Leaders: Born or Made?

A recent television reality show featured three chefs in a competition. They received the same list of ingredients and were to prepare several courses. Each chef had the same amount of time and could use only the ingredients on the list.  When the gourmet meals were finished, a panel of judges picked the winner. This is a good example of what happens during leadership development. Given the same individual, different mentors develop leaders differently; and, of course, leaders respond to each mentoree differently.  There are several implications here. Leaders should have multiple people developing them. Not only should we develop the leaders under us, but we should encourage them to seek outside mentors who can also develop their ingredients.

People often say, "He is a born leader." I respectfully disagree. Leaders aren't born; they're made, like bread is made. Leadership development is an intentional activity. Raisin bread doesn't appear by itself even if we leave the ingredients on the kitchen counter overnight. Someone must consciously take ingredients and knead them together, put the mixture under the right amount of heat and allow it to rise, then punch it down and start over again until the dough is the perfect consistency. Only then will it rise above the pan. Helping a leader rise takes this same kind of intentional activity.

One reporter wrote:
I believe everyone has the ingredients needed to be a leader. We are leaders at different times and places. Dad might be a manager in an office. The people who work for him acknowledge that he is a leader. But Mom is also a leader. She leads a Cub Scout troop, she leads the family in getting chores done, and every morning she leads the kids to school. But Junior could be a leader too. Maybe he is the academic pacesetter of the fourth grade or is the captain of the dodgeball team at recess. Even the dog can lead with his bark when a stranger comes to the front door. So if everyone is capable of being a leader, how do we explain the difference in ability between leaders? If we could measure people on a leadership scale of one to ten, some people will only rise to a level three while others will rise to a ten. The ingredients are there, but they never seem to come together to their full potential. That's where we come in. With the proper training, dogs are taught to lead blind people through busy streets. What can our leaders accomplish if we invest time in developing them?

How to Overcome Complacency....

Complacency is overcome by change, however in order to have change you must first overcome complacency. This is the chicken and egg problem, which comes first. Change begins with a single powerful person, spreads from him or her to a few others through examples, produces some group benefit, and then spreads still more widely. In order to bring about change you must have a plan or a program. In order to have a successful program you must have change and the change or involvement of people in the change will reduce complacency. The more programs, the more change and less complacency.

The problem to overcome with programs is how to keep them moving ahead and produce positive results. I have been reading Leading Change by John P. Kotter, It's Your Ship by Captain D. Micheal Abrashoff and now the 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch in order to learn how to overcome this problem of complacency. Leading Change explains why and how, It's Your Ship will give you the management techniques to use and the 80/20 Principle helps you direct your resources for the best results.

The Plan:

Over the next year we will be developing a program with a team from our Church that will launch in 6 months a new program called The Development Hour, Christians in High Places. With the goal to offer practical Christian solutions to our world around us. Businesses are looking for leaders who can take them through the changes required to survive in the twenty-first-century, and what better way to spread the message of Jesus than to give them strong Christians equipped to do the job right.

The Method:

We plan to tap the resources of our seniors for the experiences of how to overcome the mistakes of the past and teach the skills of Leading Change in the future.
*To create a Guiding Coalition made up of leaders in the Church and seniors willing to accept the challenge, to guide the program and make suggestions for improvements.
*To train teachers for Sunday school classes of all ages.
*Offer classes in finance and stewardship.
*Conduct classes on Leadership for the twenty-first-century.
*Conduct classes on Management techniques from examples given in the
book It's Your Ship.
*Have counseling sessions on gifts and how to put them to work.
*During 2007 develop a list of classes to be offered and class outlines, review and improve each class on an ongoing basis.

The Benefit:

More people involved in the ministry.
**Less complacency in the Church.
**Growth in our Sunday school and Church through involvement with the community.
**Enabling our young people to enter the work place with the tools needed to succeed in a Christian manor.
**Identifying our gifts and how to use them.
**Having a strong team in the Guiding Coalition that can review the process keep us on track.

The ultimate Goal, overcoming complacency

In order to ultimately overcome complacency, the program must rack up short term wins. These must be planned for in the Guiding Coalition team and celebrated at regular intervals.
New programs have to be started in no less than eighteen months to overlap the existing programs in order to keep the changes moving forward. The more programs that are ongoing at the same time the greater the result of reducing complacency.
Apply the 80/20 principle to the programs, 20 percent of the effort will produce 80 percent of the result. So work on improvement with the first 20 percent for compound results. A small improvement in the best 20 percent will result in the largest result.
Look at the example that Jesus gave us, He selected a Guiding Coalition of 12, gave them a program, produced short term wins (miracles), and kept the program going by introducing new programs. Be aware that just like the 12 with one snake, you will have egos and snakes to deal with.

