We are all leaders. We are all followers. When? That depends on the location and the situation. So, as we take a look at some ‘Leadership Math’, try to see yourself in both roles.
1. Leader meets with Follower. Leader defines desired outcomes for Follower. Leader says, ‘Now, go make it happen’. Follower says, ‘OK.’ Leader leaves to come back another day. With some assertiveness and resourcefulness, the Follower may achieve some results.
2. Leader meets with Follower. Leader helps Follower identify vital behaviors. Which current behaviors are creating current results? What new behaviors would create new results? Leader says, ‘Let’s focus on swapping out a few behaviors’. Follower says, ‘OK’. Leader keeps Follower accountable and offers assistance. Follower focuses on swapping behaviors. Leader and Follower experience how focusing on vital behaviors can create great and lasting change.
Are there areas in your life and leadership where the outcomes are less than desired? Can you identify a few behaviors that could be swapped? How can you focus less on the outcome and more on the vital behaviors?
‘Crazy Love‘, written by Francis Chan, is crazy good. It’s crazy challenging, crazy convicting, and it is crazy that books like ‘Crazy Love‘ are so rare. I am not exaggerating when I say that this book kept me up at night. Was it that entertaining? No. It was after I put it down that it kept me up.
One phrase in the book that is rattling my cage says, ‘If you suddenly stopped believing in God, would your life look any different?’
Have any of you guys read ‘Crazy Love’? If so, what did you think? @scottrodgers
There are two magazines lying on our kitchen counter this morning. One is Business Week. It’s title says, ‘Is The Jobs Panic Justified?’ The other is CFO. It’s title says, ‘Future Tense – Companies Struggle To Assess What Lies Ahead.’ These are real issues that will likely affect many of us.
In the times we are living in, where do we invest? In regard to the financial market, I am neither an economist nor an investment strategist. However, in regard to life in general, I think I have some advice to share.
Here are some ‘Fail Proof Investments’:
Invest in your relationship with God. God’s work in you is not subject to the world around you.
Invest in yourself. The cream always rises to the top. The world always needs leaders and people who care.
Invest in those closest to you. Relationships are much more important than your career.
Invest in your world. When times are tough those with something to say suddenly gain an audience.
What other investments can you think of that yield some great returns?
Bill Giovannetti sent me a copy of his new book titled ’How To Keep Your Inner Mess From Trashing Your Outer World‘. While browsing through the book, I kept finding myself being pulled in. Bill’s writing is engaging and very practical. ’Inner Mess’ was not only added to my pile of ‘gotta read’; it is the next book I plan on reading.
Every one of us has what Bill describes as an Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street within, eager to muck up our world. He goes on to say, ‘You may be surprised, and even a bit depressed, to discover the mountains of trash piled in your soul. Don’t despair, however….God has provided (resources) to stop your Inner Mess from trashing your outer world.’
Check out more about the book at www.innermess.com. Bill – thanks for sending me a copy. Theresa – thanks for connecting us.
Laughed at. Cheered on. Judged as addicted. Expanding relationships. Wasting my time. Learning a lot. These are just some of the conversations and comments I am being surrounded with right now. It all stems from my passion to learn, leverage, and lead through the use of new technologies. This morning, Scott Williams, a good friend, posted the video below that encouraged me to keep pressing on.
Here are some of the basic online tools and technologies I am using and experimenting with, most of which are probably nothing new to you guys:
Three reasons why I am immersing myself in these: They’re fun. They help me to connect, communicate, and lead in new ways. Third, I get a strong sense that I am preparing for I don’t know what.
Will those who snicker at these and other new technologies be left behind? Become tomorrows unemployed because of yesterday’s down sizing? Or, worse yet, irrelevant?
I want to thank those who have truly impacted my journey. I hope the investment of your time in my life somehow brings you the return of a better world.
Does your church have someone who is passionate about communicating God’s Word to kids? Merry Christmas. I have a FREE resource for you.
A few years ago I wrote a children’s ministry curriculum. This curriculum was designed for teachers who want to create an engaging, entertaining, and impactful teaching moment for kids. This is not a bunch of multi media stuff. It’s basic. It’s a blast to teach.
I recently visited a church of 7000 people who have been using this curriculum for five years now. Churches around the country and even other countries have used the KidsGrowingInChrist curriculum. The web site: KidsGrowingInChrist.com is no longer active. However, if your church could honestly use a fresh teaching resource, let me know. It comes with clear instructions and all the files are in .pdf format.
I want to send nine months (36 lessons) of material on three CD Rom discs to TEN CHURCHES absolutely FREE. This is not a commercial . I just want to do it. If you use it and like it, I have ten more months to send your way for FREE as well.
Merry Christmas. Email your church’s mailing address, web site, and contact information to scott.rodgers @ lifechurch .tv. I’ll send it out. Email me as well if you have any questions regarding the scope and topics covered. Please, ask for it only if you plan on using it.
Warning: Reading further may arouse anger or strong opinion.
OK, you’ve chose to read on. Recently, I had an interaction with some well meaning people. Here’s how it went:
‘Scott, our friends came to church and didn’t feel like anyone reached out to them.’
Question: How does a local church (a large group of people gathered together) ‘reach out’ to someone who comes through its doors?
I’ll risk some possible improper etiquette and make some assumptions. Here we go… If someone says, ‘No one reached out to me’, I assume they overlooked a few things. How about all the people who put lots of energy into creating a place for them to come to in the first place? Did they miss the people who greeted them as they entered? Miss the snacks and warm drinks that were provided? If they had kids, did they miss all that was offered for their children to enjoy? Maybe they didn’t care about the great music that was part of their experience? Were they not engaged by a potentially life transforming message that was designed to help them?
Maybe what they mean by ‘no one reached out to me’ is that no one stopped and talked to them for an extended period of time.
Would it be unfair to assume a person to think, ‘There’s a lot of people here. I appreciate all the work they put into hosting us. I’m going to have to introduce myself to a few people.’ Isn’t life a two-way street?
I realize that most people have adopted a set of expectations regarding their local church. Most of those expectations are usually self-centered. Will they serve my family? Feed me spiritually? Help me when I need them? Hopefully their experience is yes. However, to what degree is realistic? Where else do we expect such a red carpet, one way deal in life? I can think of two; a hospital and kindergarten.
. I just want to do it. If you use it and like it, I have ten more months to send your way for FREE as well. 
