Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the tag “Leadership”

20 May 2013

Who is Responsible for My Development?

The heights of great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upwards in the night.

The Ladder of St. Augustine,  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

My conversation with this 30-year-old leader had come to a point of discussing his ongoing development as a leader.  “But my organization is not even thinking about my development,” he explained in exasperation.  “When will I be developed as a leader so that I can truly make my contribution?”

I’ve reflected on that conversation many times.  Who is responsible for our development as leaders?  I ‘d suggest 3 sources who are very interested in you reaching your potential for influence in the Kingdom.

First of all God Himself is very interested in your leader development.  While both competency and character are needed to lead well, God chooses to focus our development on the character side.  The obvious reason is that He will certainly take care of competency issues through His help as we depend upon Him.  This does not mean that leadership competency is not so important for Kingdom leaders, but God places a priority on character for His leaders.

He is committed to seeing Christlike character shaped within us all, especially His leaders.  He is constantly arranging the circumstances of our life and leadership in order to help us grow into the person He desires.  We can embrace these opportunities for character growth or seek to run from them.  But should we choose to run, He will again raise up new circumstances to once again move us towards Christlikeness.

Our second source of development should be our organization, corporation, business, or workplace.  Businesses and organization that purposefully invest in developing their leadership communities tend to do well over time.  These organizational opportunities can be formal (academic credentialing through study. i.e. secondary degrees in organizational leadership) or semi-formal (certification, continuing education days,  or seminars around areas of leadership competency).  Some workplaces are better than others about providing this type of intentional development.  And even those who are committed to this intentional development of leaders will often greatly cut the budget or staffing for it when there is an overall budget tightening.

The third source of our develop comes from within ourselves.  We must own our own development as leaders.  Rather than waiting or complaining about not being developed, take the responsibility upon yourself to be the best leader you can be.  Seek out opportunities for growth in competency and character.  Pursue it wholeheartedly!  Start today!

One of the most helpful development opportunities is having a mentor for your leadership. Many emerging leaders tell me that they can’t find a mentor willing to meet with them.  Here’s my suggestion.  Find a leader who you think can be of some help.  Approach them with this question, “Could we begin to meet together for me to ask you questions about how I can be a better leader?”  Note that you’re not asking them to mentor you.  Many busy leaders will immediately decline this offer…too many things to do!  But they all have to eat sometime, so invite them to a meal (you pay!) and come with specific questions that they can respond to.  Take good notes and reflect on their answers for your own growth and development.

Be the best leader you can be for Jesus sake and embrace your own development!

Posted in #2 BE - Who a Leader Is, #4 REPRODUCE - Developing More Leaders and tagged , , , , , ,
13 May 2013
4 Comments

Leading a Better Meeting

We all want to learn how to lead a good meeting.  There is nothing more discouraging that wasting your time and energy on meetings that don’t accomplish what is needed or actually demotivate those who attend.  We’ve got to stop meeting like this!  Here’s some practical ideas for improving your “how to lead a meeting” skills.  Perhaps all will not be helpful, but look for one idea that you can begin to implement this week to make you a better leader.

Types of meetings  –  multi-day vs. one day team meetings  –  different objectives for both of these types of meetings

  1. For multi-day meetings, address the most important issues or most complex issues first before you lose energy or enthusiasm
  2. Consider multiparty video meetings instead of face-to-face for routine meetings
  • Use Skype, ooVoo, MegaMeeting, etc. for video meetings; many can handle up to 20 people with little cost
  • Get comfortable with the technology before the meeting so you don’t waste time during the meeting trying to make the connection work!
  • For large teams, remind all to be sensitive to each others need to contribute; don’t dominate the conversation; don’t remain silent; not everyone has to speak on every issue!
  • Be sensitive on when you, the team leader, weigh in with your opinion; for younger teams this can shut down discussion

