July 6, 2009
In keeping with my comments on John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable laws here are my comments on Chapter 5.
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
by John Maxwell
Chapter Five
The Law of Addition
This law is all about others. It is about placing more value on someone else than us. The bible says in Eph. 6:8 basically “knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord”. It’s not about me it’s about whether I can impart what I have been given back into others.
From my earliest years I was taught to be strong, take what you can and claw your way to the top. Even team sports only talk about winning not on instilling good character traits like teamwork, integrity and fairness. The Sheriff’s Office philosophy is also based on that premise, do what you can do to get promoted.
I want to invest in others. I saw as a young Christian new to the faith one in whom a ministry call was evident what it was like for those in leadership to downplay or ignore my calling for their own promotion. Wasn’t it said in John 3:30 that we should decrease so He could increase?
So I must let others take preeminence so that they can be mentored or trained. It’s all about people. I am secure in knowing who I am in Christ. So I need to invest in those people by listening to them, valuing their opinions even when they differ from mine and watching how I say things. Words have more power than we realize. Death and life are the only results of the words we utter. They can never be retrieved. I will add value to others by being an encourager.
July 1, 2009
Chapter Four
The Law of Navigation
One of the lessons I learned while serving as a Deputy Sheriff was how to drive a car. It may seem strange but the point is that people don’t realize how much room it takes to turn a two ton piece of metal. As we drive these cars and try to maneuver them into tight places. I can see the correlation between it and ministry. Any trained monkey (or staff member!), can keep a vehicle heading in a straight line. However we need to keep a clear head when we hit a speed bump. One good bump and it could knock you way off. The same is true when we are leading a team. A good leader not only stays on course but will overcome the daily pitfalls that can cause a variance. I believe as a leader we should plan, not based on fear, but on some possibly unforeseen issues. That way we can adjust by being prepared.
How do we get prepared? I kind of thought I would remember it by thinking of the letters L.L.L. Look, listen and lead. Look, listen and lead. Look at the situation or the course in depth before making any decisions. Listen to what others have to have to say about it before proceeding but remembering that as a leader we are responsible ultimately. Lead based on faith and fact. Not just on one but both will have to go hand in hand in order for effective leading.
We live in an unstable world where we may not even know where we will be living on a daily basis. The people we lead will find security knowing that we know where we are going and how we are going to get there.
June 22, 2009
I watched a movie recently with my wife. I know I know but it was funny. In the movie a group of women were sitting around talking. One said we should not gossip and another one said we aren’t gossiping it’s news!
The point I am trying to make here is this; what are you talking about?
Are you talking to hear yourself talk?
Are you listening so you can have information?
Either way let these scriptures make you think out of Proverbs 6:11-13
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,
13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,
points with his finger,
Speak words of life. Words that will spark faith. Not words that point fingers.
That’s how I see it.
Caio
June 22, 2009
Chapter Three
The Law of the Process
There is an old saying that goes like this, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. So it appears that in each of our individual paths to great leadership it plays out that it too will not be built in a day.
My development as a leader has to be set up as a marathon not a sprint. Slow and steady input or impartation is what will jumpstart and sustain the process. Again it rises and falls on discipline. Do I want to take the time that is necessary to become the leader that I am called to be? I have to day by day put to rest attitudes and habits that are not productive so I can learn daily those attributes that will propel me forward to the next level.
Being a student of leadership and other venues that are within my calling is paramount to my individual success. In the process I need a workable plan and I need to work that plan daily.
As a professional athlete knows, practice makes perfect. It can be no less in my quest to be a good leader. Part of my process is to understand that I am called to be a leader. Then to know that just because you have a title doesn’t qualify you to lead. It isn’t the same thing. When the pressure is on what I have deposited will come out. So much so that it will become second nature. As a good leader I must start slow, eating the elephant one bite at a time; prepare daily, reflecting on my own successes and failures and gleaning insights for growth; and I need to create an organic culture around me to facilitate growth in others. The key word here is daily not just some random afterthought.
June 2, 2009
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
John Maxwell
Chapter Two
The Law of Influence
Obviously the first point I wanted to address in this chapter on the Law of Influence is this. “The true measure of leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”
In order for me to apply this law to my own life and leadership I have to come to grips with a couple of terms. One, leadership is defined as the capacity to lead while, two, influence is defined as the ability to get people to do something without force or coercion. I have to work on this one as I believe I am a capable “manager” but a fair leader. I always associated myself with the “management myth”. That is why I am positioning myself to learn, not on a random level, but as a lifelong process. My current mindsets need to be readjusted to my actually “knowing your role’”. Knowing who you are and what you are doing. Why would that be important? Because certain people will have differing job descriptions but will also carry differing levels of influence. For example in my role at Journey as executive pastor my role is to maintain the administrative function of the church. The role doesn’t stop there. It is much broader than that alone. I still need to be able to a higher degree influence those around me in those various ministries. That is accomplished by being able to speak into those lives relationally first. It is next to impossible to influence others without some type of relationship trail. That way as I would naturally progress I would be able to assist those others in their own leadership process. It’s almost like the “Circle of Life” analogy from the “Lion King”.
