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The Least You Can Do is Say THANK YOU!

Today is the 70th Anniversary of the historic D-Day -  Allied Forces invasion of Europe.  The strategy, intensity and complexity of that planned attack contributed to the ending of WW2 in 1945.  The cost was many American soldiers' lives, but the success was far reaching. 

I'm privileged to have a close friend who was a POW in WW2.  I've thanked him many times for his willingness to sacrifice for our country.  With tears, he's always responded, "It was my honor."  He's in his early nineties and the moments we are afforded in relationship are limited.  Our time together is filled with his accounts of the conquests and failures of the war.  I cherish what we share around coffee, stories and God's Word.  To have him as a friend and representation of the "greatest generation" is an honor I will not soon forget. 

When I say THANK YOU to him, it is filled with much emotion about what I know and even what I don't.  But, I've learned that uttering those words is the least that I can say when we are together.  And, that expression of appreciation softens his heart and warms our relationship. 

Expressing thanks is huge in every arena of life.  When we take the time to say THANK YOU, even for the smallest acts of generosity, we open ourselves up to what life is all about - GIVING.  Ignoring the kindnesses of a cup of coffee, a lunch or a gift in the mail is ultimately assuming it was deserved.  The opposite of gratitude is entitlement.  And, that is an ugly way of living.  When we are only thankful for the larger things in life, we limit life in all of its fullness, because what we share together on this earth is about the small gestures here and there. 

So, pause today and thank your family member for making the breakfast, your friend for meeting you for lunch, your employer for the job opportunity, or a veteran for their sacrifice for our freedom.  And, if you are on the receiving in of that thanks, please..., please...say YOU'RE WELCOME!

Who can you thank today for what they've given, whether it be large or small?

12 Ways to Intentionally Serve the Team You Lead

Serving others in the context of leadership impacts everything that a leader is and does.  Whether the leader is endeavoring to cast vision, clarify roles, or negotiate through relational tensions, an attitude of service aids in the whole process of communication and enables genuine connection.  Conversely, I’ve found by personal experience that constant potential for unnecessary misunderstandings abound when humility is absent in leadership. So, let's move servant leadership beyond a concept to a lifestyle.  Here is a list of ways to intentionally serve those you lead:

1.   Ask regularly how they are getting along in their personal life.
2.   Invite their input on big decisions.
3.   Listen intently in dialogue with them. 
4.   Resource them with practical tools to help them carry out the organization's mission.
5.   Keep the mission, vision, values and strategy before them continually.
6.   Define the part each member plays on the team.
7.   Make sure assignments and expectations are clear.
8.   Give them opportunities that convey belief and value.
9.   Follow up on assigned projects with authentic feedback and praise.  
10. Ask them periodically how you are doing as their leader.
11. Schedule and spend relational and recreational time as a team. 
12. Plan the party, celebrate wins together and reward them individually!

Leaders must never underestimate the primary role they play as investors in their team.  Detachment is not leadership!  Regular, intentional involvement with people is the essence of what leaders do.  Go and lead your team today!

How can you take these practical tools and put them to work for your team immediately?

Two Distinguishing Factors of Effective Leaders

What have you been learning lately?  That is a question I hear asked in a lot of leadership circles.  And, it's a good one because of the personally probing nature.  Reading a good deal of information on a regular basis, going to annual conferences, and listening to the latest podcast are standard resources for leaders in today's world.  Profoundly, however, that is just not enough.  Amassing information without really learning can be nothing more than a waste of time.  What is the material teaching you?  How does it fit in your context?  What healthy discussions with your team are coming out of such experiences?  These kinds of questions will help determine if the resource is valuable in the long run.  Learning to better yourself and your organization distinguishes effective leaders from those who are just going through the motions, so to speak.

A second factor in effective leadership takes learning to a next level.  Here's a question that isn't heard as often but could possibly inch close in importance to the first:  What have you learned lately that you are in the process of implementing?  Learning hasn't reached its real significance until it can be applied.  The last thing I want to do is retake a test that I didn't do so well in the first time around.  Passing the proverbial tests of leadership comes when I apply what I'm learning.  So, here's a good formula for raising your level of effectiveness today:  Experience to learn and learn to apply!

