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John Wooden Leadership Philosophy #2

May 13, 2013 in Development, Leadership, Life, Mentoring with 0 Comments

2. Make Each Day Your Masterpiece.

Masterpiece defined: Your greatest work.

Imagine living by that philosophy? One that says, “I am going to bring my greatest, do my greatest, and live my greatest, everyday. How would that impact your relationships? How would that impact your work? How would that change your life? Is that even possible? John Wooden believed it was possible, and his life is a testament to it.

Here is a beginning point for you to move in that direction. It is not the end all of this leadership philosophy, but it will definitely point you in the right direction of making every day your masterpiece.

1. Learn to quiet yourself for no less than 30 minutes. I crave solitude. A minimum of 30 minutes allows me to regain clarity. I prefer this clarity before the world is awake. I love the morning! I believe clarity is the beginning of your masterpiece. By quiet I mean, I do nothing but sit still and listen. Psalms 46:10 says,”Be still and know that I am God!” Want everyday to be a masterpiece? Listen to the only one that can truly give you Master Peace:)

2. Read for transformation. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. ”And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2. Want to live everyday as a masterpiece? Start reading things that are profitable, and encouraging. The bible should be your most used and abused book, and other books supplemental. I think the reason life masterpieces aren’t being seen that much anymore is, that people have shelved the bible and replaced it with good books. Good though, has become an enemy of the greatest!

3. Surround yourself with encourager’s. In the bible, Barnabas (Name means – Son of encouragement), is a great example of being an encourager and believing the best in others. Even when everybody else shunned the apostle Paul after he surrendered to Jesus, Barnabas still believed in Paul and spoke into his life. If your going to live everyday as a masterpiece? You can’t live your life surrounded by Eeyore’s, because nothing wrecks masterpieces more than critics. Who is encouraging you? Who are you encouraging?

4. Take care of your body. Studies have shown, and proved that your physical health plays into your emotional, spiritual, and psychological health. Wonder why you are under-performing and not making daily masterpieces? Maybe it’s because you have neglected your personal health? Who’s responsible for this? You! Eat well, exercise, and rest. No, you do not have to, but you will never create masterpieces by neglecting yourself. I also read that exercise halts the aging process, and will keep you looking younger longer. Sign me up!!:)

5. Give. As I have studied leaders at all levels, what has made their lives masterpieces is, they gave of their time, talent, and resources. I believe that someone who truly lives, will apply what the apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:4 “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Daily masterpieces are created by givers, not takers! Don’t live by the cliche “What have you done for me lately?” Live by “What have I done for others lately?”

Your masterpieces start now!!

John Wooden Leadership Philosophy #1

May 6, 2013 in Development, Leadership, Life, Mentoring with 0 Comments

On June 4th, 2010, the nation mourned the death of legendary UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden. He was a man revered as much for his off-court character as his on-court genius.

On the court, Wooden’s exploits were unmatched. His teams captured seven straight titles, won 88 consecutive games, and had a perfect 10-0 record in championship contests. Overall, Wooden compiled a 664-162 record, a winning percentage of over 80%.

His life is noteworthy. His principles solid. He had some life philosophies that he lived by, and I think we would do well to ponder them. He had 8 leadership philosophies that he lived by.

Today, let me give you the first one:

1. Be True To Yourself.

In a culture where everybody wants to be iconic, where everybody wants to be a superstar, or mimic a superstar, being true to yourself is a very significant life principle to live by. Why? God uniquely wired you to be you. He did not want you to be Michael Jordan, Bono, Celine Dion, the Jonas Brothers, or Hannah Montana:) Just be you!

I think our culture is really good at spotting fakes. You know, the people that are trying to be something, or somebody they are not. Being fake is a sign of insecurity. It takes a secure person/leader to be true to themselves. Maybe that is why John Wooden was so successful? He did not try to be somebody he was not created to be. He just worked really hard with the skills and abilities that God had given him, and he experienced immense success. Being true to yourself is not a guarantee that you will experience success like John Wooden, but, it does guarantee you, that you will not live your life as a fake. Nothing like a real person!!

