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Category: Leadership (page 27 of 30)

Throw that bathwater out

Whether you’re a church leader, a business leader, a small group leader, or the leader of a local gang, you should constantly evaluate your system.

We just had a small groups launch yesterday at Grace Community Church. 10 new small groups launched, with over 150 people committing to joining new groups. Amazing, right?!?

There’s room for improvement.

There was room for improvement last time we had Connect.

There was room for improvement this time.

We had more people indicate they wanted to attend the event than actually showed up. That’s a problem.
We had people attend the event, but not actually sign up for a group. That’s a problem.
We had people who needed to be in a small group, but neither showed interest nor showed up for the event. That’s a problem.
We had people who showed up to the event, signed up for a group, but have already sent me an email and have dropped out. That’s a problem.

I’m not a prophet, but I’m going to make a statement that will inevitably come true: There will be room for improvement next time.

We don’t allow these problems to cripple us, but rather we learn and grow from them. Some we can’t help. But others we can.

I’m willing to change the system, if that’s what’s needed, in order to more effectively carry out our vision.

As the old saying goes, “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.” But what’s often not said:

“Go ahead and throw out that bathwater.”

I Lost My Voice, and So Did You?

January 20, 2010 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

I lost my voice on Sunday, and still haven’t been able to get it back. I’m able to squeak out a whisper most of the time, but that’s about all I’ve got.

Why is it that people feel the need to speak softly to me now? As if somehow their soft voice mimicking my hoarseness makes me feel better. Or makes the conversation go more smoothly. Maybe they’re doing it consciously, but honestly, I think it’s an unconscious reaction much of the time.

I see the same thing in other areas of life. We take on characteristics/attitudes/quirks of those we spend time with. We begin to laugh at the same jokes. Use the same illustrations. Care about the same things.

Whether consciously or unconsciously, we are easily influenced by those closest to us. Which places an even higher priority on finding friends who will help us to grow in our faith, instead of taking steps further from God.

I’ve lost my voice. And if you spend much time around me, you may lose yours, too.

Operate like a Pro

January 11, 2010 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

Whether you’re a professional or not, you can operate like one.

I meet with people a lot. A whole lot!

Invariably, lots of folks have to reschedule. And I love it when they let me know beforehand.

I was supposed to meet with Rick Howerton today in Nashville (about a 45 minute drive from Clarksville, where I live). It’s well worth the drive to meet with Rick…except if he’s sick, and can’t make the meeting.

So Rick cancelled on me…two hours before we were supposed to meet.

Rick, being the pro of all pros, went to extraordinary lengths to get me the message.

At 6:25, I got a Twitter Direct Message from him.
Just a few minutes later, I had a Facebook message from him.
Followed by an email.
Then I got an email from Karen, a staff member here at Grace, saying Rick had emailed the church office to let me know he couldn’t make it.
Then I got a text from Karen, saying the same thing.
The I get a call from my mom, saying that this guy, Rick, had called the house (not sure how he got my parent’s house number, but I guess ninjas have their secrets), and that he can’t make the meeting with me this morning.
Then I notice that Rick’s put out a blast to everybody on Twitter asking if anybody knows how to get in touch with me.

So, to sum it all up…I got the message. Thanks Rick.

You may not be a “professional,” but you can operate like one…and we, as followers of Christ, should be careful to do just that. I firmly believe that not keeping our commitments, and being flippant with our responsibilities, is dishonoring to God and is a violation of the 9th commandment:

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)

If you’ve got to cancel a meeting, that’s fine. Do it the professional way.

Do it the “Rick Howerton way.”

Sign Your Name on the Bathroom Wall

November 30, 2009 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

I was at a national discount superstore recently, and noticed this sign in the bathroom:

I love the idea that proposed: if this bathroom’s not as clean as the one in your home, then there’s a problem. The only thing wrong with the sign: neither the store manager, nor the district manager, give their contact information.

Do you believe in the mission of your organization enough that you are willing to take heat if the strategy isn’t accomplishing the goal?

Or are you so cowardly and closed-minded that you’ll give the perception that you’re open to suggestions, planning all along to respond only to the ones who agree with you?

If you don’t believe in the strategy of your organization, change it.

Then sign your name on the bathroom wall.

Play to your strengths

November 23, 2009 / Ben Reed / 5 Comments

In leadership, there’s one train of thought that says that you need to work on your weaknesses. Address them so that you can improve them. Make them…not so weak.

This isn’t an all-too-terrible approach. But it’s not the one I’m taking.

Rather, I’m focusing on my strengths. I’m not good at everything. But I am good at some things. I’m not bragging here…really, I’m not. We’re all gifted at some things.