Servanthood: A Leader's Valued Asset

The commercialization of our society has left little imagery of the basic fundamental characteristics of a great leader. The way we do business, meet and communicate with others has slowly changed over the years, which has changed how we relate to others. Automated systems, email and communication systems save us time and effort, without a doubt. Yet, one thing many people often mention is how we have lost good customer service. Think about it, we have a tendency to go to places that we have formed relationships with and who serve us personally. Statistics over time, still show that people prefer good customer service even over lower prices!
One thing the emerging entrepreneur has to do is provide an intimate, personal service to consumers that bigger companies, can not. They must build a brand around serving others that separates them. Servanthood, or the act of service towards another is the key component that people look for in leaders. A phrase often used is , "We don't care how much you know, until we know how much you care". That phrase is still very truthful when we choose to shop, look for medical providers, build friendships, open bank accounts, seek daycare and nursing home providers for our loved ones and the list goes on. On a personal note, there is a small doughnut shop that I really like to patronize. The shop is not within walking distance, nor is it in a nearby area that is close by. Aside from the fresh doughnuts, I love the superb service I receive from the owners and its staff. They always greet me with a smile, offer me alternative or new items to try, remember my coffee order without giving further detail and have even suggested that I call them first and check for my purchase availability before driving to the location to save me time and gas! Yes, I could purchase doughnuts from a closer location but the people who run the establishment really care. The products are fresh and the customer service is even BETTER! Yes, I could save gas and time going somewhere else but would the product be fresh or even more, would the customer service be of top quality? I go to these people because they have shown they care and want to serve me whenever I arrive.
I would say, this same quality is what makes a group or crowd want to follow certain leaders. The leader has indicated to that group/crowd that they are knowledgeable, capable, able and WILLING. There is a difference in receiving from someone who wants to serve vs. someone who serves out of obligation. There is a freshness and vigor from the person who enjoys serving. They are in no rush and want to do things just right.
Let the value of servanthood, be renewed in our hearts and minds. Remember how rewarding it is to receive great service and allow that to be the fuel that allows us to serve others with passion. When we have less to offer, our servanthood is what heightens our appearance to others and gives us true value. A leader's value is established through our servanthood to others!

Leaders Go FIRST!

As kids, teachers always had small jobs and task for their students to voluntarily perform. There was the board eraser, name taker, errand person and most popular, probably was the line leader. The line leader had the distinct privilege of standing and walking ahead of everyone else and being the first person to enter the hallway, cafeteria, library and other outside classroom excursions. Well, as these students aged and moved into adulthood, some possibly have carried the "line leader" leadership role into their adult lives. While tasks began smaller and more concise, as adults those leadership roles have increased and became multidimensional in duty and responsibility. What do adults eagerly "stand in line" to do or perform?
Leaders display many good qualities and can easily be detected by their behavior and role in society. But one thing has not changed....Leaders still go FIRST!
Leaders, actually have become givers at the adult stage, who give their time, talents and presence for the sake of other larger causes. So now, they are more than leaders, but givers as well.
As we read about various Biblical activity, we find the same principles to be true.
They are as follows:
*Leaders (givers) go FIRST!
*Leader (givers) receive a return.
*The return may not be immediate.
*Giving does not keep us from misfortune(risk involved).
*If you do not give, one cannot expect a return.
*The return will be "in proportion to" your giving.
*The motive for giving is love for God.
Being a leader, causes one to offer, support and give in many ways. Leading in many ways, does not come without sacrifice regardless, as to if we are leading ourselves or others. Philippians 2:2-11, shares with us, how Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of servant leadership. He made the ultimate sacrifice to take on the lower form of the creation, being human while he was empowered with the benefits of His Superior Father. In the book of Ruth, Boaz (the leader) did not keep score of all he gave for Ruth, but just kept giving for her benefit. We can't lead without giving (and in Boaz's case, love).
If you or someone you know is a leader, understand they have chosen to "lead a line", rather than trail it. There are sacrifices, work and giving often required. We have many great examples and now, understand what is happening when Leaders go FIRST!