What have you been learning lately?  And, what have you learned lately that you can begin to implement?

How Would Jesus Do Your Job Differently?

There is no greater way to personally probe deeply into what you do and how you are doing it than by asking self-examination questions.  One that I have been thinking on lately...and, am adopting into my regular weekly questionnaire is how would Jesus do my job differently?  It's one that is painfully necessary.  My life is flawed; His life isn't.  As a matter of fact, Scripture is clear in that though Christ was tempted in every way like we are, His life remained sinless.  What a life to learn from...! 

So, how would Christ do your job differently?  How would His responses be different?  What attitudes that have been somewhat unbridled in your life would be kept at bay in His?  Why would He make a certain decision that you chose not to make?  In what areas would Christ show patience that, in the same areas, you haven't?  Who would He connect with...?  What would His calendar look like...?  How often would He engage in outside lunches...?  How much time would he spend in planning...?  What would His annual budget contain...? 

Continue the questions by framing them in light of how Christ would do your job today. 
Ultimately, Jesus is our Life Coach.  He has already mastered every relational issue and on-the-job obstacle.  And, doing it as He already has and says to do it is the critical ingredients to raising our standard of excellence and significance. 

A final thought would relate to the profound grace that He offers.  The reality is that the way Christ would do your job would be different through you than the way He would do it through someone else.  Lean into the nudges of the Holy Spirit today.  Depending more intentionally on His grace might serve a different approach after all. 

So, how might Jesus do your job differently?

The Ugly Side of Impatience

Patience is not always popular in a culture of "get it done" and "never enough time."  Frankly, some leaders choose impatience over the risk of seeming lazy.  I am so for a healthy work ethic.  The last thing your organization needs is slothfulness and lack of enthusiastic production.  The paradox, however, lies in the impatience for mediocrity and a spirit of impatience.  Such a spirit can appear to take over more areas than just business, for instance.  When traffic isn't moving fast enough for you on your city's turnpike or friends' stories never seem short enough to your ears, an ongoing, problematic issue might be surfacing.  Pause to take some inventory of your day's activities?  Do you see a pattern of impatient responses...?  It's been said that you cannot be impatient and humble at the same time.  That is such a WOW truth!  Author Gene Wilkes writes in his book Jesus on Leadership, "Impatience causes leaders to sacrifice insight for effort.  It causes us to trust our natural instincts rather than God's work in our life."  I've taken this whole matter of impatience in my life to a whole new level of prayer.  The last thing I want people to see in me is the ugly reactions to any lack of patience.  What about you...?  Why don't you join me now in surrendering the spirit of impatience to Christ and depending more deeply on His grace to calm you in seemingly rushed times...  The Christ in you is ready to be seen!

What issues of impatience do you need to surrender to Christ today?

It's Always Better to Follow First

Leadership has been the buzz word since the eighties.  And, there's nothing I enjoy studying more than what it means to lead well.  However, a huge dynamic is missing many times when pursuing this learning venture.  All the while the subject of leadership is getting front stage, a more important study is being left in the proverbial props closet.  It has been my observation that leaders are only as good at leading as they are following.  Frankly, leaders are effective when they're better followers. 

Author and President of the National Association of Evangelicals, Leith Anderson has observed that "the Bible says comparatively little about leadership and a great deal about followership."  Being an effective follower means understanding and serving the mission.  A follower appreciates authority, collaboration, strategic players and common goals.  Good followers deny any value in unbridled competition and personal fits of jealousy.  When leaders don't have anyone or anything to follow, they isolate themselves from reality, meaningful exchange and lasting significance.  Great followers make potent leaders.  Yes, it's always better to follow first...and to lead a life of following before you ever consider leading anyone!

How are you doing at following?  In what ways can you better align yourself with the organizational mission?