You Know You're Not Leading When... (by Jon Ferguson)

Excellent blog thoughts by Jon Ferguson, Lead Pastor at Community Christian Church (Naperville, IL)

Ever catch yourself not leading? Of course you have. When I find myself not leading the way I believe God has called me to lead, I ask myself, "What does it look like for me to really be a leader in this situation? Maybe this will help you know when you are slipping a little bit.

You know you are not leading when . . .

• You wait for someone to tell you what to do rather than taking the initiative yourself
• You spend too much time talking about how things should be different
• You blame the context, surroundings, or other people for your current situation
• You choose not to speak the truth in love
• You are more concerned about being cool or accepted than doing the right thing
• You seek consensus, rather than casting vision for a preferable future
• You aren't taking any significant risks
• You accept status quo as the way it's always been and always will be
• You start protecting your reputation instead of opening yourself up to opposition
• You sleep a little too sound
• You procrastinate to avoid making a tough call
• You talk to others about the problem rather than taking it to the person responsible
• You don't feel like your butt is on the line for anything significant
• You think what you say doesn't matter
• You ask for way too many opinions before taking action

Any places or situations where you are not leading? Is it time to step up?

Leadership in a Flattened World

by Sally Morgenthaler

What is leadership in an age of unprecedented connectedness? When information is as accessible as the iPhone in your back pocket? When the world no longer needs data brokers, when the word “authority” inspires only suspicion and revolt, and when business, political, and religious icons are deconstructed at the click of a mouse button – what does it really mean to be in charge of anything?

Nothing. Because, in the new and increasingly flattened world, being in charge is an illusion. Being in charge only worked (and marginally so) in a world of slow change; in a predictable universe where information (and thus, power) is ensconced in the hands of a few. But that world is gone. With the rise of the individual (the power of one) and the rise of the tribe (the power of one connected), all bets are off. From the grassroots morph of groups like Al Qaeda to fragmenting retail markets to the small enterprise explosion in India and China, we see the old world of “big and powerful” unraveling.

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Why Gen Y Will Change The Web!

Most of us who watched the Millennials grow up in our youth ministries and schools knew they’d impact our wider culture. But what is happening now is how they’re changing the Internet (developed by boomers, expanded by Gen X). This article is a must-read for anyone who works with Generation Millennial (born between 1982 and 1997) in the church, higher education or business. And spend some time on the additional links provided.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/why_gen_y_is_going_to_change_the_web.php

The Future Is FREE!

The Internet is not only flattening the world and culture, it's creating a climate where "free" is becoming the norm. Freeware. YouTube. Veoh. Google is currently digitizing several large book collections. The local library is toast. In China, most music is freely copied and distributed without piracy or threat of lawsuit. Millions of people play fantasy sports for free, read their hometown newspapers for free and use blogspots (like "blogger") for,...you guessed it...FREE.

WIRED! magazine recently commented on this phenomenon in an article titled: "Free! Why $0.00 is the Future of Business." Ironically, WIRED! is on one of the least expensive magazine subscriptions on the market ($10/year) and this article was...yep...FREE.

The future for business is free and while it's hard to conceive a FREE college degree...that, too, might be the future!

What Leaders Can Learn From Brett Favre

by Mark O. Wilson (Revitalize Your Church, 3/4/08)

After pondering over what made Favre such a great champion, here are a few sentimental observations:

1) He Showed up to Play Every Sunday.

Regardless of what was happening in his life (i.e. his father's death and his wife's cancer), he still found a way to get to the game on time.

2) He Played Through the Hurts.

I've watched just about every Packer game since Favre's debut. I've seen him clobbered, hammered, hamstrung, smashed, and boggled. Yet, Brett kept getting back on his feet again. Remember the year when he played half a season with a broken thumb? Somehow, the desire for victory was far greater than the physical pain.

3) He Took Risks and Made Plenty of Mistakes.

Not only does he hold the career touchdown record, he holds the interception record as well. You can't win big by playing it safe. Consider the turtle, who makes no progress until he sticks his neck out. Brett stuck his neck out all the time.

On countless occasions, I've seen him do something crazy, and yelled, "NO!! NO!! DON'T DO THAT!!" But then, it's the crazy passes, completed as touchdowns which will go down in history as the greatest and most memorable.

4) After He Blew It, He Shook it Off.

Nothing could rattle his confidence. On the next set of downs after an interception, he'd throw deep (and crazy) again. Favre didn't allow failure to be final and always believed that setbacks are supposed to be followed by come-backs.

He never blamed others for his mistakes, and always took responsibility for losses on the field.

5) He Inspired the Team.