3 Parts to Every Meeting  –  Business, Relationships, Development

  • Not all parts get equal weight at each meeting – use as guideline for setting the schedule and agenda
  • Maintain a spiritual tone  – devotions (let others share devotions, not just team leader)
  • When discussions are bogged down with no clear solution, stop and pray individually (listen to God, as well as speak); pray collectively; report back what God has said to the group
  • Some special meetings may get more emphasis  –  i.e. development or relationships
  • Be sensitive to time zone changes for those who travel to the meeting  –  make the agenda a short night the first night so all get adequate rest; no important topics on the first day when arriving from travel
  • Pace the meeting if it’s multi-day  –  allow time for breaks, rest, and recreation
  • No cell phone or text messaging, unless family emergency!  (create a “cell phone fine pool” for violators)
  • No email checking during the meeting!  –  multitasking diminishes focus and contribution!
  • No web surfing during a meeting!
  • Be sure to get input from the quieter personality types in discussions; don’t let a few dominate or set the tone for a discussion;  invite quieter ones to speak first sometimes
  • Be sensitive to women not contributing due to being outnumbered or intimidated by number of men
  • Consider having one or two additional seats at the meeting to invite guests (“bench members” who could be future team members)
  • If you have only one woman team member, invite another woman (make sure that these are leaders in their own right, not just selected for gender balance)

1. Business Items

  • Have a schedule for each day and share it with all before the meeting begins so they can plan how to use their free time wisely; this also allows them time to come well prepared to contribute at the meeting
  • Let them know which meals will be together and which are free for them to schedule
  • If meeting at a headquarters, be sure to recognize the need to interface with others at headquarters, thus allowing time for it in the meeting schedule
  • Have a written agenda with top priority items listed first that will usually require extended discussion
  • Request member’s input on additional agenda items before the meeting so you can decide whether to include them or handle these items in a different way
  • Think what must be done face-to-face and what can be done by other means
  • Have list of operational issues that are easy to use as short, time fillers – i.e. dates for next meeting, location of next meeting, etc.
  • Consider letting others lead the daily agenda so that you as the team leader can gain some better perspective on any discussion and the overall meeting tone
  • For multi-day meetings, consider having evenings free unless it’s a relationship oriented activity
  • Personnel decisions will always take more time than you think!  Allow plenty of time in the schedule.

2. Relationship Building

  • Trust is the key to a great team; never underestimate the power of trust!
  • Personal updates at the beginning of the meeting  –  set a time limit; pray for each other
  • What is shared in the meeting stays in the meeting, unless permission is given!
  • Consider creating a tradition that will bond members by sharing a common experience  –  i.e. revolving miniature golf trophy, game tournament, etc.
  • Just having meals together is not the only way to deepen relationships!
  • Be sensitive to gender differences on what builds relationships –  i.e. paintball wars; choosing which movie to watch together, etc.
  • Consider a special event where focus is primarily on deepening relationships
  • Bring spouses to the special event?
  • Be sensitive to financial costs, travel costs, babysitting needs, etc.
  • Be sensitive to differences in interest level  –  one person’s fun time is another’s torment!

3. Development of Team

  • As the team leader, you don’t have to do the development yourself, just lead them in development!
  • Plan your development ahead of time; what can you do together to grow as leaders?
  • Read and discuss an article; do a bible study together and discuss it; read a chapter in a book and discuss it
    • Assignments to be discussed at the meeting  –  i.e. an article or chapter from a book
    • Make sure the assignments are doable for busy leaders
    • Use devotions as development times  –  leadership lessons from the Word
    • Ask others to share the devotions  –  give them feedback on how to improve their sharing of the Word
    • Make special events both developmental and relationship oriented  –  i.e. Gettysburg, Alamo
    • Be sensitive to gender differences and interest levels
Posted in #3 DO - What a Leader Does and tagged , , , , ,
06 May 2013
11 Comments

Begin with the End in Mind

Someone has said, “If you don’t know where you are going, then any road will get you there.”  Have you thought about the final seasons of your life when hopefully you will have developed your strengths to the point where you are serving and blessing others in and through them?  If that is the ‘end,’ then what road should you be on now that will lead you to that destination?

By way of personal illustration, what I am currently doing is sharing my life messages in the form of coaching leaders individually, teaching others from these life lessons, and helping to lead a leader development process for our US Navigator work.  But all of this flows from a decision to focus on my life passion of leadership and developing leaders about 20 years ago. 

