The Lift Project: Leading for Results: Embracing Negative Results

Leaders know to dream great dreams. But what happens when the dream turns into a nightmare? Do you go to denial or do you learn life lessons to move forward?

Week 5 of the Leading for Results class with the  LIFT project looks at Embracing Negative Results. In other words would do leaders who are optimistic by nature do with negative results. According to Dr. Henry Cloud, the best leaders embrace those results, they hug them. They fight the natural tendency of fight or flight and learn to flow.

Part of working through the class each week features on line videos and assessments as well as reading from Henry’s book, Integrity. As one who loves quotes some of the best lessons I picked up this week were quotes highlighted from Chapter 10: eating problems for breakfast.

“No problems, no profit.”

“Profit comes as a result of facing problems, so doing it is seen as a good thing, not a negative thing.”

“The only way out is through.”

“Blame is the parking brake for improvement.”

“You and I versus the problem.”

“Let the bad stuff go.”

“hard, easy versus easy, hard’

This week provided a good reminder that leaders deal with problems. It’s one reason why we are called to lead. Wise leaders embrace reality and leverage problem solving to learn from negative results, willing to take the hard road (perhaps the least traveled road of all) to the path where God leads.

The Lift Project: Leading for Results: Character Traits

What does character have to do with results? Turns out according to Henry Cloud, “A lot!” Not just those character traits of hard work, commitment and courage. But just as important (perhaps even more so), those character traits that Peter lays out in 2 Peter 1:5-8, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Put those traits all together in your life combined with knowledge of Christ and His work, you are on the path to fruitfulness.

In the Lift Project: Leading for Results class I am learning there is a balance between monitoring numbers (in church world numbers often equal people) and the growth of one’s character, my character. When numbers start tracking down, something needs to be addressed. But with character something always needs to be grown and developed. Results come from more than hard work, even more than smart work. Eternal results, lasting results, comes from the Spirit’s work within us.

In the 4th week of our online  class were  2 videos to watch and other  online resources that provide some great questions to ponder:

Does the way I am glued together get in my way?

Do I have the make up to make the hard call?

What about the ability to guard the vision?

How result oriented am I? How do I measure those?

Then came the video on pruning. The challenge to make that hard call to let go of some stuff (even good stuff) to focus on the best. This is not just one area of leadership, but in dealing with strategy, meetings, policy, and time with people.

One leadership saying is that when the horse is dead, it’s time to dismount. But what about when the horse is alive though perhaps slowing down? Do I know when to move on to a new horse?

In reading chapter 9 this week from Integrity, I loved how Henry laid out the well known sequence: Ready. Aim. Fire. That makes sense.

Then why the temptation to always focus on ready, or to be more willing to simply fire instead of first aiming? Often the answer is Character.

Results are part of leadership, but character builds a strong leadership core especially with Jesus Christ at the center and the Holy Spirit’s work in one’s life.

The Lift Project: Leading for Results: Know the Reality

Max de Pree noted, “The first job of a leader is to define reality.” Knowing the reality and overcoming resistance to see reality made week 3  of Leading for Results from the Lift Project such a vital class.

Extra special this week was the virtual classroom aspect where we as a class engage online with the video we are watching. Having an extra pair of eyes helps pick up nuances of the lessons learned in the 2 videos we watched.

Video 1: Know the Reality

Henry Cloud pointed out that great leaders have clear eyes to see reality, and even more hunger, thirst, seek until they find reality. He then laid out the principle of Assimilation-Accommodation.

Assimilation — Take in new information to see the new reality.

Accommodation — New information shifts your view to see the new reality.

Such an approach calls for leaders to be learning and not rigid in their leadership.

Video 2: Problems in Being Resistant to See Reality or Do You Have the 6 Sources of Truth Speaking in Your Life

Just because one sees a new reality doesn’t mean one is open to a new reality. We tend to like the status quo. Even more our perspective of reality is often skewed by own perspective. That’s why I appreciated Henry Cloud’s emphasis on 6 Sources of Truth

1. God’s Word — Great source of truth directly from God.

2. Direct Relationship with God — When we ask God to show us reality and truth, He loves to answer that prayer and teach us along life’s path.