Brett always had a good word of encouragement for the younger guys around him. I remember when Ryan Longwell, as a rookie kicker, muffed an easy field goal against the Eagles, and lost the game. The crowd booed. Favre went over to his dejected teammate and said, "Hey, don't worry about it. It's not your fault. We lost this thing together."

6) He Kept Smiling.

The thing I appreciated most about Brett Favre was his enthusiasm and love for football. Most of the time, he really enjoyed himself and was glad to be there (There were a few exceptions, such as the ice bowl in Chicago, but normally, he'd grin for at least three quarters, anyhow!) Brett's lighthearted spirit was contagious. Win or lose, it was still a good game.

7) He Didn't Quit Until the Clock Ran Out.

Many players give up when the tide turns against them, but not Brett Favre! He played his heart out every second of every down in the game. Perhaps that's why he led his team to so many last second comeback victories.

*****************************************************************************
Any other reflections on what leaders can learn from Brett Favre? I have a few more:

1. He went out on his own terms.
2. He saved his best for last.
3. He stayed with a team for the long-term.
4. He stayed with a team that played in Green Bay, not New York or New England or Indy.
5. He played for the fun of it.

What’s Your Church’s Biggest Strength: Management or Leadership?

An excellent blog (3/10/08) by Todd Rhoades of Monday Morning Insight:

Leadership and management guru Peter Drucker once said, “Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things.” When I read that recently, I thought that this statement could be very true in today’s American church. Here’s my theory: Could it be that while most churches are ‘doing things righ’t, a smaller group of churches are ‘doing the right things’?

The percentage of churches in decline is America is substantial. (I’ve heard as high as 90%!) It’s my hypothesis that each of these churches (and if you take the conservative church count in the country of 200,000 churches, 90% would be a whopping 180,000 American churches!) have to be ‘doing things right’ to some degree. Doing things right means things like conducting weekend services, maintaining property and facilities, making payroll, and caring for their attenders. In essence, as long as there are still people attending most churches, the churches, by and large, are ‘doing things right’, at least from a management standpoint.

But what about the other 10% of churches in America that are growing and vibrant? Could it be that they have moved beyond ‘doing things right’ to ‘doing the right things’? Every single one of the growing churches I’ve seen are very outwardly focused. They reach out and specifically target reaching their communities. They move beyond ‘management’ to dare to try new things; new programs; and new approaches. They are not afraid of change. They are not afraid to confront the culture. The are leaders. And the result is a growing and community-changing church.

LET'S CHAT: What’s your church’s strength? Management or Leadership?

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LEADERSHIP I LEARNED FROM JACK BAUER AND "24"

Okay, I confess my crime of passion for Fox’ 24 (starring Keefer Sutherland as the moody, manipulative and maniacal federal agent Jack Bauer). As a relative latecomer to the real time terrorist drama (I missed the first four seasons but am feverishly catching up through DVD loans), I can’t believe it took so long for me to get hooked. If I could watch in my sleep, I would.

I’ve learned a lifetime of leadership wisdom from watching Jack lead his CTU pals to defuse bomb plots and diffuse assassination attempts. Leadership is influence and the ability to accomplish an objective through leading a team. Jack Bauer is the quintessential leader. Cool under pressure. Creative. Discerning. And able to wield a real big stick. Naturally, there’s enough insight to pen pages on Jack, but let me briefly share a few helps I’ve learned in viewing 24.

First, never give up. No matter how insane the situation or how difficult the task, Jack Bauer never quits. His own head can be on the block and still he moves forward. He can be on the run from both good guy and bad boy and still hold his focus. Jack Bauer keeps plugging, pushing and pulling until he figures out a way. It ain’t over till it’s over. I was told as a kid that “quitters never win and winners never quit.” It seemed trite as a child, but as a man it’s the difference between achieving your dreams or settling for mediocrity. The greatest trait in leadership, next to integrity, might be persistence. Real leaders press on.

Second, every obstacle possesses opportunity. Jack Bauer may be at the end of his rope but somehow uses it to lasso a door of escape. He can be suppressed, sequestered and stymied but he views each situation as pregnant with possibility. It’s what keeps us turning in, week after week. Like winding a clock, the hour progresses and the tension mounts until right at “whatever :59” the action strikes midnight (and you have to wait a week to learn how Jack gets out of this mess). It’s a good leadership insight, really. Too many times it’s easy for many individuals to look at trouble and trial as “the end” when leaders recognize it’s really only the beginning.