Leaders will beget leaders if I personally will learn properly how to lead. Influence will determine how far I will go and who will go with me. My goal is to exhibit influence so I can model to others, “this is the way walk in it.” Not by myself but as one facet of a team.
June 1, 2009
I wish I would not say this but………………
if you did not go you missed a great time of repentance and refreshing.
Several men testified on Sunday morning and even someone’s wife told me she already saw a difference in her husband.
Yesterday we had “church”. I mean a God raining down, filling and saturating service. People weeping and encouraged. The whole congregation responded during the altar call.
I really believe we have now turned the page. A new chapter in the journey is starting now.
I can’t wait!
Caio
May 23, 2009
Here is my summation of this first law as it applies to me. Anyone reading this may not agree but that’s okay I wrote it first for me
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
by John Maxwell
Chapter One
The Law of the Lid
As we begin this quest to broaden our leadership concepts, I wanted to share that I never gave the ins and outs of leadership a second thought. This first law has given me an opportunity to focus on who I am as a person and leader. As it applies to me, “The Law of the Lid”, has helped me see that I have not always been as effective as I should have been.
I just retired from a career that taught me that being forceful and confident would always help me out of any jam. The supervisors or leaders above me were always the brunt of ridicule for the way “they played the game”. Prior to that I worked in management in a position that did not emphasize effectiveness as a profound leadership trait. So in applying the law of the lid in my life will first require me to understand this fact first, for better or worse my own leadership ability will determine how effective I am as a leader.
In order to do that I need to assess accurately and truthfully where that level is. There have been opportunities for me to raise my lid. One of the ways I see how that applies is in how I have accepted those opportunities. Have I always been successful? No, however I still am idealistic enough to believe that you fail right off the bat by never attempting anything. I have also applied this law by looking for others around me to challenge them also. By extending the challenge it forces me to be one step ahead to anticipate what objections may arise and to suppress my own fears in verbalizing a response. I have been learning as is applicable to this law that we all will face challenges and obstacles in our way. Leaders need to lead that is what they do. As leaders we can’t, I can’t wait around to see what happens. I need to do something, take action by not letting those challenges and opportunities slide by. We have always talked about free will and choosing, it also applies here when implementing and understanding the law of the lid. We choose to want to grow and change. Just like we choose to hold back and remain the same. I decide if I choose the latter to accept responsibility by letting it hold me back or force me to modify. A slight variation of a plan can ultimately change the outcome.
To sum up my position I have started to see that I need to raise my level of effectiveness thereby raising the lid. Here are some action steps I hope to implement that may be able to help achieve that result. I need to take time to build relationships with those around me. Paying attention to details by being an active listener. Being an effective leader will cost me something. However the cost will be a shadow in the light of what I will receive in return.
May 18, 2009
I finished reading Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll . All of you need to read it.
Thought provoking and it will give you some clearer insight into what we as a church are doing and heading.
If not…….phasers taken off stun!
May 18, 2009
This week we are implementing some changes at Journey Church. After much prayer and discussion these changes are for the better.
We will be going to one service starting this Sunday May 24th. The service time will be at 10:30AM. It will be so awesome to see all of our people back together again in the one service.
So with that said PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be on time. If not you may be standing in the foyer or sitting on a metal chair.
This week will be special too as we will have a water baptism, renewal of wedding vows and did I mention some food?
If you have a desire to be baptized please let me know as soon as possible.
Okay I am done for now. I am beaming into the kitchen to nuke breakfast for my wife. (Sorry I saw Star Trek with some of the men folk last night!)
Great movie by the way.
All for now.
Aye Captain I’ve given her all I got!
Se ya soon. Watch for my thoughts on John Maxwells’ book this week.
Caio.
May 11, 2009
NOT!
Okay I am telling my age again. The last couple of weeks have been amazing. We have churned out many small details in the ministry here at Journey that not many people see.
We are so close to the Pre-School opening I can really see it. I have been interviewing our new staff members and they are excited as well.
New people coming into Journey to visit and our people always rise to welcome them with open arms.
What a ride!
I think I am going to publish her on my blog my thoughts on John Maxwell’s book “The 21 Laws of Irrefutable Leadership”. Still thinking about it so check back often.
Lastly we are planning a Men’s Retreat on May 29-30 at Cedarkirk Camp in Lithia. It is going to be a very challenging time. Journey Men if you have not signed up…JUST DO IT!.
See you soon.
Caio