3. Study External Truth — Read books, look at surveys for input and other outside sources.

4. Look for Internal Truth inside Me — Reflection and keeping a journal have proved beneficial in my life in this area.

5. Other People — Great mentor sand those who have faced the same issues and challenges in the new reality can be great guides along the path of truth.

6. Play the Video — That’s Henry Cloud speak for look at what happened as you dealt/deal with the new reality. Did you meet goals? What “fruit” happened in your response?

The emphasis to use not only one but all six areas was a good reminder to seek God’s direction and to expand hearing His voice beyond my own ears and what I may want to hear Him say, but to realize how God can speak to me in the lives and thoughts of others to provide greater clarity.

Another great week for our Leading for Results online class. What are your go to sources for discovering and defining reality in our world today?

The Lift Project: Leading for Results: Building and Maintaining Trust

“As trust goes up, speed goes up, and costs go down.”

“Leaders are great at building trust (to come on board). But once the time line gets going, can trust be maintained?”

Those 2 quotes from Henry Cloud from my notes for week 2 of the LIFT online class, Leading for Results have left me wrestling this week with the issue of building and maintaining trust.

Here’s one more: “People trust us to the degree we understand them.”

The challenge is leader’s fall into the trap thinking once they have spoken, people automatically understand. Even worse is the danger of when people speak and lay out their lives, we invalidate their concerns. We either deny or minimize or quickly dismiss what they say. Trust at that point doesn’t merely leak out of the relationship it quickly runs to empty. The best lesson I have learned in my leadership is to listen more, speak less. Ask more questions, less leading off with my answers.

The goal in leadership relationship is to get in the loop that Henry describes as “We understand people when they understand we understand them.”

The emphasis on understanding led me back to Stephen Covey’s communication principle, “Think first to understand then to be understood.”

When I try to short circuit that process, thinking that I am streamlining my time, I am headed down the road of invalidation. The quicker path is to build trust up. Relationship investment is not only about work and ministry, but also about personal growth, family and every day life helps me to understand.

What I love about team leadership with high levels of trust is we can speak the truth into each other’s lives. We don’t always agree, but we have learned to leverage our conversations by listening and understanding. My option A, their option B, many times has led to a greater option C than any of us had thought of in the first place. That flows out of a level of trust we have built over the years and a common love for the God who saved us, the church we serve and the path we have traveled together.

What are some trust builders in your relationships? What are some trust breakers?

The Lift Project: Leading for Results: Entering the Middle Space

Though character is often defined as the moral or ethics practiced by an individual, Dr. Henry Cloud suggests character is “the ability to meet the demands of reality.” So began my first week of Leading for Results, the LIFT online course I am taking this Spring.

Dr. Henry Cloud is our teacher and his book Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality is our coursebook. This week featured the 1st 3 chapters of the book and a 16 minute video of Henry inviting to enter what he calls “the middle space”.

The image he used that stuck out for me this week was that of a boast taht leaves a wake as it zooms  over the water. There are 2 sides to every wake, and for leaders those 2 sides are: the task side and the relationship side. A good wake produces good results and a positive response for the people involved. The challenge is leaving a good wake that builds on task and relationship.

Most people focus on one or the other. Lean too heavily into the task side, and you get the job done but leave relational carnage along the way. Or, get everybody to love you but nothing accomplished, you can all wait together in the unemployment line.

Most resources focus on task or relationship. Henry introduced the concept of entering the middle space. The space between both sides of the wake, that part of leadership between task and relationship. In the middle space, there is an opportunity for great leverage and growth.

In the next 6 weeks we will be taking a closer look at the traits of people who leave a good wake in their leadership waters. That’s what I desire to do, and am eager for what the weeks ahead hold. You can sign up here.

I look forward to sharing what I learn along the way. What are you learning about balancing the task side and relationship side of your leadership? How is life going in the middle space?

Soul Food for Friday: Quotes to LIFT Your Leadership

The Leader’s Soul. Shaping Culture. Leading for Transformation. 3 titles of LIFT online courses I have taken in the last year. 3 courses that have focused my leadership, lifted my spirits, and equipped me to be a better leader.

Since I am starting a new LIFT online course  on April 8th, Leading for Results, it seemed like the perfect time to review some great quotes, questions and ideas from the previous 3 LIFT courses to feed our souls on this week’s Soul Food for Friday.

