Stop Being an Undercover Boss!
If you are truly interested in growing your business, ministry, or other stop being an “undercover boss”. Many of the business people I meet are 1 person companies. They wear 4 different hats. They are the CEO, CFO, CIO, and COO. I think it is time to retire several of those hats so that you can grow your company.
The most important hat you can wear is CEO. Otherwise you are merely an “undercover boss”, and as long as you are working in your company you are not going to be able to lead your company.
I love the show “Undercover Boss” because it demonstrates some important things about the CEO.
First, a CEO’s skills are not mechanical or labor excellent.
Mostly they are poor workers because they have a different set of skills vital to business success. In the book E-Myth the author talks about how a worker who is an excellent worker longs to own his own company, but he can’t stop working for himself to get to the point where he works on building and growing the company. The skills of a CEO are not labor intensive.
Second, a CEO’s responsibilities are different from those of workers and implementers.
A CEO must create a clear message, set goals for growth, and develop the structure and systems necessary for profitability.
What is the message of your company? What are you selling and to whom are you selling? Are you on target? A CEO’s first responsibility is to create a clear message. This clear message should consist of a mission statement, a purpose statement, key values and a vision statement about what the culture of the company will look like. I call the clear message of your company “The Gospel” of your business.
Your Gospel exists within the great mission of your company. Say you have a product like photography. You want everybody that you meet to get their picture taken and that is your mission. Your Gospel would be, “Creating Living Memories!” This statement becomes your Gospel. You are not a Photographer, but an Creationist of memories that are alive in our mind.
Your purpose statement describes to your customer why you exist as a company. It is not in your best interest to make money the main object for why you exist. Your purpose statement should put your target audience first. For example, “Helping families create living memories” would be an excellent purpose statement.
Lastly, you will need to spend time discovering your key values and visioneering the culture for doing business. How are you going to handle customers? What does the process for making a sale of pictures look like? Are their forms to fill out, and if so is it an easy process? Does the way (culture) that you handle customers help them buy your product or not? Once you have visioneered what the culture of doing your business will look like you can articulate your key values. You should have just 3 key values and they should be relevant to your clients and customers. For our faux photography business your 3 key values might be family, fun, and fantastic. We are business that wants to capture the fun of photography, the warmth of your family, and give you a fantastic picture or pictures that will create lasting living memories for you!
Third, A CEO’s skills are in vision casting, and planning.
The CEO must be able to plan and develop a strategy for achieving profitability. As CEO of your company what is your strategy or business plan for being profitable? All business is for this purpose. If you are not going to make money you are just trying to work for yourself and your business may not be that viable to many people. A business exists for the purpose of being profitable. I want to ask you a serious question. Why are you in business? What is your plan and strategy for achieving profitability? How much time have you spent on planning and strategy for the coming year of business? If you are not serious about your business your customers and those who hear your message will dismiss you and your business.
It is time to off load some hats and put on the hat that matters the most! Stop being an undercover boss!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Lincoln's Faith Under God!
Faith @ The First Inaugural Address
Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? In our present differences, is either party without faith of being in the right? If the Almighty Ruler of Nations, with His eternal truth and justice, be on your side of the North, or on yours of the South, that truth and that justice will surely prevail by the judgment of this great tribunal of the American people.
By the frame of the Government under which we live this same people have wisely given their public servants but little power for mischief, and have with equal wisdom provided for the return of that little to their own hands at very short intervals. While the people retain their virtue and vigilance no Administration by any extreme of wickedness or folly can very seriously injure the Government in the short space of four years.
Lincoln’s faith in God is here expressed in his belief that the constitution itself was a document of divine nature. He believed that the framers faith in the will of the people was like to that of the fishermen on Jonah’s boat in casting lots. God operates in the course of every human decision working all things according to His Divine purpose. Lincoln believed that as people cast their lot in votes it would without war express God’s divine purpose for all those concerning slavery and would avoid the battle forth coming over states rights and the perpetual nature of the constitution. The government existed to preserve and defend its own existence was according to Lincoln a right given by God. His duty was to exercise in faith that belief.
Faith @ Gettysburg
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Lincoln expressed this sentiment of our nation being “under God” and having a new birth, or being “born again” as a matter of his faith in God. Birth is a thought that is framed only in scripture in this means. Lincoln believed after the victory at Gettysburg that God had demonstrated the immorality of slavery and secession of states. Lincoln in faith believed he had the moral high ground. The north in his thinking was clearly on God’s side. A nation under God is a nation of the people. Meaning that the will of the people was the arbiter of God’s will for the nation. Meaning that the government existed only so long as it served the will of the people as it is a government “for the people”. Meaning that such a government serving the will of God through the morality of the people will never cease to exist. Only a man with faith in God gives up his power to the will of the people and trusts that such principles established and framed by our founders are of divine nature. God is the determiner of victory as God’s side always wins. Might doesn’t make right, but rather being right makes might.
