top leaders share advice

Paul B Thornton was once challenged by a Fortune magazine article entitled “The Best Advice I Ever Got.” It was full of interesting wit and wisdom about achieving business success, inspiring him to produce his newest book, Leadership: Best Advice I Ever Got. This is essentially a compilation of the best leadership advice 136 successful CEOs, coaches, consultants, professors, managers, executives, presidents, politicians, and religious leaders received that most helped them become effective and successful leaders.

His observations include:

1. Always remember to stay open, listen to everyone, but develop your own leadership style. Leadership is about making things happen. If you want to make something happen with your life, do it. Perceived obstacles crumble against persistent desire. John Baldoni, author and leadership communication consultant, shared this advice from his father, a physician. He taught him the value of persistence. At the same time, his mother taught him compassion for others. Persistence for your cause should never be gained at the expense of others.
   
   
   
2. Listen and understand the issue, then lead. Time and time again we have all been told, “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason,” or, as Stephen Covey puts it, “Seek to understand rather than be understood.” As a leader, listening first to the issue, then trying to coach, has been the most valuable advice that Cordia Harrington, President and CEO of Tennessee Bun Company has been given.
   
   
   
3. Answer the three questions everyone within your organization wants answers to. What the people of an organization want from their leader are answers to the following: Where are we going? How are we going to get there? What is my role? Kevin Nolan, President & Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Health Systems, Inc. believes the more clarity that can be added to each of the three questions, the better the result.
   
   
   
4. Master the goals that will allow you to work anywhere in today’s dynamic business world. Debbe Kennedy, President and Founder of Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies, shares this advice that has been instrumental in shaping her direction, future and achievements. While a young manager at IBM just promoted to her first staff assignment, one of her colleagues offered this advice. He mentioned that jobs, missions, titles, and organizations would come and go. He advised her not to focus her goals toward any of these, but instead learn to master the skills that will allow you to work anywhere.
   
   He was talking about four skills: The ability to develop an idea. Effectively plan for its implementation. Execute second-to-none. Achieve superior results time after time. So, forget what others do; work to be known for delivering excellence. It speaks for itself and it opens doors.
   
   
   
5. Be curious. Curiosity is a prerequisite to continuous improvement and even excellence. The person who gave Mary Jean Thornton, Former Travelers EVP, this advice urged her to study people, processes, and structures. He inspired her to be intellectually curious. He reminded her that making progress, in part, is based upon thinking. She has learned to apply this notion of intellectual curiosity by thinking about her organization’s future, understanding the present, and knowing and challenging herself to creatively move the people and the organization closer to its vision.
   
   
   
6. Listen to both sides of the argument. The most valuable advice Senator Brian P. Lees ever received came from his mentor, U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke III. He told him to listen to all different kinds of people and ideas. Listening only to those who share your background and opinions can be imprudent. It is important to respect your neighbors’ rights to their own views. Listening to and talking with a variety of people is essential not only to be a good leader in business, but to also be a valuable member within your community.
   
   
   
7. Prepare, prepare, prepare. If one has truly prepared and something goes wrong, the strength of the rest of what you’ve prepared for usually makes it something easier to handle without crisis and panic, says Dave Hixson, Amherst College Men’s Basketball Coach. The best advice he ever received: “Preparation is the science of winning.”
   

How about you? What is one really good piece of leadership advice you've been given?

a tasty, sacrifical, rock of truth that can feed us all

This is a letter to the amazing people of Connection Church whom I am humbled to pastor.

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"We're gonna make it."

Those four words are dangerous to read, hear, or say out loud, aren't they?

If the statement is true, it changes everything. If it is false, it also changes everything.

• The subject "we're" implies togetherness... which means that what is happening is greater than one person - that there is a powerful combination of people involved in something cooperative and communal.
  
  
• The predicate "gonna make it" implies hope... and hope is a dangerous thing when you've been let down before, or a miraculous healing when you believe it just can't happen.
  

"We're gonna make it."

It reminds me of a story you may have heard before called "Stone Soup."