How do you start being true to yourself?

1. Determine what you are passionate about. Passion always precedes accomplishment. And accomplishments are always much better when they are done by true people.

2. Determine what you are good at and do it. That does not mean that you are the best at it. It just means that you have seen some success in what it is you like to do.

3. Ask others what abilities, talents, or gifts they see that you may have. Trust me, people know more about you then you know. I know some people who think they can sing, but if they actually asked somebody if they thought they were good at singing, the picture would be painted very differently.

4. Try different things. Over the years I have tried all kinds of things. It is the process of elimination that has helped me determine not only what I am good at, but also what I’m not so good at. Note: You may not be great initially at something, but because you are passionate about it, you will keep at it, and eventually become much better than you once were. Like I tell my children, “Practice makes better!”

5. Do not compare yourself to others. Comparison is the enemy of the true you. You can learn from others, and being challenged by others successes isn’t a bad thing. But when the day is done, you need to be looking in the mirror, not at the person standing next to you. Want to be true to yourself? Stop comparing yourself to others. Life is not a competition, it is a journey, a story, a novel that includes YOU! You do not want the novel to be read “Johnny did a great job playing someone else.” No! I want it to read “Jason’s journey was one that only he could have lived out. He lived it out, and what an adventure it was!”

Are you being true to yourself??

The Dinner Table Of Leadership

April 29, 2013 in Attitude, Development, Equip, Family, Leadership, Life, Meetings, Strategy, Trust, Vision with 0 Comments

I hate Brussels sprouts. They make me want to blow chow. Would it be an overstatement, “They are of the Devil!” So….they are not welcome at our dinner table. There are many other healthy options that I like to consume and can digest, but Brussels sprouts isn’t one of them. I know my kids are grateful.

When my family of 7 sits downs and eats dinner together, we (most of us) want to eat healthy, have variety, and even enjoy a delicious dessert every now and then. I think that’s reasonable, and highly probable at any given mealtime at our home.

Leadership tables aren’t that different. When leaders sit around a table, health should be a priority, variety a given (based on challenges and personalities), and you should want your outcomes to be as smooth as a French-silk pie dessert. You in?

So what’s a healthy meal look like at leadership tables? Here are a few options…

A salad of humility. Roughage for many of us, but without it, you won’t reach optimal health. Who likes sitting around leadership tables where everyone is vying for the alpha chair. Humble leaders are palatable, and usually have the best interest of their organization, business, or cause in mind.
A bowl of honest soup. Ahhh, there’s nothing like a tasty soup that is spiced just right, that warms the insides. Honesty, some call it candor, warms the room, and comforts those around the table. No one likes to sit on pins and needles while there’s a blow up elephant in the room that needs to be popped, but it never is, because everyone’s afraid to address the real issue. Honesty blows up elephants, and drips of safety to those who might question leadership credibility.
A plate of secure protein. You need protein in your diet to help your body repair cells, and make new ones. Basically, protein helps you grow. Insecure leaders breakdown teams. Secure leaders not only help teams grow, they help individuals, and the overall cause of the organization grow. Secure leadership is like a well-cooked steak, tasty, and makes you long for more.
A cup of java joy. OK, maybe pie, cake, pudding, etc., is your dessert of choice, and often is mine to. But, there’s nothing like dessert with a cup of java to top off your dinner experience. There’s also nothing like sitting around leadership tables with people who are joy filled, and excited about life. I love being around leaders who are able to laugh, exhibit joy, even in the tough times. Joy around leadership tables compares to nothing. You can be a big dog leader, make millions of dollars, and advance unbelievable causes worldwide. Great! But, joy in the journey makes the ride so much more pleasurable, not only for you, but for everyone else around.

What’s for dinner around your leadership tables?

Embrace The Awkward

April 1, 2013 in Christianity, Church, Relationships with 0 Comments

That statement has become a mantra around our church. We believe we are doing God’s bidding, and that has everything to do with loving and engaging people. But what do you do when culture is becoming more and more closed off and skeptical towards strangers, outsiders?