Faith @ The Second Inaugural Address
(Concerning the war between the north and the south, Lincoln said the following.) Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
Lincoln expressed his faith in God by acknowledging that neither side that prayed to God and read the Bible had received and answer to their prayers. Then he acknowledged that God may well have his own purposes in allowing this war. Lincoln expressed his belief that God was judging both sides, the Union, for not acknowledging that all men were created equal under the constitution and had the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Slavery was not just wrong for the south, but for the entire union. Those who plundered their opportunity to rid our great nation of this plight were now experiencing God’s judgment. Lincoln finishes his thoughts with the belief that in the end the Lord is true and always right in judgments on nations, and people.
I see a couple of lessons in these statements for leaders in business and ministry.
• Every business and every ministry “under God” trusts that the circumstances of its existences are in the hands of the all mighty, Creator! Just as God establishes nations, so he establishes churches and businesses for his purposes.
• The preservation of any business or ministry is something that requires dedication and devotion to those who have given their lives and time to assist in the creation and existences of that organization. Present leaders must always look back those whose legacy they inherit to move forward.
• I believe great leaders are aware of the work of the almighty and grasp clearly what God is up to, and then they join the Creator who has gone before them in their journey. All leaders should follow God. All leaders are divinely appointed, but not all leadership is divine in nature.
Is your business under God?
Can you recount the divine nature of your own company’s existence?
How has God allowed you to remain in business and what threatens you presently?
What is God doing right now, and how are you joining Him?
Are there corporate consequences for things that displease God? Explain.
Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? In our present differences, is either party without faith of being in the right? If the Almighty Ruler of Nations, with His eternal truth and justice, be on your side of the North, or on yours of the South, that truth and that justice will surely prevail by the judgment of this great tribunal of the American people.
By the frame of the Government under which we live this same people have wisely given their public servants but little power for mischief, and have with equal wisdom provided for the return of that little to their own hands at very short intervals. While the people retain their virtue and vigilance no Administration by any extreme of wickedness or folly can very seriously injure the Government in the short space of four years.
Lincoln’s faith in God is here expressed in his belief that the constitution itself was a document of divine nature. He believed that the framers faith in the will of the people was like to that of the fishermen on Jonah’s boat in casting lots. God operates in the course of every human decision working all things according to His Divine purpose. Lincoln believed that as people cast their lot in votes it would without war express God’s divine purpose for all those concerning slavery and would avoid the battle forth coming over states rights and the perpetual nature of the constitution. The government existed to preserve and defend its own existence was according to Lincoln a right given by God. His duty was to exercise in faith that belief.
Faith @ Gettysburg
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Lincoln expressed this sentiment of our nation being “under God” and having a new birth, or being “born again” as a matter of his faith in God. Birth is a thought that is framed only in scripture in this means. Lincoln believed after the victory at Gettysburg that God had demonstrated the immorality of slavery and secession of states. Lincoln in faith believed he had the moral high ground. The north in his thinking was clearly on God’s side. A nation under God is a nation of the people. Meaning that the will of the people was the arbiter of God’s will for the nation. Meaning that the government existed only so long as it served the will of the people as it is a government “for the people”. Meaning that such a government serving the will of God through the morality of the people will never cease to exist. Only a man with faith in God gives up his power to the will of the people and trusts that such principles established and framed by our founders are of divine nature. God is the determiner of victory as God’s side always wins. Might doesn’t make right, but rather being right makes might.
Faith @ The Second Inaugural Address
(Concerning the war between the north and the south, Lincoln said the following.) Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
Lincoln expressed his faith in God by acknowledging that neither side that prayed to God and read the Bible had received and answer to their prayers. Then he acknowledged that God may well have his own purposes in allowing this war. Lincoln expressed his belief that God was judging both sides, the Union, for not acknowledging that all men were created equal under the constitution and had the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Slavery was not just wrong for the south, but for the entire union. Those who plundered their opportunity to rid our great nation of this plight were now experiencing God’s judgment. Lincoln finishes his thoughts with the belief that in the end the Lord is true and always right in judgments on nations, and people.
I see a couple of lessons in these statements for leaders in business and ministry.
• Every business and every ministry “under God” trusts that the circumstances of its existences are in the hands of the all mighty, Creator! Just as God establishes nations, so he establishes churches and businesses for his purposes.
• The preservation of any business or ministry is something that requires dedication and devotion to those who have given their lives and time to assist in the creation and existences of that organization. Present leaders must always look back those whose legacy they inherit to move forward.
• I believe great leaders are aware of the work of the almighty and grasp clearly what God is up to, and then they join the Creator who has gone before them in their journey. All leaders should follow God. All leaders are divinely appointed, but not all leadership is divine in nature.
Is your business under God?
Can you recount the divine nature of your own company’s existence?
How has God allowed you to remain in business and what threatens you presently?
What is God doing right now, and how are you joining Him?
Are there corporate consequences for things that displease God? Explain.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
“Director of Vibe”
Once a leader has built their team on good vibrations they must seek to fine tune those vibrations. Leaders must create harmony on their team as the Director of Vibe.
Pursue difference over diversity!
