leadership identity

You can't teach a frog to fly.

I really believe that the BEST thing a leader can do is get comfortable in their own skin - and lead out of who they are.

Who You Are is made up of a lot of things…it includes your strengths and your weaknesses; and for Christians the “Old Self” and the “New Self, led by the Spirit”.
**Both your nature and your nurture are at work in you, and so is your spiritual transformation.

Leadership gurus have debated over the years about how much effort should be given to improving weaknesses. Some push for well roundedness, others for specialists who focus on only on their strengths.

I think you are most valuable where you add most value, so I try to spend my efforts doing the things that I believe I am stronger in…and maybe even gifted in. This isn't a far cry from the NT teachings on spiritual gifting. Look to:

-1 Corinthians 12

-Ephesians 4

-1 Peter 4

-Romans 12

In each of these there are 3 common themes. 1) There is intended diversity in the way people serve and lead, because 2) God designed people, and He did so that 3) Needs would be met as our diversity leads to our unity and maturity.

Check out my own translation of Romans 12:6-8, "Since we have different gifts, let’s go ahead and be who we are, without trying to be something we’re not – if you preach, preach God’s word; if you’re a serve, serve; teach so that learning happens; encouragers encourage; givers be generous; leaders lead well, and those who show mercy and compassion, do just that & with the right attitude."
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About 10 years ago, I read a book that set the tone for the way I lead, interact, and build teams. George Barna, in his book The Second Coming of the Church, prescribes that there are 4 styles of leaders. Visionaries see things that should-be and could-be; Strategists understand systems and can chart ways to accomplish a vision; Operational Leaders are great at managing people, resources, and details to completion of a task or goal; and Relational (team building) Leaders understand people, know how and when to communicate so that people will buy-in to an idea. *Which do you think is mostly you?

Simply determining your strengths and your style of leadership doesn't make you a good leader; but owning and practicing that leadership identity puts you on the path to being a great leader!

What’s Your Leadership Discipline?
{I read this somewhere sometime} If you want to be a better golfer what do you do? Practice. How about if you want to be a better musician? Practice. If you want to be a better leader, what do you do? You get the picture. So what’s your daily leadership practice?

A leadership discipline is a behavior that you choose to intentionally practice every day. Here are some tips for creating your leadership disciplines:
1) Keep it Simple. (something that is measurable and achievable)

2) Make it Stretchy. (something that helps you to grow)

3) Make it Fun. (something you enjoy and look forward to)

**As an example, here are my current leadership disciplines:

1) Collaborate with someone, on something, every day. (simple)

2) Evaluate something for effectiveness, clarity, creativity, etc, every day. (stretchy)

3) Invest in another leader, every day. (fun)

REpost: leadership

I'm doing some leadership development with our staff and leaders...and in prepping I went back and read through this article I wrote in 2008. I'm reposting it now to kick-off a 4-part blog series on leadership.

Certain skills are valuable to all good leaders. I am finding it very difficult to place the following list in an order of importance, though, I might consider them in two groups: 1), of primary importance and 2), of secondary importance.

Primary, or inward skills: Self-Awareness, Discernment, Courage, Loyalty, Integrity

Secondary, or outward skills: People skills, Listening skills, Communication skills, Management skills (including delegation), Initiative (including forward-thinking)

Good leadership is the discipline of building intentional relationships to help guide and enable people to participate in a vision, mission, or goal. People will join a leader because he displays love, humility, authenticity, competency, and self-control. For this reason, leadership must be an action-oriented, interpersonal influencing process. In essence, leadership involves vision and personal initiative. Jesus, who perfectly modeled loving, authentic, relational leadership, did more than just teach these characteristics. He communicated these characteristics through the actions of his life and leadership. One of my favorite leadership quotes has been “We must be the change we envision”; and it is this participation that allows people to truly join and follow a leader, rather than simply submit to his words.

I highly value a self-differentiating-team style of leadership; and I believe that small strategic teams can multiply participation in effective processes. In this model, people are released to reach towards their potential, and together they make something greater than any one of them could have made on their own. In the church, there is strength in dependence as we co-depend on God’s people and ultimately we depend on God. (And not to get way off of track, but, in a way, this mimics a social, or economic, view of the trinity. As Christians, we embrace and celebrate three equal and distinct functional expressions of God’s identity. All divine activity occurs through the cooperation of the three Trinitarian members; and the members express the excellence of the whole one God. Each part of the Trinity fulfills a role within a single, divine program.)

It is true, that there is strength in numbers and that one stick can easily break, but a bundle of sticks cannot be broken. I believe that more success can be experienced when leaders focus on their strengths and depend on strategic teams to accomplish more. Some years ago, I read The Second Coming of the Church, by George Barna, on which I have based much of my leadership philosophy. He asserts that there are four necessary types of leaders in a good leadership team construct. Visionary leaders see the big picture. They dream dreams, tell stories, and inspire people. Strategic leaders know how to put a vision into action. They know where they are going and can determine how best to get there. Operational leaders get things done. They are organized, administrative, and task-oriented. Relational leaders are team builders. They bring cohesion between goals and people; they are often the “glue” that holds the organization together.

Some people are born with leadership traits, but real leaders are developed. I believe that people can work-hard-to-get-better at anything; but one’s weaknesses will never become their strengths. Leaders will be most efficient in areas in which they are most competent. By strategically building teams with balanced leadership styles and skills, I believe that more can be accomplished, and more can be accomplished better. Good leaders are those who are always learning and always developing. In effective leadership, one must never grow stagnant, but instead they must continue to evaluate themselves and their processes, sharpen their skills, and make changes when necessary. Good leaders will always become better leaders when they share leadership, lead by example, and genuinely connect with the people that they are leading.