A journal is “being honest with God about what is current in your life in writing.” – Mindy Caliguire

“Speed of the team, speed of the leader.” – Bill Hybels

4 questions to check to see if I’m living out of simplicity or duplicity:

1. Do I feel overwhelmed by options?

2. Do I feel burdened by impossible demands?

3. Do I buy more then I can afford?

4. Do I frequently desire to be more than I am? – Mindy Caliguire

“Are you a quarterback who makes plays or a coach who makes players?” – Shaping Culture, LIFT

“Leaders often focus on vision, not realizing that the shared values of an organization are what motivates people and drives their behavior. Values that are not shared by the team or demonstrated by the leader will not bring the driving factors behind the culture.” — Mac Lake

“The work of love is a sacred work like prayer and reading the Bible.” – Peter Scazzero

“Leadership is the most difficult place in loving relationships.” – Peter Scazzero

“Our first priority is to build people, not a program.” – Lance Witt

1) Are the people on your team better Christ followers because of your leadership?

2) Are those you lead better Christians because they’ve been hanging around you and your ministry? — Lance Witt

“If you cannot say, ‘Follow me,’ to your followers — and mean it — then you’ve got a problem. A big one.”  – Bill Hybels

Vision fire is “at the center of care for the heart is love for God … The love God, and only the love of God, secures the vision of God: keeps God constantly before our mind.” – Dallas Willard

“As leaders we can’t afford to drift with the current. We have to intentionally direct it, so that we can accomplish the bigger vision to which we are called.”  – Michael Hyatt

Dan Meyer laid out this acronym for Strategy:

Sight for the pathway.

Training for the Spirit

Equipment for life

Partners for the journey.

“You sow what you can do, but watch what God can do, He’ll blow your mind.” — Harvey Carey

“The best thing you bring to the table is a filled bucket.” – Bill Hybels

“The one unique role of leadership is to manage culture. When an organization’s culture is dysfunctional or maladaptive, it is the responsibility of the leader to break that culture and replace it with a new one.” – Edgar Schien

“If we focus on the how, the what has a much better chance of being accomplished.” – Mindy Caliguire

“Build a commuity, not just a team.” – Mindy Caliguire

“We experience God most powerfully when we need Him most desperately.” – Gary Haugen

“What does it mean to be an effective, biblical leader in a local congregation?” — Michael Bonem

“Stay the course. Kingdom of God is a mustard seed. Lives transformed is what matters most.” — Peter Scazzero

And starting April 8th, some great lessons ahead to learn from Leading for Results with Dr. Henry Cloud!

Everyone Needs a LIFT

Back in the Spring of last year I stared a year long adventure of leadership and learning called the LIFT project. In the 3 classes I have taken so far, I have not only grown in my leadership capacity but even more importantly in a closer walk with God. (FYI — greatest way to grow in leadership capacity is to grow in your walk with God!)

Here’s a posting form the Willow Creek Association blog about the next round of LIFT classes. I strongly encourage you to sing up today and let the learning begin. I started with the Leader’s Soul or if you want a taste of multiple classes take Leading for Transformation. Check out Willow’s blog post on the LIFT proejct …

Everyone Needs a LIFT by WCAblog on 1/22/2013 1:22:47 PM

In a fast-paced, ever-changing world, most leaders find it difficult to make time or set aside budget for traditional leadership development programs or resources. Many leaders have expressed to us their sense of being overwhelmed, isolated, and even burnt out. They seek renewal and growth, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a program that works with them.

Why LIFT?
LIFT online courses are designed to renew and refresh the souls of ministry leaders through practical leadership development that is accessible and affordable way. It is a guided learning experience designed to inspire innovative thinking and inspired living.Proven Thought Leadership
World-class speakers and thought leaders facilitate inclusive lessons that are conveniently scheduled online and require less than two hours of the participant’s time per week. Course contents are thoughtfully developed through collaboration among pastors, veteran leaders, and teachers with unique insights into their respective topics. The assignments are then delivered with practicality in mind; it is essential that all learning experiences are relevant and applicable in the context of participants’ community and culture. After all, LIFT materials are more than information—it is application.

