Unfolding Neurons

Posts Tagged Leadership

Going Beyond

Feb 18

Posted by Darren in Deep Thoughts | No Comments

I was just reading about American Shaun White’s gold medal run on the halfpipe on Monday and there’s one thing that stands out to me about his performance:  after securing a gold medal with his first run he went all out in his second.

He didn’t have to.

He could’ve just walked down the pipe for his second run and still would’ve won.

He could’ve sat on his snowboard and whooped it down the course, and still would’ve got the gold.

His coach even suggested to him to take it easy on the second run. Sound advice, after all there’s no sense in risking any injury.

But Shaun decided to go beyond that.  Not only that, Shaun performed the most difficult trick ever invented for the pipe (even the name of the trick is intimidating – Tomahawk).

This got me thinking.  How often do we settle for a win and glory in the win and even celebrate the win in our own lives and then decide that’s all we need to do?

When we:  

  • get saved (a HUGE WIN) and stop growing.
  • go on a missions trip and help a bunch of people and then just show pictures when we get home.
...This is a preview of Going Beyond.
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(286 words, 1 image, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

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Raising the Value of Volunteers

Feb 11

Posted by Darren in Deep Thoughts, Leadership | No Comments

One of the things I’ve chosen to work on as part of the staff at my church is raising the profile of volunteers and developing ways for people to find on-ramps to serving in our church.  Any person doing this will tell you that it’s not an easy task.  Still it’s one I relish in tackling because I love seeing people discover their “fit” and living in it.

Some time ago I came across an interview Tony Morgan conducted with Ritchie Miller, the senior pastor of Avalon Church in McDonough, Georgia.  Tony writes that,

Of all the churches I’ve worked with in the last number of months, Avalon has the highest percentage of people serving in volunteer roles.

A little bit later, Ritchie gave the stats that show this:  Their weekly attendance average for 2009 is 1,419 and of that attendance they have 602 active adult volunteers (which does not include the middle and high school volunteers). So of course, I wanted to read what Ritchie had to say about volunteers.  Here’s some takeaways from this interview as Ritchie discussed what he believes are the reasons for such a high volunteer rate (Ritchie’s points are italic – the rest are my thought’s):  

...This is a preview of Raising the Value of Volunteers.
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(772 words, estimated 3:05 mins reading time)

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A Powerful Leader’s Four…

Dec 7

Posted by Darren in Deep Thoughts, God Stuff | No Comments

Four Fingers

[credit: Looking Glass]

A great leader does four things and does four things well (by the way, I’m not saying this is all that a great leader does!).

Inspire

For some this comes naturally – the ability to inspire others by what is said but even more by what that leader does.  For other leaders it comes with HARD work (and I think I would fall in that category!!).  A great leader inspires people to do great things.  Of course, I happen to believe that for Christian leaders, what makes us inspiring is the work of  the Holy Spirit in our lives.  It is Jesus, who inspires us and through us inspires others.  When as a leader you are passionately following Jesus and His word then in turn there will be others inspired to do the same.

This reminds me of something else, as a leader, it matters who you follow.  Number two,

Invite

Great leaders don’t just share a vision, or promote a cause, or work in a vacuum.  They invite people to the journey.  They invite people to be a part of the movement.  They invite people to the cause.  They invite people to follow where the leader is heading.  They invite people to use their gifts, to use their abilities, to give of themselves.  Great leaders recognize that great things are never going to be accomplished by them alone.  

...This is a preview of A Powerful Leader’s Four….
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(680 words, 1 image, estimated 2:43 mins reading time)

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Sensitivity masking the real problem

Oct 23

Posted by Darren in Deep Thoughts | No Comments

In “Reflections of the Psalms” (chapter 2), C.S. Lewis writes:

Did we pretend to be ‘hurt’ in our sensitive and tender feelings (fine natures like ours are so vulnerable) when envy, ungratified vanity, or thwarted self-will was our real problem? Such tactics often succeed. The other parties give in. They give in not because they don’t know what is really wrong with us, but because they have long known it only too well, and that sleeping dog can be roused, that skeleton brought out of its cupboard, only at the cost of imperilling their whole relationship with us. It needs surgery which they know we will never face. And so we win; by cheating. But the unfairness is very deeply felt. Indeed what is commonly called ’sensitiveness’ is the most powerful engine of domestic tyranny, sometimes a lifelong tyranny. How we should deal with it in others I am not sure, but we should be merciless to its first appearances in ourselves.  

