potential.
4. REQUEST information about them.
5. Be RESPECTFUL.
6. RELATE on their level.
7. Be RELIABLE.
8. Give REASSURANCE to people.
9. Be a RESOURCE for people.
10. REQUEST their help.

As I read through that list I thought there is at least one missing.  RESPOND.  People want to know just as much about you as you do about them.  There is a certain level of transparency that is required of a leader if the people they lead are to trust them.  There is a level of understanding that people need to have that lets them know you are just like them.

When you ask good questions you will see what they really care about.  You’ll find out about their future dreams and goals.  You’ll find out about what they cry about or what they sing and laugh about.  To do this you must become a good listener and when the time is right you must become a good responder.

There are at least 10 things to discover about someone in order to have a better understanding of them and this is a two way street.

1. Their background
2. Their present situation or station in life
3. Their personality
4. Their spiritual gift (s)
5. Their natural abilities
6. Their dreams for the future
7. Their hurts -past and present
8. Their joys -past and present
9. Their priorities
10. Their key influencers as well as who their friends are

Remember as a leader “you must care more about who they are than what they do.” -Perry Noble. You can have good people skills and not be a good leader, but you cannot be a good leader without good people skills.

As a leader use your head to gain knowledge of people.  As a leader use your heart to demonstrate a concern for people.  As a leader use your hands to help people.  As a leader use your life to connect with people.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.  Everybody wants to be someone.  Everyone needs someone.  Take the time to discover the potential that others do not see in themselves and point it out to them.  Be real with people and let them into your life.

15 Reasons We Don’t Lead Like Jesus

So I have been really digging into the life of Jesus and I have noticed how He related to His disciples.  I think understanding how He interacted with those men is crucial to understanding some key dynamics of leadership and how to lead a team.  Everyone wants to be known as a good leader but why are there so many bad leaders out there?  Why are there so many out there who don’t get the team dynamic or how to pour their life into a team?  I wish I had an answer because this would not just be a blog post but it would be a book.  Maybe I would see you at Barnes & Noble as I sign copies of your book, however I don’t have the answer and the reality is I would not consider myself a good leader…not yet.  So what did Jesus do that we could model in the teams that we lead?

1. He called them to be with Him and He called them with a purpose in mind.  He called them the way they were with all their faults and deficiencies.
2. He began to develop  them to reach their potential, even though they were far from being champions when He started with them.
3. He took them with Him on day to day activities.
4. He taught them.  At times he taught by simply asking them questions.
5. He game them ministry opportunities with clear assignments.  He gave them power.
6. He took the time to hear their reports and gave words of encouragement to them.  Told them to rest.
7. He answered their questions and their request for information.
8. He gave them assignments so He could do His ministry.
9. He let them get a close up view of who He was, letting them in on the inside.  Teams buy into the leader before the vision.
10. He intervened in their lives when He suspected problems.  He was close enough to them to know there was problems.
11. He corrected them when they were wrong.
12. He enjoyed fellowshiped with them.
13. He prayed for and with His disciples.
14. He dealt with their failures and restored them to service when the time was right.
15. He commissioned them and empower them to carry on the work He started.

When you look at who He had to work with it is amazing that the church exists today.

• Peter- impulsive, impatient and a denier.
• James and John- sons of thunder, judgmental, un-compassionate and inconsiderate.
• Thomas- was a doubter.
• Philip- was slow to understand and learn.
• Nathaniel- was questioning and cynical.
• Matthew- was a tax collector.
• Judas- was a schemer, betrayer and a thief.
• All of them were position conscious, not servants.  They were self-centered and thinking only of themselves, not ever of Jesus.  They did not know how to pray, did not know about the last days, did not understand the ministry of John the Baptist, did not know about the Holy Spirit, had little faith, were scripturally ignorant and were fearful and ran in the face of opposition.  As a group they fought with each other, they did not understand the big picture, they were afraid to ask questions, they argued whether Jesus would use an IPhone or a Blackberry, they bickered over the level of the sound system in the auditorium, who would get the biggest budget, who reserved the space first to do their program and who should be able to hire an assistant.

I think you get the point that the same arguments of then are the same arguments today of those we lead.  Maybe that is why we don’t lead like Jesus because all of that takes hard work.  Maybe we don’t lead like Jesus because we put so much hope in potential and when it doesn’t work out like we thought we just give up and stop leading and start doing.  Maybe we don’t lead like Jesus because we are not close enough to Him to know how to lead like that.  Maybe we don’t lead like Jesus because were not perfect.

Nobody will ever be the perfect leader, but just because we won’t be the perfect leader doesn’t mean we can’t work towards being a great leader.  Based on what I see in the scripture, Jesus was a great leader because He was personal and He got into the lives of those He led.  I don’t think it was the big numbers and miracles that drew the disciples to Jesus it was the fact that He called them, empowered them, walked with them and at the end of the day He called them friends.

That’s Why It’s Here

A person who has always intrigued me is Walt Disney.  When you think of vision you have to think of Walt Disney.  Here is a man who had a dream to build a world that would capture and engage the imagination.  What I didn’t know is that he died before the completion of the project.  Soon after the completion of The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, someone said, “Isn’t it too bad Walt Disney didn’t live to see this?” Vance replied, “He did see it. That’s why it’s here.” Even after Walt Disney passed from this life, his vision for the future held strong. He had established firmly in the minds of all those he came in contact with the vision he held for the future. He had a passion and a desire and those things are contagious.  Because of that passion and desire people today plan their entire year around visiting the Magic Kingdom.

Walt once said, “As a leader you must live like everyone matters… too many leaders keep their distance from employees physically & emotionally.” Walt said, “The ability to relate with all types of people and backgrounds is not a gift, but a learned behavior.” Disney has learned that people will return on two things: 1.Satisfied with first visit. 2.The biggest return is positive interaction with Disney staff.

All that to say, for a vision to be complete and for it to last it has to be all about people.  Walt Disney was an example of connecting with people and connecting people with the vision.  Walt Disney World exists today because people bought into him as a leader because he lived out the vision in every area of his life.

What are you trying to sell?  What is your vision?  Are you fighting to be heard or do people listen because you care about people and your vision is compelling?

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