In fact our executive pastor approached a guest yesterday (Easter), just to reach out and be nice. No angle, no strings attached, just doing what leaders/Christians do, engage others. The individual (nameless) told him that he didn’t want to be his friend, and that he had no desire to talk to him at that moment. Interestingly, our executive pastor wasn’t looking for a friend, nor soliciting one. Just being kind. Awkward! We had a good laugh though, because it wasn’t our first experience with approaching awkward situations, and it definitely won’t be our last.

It appears the day of open hospitality (reaching out to others face-to-face) may be nearing an end. Well culturally, it probably has been for sometime. Did it start with central air in the home? Keeping people confined to the interior of their property. Or was it the removal of front porches replaced by backyard decks? Maybe it was the automatic garage door opener and closer? No more interaction with neighbors while getting out of your car to raise and lower the garage door. Throw technology into that, and not only has culture become more closed off, it has become socially awkward. It appears that authentic, face-to-face human interaction is becoming something of a forgone past?

But as Christians we have still been given a mandate. What is that? “To go, make disciples of Jesus Christ.” Sounds relational. Sounds intimidating. Sounds a bit awkward. Yet, Christ’s commands haven’t, won’t, will never go away until He comes back for His Church. So what can we begin to do to engage others in a socially awkward culture?

Here are a few tips I use regularly:

Tip #1: Pray. Ask God for a love filled mind. Without Christ’s love, I could care less if you were ever born. That’s candid, but true. “For God so loved the world, that he sent His ONE and only Son.” To do what? “Save” humanity from sin (anti-love). The greatest awkward moment in history was driven by absolute love. If that is true, that love must permeate your mind, before you embrace the awkward.

Tip#2: Practice. Public speaking for me was never natural. My first speech ended in classroom laughter because I gave my speech with my zipper down. After a little coaching and a lot of practice, I started feeling more comfortable speaking in front of people. The same is true when approaching complete strangers. You’ll have awkward moments, but don’t give up. Yes, love will be the catalyst, but by practicing approaching people, it will eventually result in kingdom wins.

Tip #3: Participate. If a complete stranger approaches me, seems interested in me, and doesn’t push himself/herself on me? I’m much more likely to participate in dialogue as I feel comfortable over time. In fact, I’m much more likely to accept an invitation to get coffee outside of church, or connect in some other way. But here’s the key: I’m looking for the person who approached me in the first place, to care enough to join me on the journey. That requires your participation, your involvement, and your caring enough to not let me do life alone.

Prayer will begin the relational journey. Practice will perfect it. Participation will solidify it. But you have to embrace the awkward first.

An Underused Leadership Practice

March 25, 2013 in Leadership with 0 Comments

Do you find yourself scrambling to meet deadlines? Do you often wonder why people aren’t moving to action? Is micro-management an unconscious reality (now conscious:), in your daily practice? Does there seem to be less cash and more projects to be completed? Do you feel a sense of burnout? Ever feel like your traveling alone on an endless leadership journey? Do you find yourself more irritable than invigorated in your pursuit of trying to advance your cause?

If any of the above questions strike a cord in your soul, it could be that you have underused an age old leadership practice that must be a non-negotiable for leaders to even come close to their God given potential. What is it?

DELEGATION.

It is passing down responsibility and in some cases authority to another person or persons to carry out specific activities.

Sounds easy enough, right? If it were easy, then everybody would be doing it. It’s not, that’s why I see it underused all the time. That is also why I work relentlessly to make sure I’m releasing work, projects, and implementation ideas to people that are not only smarter than me, but also better. It takes a secure leader to delegate.

Are you secure?

Here are a few questions to get you moving in the right direction. First: I ask daily and often: “What are a few things I am doing in my organization that no one else can do but me?” Second: “What am I doing in my organization that others can do, and should be doing, so that I can focus on the things that only I can do in my organization?”

Frame the above questions. Use post-its if you have to. Why? Without delegation, your leadership will be diminished, and the cause/purpose for which you are giving your life, will never, and I mean never, reach the potential for which God has placed you on the face of the earth.