When home on assignment from Indonesia for six months in 1991, I took some extended time to reflect upon where I sensed the blessing of God on my life and ministry and where I was truly motivated and excited about the topic.  This led me to begin to focus on the areas of leadership and developing emerging leaders.  After leaving the Collegiate Director role in 2003 I again took some extended time to reflect upon my passions and life messages that I felt a sense of stewardship for before the Lord.  This led to a laser focus on three areas:  leader development, emerging leaders, and the nations (missions). 

In thinking about this path of development over two decades plus now it is clear that the “end” has become more and more focused.  The general direction for multiplying my life through spiritual generations of laborers now has resulted in a personal mission statement as follows:  I am out to change the world one leader at a time by helping them live and lead like Jesus.

In sharing this I am not suggesting that you imitate my personal journey.  I only point this out as an illustration to consider for your own development.  Operating and leading from strengths will not just happen with the passing of time.  You will have to choose to focus, to say ‘yes’ to some things and ‘no’ to others in order to maximize your strengths.  It will be a process, a longer process that you think, to get to a destination of serving others from your passions and strengths.

So, here are some general thoughts for you regarding contributing in your strengths:

 1.        Develop yourself for contribution, not a role or title or spot on an organizational chart.  The latter is thinking too small and limiting what God could desire to do with and through you.  Develop your life messages and then let God surprise you as to how He will let you make that contribution.  The two roles that I have now in leader development did not exist 10 years ago.  Both were created for me as I developed my strength in the message of leadership and developing leaders.

2.       Work on your personal mission statement to clarify your contribution.  Take some time to stop and think about the end of your journey now, not later.  What would you desire?  What would ‘turn your crank?’  This could be a great sabbatical exercise.  It will clarify what you are aiming for in the future.  Why has God made you?  For what purpose?  What are the life messages He has given you to steward for which you will be held accountable?

3.       Determine your primary audience for your contribution.  Who is the audience that the Lord seems to connect you with?  What age group?  Do you have cross-cultural ability or experience?  Again to illustrate from my life, I determined that my primary focus was to be emerging leaders under the age of 40.  I wanted to help shape them before they made too many choices that led to bad consequences in their leadership careers.  This aligned with my life experience as well as my strategic desire to help others before they made major mistakes, rather than afterwards.

4.       Finally, you will want to determine your primary delivery platform.  What format do you just love to engage others in?  Is it one-on-one, small group, or large group?  Do you like informal, semi-formal, for formal environments for influencing others?  Written or verbal?  Is it more “come along and watch me” or “sit down and let’s dialog on this”?  Regardless of the delivery platform, there needs to be intentionality for the greatest impact in the lives of others.

Now, it’s time to get out the map and determine your destination.  Remember, if you don’t know what you’re aiming for, you’ll hit it every time!

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks, #4 REPRODUCE - Developing More Leaders and tagged , , , ,
29 Apr 2013
1 Comment

Are Leaders Born or Made?

One of the common questions asked regarding leadership is this, “Are leaders born or made?”  And the answer is, “Yes!”  Here’s my expanded answer to this challenging question — The 3 B’s of Making Leaders!

Born  –   Some people are hard-wired with God-given temperaments, intellects, and natural abilities that will give them the ability to influence others more easily as leaders.  While this God-given ability does allow for easier influence, it does not necessarily mean that the quality of their leadership is better than others who are not so naturally endowed.  These “natural leaders” will also need to grow in their leadership skills in order to utilize these natural strengths to their optimum.

Born Again  –  Some followers of Christ have the God-given spiritual gift of leadership.  In Romans 12:6-8 we have Paul listing several of the spiritual gifts given for serving others in the Body of Christ.  He says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  ‎ If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;  ‎ if 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.”

It is my understanding that all believers in Christ are given at least one spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit.  These gifts are given to us that we might serve others (1 Peter 4:10).  Those ‘gifted leaders’ who have the spiritual gift of leadership will have ability and capacity to lead in other ways than those not gifted will.  But these ‘gifted leaders’  also must develop this leadership gift through careful attention to becoming the best leader they can be for Jesus’ sake.  Note Paul’s reminder to Timothy, ” For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands ” (2 Timothy 1:6).