A kind stranger was walking through the land when he came upon a village. As he entered, the villagers moved towards their homes locking doors and windows.

The stranger smiled and asked, "Why are you all so frightened? I am a simple traveler, looking for a soft place to stay for the night and a warm place for a meal."

Someone shouted out from their house, "There's not a bite to eat in the whole province. We are weak and our children are starving. Better keep moving on."

"Oh, I have everything I need," he said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some Stone Soup to share with all of you." He pulled an iron cauldron from his cloak, filled it with water, and began to build a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a silken bag and dropped it into the water.

By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come out of their homes or watched from their windows. As the stranger sniffed the "broth" and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their fear.

"Ahh," the stranger said to himself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty Stone Soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat. I'll bet as we all ate we'd appreciate the extra energy something as small as cabbage could add."

One townsperson crept from of one of the houses, and said "I have a small cabbage. If I add it to the soup, will you share with me?"

"Certainly!" said the stranger.

The villager left for a few moments, then returned with a cabbage he protectively guarded under his arms. "Here," he said, dropping it into the pot.

"Wonderful!" cried the stranger. "Thank you!" The two of them stood close to the kettle, smelling the soup as it began to boil. "You know," said the stranger, "Stone Soup with cabbage is a delight, but Stone Soup with cabbage and carrots! - now there is a REALLY wonderful meal".

A young woman perked up, "I know where there are some carrots!" And likewise, she also left and returned with a handful of carrots. "Might as well make this soup as tasty as we can."

"You are so right!" said the stranger. He stirred the pot and sniffed it all in, almost falling over in delight. "This is smelling absolutely amazing," he proclaimed. "I wonder, though, what else would make this Stone Soup the best it could be. I've seen batches before better than this, especially when they had a little bit of salt or beef thrown in."

The village butcher spoke up, saying, "I may have some scraps of beef I can spare." An older woman also chimed in, "And I certainly have some extra salt I can pitch in."

And so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for everyone to share. Musicians appeared and there was dancing in the street. The townsfolk and the stranger had a grand time cooking and eating the soup, dancing and celebrating. Everyone ate like a king that day, and there was an obvious surplus.

The villager elder offered the stranger a great deal of money for the stone, remarking that it was indeed magical to create such a feast out of nothing.

And the stranger smiled, but refused to sell it. Instead, he snagged it out of the pot and traveled on the next day. As he left, the stranger came upon a group of village children standing near the road. He gave the silken bag containing the stone to the youngest child, whispering that it the people's faith - not the stone- that had performed the magic... and may they remember that lesson as they grew.

"We're gonna make it."

I've been reminded of this "magic" as the people in our church have started to step forth and drop various ingredients into the "pot."

• One man has felt the conviction of helping others achieve "financial peace" in their household as he is endeavoring to in his, and so starting in October a new learning community will form to help foster this.
  
  
• There's a woman who recently prayed that God would specifically help her get out of debt "so my finances can be better used for the church."
  
  
• We all watched people of all ages and economic backgrounds bring backpacks and school supplies in for Back To School Fest so that others in our region would know the practical care of Jesus Christ through His church.
  
  
• Another family has looked at the surplus a side business has brought them over the past several months and resolved to give a sacrificial offering to God via the church out of it, both in the present and into the future.
  
  
• Then there's another individual who feels the limit of stretching a dollar... and rather than throwing in the towel that "that's that" has brainstormed a fundraiser to generate greater resources than their own household can offer.
  
  
• Recently, another family in the church helped foot the bill for a sign we'll place on Rt 18 to generate a greater presence as people drive by. Maybe that will be just the invite someone has been waiting for as they head to work each day thinking, "God, if you're out there, show me a sign of where I can connect with You."
  
  
• Did I mention the fundraiser we're doing in less than a week? It's a cultural festival... and we're doing some simple Hispanic food via a "walking taco." Yesterday the Lord arranged for us to receive 400 bags of corn chips... FREE.
  

"We're gonna make it."

