Developing my Leadership Skills: Where I’ll Start

Leadership development has always been a topic. A theme. Something I could read about, feel like I need to work on, but never roll up my sleeves and get dirty with. The daunting question: where do I begin? And what should that beginning look like?

I don’t have many answers as I write this, so I’ll throw out my ideas and see where they take me during the next few days.

Area of Pain: How to Develop Consistency.
This is not the first time I’ve wanted to develop my leadership skills. Happened about a year or so ago too, and honestly I don’t think much has happened. Why? I think, as I mentioned in my previous post, one of my big areas of opportunity is being consistent. Practicing correct or desired behavior on a regular basis.

Question: How do you develop consistency? If thoughts are key determiners to how we act, and I believe they are, are there thought patterns that I have that help feed or starve consistent actions?

Action Steps for this week:
1. I will journal my thoughts as often as I can. I will pay careful attention to what I think about, and note it down in my agenda. Maybe this exercise will reveal something of use.

2. I’ll focus small. I will limit my efforts down to one or two leadership skills that I know need to grow. 1. Consistency 2. Acting on what I need to do. (Not letting things slide.)

3. I will involve others. In my next leadership meeting with the company I’m running, I’ll share what I’m doing with the guy I’m working with. He’s a strong leader, and I know he’ll be happy to help. I will invite him into my process as much as he can, and ask him to keep me accountable. I will also involve the one person who knows me 24/7 days a week and actually remains at my side- my wife. I’m sure there are places she’ll be able to help me with.

As well, since this is a public forum, anyone who happens to read this is also welcome to suggest their ideas on the matter.

Area of Pain 2: Acting on What needs to get done.
Intentionally or no, many times I get so many things on the go that other things start sliding. Things that were once important get replaced by other things important. (But the previous important things are perhaps left unfinished.)

I do have a planner. ON a daily basis – Specially once in the morning and once in the evening, I’ll check over the things that need doing, and compare it with the things done. Many times I just throw stuff in there, and re-visit them a few days later, when they’ve had a few days to slide. Not cool.

I will delegate effectively. (Came across a fantastic post on that area at the Relationship Economic blog. And I will use this post as a guide as I think I need to grow here too.)

On Friday, June 20 – I’ll post an update on these areas as a way to keep myself on target.

Change the Way You Define Yourself – Marshall Goldsmith

So posting to this blog- or any blog for that matter – has been something that I’ve not done in ages. I miss that. So to get things started again, I hope, I’d like to start myself off by leaving my 2 cents to a very insightful post (and comments) over here (http://scotthodge.typepad.com/scott/2008/06/what-are-you-learning-about-leadership-right-now.html)

What I’m learning about leadership:
1. It’s working on yourself before stepping into the arena of others. (Learning how to lead yourself – your habits, your interactions at home, with wife, kids etc.) If you don’t successfully lead yourself, you’ll never lead anyone else. (That’s my theory anyway.)
2. I seem to require constant re-grouping. Questions: Have I gone off my mission? My target still what it should be? Failing to pause and check in with myself on a regular basis seems to have me wandering away from what I thought/felt to be important a few months ago. (I guess you could summarize by saying leadership is consistency around things that are vitally important.)

I think those two statements are painfully hard, and reflect where I am with my own struggle to grow as a leader.

In prep for a recent class – Leadership Development theme for a group of directors – I came across a brilliant blog from Harvard Business. The post: Change the Way you Define Yourself
by Marshall Goldsmith in part spoke to my situation.

One of the greatest challenges that we face, when we try to improve ourselves – as leaders, partners, friends or family members – is the challenge of changing the way we define ourselves. I must have heard this phrase a thousand times, “That’s just the way I am.” As long as we keep saying “That’s just the way I am” to ourselves we increase the probabilities that “That’s just the way I am always going to be.” (Goldsmith)

Improving self means challenging and changing internal thought patterns about self. I totally agree. On some levels, I feel I do need to alter my “self-chatter.” But sense that above and beyond that, I think I need to learn how to adapt and maintain effective behaviors. (Secret: maintaining) I seem to have great difficulty in maintaining effective habits over time. I adopt one, work it for a few weeks, and then it seems to vanish.

I’ve often heard it said, and strongly believe this to be true: that you are what you think about. So…to harness the power of thought for the side of good: what thoughts could be inserted to help create positive behavior? What thoughts, to speak to my own struggle, would help me toward leading myself and being consistent?