Built  –  There are certain leadership competencies or skills that can be learned and developed by everyone.  Through practice, feedback, and application everyone can learn to lead to some extent.  Husbands can learn to lead their families, parents can learn to lead their children, and employers can learn to lead their employees.  Though all can learn to lead, the quality of one’s leadership will depend upon our attention to this development.  When compared with others who are the natural or gifted leaders one’s leadership capacity may be less or one may have to work harder to grow in leadership competencies, but you can learn to lead.  In fact, your leadership may surpass those natural or gifted leaders who do not develop themselves.

So….are leaders born or made?  The answer is, “Yes!”  Some are born, some are born again, and some are built!  Are you taking your development as a leader seriously?  Are you seeking to “fan it into a flame?”

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks and tagged , , ,
22 Apr 2013
8 Comments

Becoming Intentional About Character Development

The powerful impact of a model is [a] common tool used by God to help shape us.   For many of us, people (parents, teachers, pastors, mentors) will be used to positively model character qualities and subsequently build them into our lives.  We will observe how they implement certain character qualities in their lives and then apply these principles in our own.  Sometimes this application is conscious, but many times it comes about because we have been around someone for so long that we unconsciously become like them.  The writer of Proverbs tells us, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20) and “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).  A modern proverb states the same principle, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”  We become like those with whom we associate.

A wonderful way to learn from the example of others is through reading their biographies.  Reading about the lives and trials of other leaders can inspire and instruct us in relevant areas for our own situations.  Aside from the bible, I have learned more about life and leadership by reading the biographies of leaders than any other source.  Reading the biographies of spiritual, business, political, and military leaders can be a great habit for self-development.  Let me suggest that you begin with the biographies of such great spiritual leaders as William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, J.O. Fraser, Adoniram Judson, D.L. Moody, George Mueller, Dawson Trotman, and Bill Bright.

The teaching and example of a spiritual mentor is another key element in the development and growth of an emerging leader.  More than a model, a mentor builds into your life Christlike character and values.  Asking God to give you someone who can be a positive example and who actively builds into your life can be a great blessing.  Paul selected Timothy to be with him in the work and along the way he built into Timothy’s life what he had learned of Kingdom leadership.  He writes to Timothy in his last letter this exhortation, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings…But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it” (2 Timothy 3:10-14).

Mentors and other leaders can help develop us in character as well as leadership skills (competencies).  Though both godly character and skills are needed for good leadership, the environment in which they are shaped is very different.  An environment with accountability is necessary for skill transfer and development, but a more relational environment is needed for character formation.  If we mix them up, trying to develop character by imposing accountability, we will not see lasting change.  [A friend has said, “All accountability does is turn us into good liars.”]

[Another] tool that the Lord frequently uses to develop our character is the life situations and circumstances that we find ourselves facing.  How we respond in our hearts in these situations is often much more important than what we finally decide or do.  God is arranging these situations for our continued development and growth.  Rather than being frustrated or discouraged by our trials, we can welcome them as tools being used by God for our good.  If we learn to rest in Him and draw strength from Him in the midst of these times, we will benefit greatly.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

For an emerging leader, one lacking leadership experience, their primary felt need is for leadership skill development.  This is especially true because these skill needs often come with deadlines that must be met.  We have to turn in a strategic leadership plan, but we’ve never done that before, so we seek help in how to create a plan.  We are given responsibility for leading an event, but having little experience with it, we eagerly seek out help for how to lead an event well.  And so it goes, seeking the leadership skills (competencies) necessary to meet the immediate demands of our responsibilities.  The result will be more responsibility and greater influence, for this is the reward of successful leaders.  Thus, the daily busyness of leading crowds out the time needed for intentional character development.

The final outcome of focusing on leadership skills is frequently a leader who in their 40’s has arrived at a pinnacle of influence that is great, but inwardly their character can’t stand the load of their leadership.  The pressure and strains of increased leadership responsibility begin to expose character flaws that have been ignored or covered up for many years.  But now, with greater responsibility, their impact can no longer be set aside.  The ripple effects of their character flaws as manifested in their actions are too great, for they now impact many more people and resources!  Many leaders collapse at the height of their influence as a character weakness is finally exposed and great is the collapse thereof! [i]

Don’t hope that with the passing of time or with increased experience that Christlike character will develop.  Begin today to be intentional about your character development!