Much is talked about in the business world about creating diversity. However, most of the time I believe this is purely political correctness. The key is to pursue people who are different in their strengths from one another. A great example of this is how athletic teams are built on roles and the abilities of players to do one task extremely well.
Dennis went to a junior college for the first two years of his collegiate experience where he was an outstanding scorer and rebounder for his basketball team. His tremendous athleticism combined with his great passing ability even at a lower than division 1 program got him drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the mid 80’s. He was known for a couple of things. His eccentric even carnal ways, but mostly for his ability to rebound the basketball earned him the nick name, “The Worm”. He just had an uncanny ability to get rebounds even against taller, more physical players he could rebound. His athleticism made him a valuable defender as he could defend against quick guards, power forwards, and even taller centers effectively. Dennis Rodman won 5 championships in the NBA as uniquely gifted rebounder. His differences are what made him a tremendous talent for the game of basketball. His strength was his rebounding and defense. He fit well with players who need the ball more and were scorers.
Pursue difference not diversity. Diversity is simply based on appearance. Difference is based on adding people to your team with different strengths.
Orchestrate your (team) choir to create a masterpiece!
Make your team accountable for the team’s success.
It is the leader’s responsibility to make sure that his or her team understands that they are accountable for how the team is doing. The leader is ultimately responsible and is recognized for the teams overall success. If the team does well the leader has done well. This aspect of leadership is polarizing. It is much more difficult to manage alliances than it is to lead armies to battle. Dwight D. Eisenhower Peter Keostenbaum call’s it leadership’s key polarity! You are 100% responsible for the work your team does. However, as leader you must risk motivating your team to be 100% responsible for how your team does.
The first step in orchestrating a masterpiece is to help your team understand that how they perform their task on the team is going to lead to the team’s success or failure. As Bill Belicheck, Coach of the New England Patriots is fond of saying, “Do your job!”
The Leader’s wand is his response!
As the team does their job it is the leader’s responsibility to keep the team motivated and on track toward the goals that have been set. How the leader responds is like waving the Orchestrator wand to different parts of the band. He encourages some to play on, and other to stop. A leader’s words are powerful for good in encouraging the team on creating a masterpiece. The leader’s response to a defeat or poor performance is, “I blew it. I could have done a better job.” The leader’s response to a victory or great performance is, “We did it. I love the way everyone got on board and did such a great job. What an awesome win for our team.” The leader’s response to someone who is performing poorly but you know they are a big part of the team is to encourage them. When you win everyone including the crowd cheers you on, but when you fail the leader needs to encourage and cheer you one. (pg. 90) The leader understands how the team fits together and how to get the most out of the different parts of the team by waving his wand (response & words) appropriately.
Create an environment of simultaneity.
To orchestrate a master piece give creative time to your team for listening to each other. Team meetings are more about letting your team hear and see other’s perspectives on any issue than about the leader reiterating the direction or goals of the organization. Allow your team to see things from many perspectives simultaneously by listening to one another. In these meeting is more important for the leader to listen than it is for the leader to talk. As a leader you create a masterpiece by being transparent. Leaders create harmony by showing compassion, respect for others, and by making everyone feel important. (pg. 92)
Create an environment of compliments
Apply John Nordstrom’s rules for communication.
No desk: It is important to get out of your office and to do life with your team. Getting out of the office will give your team the understanding that there are no barriers to getting to you. Getting out of the office makes you seem approachable and available. Both are necessary for harmony.
Compliment someone each day. It is essential that as a leader you attempt to begin each conversation with your team with a compliment. In the same way that a smile effectively brings life to people so a compliment brings breath into the soul of the person you are talking to. People will look forward to seeing you if you have something good to say to everyone.
How do you create harmony as the Vibe Director?
What are the vibes like on your team right now?
What is one way you can start to create greater harmony on your team as a leader right now?
Once a leader has built their team on good vibrations they must seek to fine tune those vibrations. Leaders must create harmony on their team as the Director of Vibe.
Pursue difference over diversity!
Much is talked about in the business world about creating diversity. However, most of the time I believe this is purely political correctness. The key is to pursue people who are different in their strengths from one another. A great example of this is how athletic teams are built on roles and the abilities of players to do one task extremely well.
Dennis went to a junior college for the first two years of his collegiate experience where he was an outstanding scorer and rebounder for his basketball team. His tremendous athleticism combined with his great passing ability even at a lower than division 1 program got him drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the mid 80’s. He was known for a couple of things. His eccentric even carnal ways, but mostly for his ability to rebound the basketball earned him the nick name, “The Worm”. He just had an uncanny ability to get rebounds even against taller, more physical players he could rebound. His athleticism made him a valuable defender as he could defend against quick guards, power forwards, and even taller centers effectively. Dennis Rodman won 5 championships in the NBA as uniquely gifted rebounder. His differences are what made him a tremendous talent for the game of basketball. His strength was his rebounding and defense. He fit well with players who need the ball more and were scorers.
Pursue difference not diversity. Diversity is simply based on appearance. Difference is based on adding people to your team with different strengths.