Third, remember your resources. Jack Bauer often goes maverick in his attempt to bring down assassins and spoil terrorist plots and yet he’s no lone ranger. He knows he needs friends and confidants to feed him valuable counsel and inside information if he’s ever going to succeed. In season one there’s evidence of “dirty agents” inside CTU who’ve compromised intelligence and, consequentially, placed many lives at risk. And, yet, despite the high level of distrust by Jack, he still relies upon Nina to provide information and deliver necessary resources. It’s a good lesson for life. Too many times leaders try to succeed at others’ expense rather than tapping their team’s resourcefulness. Relationship and resource are keys to both survival and success—immediate or long-term. Leaders stay connected to both.

Fourth, know when to say when. Jack Bauer is an intense individual who occasionally heads south in his attempts to exact intelligence from informants (whether willing or not). He’ll fearlessly pull a gun and put it against the head of someone withholding information or fighting against Jack’s plan. Rarely, if at all, does Jack pull the trigger. His goal is to frighten a confession not finish the crime. Nevertheless, in the heat of high intrigue blood can flow and bones can break. It’s a good lesson for leaders pushing a plan or pumping a vision. Not everyone will get on board nor fully agree (at first or ever). Leadership is influence. It knows when to say when. It recognizes when to pull the plug or point the finger and call “charge.”

Finally, not everything you do will be rightly interpreted. Most of Jack’s battles are fought on two fronts: one with the terrorists and the other with co-workers, friends and even family who have misinterpreted his actions as tricks or treason. Jack is a rogue agent whose personal lifestyle leads much to be desired. Nevertheless, Jack Bauer is faithful to his objectives and keeps his integrity in tact. He is true to his word and protects those who hold his confidence. Consequently, those who learn to trust him often put their own lives on the line, risking promotion, reputation and health. Leaders often war against external terrorists like time, talent and treasure as well as inner battles with apathy, discord and power plays. In the process, a leader’s vision can be misinterpreted, misunderstood and, even, misapplied.

In the end, Jack Bauer always wins. He finishes well. He completes the mission and saves the day. He teaches us that true success isn’t found in a minute but a day or month or years. For those captivated and caught in the test of a momentary situation—offering reward or punishment, carrot or stick, power or failure—the wisdom to discern between the long and short-term is invaluable. Too many people choose the temporary over eternal, the pleasure over principle and the feeling over faith. Jack teaches us to think with our hearts and feel with our heads; to know the difference between what’s right now and what’s now right.

With Jack around, the world is safer.

And for most leaders, that is a 24 hour job.

FEELIN' WHACKED BY "THE SOPRANOS?" YOU SHOULD BE.

Okay, I'll confess, I like the Sopranos (the wildly popular HBO series) about Tony Soprano and his mafia family. I'll also admit that I've seen less than half of all the shows and look forward to one day watching the whole series. I don't get HBO and so my only opportunity to see the Sopranos has been when I'm on the road and, by chance, in a hotel at just the right time.

I even missed the Grand Finale.

But I haven't missed the hoopla. Sounds like most of the fans were miffed by the sudden ending that has now become a cultural "moment." You have to admit it did end wierd. Tony Soprano is in a diner with his wife as a Journey song plays in the background. The astute noticed a variety of "set up" situations, like the individual who slipped into the bathroom just prior to the "black out."

Most feel the ending was just a setup for a future movie.

Maybe.

But I don't think so.

What every Soprano afficionado "felt" was going to happen in that final scene was somebody was going to get "whacked" (killed). Many felt it would be Tony, the crime boss himself. But that didn't happen. As the sounds of "Don't Stop Believin'" set the scene, the picture just went "black."

BLACK. OVER AND OUT. FINITO.

Personally, I think it was brilliant. Probably the most brilliant ending in television history. I guarantee you in the future when "great television moments" are discussed that this one will be top five, maybe number one. It's definitely one of the best television endings, matching M*A*S*H or Bob Newhart, for sure. People will be talking about this one for a long time.

It just didn't make sense. The screen just going "black" leaves so many possibilities.

But that's it. In a scene where ANYONE could possibly be "whacked" the most unbelievable person WAS "killed." Yes, you heard me. There was a murder in the finale.

Not Tony. Nor anyone else on the show.

The one "whacked" was the television viewer. In a most brilliant and fantastic moment in television history, it was the viewer who was murdered in that diner watching in on Tony enjoy his meal.

Which makes a lot of sense. After all, the Sopranos have a lot of secrets. Too many secrets. Who knows more about the Sopranos than the Soprano audience? Who would make Tony more paranoid than somebody who's been following him for the past several years?

Somebody...like YOU?

Oh yeah, somebody got "whacked" on the Sopranos and Tony is having the last laugh. You can't get that close to a crime boss for that long before he feels the heat. The fans got the bullet. The blackout was YOU being killed.

Bang, you're dead. You should have known better.

Blackout.

"Don't stop believin...."