Tags: http://discussionleader.hbsp.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1289, http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/323829/29845200

Speed Link: Fast Company on Social Responsibility and Social Justice

FC wonders if Social Responsibility = Social Justice

“Is social responsibility the same as social justice? Can one act in a socially responsible fashion without working towards social justice (consciously or otherwise)? And if these two are not interchangeable or inextricably linked, how does one effect the other?”

Interesting question. In Mexico anyway, there are many companies appearing with a flashy “socially responsible” logo next to their main logo. Roche, Starbucks just to name a few of the biggies that come to mind.

I have a feeling, and I’m no expert on the matter, that being socially responsible is one thing…and acting justly as a corporation is another. Justice goes much deeper in my view, than just acting responsibly.

Responsible: I treat my employees exactly how the law requires me to.
Just: I treat my employees how I would want to be treated….perhaps informed by how God requires me to treat my employees.

Is responsible just fulfilling the the legal requirements, while Justice seeks to go beyond to create equality for all?

Starbucks, and not to pick on them, boldly proclaims that anyone can purchase coffee and hang out in their stores…regardless of age, sexual preference, religion, social status — everyone is welcome. They’re responsible….but speaking to Justice issues: only certain people, with certain economic advantages are actually ABLE to consume at Starbucks. Is that Justice?

Or maybe I’m off the track…

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For Profit, with Nonprofit Mission

Fascinating read via Fast Company today:

Businesses Try to Make Money and Save the World – New York Times
Fascinating because the idea of operating a business like a business, but with a social justice mission, is the vision behind my infant company.

The idea:

• Launch an English consulting firm that has social justice at its heart by providing just employment for both native and non-native English teachers. (Great pay, benefits, work environment, professional development etc.)

• Offer services that go beyond typical language classes, enhancing and improving the professional, emotional, and spiritual lives of our clients.

• Use profits to invest in microfinance projects that help the unemployed or underemployed launch or improve an existing business project of their own – offering ongoing business training and mentoring support along with financial backing.

I just wonder: Why does this have to be so complicated? The article seems to suggest that tax issues and other legal tape seems to make operating a project like this big deal. Why? It should be easy,. Imagine really making a difference in people’s lives without having to go around asking for money all the time. Maybe people…our society, are tired of being milked for donations. Tired of feeling manipulated into giving at Christmas time when they see those devestating commercials of starving children on tv.
Why can’t we just operate our existing businesses differently? Instead of stuffing profits into my own bank account, and let’s be honest: I am looking to earn what I need to earn here but no more, we can and should be using profits to create real change in our communities and countries. It can be done, and I say it can be done amazingly well by anyone who could actually take the step to part with extra $$ for the purpose of being just.

Is that such a hard thing for a business to do? I don’t think so…

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Leaders are People

Why do people, and leaders themselves, think that just cus they wear their leader badge that they have to be perfect 100% of the time?

You know one thing that I totally struggle with? When I screw up in some point of my life, maybe I have a fight with my wife, maybe I totally blow my temper on my son, maybe I didn’t read the good book today, – you write your favorite screw up here………….., I start thinking thoughts like: “What am I doing trying to be a leader?” “I have no right to be in this position.” “I don’t have what it takes.”

And I totally identify with the Craig Groeschel quote on Mark’s site:

“I had become a full-time minister and a part-time follower of Christ.” Not sure if anybody else can relate with that, but I sure can!

Evotional.com – Originality, Authenticity, Creativity

Maybe I function as a leader, but I’m still very VERY human. Ask my wife. Ask my son. They’re the ones who see me 24/7.

Sure, leaders need to strive for excellence. We need to model it. But I think there is great value in being honest with the people we work with. That’s part of being in community. Authentic relationships are only as authentic as you decide to be. That includes Mr. Leader too doesn’t it?

If I were to arrive to some cell group, or church group, and hear the pastor/leader talking about his own personal struggles with lust or a firey and uncontrolled temper, would I suddenly loose all respect, and desire to follow this person? Would, as Batterson asks, this person’s “pastoral persona” be damaged in his congregation’s eyes or in mine?  (I wonder what sorta “pastoral persona” Jesus had. Was he open with the disciples around the stuff he was going through? Did he share his struggles with Matthew or John?)