Much More Than A Class
Engaging in weekly discussions with ministry leaders around the world enhances the learning experience through deep connections and intentional engagement with a community of learners who desire to foster growth and new relationships. When leaders are strengthened, their influence is sure to permeate throughout their church communities, promoting a thriving culture. Our facilitators provide on-going guidance and support throughout the course to maximize the learning experience.

Everyone Needs A LIFT!

 

Check out the classes they offer at: www.willowcreek.com/LIFT

It will change your life and your leadership, it sure did for me!

The Lift Project: Leading for Transformation: The Next 90 Days

As much as I have loved the 7 weeks of my  Leading for Transformation class of the  Lift Project, in many ways the most important part is the next 90 days. As great as it is to learn new principles, even better to learn to apply and live out those principles. The final project for the class is laying out what are my next steps for the next 90 days, and to truly leverage the experience I am thinking day 91 and beyond.

In choosing between the leader’s soul, shaping culture, or developing strategy. I chose to focus on shaping culture. In the spring I took the class on the leader’s soul, and that  helped me to develop those day 91 and beyond habits of  reflecting through a journal, pursuing a life of simplicity, and my favorite of all (though I’m still learning this one) living on Godspeed.

When the new year begins, there will be an opportunity to dig a little deeper into the strategy part of leading for transformation. And though this summer I took a class on shaping culture, I discovered it wasn’t the best time to process what I was learning with my fellow leaders at my church.

The image I took away from shaping culture part of  the class this fall came from Dr. Henry Cloud who compared it to cultivating a garden. In some ways this class has provided a closer look at the condition of the soil, and some initial prep work before the planting begins. In the next 90 days, there will be some seeds that are planted for further growth. 4 in particular will guide my path the next 90 days.

1. Define a Culture of Transformation. Our administrative staff is planning a retreat to work through Mindy Caliguire’s great book, Become like Jesus. Having read it after the Global Leadership Summit, I know that it does a great job on focusing on transformation. Our time away will drill deeper into the questions that are asked and the culture we have as well as the one we believe God seeks to harvest.

2. Clarify the Framework from which I lead. Our lay leadership group is looking at our guiding principles later this month. These boundary principles describe not only our mission,but also our culture and  the rules I am called to follow in leading the church. As we have pursued this new model of governance the past 5 years, these principles provide the boundary rules for ministry and even more the freedom to serve and to lead on the playing field of ministry. Part of building culture is clarifying what is allowed and what is not allowed.

3. Build Greater Awareness of the Guidance of the Holy Spirit in Shaping our Culture. Our administrative staff has also been working through Ruth Haley Barton’s book, Pursuing God’s Will Together. We have not only read the book, we are applying the principles of prayer. This has been a great tool to help build a prayer culture as Gary Haugen shared in the class on International Justice Mission (IJM). Prayer has become more than just what we do at the beginning of the meeting or to wrap it up at the end. Prayer is what we do as we meet, what we pursue as we talk action steps, and what we do outside of the meeting in our own spiritual practices as well as seeking to hear the Spirit’s promptings as we meet. How much more exciting meetings have become as we meet realizing the Holy Spirit is with us and working through us. In the next 90 days and beyond, we will continue on that journey together.

4. Answer the Questions that Describe our Culture.The need to do so was affirmed in the class, and for me had been hinted at in reading Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Advantage and having our team hear him speak at the Global Leadership Summit in August. As our leaders heard Patrick, I knew one take away from the Summit would be to answer those 6 questions. Building on his book and presentation as well as this Lift class, the next 90 days call for putting pen to paper to answer the 6 questions. What are the 6?

1) Why do we exist? Think core purpose as in Jim Collins, Built to Last

2) How do we behave? Core values that are not the generic one size fits all, but the one size that fits us as in the start up company that identified “willing to sweep floors” as one of its core values. Answers to this question also addressed aspirational, accidental and permission-to-play values.

3) What do we do?This should be the easiest to answer, and should be clear and straight forward.

4) How will we succeed? Strategy is involved here, but Lencioni goes deeper speaking of “Strategic Anchors” (3 strategies that provide the context for all decision making).