Why would people do this? After all, these are crazy economic times. Some businesses are losing money while others can't stop selling iPhones, iPods, and video game systems. President Obama and his key leaders have their hands full attempting to solve huge and complicated financial issues that affect nearly every U.S. citizen, while the local church is trying to do its best work on the most limited of incomes.

And people like you and I - ordinary Christ-followers - are deciding to either pull into our individuals households or live in community as the people of God. On fearful days, we put up shields... but on days where we choose faith we recognize the power of coming together. Maybe we are beginning to understand that we are not in control of our money be it a good day or a bad day, so maybe it's time to trust God!

We're starting to smell what a redeemed people could look like... what might happen in our region if we share it with our friends... what church *can* look like and feel like when we drop the masks and let ourselves be real.

"We're gonna make it."

This is a phrase I've heard God speak into my heart, and it has humbled me. I've not known how it's going to happen, what role He'll play into things, and what responsibility we have to each grab onto. But I know that it's going to happen... and that alone is a place to begin and end our faith.

Side note: I've heard a little bit of conversation that we shouldn't talk about financial matters out loud in the church. Why is that? I mean, honestly... why is that? Have you ever thought about the absurdity of that thought? If we can talk about every kind of sin the Bible mentions except "that one" - where is that motivation to be quiet coming from? From God... or His enemy?

I know in recent weeks we've had the responsibility to point out "where we're at" due to the way low summer giving may affect the future of Connection Church. I apologize if that's done anything other than help you recognize our situation and the role we each play. But I won't apologize if God has used it to stir up a better conviction in our hearts. How you and I respond to that is a big deal.

• Giving at all is great... take that step if you haven't.
  
• Tithing is an awesome set of training wheels... it's the start.
  
• But generous Christianity? That's the goal.
• Read more here
  

Because God doesn't want you to just put money into the offering box each week...

He wants you to put yourself in.

"We're gonna make it."

What is the future of Connection Church? That depends...

• Will we become people who commit to God and His Church?
• Will we become people who pray for and invite our friends to Jesus?
• Will we become people who see what is in our hands as "ours" or "God's?"
  

That's up to you and I.

• We can stay at our current level of faith, or we can grow.
  
• We can stay at our current church size, or we can grow.
• We can stay at our current resource state, or we can grow.
  

I'll be honest - I'd love for resources to fulfill what God has invited us to do to be a non-issue. Wouldn't it be great if we all found the perfect church where everyone loved the Lord completely, loved their neighbor as themselves, forgave their enemies, actively reached out to the spiritually lost, invested into one another, lived out the Scriptures, and supported the work of the church?

Actually, that church doesn't exist on this side of heaven.

And yet, actually, we have found that church.

Can you see it? It's the stone that Jesus has dropped and invited us to start contributing toward.

Oh... and in case you're wondering, it's a real soup. And it tastes great. And yes, He is cooking up something.

How do I know?

• Life change - it's happening.
• Marital investment - it's happening.
• Relational purity - it's happening.

Again, though... as much as we let it. We can still choose to reject God, or we can choose to trust in His plan. He will do His part... sometimes He waits for us to do our part, though.

Like the other night - when I wrote the email that said "We're gonna make it." I didn't know how He would move, but that He would.

And as soon as I hit send, I noticed a new email in my inbox.

From our landlord.

Who gave us a "pass" on this month's rent.

Hello? Is this thing on?

We're behind financially... but the Lord has given the us window to catch up if we pull together.

G-O-D--I-S--G-O-O-D-!

So... what beef, vegetable, or salt can you be counted on to contribute to the soup God is cooking up?

Because something tells me this unique community called Connection Church is supposed to be feeding our entire region what God is cooking up.

You in?

Because with God... we're gonna make it.

"Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.

"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.

"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'

"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (Malachi 3:7-10)

leadership leanings: remixed

I originally wrote this on my personal blog over a year ago, but it themes a bit more with this blog so I thought I'd repost and remix it here. I've only changed a few things to reflect today's environment but otherwise stick by my original thoughts.