I totally agree with Mark’s challange: It IS time to confront the myth of “Perfect Christian Leaders.” Yeah, we need to strive for excellence, but isn’t there great value and even healing in store for those who are willing to open up and share?  James commands us to “confess our sins to each other so that we might be healed.” He doesn’t add anything about the pastor/leader obstaining from this activity does he?

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Mentoring

Community has been on my mind so much lately. Not the usual surface contacts we so often experience in church…you know: You:”Hi, how are you?” Them: “Fine thanks, and you?” Clink. Surface conversation. All the nice stuff you always say, be they true or false.

I would dare say that one of the biggest problems facing the church today…hmm, no, I’ll be specific here: My church, is our pathetic lack of deepness. Of authenticity. We all say “I’m fine” when we follow the normal social rules of chucking around greetings as we walk in the front door. We all, generally throw back the expected response: “I’m fine.” and immediatly deflect the attention to the questioner: “And you?” Ping pong. Smile and wave. Just smile and wave.

We love the surface. It’s safer there. But then we wonder why we never grow up. Why we never experience deeper. I think we long for deep stuff. Deep connections. Deep thoughts. Deep feelings. Deep spiritual growth. Deep friendships. I know I long for those things.

I really enjoyed the “Good Mentoring” article over at ChristianityToday.com. The opening sentence drips with reality. It’s disturbing.

Nobody has time to mentor. In fact, conversations with Christian leaders reveal that the number one reason they don’t take on a disciple or facilitate a mentoring program is that they simply have no time.

Good Mentoring – LeadershipJournal.net

We don’t have time. We don’t have the space in our precious agendas for a person at a deep level. What’s the matter with that picture? Is that the sort of reality Jesus walked? I would say he lived backwards to how we live today. His palm pilot was in reverse I think. I would guess, and you jump on me if you think I’m off here, but I would guess that his palm pilot would have been mostly reserved for investing in others. Mentoring. Look at the disciples. He had a crowd of them. (72 at one point.) But he always seemed to gravitate to the 12, and then he even seemed to invest deeper in a smaller group of those 12.

Anna and I – Anna is my wife if you don’t know – were reflecting on how people “become born again.” Most Christian circles that I grew up in suggested and practiced that one had to turn away from sin, recognize that Jesus is the Son of God, and then pray asking for forgiveness, and asking for Jesus to “come into his/her heart.” My wife and I agree on the first few points. But we both had issues with the whole “come into my heart” thing. Where did that come from? (Yes, this will tie into mentoring.)

We’re doing a theme on salvation with the kids we work with at church, and we’re using the stories of when Jesus called his disciples to “follow him.”

There were no sinners prayers. There were no “Jesus please come into my heart.” There was an invitation to relationship. I was really thinking hard about the story of Levi the tax collector and his dramatic moment of change from collecting taxes to following after Jesus.

I think most christians – and I include myself here – never stop to think that even though Levi obeyed and followed Jesus, there was no instant change. The disciple we all know had to go through a huge growth period. He had to confront his past and begin to change. He didn’t instantly become a “good christian.”

Change happened because he chose to follow, but also, and most importantly, because Jesus made A LOT of space for him. There was a lot of mentoring going on. Jesus made time for Levi.

So, effective leadership is a lot of things. But a vital thing of leadership is being a passionate investor in others. I love this quote from the article:

“Love is eternal. People are eternal. Therefore loving people is eternal.”

Good Mentoring – LeadershipJournal.net

So going back to the starting thread of this post: I don’t think you have to spill your guts every time someone asks you common surface questions. I’ve met folks who have no boundries or concept of what should be private and what should be shared. It’s uncomfortable to talk with people like that. You feel dumped upon. That’s not what I’m talking about here. There’s a time and a place to go deep.

But the issue is that we MUST go deep. I’m a quiet, reserved and usually introverted guy. It’s really hard for me to do small talk and engage in conversation until I get to know you. But I do know that this is one of my areas of opportunity as a leader: the art of engaging people. I’m slowly forcing myself to talk to different people each week at church. And I purposefully ask more….surface breaking type questions as I see them week by week. It’s slow going, but I know that this sort of thing really matters. It’s vital to growth.

I think it’s what real christianity is all about: deep relationships with others. Community. Mentoring. Investment.

