Risky Business

No.. this isn't a post in honor of Tom Cruise or running and sliding around your hardwood floors in your underwear.  Although, leadership might make you do crazy things.  It is a risky endeavor when are given the opportunity and choose to lead.  There is a great quote in a book I have begun today.  "The hope of leadership lies in the capacity to deliver disturbing news and raise difficult questions in a way that people can absorb, prodding them to take up the message rather than ignore it or kill the messenger."

Have you ever had a message that you knew, as a leader, needed to be shared?  Did you share it?  What was the outcome?  Regret or a fond memory.  The journey of the leadership process can be exhilarating, but have to dare to take the risk.

Take some time...

In this wonderful season of thankfulness, giving, and celebration of our Lord's birth, why not take some time to say, Thank You.  If you are a leader, you didn't come to this on your own.  You know that, right?  If not, your welcome for the insight.  So, because of this reality, give those people that have made a difference in your life a call, text, e-mail, Facebook shout out, etc.  This can be a crazy time of year, ironically!  These little rays of light may make all the difference for others this week.

It is easy...say it with me... THANK YOU!!!

Servant Leader - Greenleaf

I am always amazed (or saddened) that some of the best elements of the Christian faith are learned by the secular world and popularized. The church misses opportunities.  See... Love, Community, Giving, Volunteerism, Faith, and Servant Leadership.  Do a quick study of a man by the name of Robert Greenleaf.  He worked for AT&T and developed a theory for leadership that included a leader as servant.  This "new" approach came out in the 1970's.  Why does leadership seem to be such a difficult element for people to associate with the church?  Shouldn't some of our best leaders be in the church? 

Followers of the Man with a towel and basin of water

Good Leadership...what is your definition?

Leadership is just about as easy to describe as love is.  Sometimes it is just better to experience some things rather than describe them.  I wonder how many people have had a significant and inspiring experience with a leader.  Are there some that have never experienced good leadership, and as a result, have a warped sense of power and authority?

"Leadership is the ability of a superior to influence the behavior of a subordinate or group and persuade them to follow a particular course of action." — Chester Bernard

While I think that this is an accurate definition of leadership, I don't think it tells the whole story.  Have you ever been led by someone who isn't a superior?

So, tell your story.  What makes a good leader?