You think your a highly productive leader already? Great! Now multiply that times… (you call it)? Delegate to Exponential-ate!!

Leaders And Clarity

March 18, 2013 in Leadership with 0 Comments

Have you ever jumped to conclusions? Have you ever been given partial information that just steamed your leadership engine, then you moved to act on that partial information, only to find out later you overreacted, and in some cases, acted wrongly? Why did that happen? Because you didn’t have all the information you needed. In other words, you needed clarity. Chances are you have done that? Welcome to humanness.

I see this played out everyday. A leader approaches somebody and makes a statement (based on partial information) that makes no sense at all to the receiver of the statement. Then a long, unnecessary dialogue begins, which wastes precious minutes, and hours in a leaders day. The presumptive dialogue occurred because the leader thought he had all the information. The leader was wrong, and misinformed. You with me? Ever have one of those unnecessary approaches, or vice-versa?

Try this next time you are given information from one person, about another person, that makes you want to jump out of your skin and choke out the offender; if the information is accurate. OK, maybe extreme, but if you have led anything significant, you know what I’m talking about. So what do you do? Seek clarity. Here is my definition of Clarity:”The clearest picture of the present circumstances, based upon complete and accurate information.” How does one arrive at clarity? Simple. By asking questions for clarity, and by approaching the person that you had been informed about. All I do at most levels is say, “Please give me clarity as it relates to this situation, or these circumstances.” In most cases, if I had reacted in anger (based on partial information), or overreacted presumptively, it would have created a an unnecessary tension that could have been easily diffused by one simple statement. “Could you give me clarity.” 98% of the time, once I’m informed, there has never been a major issue at all.

Leaders….let clarity become your friend. And in most cases, let it become a valuable asset to your future competency, and organizational advancement. Lead on!

What’s The Church To Do With That?

February 25, 2013 in Church, Culture, Mission, Relationships with 0 Comments

Call me a church rat. What is that? I grew up attending church (not a bad thing remotely), but spent way too much time at additional church gatherings that in my opinion were high time waster’s. That’s a church rat (always at church). Was that your experience as well?

Now….to be what I call a churched person, isn’t a bad thing. Yeah it is, if I think I’m somehow more superior than others, or think I have a greater in-road to God because of my attendance. It’s also bad if I’m highly judgmental, live intolerant, and ostracize myself from people seeking for answers in life.

Ahhhh…..ostracization. Why does it seem that once we attend church, then move into a personal relationship with God, that we stop rubbing shoulders, having conversations, hanging out with the unchurched? Why do we stop engaging the skeptics, those differing in opinions, possibly anti-God people?

What’s The Church To Do With That?

We want to equip, train, teach God’s word to the churched, but often at the expense of not reaching the unchurched.

What’s The Church To Do With That?

Church gatherings are great (sometimes), and hopefully inspiring people to continually engage in relationship with God and others? But…..the gatherings are usually geared to those of the same faith, and the more than likely convinced crowd. Is that bad? It is, if the church forgets the unchurched. Seems to be the pattern.

What’s The Church To Do With That?

Vision

February 15, 2013 in Vision with 0 Comments

So much has been written on vision. Here’s a little more……..!

What is vision? Something you and I cannot live without. I’m not talking physically through your eyes, because many people live that will never physically see with their eyes.

I’m talking internal vision. Vision for your life. Vision for your marriage. Vision for your children. Vision for your work. Vision for your health. Vision for your emotions. Vision for your money. Vision for your legacy. Vision for your mind, body, & soul. That’s a lot of stinking vision!!!

What you see internally is more often than not what you get externally. Not always identical, but pretty close. So what do you see inside? Ever looked? I pray that what’s happening outside will persuade you to take a look to see/vision what is really taking place inside.

The external is always a product of the internal. Is that really true? If so, then you better take some time out and find out if your internal vision is blurred or highly focused? Then, take a little more time to find out if your vision is focused on the right things. 97% of people never do this. Why? It’s hard. Be the 3%.