...This is a preview of Sensitivity masking the real problem.
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(563 words, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

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Catalyst Day Two wrapup – Andy Stanley

Oct 14

Posted by Darren in Deep Thoughts, God Stuff | This entry is part 8 of 9 in the series Catalyst 2009 | No Comments

The last speaker I want to share about from my Catalyst experience was Andy Stanley.  He was the first speaker for Catalyst and the one that wrapped things up.  Andy talked about cultivating a healthy staff culture.  Why?  Because,

Your church and your church culture should be the healthiest organizational culture in your city.

Here’s what Andy said it takes to creat a healthy staff:

Healthy people are attracted to healthy cultures.

Andy talked about the gap between what we expect of people and what they actually do and that ultimately we choose what goes in those gaps.  His emphasis was on the reality that our choice for those gaps will shape the culture of our organization.  The choices?  Assume the worst or believe the best.   Each of those choices have a powerful affect on the direction of organization culture.

According to Andy, there are two things that make it difficult for us to believe the best,  ”What I see” and “Who I am”.  If someone consistently brings poor quality stuff to the table then you will always assume the worst.  Also, what you have experienced in terms of personal hurt or betrayal will influence what you choose for the gap.  

...This is a preview of Catalyst Day Two wrapup – Andy Stanley.
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(698 words, estimated 2:48 mins reading time)

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Catalyst Day Two – Chuck Swindoll

Oct 13

Posted by Darren in Deep Thoughts, God Stuff | This entry is part 7 of 9 in the series Catalyst 2009 | No Comments

At Catalyst, Chuck Swindoll received the lifetime achievement award and was well recognized by the nearly 13,000 people in attendance.  It was a treat to get to hear what this Godly man had to share.   First up, he shared the TOP TEN LEADERSHIP LESSONS IN 50 YEARS OF MINISTRY.  The 10 lessons are from Chuck but the stuff in between are what I thought of with each lesson (which may or may not correspond with what Chuck shared. I’ve got to admit – when he mentioned each of these lessons my brain and heart were sparked with all kinds of insights…)

1. It’s lonely to lead

Yes it is. Why is this the case?  Because a true leader will sometimes make decisions that no one else understands but himself.  Also, a leader will often, by virtue of leadership, be out in front of those following.  Out in front is lonely.  However, while this is true – it is also why it is paramount that a leader doesn’t get stuck in his loneliness.  Good leaders will find others to grow with.  Good leaders will find ways to stave off the loneliness – recognizing that it comes but also staying out the the quicksand of its grip.  

...This is a preview of Catalyst Day Two – Chuck Swindoll.
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(1245 words, estimated 4:59 mins reading time)

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Catalyst Day One – Rob Bell

Oct 10

Posted by Darren in God Stuff | This entry is part 4 of 9 in the series Catalyst 2009 | 2 Comments

Rob Bell was the first catalyst speaker to begin his session by opening in prayer.  I’m not saying that is necessarily a fault of all the other speakers but it WAS something that stood out for me.  It was an invitation for the Holy Spirit to be at work in and through him as he spoke to us and I do believe God answered his prayer.

Here’s a few things that stood out for me:

I was recently talking to a pastor who said he wanted to quit…. So I asked him to draw a pie chart of what he does every week. He had been a pastor for a year and wanted to quit every day…. So I asked if he practiced Sabbath.

Umm  yeah, there was silence in the auditorium after that statement.  Funny thing is, this isn’t the first time it’s been said or asked.  There’s gounds of speakers and writers that have promoted the teaching of the sabbath and yet when Rob asked that question you could still feel the conviction in the room.  I know I make my best effort to take my day off as my day off but lately I’ve been slipping on that.  When you skip the sabbath, then motivation and energy skips you.  Sabbath is important.  