5) What is most important right now? Answering this one has the most immediate impact. What is the thematic goal? What is the rallying cry that defines the next 3-6 months of focus?

6) Who must do what? Clarity for division of labor and the advantage of teams that bring multiple perspectives to accomplish the thematic goal.

What I like about these 4 steps in the next 90 days is how they weave together to define, clarify, build and describe the culture of transformation God is building in our church, in our leadership and best of all in each of us. What a great time to be leading!

As you look at your leadership culture, what are some next steps you are pursuing for further growth?

The Lift Project: Leading for Transformation: What is Your Next Step

One of my favorite aspects of Lift Project classes is the drive to practical application. More than theory, the Lift Project classes I have taken guide me to application of lessons learned. One can pick up theory on the fly, but day to day operation, and even more daily transformation, that takes practical nuts and bolts application.

Though Lift Project classes paint a picture of what can be, even better they provide a path on how to get there. That’s why week 7 of Leading for Transformation calls participants to focus on what is your next step. When I was in school, once you finished the final exam, you were done with the learning and ready to move on to something new. With  Leading for Transformation, the end of the class calls for a plan for what will you do for the next 90 days to  apply the truths you have learned. This week that led to a series of videos.

Video 1: Change a Church, Change a Community

Mindy Caliguire interviewed Abby Vostad. Abby had developed a MBA project that sought to answer this question: “What are the social and economic impact thriving churches have on community over time?” 

Using the Reveal survey data and looking at the top churches in spiritual growth then correlating that with census and community data on a local county and then in comparison with national data, Abby discovered thriving churches make an impact. As these churches moved out of their comfort zone and into service in their community, the community impact was decreasing percentages in violent crime, in divorce, and a raise in educational impact as well as a slew of other statistics. Turns out Bill Hybels axiom is right: Change a Leader -> Change a Church -> Change a Community.

Video 2: Mindy Caliguire Interviews Pete Scazzero

This 4 part video was part of the virtual classroom. Watching this interview spread out of 4 parts with others engaging provides a great place for reflection and growth. After each part discussion questions are provided for the group to discuss. I have discovered this helps me process the content, and to let me see insights from other viewpoints.

Part I: Focus on 1 area of growth. Remember the “mustard seed” concept

Pete reminded us of Jesus parable of the mustard, it starts small, growth at times may appear slow, but God is at work doing a great work.

In our discussion time we looked at some of the fears that get us off track in pursuing a transformed life and just as vital a transformed congregation. As we discussed how to get other leaders and the congregation desiring a life of transformation, we affirmed a transformed life is the best invitation to another to pursue a life of transformation.

Part II: A Plan for Transformation Affirms You are Always Developing Yourself

As a lifelong learner, this was music to my soul. The goal, however, is not learning nor growth for their own sake, but to become more like Jesus, to draw closer to Him.

We then looked at 2 circles, one’s circle of influence and one’s circle of concern. Influence gives me direct input, concern means I am not the one directly responsible, but my heart is pushing me to work towards transformation in this area.

My circle of influence is the church I serve, it’s a bit easier from input in the class, that I’m a senior pastor. It’s even a bit more easier because of other staff and lay leaders who have a passion for dynamic discipleship development. My circle of concern turns out is influencing my denomination, getting beyond what has been to what perhaps God is calling us to be.

Part III: Gift of Limits

Yes, that’s not a typo — the “gift of limits”. God gives limits as a gift. At times this is for further growth. Will I trust Him with this limit, this ceiling, that He will provide what is needed.

Sometimes the gift of limits is a character issue/challenge to growth through.

One example of the gift of limits is if your church commits to transformation, it will bring limits in other areas. A church cannot be all things to all people.

Throughout the gift of limits, there is a reliance on prayer. The gift of limits is also an issue of faithfulness. Can I be faithful in a little before God calls me to be faithful in much?

I had never heard anyone use that phrase, “Gift of Limits” before Pete used it. Turns out it was my favorite part of the class.

Part 4: Next 90 Day Project

Our assignment now is to lay out life after the class, my focus will be on the issue of transforming culture, even more developing a culture of transformation. Check back next week to find out how that worked out.

Pete’s closing words of advice are great words for those who serve in ministry, “Stay the course. Kingdom of God is a mustard seed. Lives transformed is what matters most.” Amen!