[i]   Yeakley, Tom   Growing Kingdom  Character

NavPress  Colorado Springs, CO,  2011  p. 16ff

Posted in #2 BE - Who a Leader Is, #4 REPRODUCE - Developing More Leaders and tagged , , , , , , , ,
08 Apr 2013
8 Comments

Your First Leadership Team Meeting – Make it a Good One!

There is only one “first meeting” when forming your leadership team–you won’t be able to have a “do-over.”   Therefore, you will want to ensure that it is a success.  It will set the tone and pattern for future team meetings and if done well will create an environment for great teamwork.  Here are some practical ideas for launching your team well at that first meeting.  Some ideas are obviously applicable at any stage of team formation.  Some may fit your team and some not.  Take these ideas like you would eat fish  –  enjoy the meat and discard the bones!

1)  First meetings are important as they set tone, expectations, patterns, and first impressions that are lasting.  So, giving good thought to ensure that it’s a hit is essential.  Come prepared and plan the time well.

2)  As a general outline for all leadership team meetings (especially your first one) think of 3 parts:  business, development, and relationships!  There is not equal time spent for all three, but try to insure that every time together you address these three areas.  The business will always get the most attention for teams form to accomplish a task.  The business items often come with deadlines that demand our attention.  The development and relationship pieces (building community and esprit de corps) are easy to shortcut or minimize their importance.  But to ignore these will be detrimental to your effectiveness and impact as a team in the long-term.

3)  The development part of team meetings should be related to an aspect of leadership and can be varied – from interacting over a bible passage, article, book, or even an entire movie you watch together and then talk about leadership lessons demonstrated, etc.  If leading a team of busy leaders be wise in how much prep beforehand you can expect of the team as all are very busy (i.e. instead of reading and discussing an entire book together, choose one chapter from the book to read and discuss).

4)  Relationships –  for those of us who are more task oriented, this aspect of our meetings can seem like a “waste of time.”  Remember, just because you meet together does not mean that you are building trust relationships on the team!  I’ve done everything from using team building exercises, to having an annual golf tournament with a revolving trophy, to playing board games, party games, going out for a movie (not necessarily leadership oriented), fishing, visiting historical sites, visiting other ministries, etc.  It is only by building deep friendships that go beyond just being on a task-oriented team, building trust through shared experience, that we will be able to create a safe place where we can be real with one another.  The transparency and vulnerability that you model before the team as a team leader will help create this for others on the team.

5)  When you think about these three aspects of every meeting, you realize that you will need to have enough time scheduled for this, in order to have a relaxed pace.  The tendency is just to schedule the business agenda for the meeting and neglect time for development and relationships.  With multi-day meetings I would try to begin by sharing the Word and praying together for an extended time each day.  I would sometimes lead this time or ask others to lead, trying to make the time in the Word interactive.  It can help to begin the first part of our times together with each giving a personal update on life and family – seeking to model the idea that we are important as people, not just the task that we do.  We would often pray for each other during these times.

6)  You are wise to define the purpose of the team as well as expectations.  What will this team accomplish if we all contribute well?  Be sure you don’t have a “hidden agenda” with the answers already decided upon.  No doubt you’ll have some ideas in these areas, but if the team as a whole helps shape this, they will all own it together and will be highly motivated to carry it out.

7)  One thing to discuss is how you will make decisions on the team.  There are several standard decision-making models (a subject for another blog) and you’ll want to clarify how the team will make decisions as you go forward.  I personally believe in “a leader and their team” as opposed to “team leadership” with a participative decision-making style for most daily leadership decisions.  But realize that all decision-making models are appropriate for different times and situations.  This subject can be a development piece for your team members to help them as they lead their own teams in the future.

8)  As you think about setting future goals and plans, you want to insure that the goals are balanced between being realistic, given where you are now, but also faith influenced, having enough growth that they will require the hand of God and His blessing in order to see them accomplished.  Having both aspects and holding them in a dynamic tension will enable you to recruit others to ‘lay down their nets and come with you.’

You only have one ‘first team meeting’ – make it a good one!  And remember, don’t eat the bones!

Posted in #3 DO - What a Leader Does and tagged , , , , , ,

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