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How to Grow Leadership abilities

I have embarked upon a great quest. For years I have been involved in leadership positions, both in and out of the church. Sadly, upon honest reflection, I feel that in most cases, those positions have not turned out for the best. For one reason or another, they turn into things that simply don’t last. Projects that fall apart. Teams that stop functioning. Ideas that just dont’ seem to work out. You get the picture. In many cases, I feel like I am lacking some important leadership skills to help me build and lead things that 1. Matter. 2. Prosper.

I was reading this post from Strategy Central: The Three Essential Ingredients of Leadership.

I really liked, and identified with the question Mark asks: Is there a way to develop capacity in the areas of Lifting others vision, raising performance, and building personality of others?

He goes on to answer:

“I believe the answer is yes…but increased capacity comes as a result of hard work, discipline, diligence, and determined investment in others. It won’t happen by accident. It won’t happen by chance. Becoming the leader we could be only happens when we’re willing to pay the price. Strategy Central: The Three Essential Ingredients of Leadership “

So that’s where I think my questions begin: I totally agree with Mark’s ideas, but I wonder where the hard work, discipline, diligence etc. should be focused? What does that look like on a practical level? On one side, I’ve started purposefully reading more about leadership. I’ve added some leadership oriented blogs to my bloglines account. I’ve started reading Purpose Driven Leadership by Rick Warren. I’ll also start paying more attention to what I read in the Word – to see if there are lessons on leadership to be gleaned from there.

But honestly, I’m hungry to grow up. I’m hungry to be a stronger leader. I want my life to matter, and I want to influence other people towards God…well, I want God to use me that way. I just feel at a big loss. How to really make progress?

 

To charge interest or no on micro loans

I´ve been really pondering and praying through the idea of if there should be some sort of interest charged on micro loans. The last thing I want to do is tick God off on this whole issue. I know He has special concern for the poor, and demands that we treat them justly…so what to do with interest.

The purpose of interest would be very clear: to help raise more capital for more micro loans. Not for profit.

This afternoon I was reading through Deut. 23:19-20 lays down some pretty clear rules around interest…at least to begin with.

19 says we are not to charge interest to brothers – fellow Christians.

20 says it’s ok to charge interest to non-believers. Interesting.

Later in chapter 24 it says that we are not to take a pledge of payment from a poor person.

How very interesting.

Unitus Microfinance Blog » Blog Archive » Capturing the Impact of Microfinance on Borrowers

This entry was really…heavy. Poverty is such a hard thing to imagine. I know it’s out there. I know it’s as bad as what is described in this story…and worse…but it just doesn’t register well in my head. I’ve never been poor.

So I have a few questions. If the folks at the Unitus blog follow this trackback, I would love to open a conversation around this with you, because for me it is a real concern:

There seems to be an understanding here that loan participants can renew their loans with you when they finish paying their first one. If that is the case, how do you prevent dependency? Do you feel this is ok? Why?

Cochran mentions in her mail that it takes around five years of involvment with microfinance to break out….wow.

I totally….hats off your work. I respect what you’re doing, and I want to get involved…even start something of my own where I live.

I guess I’m just wondering around the whole dependency idea. Could you comment on that if you read this?

Unitus Microfinance Blog » Blog Archive » Capturing the Impact of Microfinance on Borrowers
But chances are, her family’s income will improve. Her mother had just taken out her first loan from SKS, but hopefully she will grow her business—or be bold enough to try a new, more profitable one, with SKS’s financial help and the support she gets from the other women in her loan group. Comprehensive studies of microfinance suggest that it takes about five years for someone to move above the poverty line through microfinance programs.

Programs : Chiapas Project – Grameen Foundation USA

Just starting to do some research around micro finance ops in Mexico and found this:Programs : Chiapas Project – Grameen Foundation USA

The Chiapas Project recently launched a $3.5 million fundraising campaign in support of GFUSA’s Latin America Initiative. The campaign is among the most significant effort ever launched by Dallas citizens to defeat poverty in the region. The Chiapas Project’s work will support a larger $9.9 million goal led by Grameen Foundation USA to scale-up the work of GFUSA’s ten microfinance partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. GFUSA’s regional partners are located in Haiti, Honduras, El Salvador (two programs), Mexico (three programs), Bolivia and the Dominican Republic.

For further information, please contact Dawn Suleri, Director of Development Operations at: dsuleri@gfusa.org
I am about to write this person and see how they have been affected by the hurricane and what sort of things they are doing now…and how we could be getting involved.

How interesting is all this…and what a shame that it is not being done by more Christians.