So what next steps is God calling you to step out in faith? Where are you seeing the “gift of limits” at work in your life?

The Lift Project: Leading for Transformation: Leveraging the Gathering … and the Other Six Days

Worship as a springboard for people living their faith the rest of the week is the key idea I take away from week 6 of the Lift Project, Leading for Transformation class. The idea that in worship we not only gather, but we train for transformation. Build in worship practices not only for the worship hour, but the worship life.

The goal of this week’s class is to “share ideas about how to leverage the gathering for spiritual transformation.” The class also looked how to promote transformation in the lives of people throughout the week. This is one of those “duh” concepts. Worship is a gathering of a community of faith. Most churches get that. The emphasis to use this as training time to not only follow along in a bulletin or in a liturgical process, but to leverage this time to help people experience God throughout their daily lives filled this week’s class  with high value. 4 videos and 2 articles re-enforced this understanding.

Video 1: Bill Hybels on the Gathering

In this brief 2 minute clip, Bill raised the stakes in worship to go beyond the idea of experiencing the presence of God on your own, to what it might look like to experience God together as group. What might be different? What might be the same? How can personal and corporate experiences of God re-enforce each other?

Video 2: Aarnon Niequist interviewed by Mindy Caliguire

Here’s why the idea of worship as a springboard to impact experiencing God the other 6 days came from. Parts of the worship service are not solely for warm up to the weekly message, but part of the process of providing “a spiritual catalytic experience.”

Such experiences require space in the worship service to enter into solitude, to not just sing the lyrics of a song, but to engage them. It’s one thing to sing, “Heal my heart and make it clean”. It’s even more powerful to take a break with those lyrics to come before God for forgiveness, to seek God’s healing process in solitude as community, and then to sing those lyrics once again.

I also liked the idea of working testimonies in that tie into the lyrics being lived out in the flesh. I thought of the song, “I don’t want to go through the motions” and how powerful it might be in the midst of that song to pause and have someone talk about the transformation such a change in life of going through the motions to making an impact has been. The re-enforcement of such powerful lyrics with a powerful testimony is a great way to leverage both in worship.

Article 1: Reflections on the Gathering

Working through various Scripture passages, questions to engage those verses, and time for reflection provided some clarity in viewing the transformation possibilities in weekly worship. One of the Scripture passages I worked through was Nehemiah 8. I noticed not only the reading and teaching of the Law, but this time around noticed the body movements of the people — standing, bowing, hands raised, and perhaps my favorite of all the priest commanding the people to rejoice and feast. Worship is not meant to be a passive participation, but an active transformation as one gathers and in the case of Nehemiah 8 as one lives out such faith through out the week.

Video 3: Corinne Gunter interviewed by Mindy Caliguire

Corinne built on the power of drilling down on one spiritual habit, not simply a crash course on five. I liked her idea of not only the focus of developing one, but providing a framework for such a focus and building in experiences in worship, in groups, and as an individual during the week to live out such habits.

At Christ Lutheran, we have been doing this with engaging God’s Word in our 40 Days in the Word emphasis. In worship, in small groups, and in developing daily habits, we are looking at drilling down on this practice of how do I engage God’s Word in a devotional way? In a way that emphasizes application and prayer?

Corinne for me affirmed the value of not only a worship emphasis, but laying out next step experiences. I especially found valuable time built in her group to come back and reflect on the previous week’s experiences. The power of people telling stories of transformation as they live out these habits is a great motivator for people to engage.

Article 2: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath

This brief article provided a glimpse of how Corinne has put the habit of Sabbath in a framework to be learned and experienced, and even better applied and lived.

Video 4: Spiritual Formation in Groups by Mindy Caliguire

In this quick 5 minute video, Mindy looked at the role of spiritual formation in small groups and the dynamic of interpersonal relationships. Spiritual formation is often seen as an individual activity. The other class materials had primarily focused on the weekend gathering, Mindy drilled down on the power of experiencing God’s presence in each other and learning to leverage that for mutual growth.

There was a lot to cover this week, even better a lot to chew on. The image of springboard for worship will stick with me, I’m ready to jump in!

How about you how do you leverage weekend worship for daily growth with others and on your own?