Read this quote from Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

Our studies indicate that people who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general.” (iii)

Why not take the path of least resistance? Has God not gifted you for a reason?

Carl Lewis, please stick to running. You’re good at that.

Leaders, Know Your Gifts, part 2

November 18, 2009 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

I’m in a series of posts of leadership strengths. You can read the first post HERE. Our staff took a test called Strengths Finder, and I’ll be posting my results, and subsequent personal thoughts, here on my blog.

I’ve got a word of caution about strengths. Your strengths can become a curse when:

1. They’re used as a hammer. There’s no reason to use your gifts to manipulate others. God’s not pleased with that.

2. You assume everybody is gifted just like you. They’re not. And that’s a good thing.

3. When it’s the only lens through which you view leadership. God has given you certain gifts, and you should use them. But there are ways that He will stretch you, and situations in which your only course of action will be to rely on His strength.

God has gifted His church for the purpose of building up His bride (the church). It astonishes me that He would use imperfect, weak men like me to build the church…but that’s His plan…and I know His plan is perfect.

Here’s the second strength that I tested into on my Strenghts Finder:

Achiever

People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.

Chances are good that you approach your work-related or academic assignments with a great deal of intensity. You are known for putting in long hours and working hard. It’s very likely that you tend to be quite selective about the company you keep. You prefer to spend time with individuals who are trustworthy. You consciously avoid people whose words and deeds indicate they value honesty less than you do. Because of your strengths, you exhibit a strong work ethic. Work probably gives your life a sense of purpose it would otherwise lack.
Instinctively, you argue that hard work influences the course of your life more than anything else. You make your own good fortune by preparing yourself to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Each time you are successful, you can outline exactly what you did to reach a goal. You link together facts, incidents, conversations, or available resources to understand your accomplishments. You resist the notion that life is nothing more than a game of chance. By nature, you exhibit the physical and mental endurance needed to continuously toil long after others have stopped working. You are hardwired to pursue goals until they are reached. When obstacles arise, you become even more determined to succeed.

Do you find yourself described in this assessment?

Leaders, Know your Gifts!

November 17, 2009 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

God has wired me differently than He has wired you. It may be true that you and I are the same gender. Or live in the same city. Or drink the same kind of coffee. Or are passionate about similar ministries.

But at the end of the day, I have different gifts than you do. And you have different gifts than I do. And that’s a good thing.

³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. ⁴Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to hisfaith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. -Romans 12:3-8

Our staff at Grace Community Church just talked through our results from Strengths Finder. It was cool to see the varying gifts and passions that God has uniquely given the staff here. Over the next few posts, I’ll share my strengths with you. I don’t share them to make much of myself, but to make much of God, the giver of all good gifts.

These descriptions aren’t perfect for me, but they’re pretty close.

Learner:

People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want
to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome,
excites them.

What makes you stand out?
Instinctively, you normally dedicate yourself to acquiring knowledge and gaining skills. You
probably devote many hours to mental labor. Because of your strengths, you can block out
distractions when you are working or studying. You are seldom pulled away from a task. You
probably desire to understand ahead of time what needs to be done. You also expect to
receive background briefings and/or a list of a project’s criteria. Armed with this information,
you move closer to your goal. With ease and certitude — that is, having no doubts — you
determine what is and is not important to know about an activity, event, or project. By nature,
you habitually bring together all sorts of information so you can refer to it later. At the instant
you collect a fact, example, story, or piece of data, typically you are eager to use it. You trust
it is valuable. Your fascination with knowledge has probably been part of you even before
you formed the words to ask your first question. It’s very likely that you might prefer to
enroll in a difficult class rather than register for the easiest one. Perhaps comparing how well
you are doing in relation to others has meaning only when you earn the best grades in the
hardest courses. To some extent, you crave recognition for your knowledge and winning
spirit. Chances are good that you may be an individual performer who signs up for tough
classes. Perhaps your desire to excel is amplified when the only path to a good grade is a
steep one.

Do you see yourself at all in this description?

Micro-managing

October 19, 2009 / Ben Reed / 6 Comments

I’m a learner, at least according to Strengths Finder 2.0. Here’s their description of one of my personality traits:

People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

I’m constantly compiling and processing information. I would be content reading and learning all day long. Whether it’s books, blogs, podcasts, or asking good questions, I enjoy the process of learning and discovering new truths. Because of that personality trait, some call me a nerd.

As I was compiling this mornings, I loved the post by Ron Edmondson at his blog, Graced Again. He highlighted the effects on various people when the constraints of micromanagement are removed. I also watched this video, posted by The Soderquist Center:

‘LeaderSkilz’ Pilot Episode from The Soderquist Center on Vimeo.

