Monday, May 25, 2009

Leadering: Following, Courageous Following

In order to lead well, one must be able to follow well.

More on this at http://focusandreflection.blogspot.com/ and http://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Leadering: In-The-Box Success

We can't be thinking outside the box. That leads to pipe dreaming and not building with what you have.

Stay in the box, improve the box by changing. Stop the wishing.

I'm reminded of the scene from Apollo 13 where a group of engineers were given a table full of "STUFF" to fix the problem. The STUFF was what was available to the astronauts in space. They had to work with what they had, nothing else.

http://focusandreflection.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 21, 2008

Disciplines of a Leader Leading Leader

With its focus and agenda to be a company of Leaders Leading Leaders, Alethes recognizes the disciplines of a Leader Leading Leader as one who strives themselves and equips others to be; Purposeful - you approach others to purposefully add value to the relationship; Relational - you are warm and inviting and work at relationships; Objective -you assess strengths and weaknesses objectively; Vulnerable - you model self-disclosure and honesty; Incarnational- you live out what you teach; Dependable; you are consistent and responsible with your actions and promises; Empowering - you give power away and facilitate growth in others;Resourceful - you use every tool you have to grow people and improve processes.

There are many parts to an organization's culture and these P.R.O.V.I.D.E.R. disciplines are something we can daily use to assist us in the fulfillment of our Vision, Mission, and Value Statements.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Lead, Mentor, Train, Tutor, Coach, Manage: Is there a difference?

Yes, there is a difference.

Mentoring: where there is a mutual relationship with an intentional agenda to convey specific content along with life wisdom from one individual to another. (Howard Hendricks, The Elements of Mentoring)

Coaching/Training: an advising relationship in which an expert walks alongside another individual through a process or set of decisions and/or disciplines. (in part Howard Hendricks, The Elements of Mentoring)

Tutoring: one-on-one private individual instruction that is customized to meet specific needs

Managing: a hierarchal relationship in which in which the senior person handles, directs, governs, or controls the people and processes on an orginization despite hardship and difficulties

Leading: influencing others at all times; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, in part through mentoring, training, discipling (if Christian), tutoring, and/or coaching

Too many of us limit our belief of Leading to speaking at a seminar, leading a class/small group, "managing" people, etc. Yes, while Leading will often include one or more of these areas, we've been wrongly trained that to Lead we have to be in a position of recognized authority; out in front; respected. We've been taught that Leading is specific to a time or place.

Whereas mentoring, training, tutoring, coaching, and managing have specific time sets, Leading is continuous, all encompassing.

Randy Pennington, in his excellent book, RESULTS RULES!, does a great job emphasizing the importance of results; good or bad.

In the process of hearing Mr. Pennington speak recently, reading his book, and reflecting on what all he has to say, I've realized how LEADING RULES! also.

Good or bad, you and I are LEADING every hour, of every day...and that RULES! who we are and how people react to us.

One of my life disciplines the past 16+ years is..."I will be the same 5 years from today, as I am today, except for what I listen to, what I watch, the books I read, and the people with whom I associate."

Well, I've added another factor... ....."and how well I Lead."

Danny




Being a Leader

Being a Leader is not something we are at merely planned or specifics times or events. It is not how we act at work, a coach of our son's baseball team, and as a "Leader" at church. And, at home!

Being a Leader is what we are during the combination of each of these and the rest of our daily lives. Leading is INFLUENCING.

Of course, the "type" of Leader we are in each area is different all together. Most of us have been taught, by example and by training, to act (Lead) differently as we move from one agenda to another. Even to the extent of how we order fast food, discuss an engine problem with a mechanic, or challenge our child's unfair algebra grade....we are Leading.

In all of this, exchange the word "Lead" for "Influence."

Consider this amazing concept as you go about your day. Does it change how you act and react?

Danny