Orchestrate your (team) choir to create a masterpiece!
Make your team accountable for the team’s success.
It is the leader’s responsibility to make sure that his or her team understands that they are accountable for how the team is doing. The leader is ultimately responsible and is recognized for the teams overall success. If the team does well the leader has done well. This aspect of leadership is polarizing. It is much more difficult to manage alliances than it is to lead armies to battle. Dwight D. Eisenhower Peter Keostenbaum call’s it leadership’s key polarity! You are 100% responsible for the work your team does. However, as leader you must risk motivating your team to be 100% responsible for how your team does.
The first step in orchestrating a masterpiece is to help your team understand that how they perform their task on the team is going to lead to the team’s success or failure. As Bill Belicheck, Coach of the New England Patriots is fond of saying, “Do your job!”
The Leader’s wand is his response!
As the team does their job it is the leader’s responsibility to keep the team motivated and on track toward the goals that have been set. How the leader responds is like waving the Orchestrator wand to different parts of the band. He encourages some to play on, and other to stop. A leader’s words are powerful for good in encouraging the team on creating a masterpiece. The leader’s response to a defeat or poor performance is, “I blew it. I could have done a better job.” The leader’s response to a victory or great performance is, “We did it. I love the way everyone got on board and did such a great job. What an awesome win for our team.” The leader’s response to someone who is performing poorly but you know they are a big part of the team is to encourage them. When you win everyone including the crowd cheers you on, but when you fail the leader needs to encourage and cheer you one. (pg. 90) The leader understands how the team fits together and how to get the most out of the different parts of the team by waving his wand (response & words) appropriately.
Create an environment of simultaneity.
To orchestrate a master piece give creative time to your team for listening to each other. Team meetings are more about letting your team hear and see other’s perspectives on any issue than about the leader reiterating the direction or goals of the organization. Allow your team to see things from many perspectives simultaneously by listening to one another. In these meeting is more important for the leader to listen than it is for the leader to talk. As a leader you create a masterpiece by being transparent. Leaders create harmony by showing compassion, respect for others, and by making everyone feel important. (pg. 92)
Create an environment of compliments
Apply John Nordstrom’s rules for communication.
No desk: It is important to get out of your office and to do life with your team. Getting out of the office will give your team the understanding that there are no barriers to getting to you. Getting out of the office makes you seem approachable and available. Both are necessary for harmony.
Compliment someone each day. It is essential that as a leader you attempt to begin each conversation with your team with a compliment. In the same way that a smile effectively brings life to people so a compliment brings breath into the soul of the person you are talking to. People will look forward to seeing you if you have something good to say to everyone.
How do you create harmony as the Vibe Director?
What are the vibes like on your team right now?
What is one way you can start to create greater harmony on your team as a leader right now?
Friday, February 5, 2010
Summoned Leaders Seek Good Vibrations
The biggest challenge for leaders is finding the right people to join you in your mission. This is the area in which your leadership will be most challenged and most defined. Finding the right people to put in the right places to lead in the most important way is essential to success for you organization. When it comes to building a team you want to have a team “you can listen too.” A “sound” leader will not expect his team to only listen to and follow him, but the leader will listen to his team in order to lead. As Dr. Sweet states that a summoned leader will say, “I hear you.”
1. Seeking Good Vibrations
“Hire attitude and aptitude. Train for skill.” Leanard Sweet
“Great leadership is less trying to find people to fit in than finding people who can fit together.”
Leaders conduct job “inner-views” and not interviews.
People who fit together form the best team.
2. The Right Spirit
The growing recognition of the dangers of a “bad spirit” can be seen in the way more and more companies are firing clients and contractors. It is now company policy to do business with clients that “fit” in the business world and have the right spirit.
The wrong spirit is the spirit of negativity. Negative people send out lousy vibrations and can be very destructive to your team, and to your organization. It doesn’t matter what values or what your mission statement says if you have negative people on your team you are going to struggle.
You are looking for clients, for employees, and for volunteers with the “right spirit”. They are enthusiastic, they are optimistic, they seem to smile, and they love people. These have the right spirit. As a leader building a team “spirit comes first.” (pg. 78) Greatness to your organization comes from within – spirit, character, loyalty, honesty, soul. (pg. 79)
As a leader seek to hire people with the right spirit.
3. Be a “right spirited” leader.
There are three aspects to leading with a right spirit, confidence, humility, and Risk taking.
a. Confidence
A right spirited leader will have confidence to lead. He will have great energy. A confident leader will have the energy and enthusiasm to make things move. Organizations help their leaders have confidence by giving the leader the support he needs to lead. The organization should allow the leader the means to determine the goals, the provision and financial motivation to achieve those goals, and the power and authority necessary to accomplish those goals.