So, my question to you is this:

Are you a micromanager? Is that working for those you’re leading?

Chuck Swindoll, 50 years of ministry

October 14, 2009 / Ben Reed / 2 Comments

I didn’t grow up listening to Chuck Swindoll, or his Insight For Living. Many people did, but I just didn’t, for whatever reason. After hearing his talk at Catalyst 2009, I wish I had. After receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at Catalyst 2009, he shared with us what he had learned in his 50 years of ministry, and his goals for his next 50 years in ministry. Needless to say, I took feverish notes. I love to sit at the feet of leaders who have been faithful for so long.

10 Things Chuck Swindoll has Learned in 50 Years of Ministry

1. It’s lonely to lead

2. it’s dangerous to succeed. Every successful person he’s known has had a time where he or she was crushed by God. This is dangerous work. It takes time, often includes failure, and is unbelievably difficult.

3. It’s hardest to lead at home. “Nobody told me that in seminary.”

4. It’s essential to be real. Phoniness is personified among leaders, and those you are leading see right through it.

5. It’s painful to obey. God will ask you to go to some places where it’s not your choice to go.

6. Brokenness and failure are necessary. He quoted Malcolm Muggeridge, former editor of Punch magazine, “If it were ever possible to eliminate affliction, life would be too trivial.” The cross signifies this affliction, and draws us to Christ. In the eyes of the world our failure was a complete failure, but it was completely essential.

7. my attitude is more important than my actions

8. integrity eclipses image. what you’re ding isn’t a show, and what you do behind the scenes that makes you who you are.

9. God’s way is always better than my way. Our problem is that we’re actually too capable, too skilled, and can pull things off in the flesh. God’s going to have His way.

10. Christ-likeness begins and ends with humility. ‘I am meek & lowly in heart.’ Matthew 11:29.

5 statements worth remembering during his next 50 yrs in ministry

1. Whatever you do, do more with others and less all alone.

2. Whenever you spend time with others, emphasize quality not quantity.

3. Wherever you go, do it the same as if you were among those who know you the best (it will help you keep from exaggerating). Make sure those you love are in the audience, because it creates accountability, honesty, and humility

4. Whoever may respond, keep a level head.

5. However long you lead, keep dripping with gratitude and grace.

Did Rob Bell Offend You?

October 13, 2009 / Ben Reed / 24 Comments

If you’ve not heard of Rob Bell, you should get to know this guy. Whether you’re on the same page with him theologically or not, he is a leader for our generation worth knowing about. He thinks outside the box and helps others to do the same, especially through his wildly popular small group video series, Nooma.

I had the privilege of hearing Rob at Catalyst this past week. Did I agree with everything he said? No. But there was predominantly more that I did agree with than that I didn’t. (on a side note, thinking about criticism…don’t criticize somebody until you’ve read their books firsthand, or heard them speak for yourself…don’t just take another blogger/writer/pastor’s critique of the person…do the work yourself, then you can criticize)

I’ll spare you all of the notes from his sermon, but suffice it to say that Rob was on point. His, “Is Bigger Better?” was exactly what pastors needed to hear. Citing John 6:22-26, 60-71, Bell says, “Sometimes the crowd thins and the people leave.” Jesus there corrected misconstrued ideas, and when he did, people deserted him. They deserted Jesus, and we should know that some will desert us if we remain faithful to the Gospel message. Bell told a story about how, just a few days before, he was talking with a pastor of a smaller church. This pastor was lamenting his situation, and saying that he couldn’t wait until he made it big, and God blessed him with a bigger church, because then he would have a legitimate ministry. His flock of 300 people wasn’t too big of a deal…he was waiting for his big break. Bell then made this statement,

And I responded with, as the French say, “WTF?”

The audience gasped. Some chuckled. He had captivated everyone (though he hadn’t said the curse word…ok, if you don’t know what I mean, just take a stab at what cuss word starts with “F” and you’re probably right). Rob had gotten away with referencing a highly charged, highly offensive cuss word while preaching to 12,000 pastors. Bell couldn’t believe that this pastor did not view his current ministry as valid, or that those 300 people were somehow less important than the big crowds.

If there is ever a time to cuss, it’s right there.

No matter the size of your ministry, God has called you to those people! Whether you’re leading a small group of 3, a church of 300, or speaking to 300,000, you are called to shepherd those in your flock.

What are you more offended by, the fact that Rob Bell used a reference to a cuss word, or the fact that the other pastor completely blew off his people, the role that God had called him to, and the ministry that He had equipped him for?