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A friend of mine sent me a questionnaire at the end of last year that I had fun filling out. No, this isn't one of those snarky chain-email surveys. Rather, it is about the way one leads in a ministry environment. The fun part was articulating things that often come naturally, so please allow me to share. I'd welcome your feedback.

At your place of employment tell me what your role is and how many employees or volunteers that you have under your supervision?

• Lead pastor. I serve six paid staff and through them the many volunteers that make up our church.

What is your leadership structure for your ministry?

• God-led, pastoral-guided, church-empowered.
  

List three things you want to accomplish the first day in the office?

• Establish a prayer base, connect with leaders, realize and maximize my sphere of influence to reach out to the lost.
  

Outline your process on how you recruit leaders to be a part of your team?

• I don't. Instead, I sit down with people and listen to what's happening in their hearts. Then I ask them how I can serve them in letting that vision become a reality. On rare occasions I will ask people to do something that needs to be done, but only after I've first heard their heart to know if it's a match.
  

What are the forms of communication you utilize with your team?

• Weekly staff meeting, daily emails to staff, weekly email to the church, encouraging text messaging to subscribers, cell phone calls throughout the day.
  

What events do you do with your team of leaders?

• Lots of missional activities that bless the community, whether or not it tracks back to us. We also try to have our families get together every once in a while for fun.
  

Do you have a detailed plan on how you develop your leaders?

• Yes. This hasn't been in place in past years, and so this is the year I'm developing the leaders under my care and teaching them how to develop those under them. I believe next year will take it to the next level, and we've already done some formal leadership connections to help with this. Essentially, I use Ken Blanchard's "Situational Leadership" model as a guideline, but ultimately follow the Holy Spirit.
  

In your eyes what is the perfect leader on your team? Who would you say models a great leader?

• A perfect leader is someone who is trying to bring out the best in the team as a whole. We're not looking for a staff of track and field types where we applaud each other's events from the stands. Rather, we're more like a baseball team and do our best to work together for the same things. Every person brings something special to this, from the logic-minded number cruncher to the wiseguy worship leader.
  

Outline an agenda for a leaders meeting?

• Chit-chat before meeting (if this isn't happening, something is wrong). Then, start meeting off with something fun (from an icebreaker to a stand-up comic clip on YouTube) or personal. After this we go through our agenda in a bullet format, then begin to dig into it one step at a time. We always start with review of where we're at, then talk about present issues to better determine where we're going, and then let where we're going better examine present issues. We will at times go through a book together as well.
  

What expectations do you have for your ministry leaders?

• In order -a love for God, a love for spouse, a love for family, a love for the church. This involves being a self-starter, developing relationships with the lost/saved/leaders, reconciling with anyone they have issues with, and becoming a growing expert in their area. Authenticity, loyalty, and a sense of humor a must.
  

Do you have a leadership contract that you make your leaders sign? Please include a copy of your leadership contract.

• We revisit job descriptions yearly, and do a 360 degree review once a year. We also have added a chart that outlines what different leadership levels have expected of them according to the Bible (i.e. lead team, support team, teachers, etc)
  

Is leadership evaluation done on an ongoing basis or at schedule intervals?

• I meet with my staff collectively on a weekly basis, then also meet with them once or twice a month in a one-on-one capacity to develop them personally and professionally. Every three months we set goals and evaluate previous ones.
  

How do you keep leaders accountable and hold them to their commitment they made to your ministry?

• I hang out with them... relationships inspire authentic loyalty.
  

If you could give me three points of wisdom that I need to know about building a team, what would that advice be?

• Assist others, then assist others, then assist others. In doing so the pressure to be a visionary leader will be trumped by the authenticity of being a leader of visions.
  

What are three pitfalls that you have come across on your leadership journey?

• Insecure people have loud voices, past leaders you've replaced can at times still affect the day to day even from afar, and without a strict Sabbath you will die.

So those are my answers... and I may not have thought about them had someone not have asked me. Sometimes when someone asks you what your plan is you realize you actually have one. I hope this is an insight and a challenge to you.

In other words, how would you answer these questions in your environment - be it home, work, or something in between?