A confident leader will have focused enduring goals that allow him to determine a direction in which to head. He will have the resources necessary to move his company forward once the goals are established, and he will be compensated well enough to keep him motivated. The last thing a confident leader needs is the appropriate power and authority to accomplish any task that is before him.
b. Humility
A right spirited leader will have the ability to check their ego. They will not “Edge God Out”. These leaders are honest. The humble leader is happier and more motivated and incredibly interested in how the “team” is doing rather than how he is doing. A leader with the right spirit will promote “team spirit.” (pg 82) You will hear them talking about their team and how the team is doing. Not only does the leader rise to his calling, but the Divine raises up those team members that fit on his team. These humble leaders have a cheerfulness and natural modesty (pg 82) that promotes this fact.
c. Taking Risks
Leaders with the right spirit are aware of the necessary risks that need to be taken to move their organization forward. Risk is just a short name for movement, for change (pg 83). In leadership the “handicap principle” states that a leader must pay a price to ensure the survival or thriving of his organization and team. Leaders have to pay a significant cost, or handicap to ensure the survival of the team. The leader must take the necessary risk to build the “right spirit” into his organization.
Having a right spirit comes first. It is more important than vision and values that unify us. As leader the greatest risk you may take is letting someone with the organization that has a negative spirit go. There are three negatives that leaders can’t tolerate. People who are not enthusiastic or fired up should be fired. Second, people who have an emotionally sorrow disposition that is toxic to the team should be let go. Lastly, people who are afraid to move for fear of making mistakes, or for not learning from those mistakes should be let go.
Leaders take the risks that allow them to create the “right spirit” on their teams. In turn this creates a team spirit that allows the leader to say, “I hear you.” Seek good vibrations.
The biggest challenge for leaders is finding the right people to join you in your mission. This is the area in which your leadership will be most challenged and most defined. Finding the right people to put in the right places to lead in the most important way is essential to success for you organization. When it comes to building a team you want to have a team “you can listen too.” A “sound” leader will not expect his team to only listen to and follow him, but the leader will listen to his team in order to lead. As Dr. Sweet states that a summoned leader will say, “I hear you.”
1. Seeking Good Vibrations
“Hire attitude and aptitude. Train for skill.” Leanard Sweet
“Great leadership is less trying to find people to fit in than finding people who can fit together.”
Leaders conduct job “inner-views” and not interviews.
People who fit together form the best team.
2. The Right Spirit
The growing recognition of the dangers of a “bad spirit” can be seen in the way more and more companies are firing clients and contractors. It is now company policy to do business with clients that “fit” in the business world and have the right spirit.
The wrong spirit is the spirit of negativity. Negative people send out lousy vibrations and can be very destructive to your team, and to your organization. It doesn’t matter what values or what your mission statement says if you have negative people on your team you are going to struggle.
You are looking for clients, for employees, and for volunteers with the “right spirit”. They are enthusiastic, they are optimistic, they seem to smile, and they love people. These have the right spirit. As a leader building a team “spirit comes first.” (pg. 78) Greatness to your organization comes from within – spirit, character, loyalty, honesty, soul. (pg. 79)
As a leader seek to hire people with the right spirit.
3. Be a “right spirited” leader.
There are three aspects to leading with a right spirit, confidence, humility, and Risk taking.
a. Confidence
A right spirited leader will have confidence to lead. He will have great energy. A confident leader will have the energy and enthusiasm to make things move. Organizations help their leaders have confidence by giving the leader the support he needs to lead. The organization should allow the leader the means to determine the goals, the provision and financial motivation to achieve those goals, and the power and authority necessary to accomplish those goals.
A confident leader will have focused enduring goals that allow him to determine a direction in which to head. He will have the resources necessary to move his company forward once the goals are established, and he will be compensated well enough to keep him motivated. The last thing a confident leader needs is the appropriate power and authority to accomplish any task that is before him.
b. Humility
A right spirited leader will have the ability to check their ego. They will not “Edge God Out”. These leaders are honest. The humble leader is happier and more motivated and incredibly interested in how the “team” is doing rather than how he is doing. A leader with the right spirit will promote “team spirit.” (pg 82) You will hear them talking about their team and how the team is doing. Not only does the leader rise to his calling, but the Divine raises up those team members that fit on his team. These humble leaders have a cheerfulness and natural modesty (pg 82) that promotes this fact.
c. Taking Risks
Leaders with the right spirit are aware of the necessary risks that need to be taken to move their organization forward. Risk is just a short name for movement, for change (pg 83). In leadership the “handicap principle” states that a leader must pay a price to ensure the survival or thriving of his organization and team. Leaders have to pay a significant cost, or handicap to ensure the survival of the team. The leader must take the necessary risk to build the “right spirit” into his organization.
Having a right spirit comes first. It is more important than vision and values that unify us. As leader the greatest risk you may take is letting someone with the organization that has a negative spirit go. There are three negatives that leaders can’t tolerate. People who are not enthusiastic or fired up should be fired. Second, people who have an emotionally sorrow disposition that is toxic to the team should be let go. Lastly, people who are afraid to move for fear of making mistakes, or for not learning from those mistakes should be let go.
Leaders take the risks that allow them to create the “right spirit” on their teams. In turn this creates a team spirit that allows the leader to say, “I hear you.” Seek good vibrations.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Lend an Ear. Summoned leaders lead through sound.
