Leadership Choices

I am constantly looking to get better as a leader.  I have come a long way but I also know I have a long way to go.  Leading people is both a responsibility and a privilege.  Just because people follow you doesn’t mean you are a good leader, it simply may mean that they have to.  I have learned through difficult choices and circumstances what it means to lead with integrity and character and what it means to lead by abuse and the twisting of truth.  I am continually asking myself several questions: 1.  How do I want to be led?  2.  Is how I want to be led best for me or is it best for the organization and cause?  3.  Am I leading my team the best I can according to question 1 and 2?

Perry Noble did a post this morning on the 10 choices a leader needs to make in leading his staff, great post.  I would say these 10 choices don’t just apply to a church staff but to a volunteer staff in any organization as well as corporate America.  Check out what he wrote below.

#1 – Choose to believe the best about the people on your team rather than always assuming the worst about them.

#2 – Choose to trust them to make decisions that matter without having to run every minor detail by your for your approval.

#3 – Choose to believe that when they ask particular questions that they aren’t being disloyal but rather seeking clarification.

#4 – Choose to believe that they really do love the church and want to see it thrive.

#5 – Choose to lead through inspiration and revelation–NOT intimidation, humiliation, condemnation and manipulation.

You can find #6-#10 on his blog at www.perrynoble.com

What are your thoughts?  Do these apply to corporate America as well?  Do you agree, disagree?  Would you change any?  Add to any?

Catalyst 2009 Pre Lab Take Away

Catalyst 2009 – Lab Day from Ryan Geiger on Vimeo.

Change & Response

I saw a Comcast commercial last night where the gentleman starts out saying, “The world is changing and Comcast is responding.”  Sounds great, very touching, moving, relevant and yet what a horrible business model for anybody to follow.  This is not a hate blog towards Comcast, I have their service and it is fine.

Anytime an individual, a business, a church says that is is responding to change it says something about who they are and how they lead.  There are times that necessitate response but I would like to be on the other end that causes those around to have to respond.   The Gospel is powerful and requires a response from others.  Serving is powerful and requires a response from others.  Vision is powerful and requires a response from others.  Do you get where I’m going with this?  There is a time to respond and follow and there are times to initiate change and lead.

As Ed Young says, “Change, conflict, growth.”  Every situation involves this formula of change, conflict and growth.  When you are leading you will face this with almost every decision.  When you initiate change and lead you will see this formula play out in your organization.  I don’t want to respond to change, I want to be a catalyst for change.  You can’t be scared about who will say it and how others will react to it.  Leaders lead.  Leaders initiate change.  Leaders force others to respond.  How about you? Are you a changer or a responder?

National Leadership Forum Conference

A free two-day leadership event is coming your way, and you don’t even have to leave your computer to take part. Check out who you’ll hear from during the National Leadership Forum webcast:

• Jack Welch
• TD Jakes
• Mark Rutland
• Patrick Lencioni
• Dave Ramsey
• Craig Groeschel
• Megyn Kelly
• Erwin McManus
• Bill George
• Tim Sanders
• Matthew Barnett
• Henry Cloud

This is a fantastic opportunity to invest in leadership training and development for your team—whether staff or volunteers—without investing in conference fees or travel. Ken Blanchard will be moderating the webcast, which takes place on September 10-11. The event will be offered twice each day to accommodate different time zones: first at 7:00am-2:00pm GMT and then at 10:00am-5:00pm EDT. Capacity for the National Leadership Forum is limited, so you’ll want to register soon.

Vision 2009

I love vision. I love leadership. I love seeing the local church step up and become what God created it to be. I can’t even begin to tell you how important this previous series we just did was. Gus did a great job communicating what the vision of Fellowship Church is. We are here to redefine church through relationships not religion.

As Gus said all of our resources, time and energy go into what we call the BIG 5: Sunday Morning, Life Groups, Children, Missions and Students…

Everything we do is focused around those five areas. The reality is we could do more, but to do more would cause us to a lot of stuff good but nothing great, we know what God has called us to do. The how is always evolving. That is why our six core values could change at any time as God changes our heart and our focus.

Our six core values are:
Embrace People
We welcome, include and love all people from all walks of life. We reach out to everyone without expecting anything in return.
Live Authentically
We are transparent and honest about who we are and where we’re at in our lives. We do not hide behind a spiritual mask.
Engage Culture
We value culture as a way to connect with people across generational and ethnic boundaries. We leverage culture to communicate our and God’s love for people.
Apply Truth
We seek to live out biblical truth instead of just gaining knowledge. We learn how to apply truth so it makes a difference in our everyday lives.
Empower People
We give everyone the opportunity to dream and be who they are, enabling you to participate in church life regardless of where you are at in your spiritual journey.
Building Bridges
We reach out to others to be good neighbors and meet needs in our local community and across the world.

Jump on board with us as we redefine church for the lost, broken, hurt, confused people in the Delaware Valley.