Over-Talkers & Leadership Meetings

November 16, 2012 in Church, Leadership with 0 Comments

I was recently in a meeting that carried high stakes for many people. If the meeting was successful, it would more than likely mean significant impact on current leaders of that culture, and future leaders of generations to come. Bottom line….the meeting mattered.

Minutes into the meeting (one I was not chairing), it was evident that there was a person who was going to dominate the time, conversation, and ultimately the direction of the meeting. Maybe in some cases that is necessary, but in this situation it was highly detrimental. We needed dialogue, key questions answered, a fresh vision, strategy, and ultimately movement towards execution. None of that occurred. Hey, even if one of the things above occurred, I might not have considered taking a walk off a short pier.

I walked away from that meeting (nearly 3 hours), and it made me want to scream at the top of my lungs, “What a waste of time!” Ever sat in a meeting like that? Ever sit in a meeting that really, really, mattered, only to have someone sabotage it by never shutting up?

What do you do?

Have a plan. An agenda. A well laid out direction for the meeting. Where does that come from? The leader of the meeting! No plan = No plan!!!
Lay the ground rules. The best meetings I have sat in have always had rules of engagement. If equality of conversation is a goal? State that. If time is an issue? Communicate that. If being positive is a high value? Clarify that. You lay your own ground rules. Leadership meetings/conversations without rules is like playing pick-up basketball. Anything usually goes.
Reel someone in. Like fishing, if you let the fish run too far with the line, it will take you longer to reel them in. You reel people in who are taking the agenda in the wrong direction. You reel people in who are dominating the conversation. You reel people in who are being way too negative. Sounds harsh? Losing your team, or losing your cause is much harsher than shutting an over talking person down, that is ultimately sabotaging your meeting.
Ask key questions. Not only ask key questions, but also ask them to different people (using their names) sitting around the table. This will take some advance prep, but if your meeting is worth it, you will come prepared to ask good questions to the right people.
Pull them aside after the meeting. Passivity never wins! If your cause, gathering, meeting, conversation is worth anything, you will take time to pull aside an over-talker, and ask them to back off, and give others opportunity to speak. Teachable people get it. Non-teachable people? Well, you probably don’t want them on your team anyway.

How have you led meetings where over-talkers tend to dominate? What has been your approach to refocusing the meeting? Do you find it easy to reel people in that get off topic?

Leaders Do Not Sin

August 4, 2012 in Christianity, Church, Ethics, Leadership, Life, Personal, Trust with 0 Comments

Or at least some would idealize that statement, and really believe that. Especially for Christian leaders, but hoped by culture for most who hold positions of significant influence. Not a reality though! What leader/s do not act upon, or at least in their heart, secretly sin? Sin = Disobedience to God.

Do you know of a leader that has never…been immoral, thought impure thoughts, had idols in their life, created strife, been jealous, displayed damaging anger, created dissensions, envied other people, lacked self-control, judged others? Maybe you think you never have, or at least not as regularly as those you have read about in the news? Welcome to the above crowd!

Washington Mutual, Enron, Ted Haggard, Eddie Long, Jerry Sandusky. A short list for-sure, but all orgs or people that failed miserably in leadership. They were exposed! Ultimately shut down, or removed from leadership capacities.

So what disqualifies a leader/s from leading? Is it sin? We all sin! Is it exposed sin? Then be a really good private sinner, and your OK! What is it? Is it long term same sins, otherwise known as habitual sins? Then if you want to remain in a position of influence/leadership, switch your sins regularly and you will be OK. Right? Is it secrecy of sins? No one knows, so it is all good. Is it when your sin only affects other people? Is it tiers of sin? You know, one sin is worse than the other.

Who has the right to lead if every leader is not only a sinner, but sins privately and in some cases publicly? Do you believe your child, spouse, boss, pastor, co-worker, politician, mother, father, friend, does not sin?

Is there a sinless leader? If all sin, what sin/s ultimately disqualify a leader? What is your disqualifying list?

Looking for answers in a world of continued leadership failures. Looking for answers in a world of leadership cynics.