- Summoned leaders have a hearing heart.
The first thing I believe summoned leaders have is the ability to follow God’s voice. A heart that is sensitive to the voice of God, to God’s ways, and to the things that God desires. In the scriptures they call this righteousness. Ethics are God’s rules and they often flow from his scriptures. This is the sound that God makes; ethics. A hearing heart will listen to God’s way for life, and for business.
- Summoned leaders hear their vision.
If you are going to hear a vision you will have to learn to listen for the vibrations of your world, and hear the hum of people’s souls. All around us people, employees, partners, and even guests. These are going through life and as they experience their life they are creating a sound wave, a vibration that leaders must hear. These vibrations of their souls help leaders create a vision for business, and or ministry. Leaders will get a vision from assessing what the vibrations are of those that they serve.
- Summoned leaders set the beat for their organizations.
Leaders will set the beat for their organizations. This is “sound” Leadership - Setting a beat and a rhythm for people to follow. Leaders are “Beating the drum!” As leader when you take into account what it is that is pleasing to God, your values, and your gut consider the vibrations of the culture, of your employees, and customers you are now capable of creating a rhythm for your company or church. By listening you are now able to create a beat, a direction, a plan, “a tune” that your company can play.
Are you cable of hearing your vision, and setting a beat for your organization that will get you in tune?
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Finding Your Voice as a Leader
The Power of One voice
In the early 1800’s a young man with great wit and satire in his speaking came onto the stage in his early 20’s. William Wilberforce was well known as having the ability to humiliate those that opposed his views on the political stage. When approached by abolitionist early in his life he thought to reject the idea of undertaking abolition as it wasn’t politically expedient. As a young man he lacked a voice. However, the issue of slave trading was so deplorable that eventually he agreed. What was it that led William Wilberforce to undertake the cause of abolition?
I believe it was due in large part to a drunken sailor, a man who invented curse words. A man who was so cross, so vile that he was on one voyage placed in the hole of his ship with the slaves that would eventually be traded. In one instance because of his crossness he was left in slavery on an island and forced to work as a slave. He was rescued by a letter from his father. He managed to rise through the ranks and on one adventure a storm so powerful threatened to rip his ship apart and he cast himself at the mercy of God and converted to Christianity. As his faith in Christ began to grow he swore off slave trading and began studying the scriptures, Latin, and Greek, and decided that his greatest purpose for the rest of his life would be to share his faith as a minister. He was commissioned in the late 1700’s and eventually in spite of his past was given a parish to lead. His boldness led him to often preach about his conversion and on one Sunday in the 1700’s he shared his conversion in great eloquence. “Amazing grace” he said, “how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind, but now I see. It was grace that taught my heart to sing and grace my fears relieved, How precious did that Grace appear, the hour I first believed.” John Newton.
It was in his teen years that William Wilberforce was introduced to John Newton the drunken sailor, the cross speaker, and former slave trader. John Newton took Wilberforce under his wing and became his mentor. The following years leading up to Wilberforce’s election to parliament were filled with conversations about God’s grace and love for all men in spite of their station, or their race. If God’s grace could free a sinner like Newton surely he wished to see all men free from their chains. Wilberforce was given a great gift for speaking and satire, and ridicule. His wit was his sword. Used for God this satire tongue could change the thoughts and hearts of parliament. I submit to you that John Newton was the reason Wilberforce became a great voice for abolition.
Amazing Grace In 1807 a 286 to 13 vote of parliament was passed to ban slave trading! Wilberforce demonstrates the power of one voice!
How does a leader get his voice once he is summoned?
A leader must have character to get his voice. He must be above reproach, humble and have a great passion for people, and for God. In Newton’s case his character would have been a problem. Even though he was now a minister, he was at one time a slave trader. This was not the case with young Wilberforce. No matter how much Newton spoke of God’s grace to break the chains and the terrible thing that slave trade was he had no voice. It was a divine appointment the relationship between Newton and Wilberforce.
Wilberforce, who was known as a philanthropist, was such a man. Having met Newton he had found a father figure which he lacked and had desired. Newton’s mentoring brought Wilberforce into Christianity and brought out of him his God given talents. He had the ability to tell the truth in ways that effectively rendered his opponent’s silent. He was witty. Wilberforce was the first to use truthful satire to humiliate the lack of good sense his opponents demonstrated. Wilberforce’s mentoring in the scriptures and with John Newton gave him a keen ability to recognize right from wrong. He was spiritually alive in his pursuit of the cause of abolition and good and evil. All great leaders are chosen by history and the greater the struggle the greater the leader. God is delighted to watch as those that are appointed divinely rise and live out their purpose before them. Wilberforce’s satire was original and innovative, and he was encouraged to use his gifting by John Newton as a weapon of mass instruction. Today in our political world we have many entertainers who use satire to expound the wrongs and lack of common sense of our elected officials. However, Wilberforce was the first such politician to use it for good!