...This is a preview of Catalyst Day One – Rob Bell.
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(900 words, estimated 3:36 mins reading time)

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Catalyst Day One – Malcolm Gladwell

Oct 9

Posted by Darren in God Stuff | This entry is part 3 of 9 in the series Catalyst 2009 | No Comments

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers, talked about the danger of overconfidence at his catalyst session.  I found it hard to hear most of his session but there were a few things that stood out for me:

Incompetence irritates me, but overconfidence scares me. Incompetent people rarely have the opportunities to make mistakes that greatly affect things. But overconfident leaders and experts have the dangerous ability to create disaster.

How much disaster could be averted if leader’s didn’t get so overconfident?  A scriptural parallel to this might be King Saul, or even King David and his decision to conduct a census of the number of men able to fight in Israel (disobeying God in the process).

In times of crisis we don’t need bold and daring decision making from our leaders we need bold humility!

Reggie Joiner joined the stage and had two questions for Malcolm.   In his answers, Malcolm revealed that the primary warning sign of overconfidence is when you stop listening to others (incidentally, this reminded me very much of a chapter I read in Andy Stanley’s book, “Principle of the Path” a really good read).  Malcolm also made the statement that when a leader can no longer do everything all by himself, he has to change.  When a leader’s growth reaches a certain point, he has to change. He presented the idea (probably not a new idea but nevertheless) that leadership has to become more collective.  

...This is a preview of Catalyst Day One – Malcolm Gladwell.
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(304 words, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)

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Catalyst Day One – Getting Things Started and Andy Stanley

Oct 8

Posted by Darren in God Stuff | This entry is part 2 of 9 in the series Catalyst 2009 | No Comments

IMG00103

Well today was the first day of Catalyst.  Since this is my first year there everything is new to me.  And everything was WOW for me.  They really don’t spare any change in making this an unforgettable event.  At least I know now why the tickets are so much…

Anyway, today was a day full of incredible stuff that challenged, some stuff that was controversial and some holy moments too.  When trying to think, of a way to describe what Catalyst has been for me so far this is what I’ve come up with

What catalyst does is mix your mind and your heart together and adds a good helping of holy getupanddosomething

Yeah, that good.

One disappointment with catalyst was the unreliability of the wifi – I was really hoping to blog during the day so I wouldn’t have these late night posting sessions but it looks like I wasn’t alone in this.  Many of the official bloggers of catalyst were unable to get any kind of wifi connection either with both the in house arena wifi and at&t not playing nicely.  Still, blogs are getting written!  If I come across any I’ll post them at the end of each post I make on Catalyst.  

...This is a preview of Catalyst Day One – Getting Things Started and Andy Stanley.
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(770 words, 1 image, estimated 3:05 mins reading time)

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Keeping Momentum

May 22

Posted by Darren in Deep Thoughts | 1 Comment

Momentum is a tricky thing.  It can be positive or negative.  Positive momentum is movement forward in the right direction, negative momentum is moving in the wrong direction.  Positive momentum leads to growth, negative momentum leads to death.  The more momentum there is the quicker either will happen.

Every organization has momentum – I really don’t believe there is any such thing as the “status quo”.  When you are maintaining the “status quo” all you’re really doing is slowing negative momentum.  Here’s the thing – negative momentum happens when you do nothing.  Positive momentum takes a lot of energy to get going and a constant addition of energy to keep it going.  The key to keeping positive momentum is to focus your energy on the right things:  

  • Identify the momentum killers in your organization and deal with them. Quickly.  The sooner you do so, the longer the positive momentum will continue and the less energy you’ll expend to keep it going.  This requires the ability to see down the road and anticipate the things that might slow your positive momentum.
  • Identify the momentum builders and release them.  Ask the question, “What is keeping my momentum builders from building?”
...This is a preview of Keeping Momentum.
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(253 words, estimated 1:01 mins reading time)

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