Summoned leaders are truth tellers. Summoned leaders know right from wrong and are spiritually alive with their cause. Summoned leaders are originals who use innovative means to get their message out effectively. Summoned leaders get their voice because they have the character and common sense to tell the truth, because they are alive spiritually discerning right from wrong, and because they are innovative in getting their message out! These are given a voice not because people hear them, but because a divine God knows that people will hear them. Wilberforce was summoned.
The measurements of a summoned leader!
How can you recognize a summoned leader? I believe along with Dr. Sweet that there are qualities that seem to be always present in a summoned leader.
They are optimistic. There is something in them that believes and looks out at the world, at people in a positive way. When others see the obstacles summoned leaders see opportunities.
Summoned leaders have integrity. It is not that they haven’t ever made a promise that they broke, but that they are trusted. Those that follow see in them that they are real, authentic, and an authority on what they are doing, and they follow. These are people who do what they say.
They are idealistic. They have a great cause or injustice that must be righted. They face a problem or a difficulty that they believe can be solved or corrected. They believe in their abilities and in their hearts that whatever it is they have the moral authority to face it and change it for the better.
Summoned leaders demonstrate endurance. They are enduring leaders. They are willing to finish what has been started. Abolition of slave trading was ended in 1807 by the British parliament. However, slavery and slave ownership was not abolished until much later in England. Wilberforce stayed the course and fought for this even after 1807. Summoned leaders finish well.
If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.” William Wilberforce
Do you feel like you have a voice?
What is more important the message or the messenger?
Can you think of a modern day summoned leader?
Links:
Johnnewton.org / The Newton Project
http://www.puritansermons.com/newton/newt_b.htm/ The letters of John Newton
A historical time line from Google: http://www.google.com/search?q=william+wilberforce+and+john+newton&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=2s1ZS5_OKMqztgeu5d2VAg&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11&ved=0CC4Q5wIwCg
[1] http://www.johnnewton.org/Articles/72951/The_John_Newton/Resources/Amazing_Grace_service.aspx%20/ Amazing Grace Sermon as delivered in Newton’s Church. January 22, 2010: 10:15 AM
[2] Summoned to Lead by Dr. Leanard Sweet; Chapter 2.
[3] http://thinkexist.com/quotes/william_wilberforce/ January 22, 2010: 11:05 AM
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Maxim 1. Leaders are summoned!
The Problem with the Vision Thing
What is wrong is “the vision thing.” Our understanding of leadership needs to be turned upside down. The future needs ears even more than it needs eyes. To put it bluntly: The whole leadership thing is a demented concept. Leaders are neither born nor made. Leaders are summoned. They are called into existence by circumstances. Those who rise to the occasion are leaders. (Leanard Sweet)
Leaders don’t have a vision first they have a calling, a summoning to do something. They have nothing in the beginning, no strategy, no plan, and they can even lack vision. Leaders are called. Leaders hear that they have a mission and move.
If this is the case; titles, position, and popularity are not the true makings of leaders. Rather those who rise and can effect change are leaders. These thoughts remind me of the statement often made by political leaders about history choosing them and defining their legacy.
In ministry you may desire an office, and that office is a good work. Whatever your qualifications are the main issue for leading is your calling. You will be moving and your work will be good. Your calling is made sure, your summoning, by the fact that you are on mission and effecting change in the area you desire to lead. At first, there is no need for a title, there is not even a need in the leaders mind for a plan. The leader is moving though. The leader is in action. He is rising.
This definition of leadership is very much in line with what I see in many Biblical leaders. For example, Nehemiah didn’t have a following, didn’t have a position, didn’t have any money but he was summoned. His summoning led him to carry a sad countenance with his cups before the King. All he had was a calling, a summoning. He had no vision, and no plan until he got to Jerusalem for rebuilding the walls. He was incredibly ignorant of the tasks necessary, or the necessary resources he needed. All that being said, when we was given the resources he was quick to develop a plan. When he assessed the walls he was quick to come up with a strategy for accomplishing the task. Then he shared the vision. What made him a leader was that he was willing to rise to the occasion of fixing the walls that were broken down. He risked death to present what God had summoned him to do.
Dr. Sweet talks about the book Good to Great by Collins and how he defines leadership. Collins suggests that it is “the intentionally humble and quiet leaders who truly make a difference. Humility can win out over more powerful organizational forces.” It is often the culture of the company that produces a great leader rather than the other way around. Great companies often have humble and quiet leaders who have been summoned to a cause greater than themselves. If this is the case character not vision is the stuff of leadership. What matters most is not the clarity of your eyes (Vision), but the charity of your heart and the clearness of your ears. (Leanard Sweet)
Summoned leaders can make things happen. There is a divine energy that causes, effects what they have been called to do to move. Can you cause a thing to go? Leaders who are summoned can cause a thing to go. The Old English word for lead means to “to cause a thing to go.” (Leanard Sweet)
History will be our guide. We will look at leaders in history as we go through and chase this thought with Dr. Leanard Sweet. If leaders are summoned and then given a voice what great leaders have risen to the occasion and demonstrated incredible gifting and divine direction in the midst of circumstances that were perilous?
I can think of many such leaders Charles Shackleton is just one such man who was summoned to lead in difficult circumstances. Abraham Lincoln is maybe our greatest president because he summoned to lead in the midst of the circumstances of his time. Martin Luther King is another who amid racial turmoil was summoned to lead. It seems to me that all great leaders have a great dilemma into which a divine God places them and it is His great pleasure to watch them lead. They are often unknown, ordinary people who lack often what the world believes are necessary skills and training. However, they were made for what they are summoned to.
I am reminded of the movie Apollo 13. There is a quote in that movie that is truly great. It is not, “Houston we have a problem.” It is when the Nasa Director says what he is thinking. “I think this could be the worst disaster in NASA history.” Gene Kranz the mission coordinator says, “With all due respect sir, this could be our finest hour.” I would like to submit that Kranz was summoned to lead for that moment in history. He studied all his life for that moment when God thrust him into the lime light as mission coordinator for Apollo 13. With passion and great leadership skill Gene Kranz motivated his people telling them, “We've never lost an American in space, we're sure as hell not gonna lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option.”
The thing about summoned leaders is that they rise. They have the character to overcome their circumstances, and often great failures produce great leaders. Summoned leaders care about what can be done and they make things move. I don't care about what anything was DESIGNED to do, I care about what it CAN do. Gene Kranz Apollo 13 Coordinator
Summoned leaders care only about what can be done. They were designed for the moment into which they have been placed. They rise and go and make things happen for the better!
What is more important your vision, or your character?
Can you think of a leader in history who you believe was summoned to lead?
What role do you believe God plays in leadership?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Maxim Vision
“Maximizing God Maximizes Business Success”
Mission statement: To take the gospel into the business world boldly and find the men and women of peace God is drawing to himself.
Vision: To reach out through leadership training to the business world sharing the Gospel with as many business men and women as possible. To create a business institute for equipping faith based business leaders in sharing their faith and being successful in business.
5 year faith goals
1. To reach 1000’s of businesses each year with Maxim for leaders.
2. To continually open up a Chambers to Maxim for Leaders training events.
3. To share the gospel with thousands of business people annually.
Values:
Excellence: To assist businesses in creating excellence in their service, in their products, and in their leadership.
Ethics: To assist business leaders and employees with a greater understanding of the ethics necessary for a productive work environment.
Encouraging Faith: To assist and equip as many business leaders as possible to share their faith publically and proudly. To assist business leaders in prioritizing, valuing, encouraging faith in the workplace.
The Dream
This is the dream of men and women coming once a month to a local business chamber for a business training that is faith based and that shares the gospel. It is the dream of engaging local pastors in reaching their business community and bring ethics back into the workplace. It s the dream of putting God back on his pedestal and assisting devoted followers who work in sharing their faith through business leadership development. It is the dream of seeing business leaders come to faith in Christ and grow to become the men and women that God will use to reach their communities with the Gospel of Jesus. It is the dream of a business institute that trains pastors in reaching the business community and loving local and large based companies. A Christ focused chaplain for every business in America!
Step 1: Find committed prayer warriors who will lift up this vision before God!
Step 2: Find and recruit a second Chaplain who will assist in carrying this vision!
Step 3: Find local Christian business men who will assist in supporting these men in their gospel mission.
Step 4: Begin the work of opening a second chamber to Maxim for leaders.
Mission statement: To take the gospel into the business world boldly and find the men and women of peace God is drawing to himself.
Vision: To reach out through leadership training to the business world sharing the Gospel with as many business men and women as possible. To create a business institute for equipping faith based business leaders in sharing their faith and being successful in business.
5 year faith goals
1. To reach 1000’s of businesses each year with Maxim for leaders.
2. To continually open up a Chambers to Maxim for Leaders training events.
3. To share the gospel with thousands of business people annually.
Values:
Excellence: To assist businesses in creating excellence in their service, in their products, and in their leadership.
Ethics: To assist business leaders and employees with a greater understanding of the ethics necessary for a productive work environment.
Encouraging Faith: To assist and equip as many business leaders as possible to share their faith publically and proudly. To assist business leaders in prioritizing, valuing, encouraging faith in the workplace.
The Dream
This is the dream of men and women coming once a month to a local business chamber for a business training that is faith based and that shares the gospel. It is the dream of engaging local pastors in reaching their business community and bring ethics back into the workplace. It s the dream of putting God back on his pedestal and assisting devoted followers who work in sharing their faith through business leadership development. It is the dream of seeing business leaders come to faith in Christ and grow to become the men and women that God will use to reach their communities with the Gospel of Jesus. It is the dream of a business institute that trains pastors in reaching the business community and loving local and large based companies. A Christ focused chaplain for every business in America!
Step 1: Find committed prayer warriors who will lift up this vision before God!
Step 2: Find and recruit a second Chaplain who will assist in carrying this vision!
Step 3: Find local Christian business men who will assist in supporting these men in their gospel mission.
Step 4: Begin the work of opening a second chamber to Maxim for leaders.
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