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Tag: leadership development

How Can I Build Up Others?

Published by Jeff Kennon on May 27, 2015

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How do we go about daily executing the tasks that are in front of us? Obviously, we need to plan and prioritize. If not, we lose focus and other things will set our agenda for the day. We generally want to do things that make a difference, but if we don’t put first things first, our time can get away from us as the trivial things take center stage.

The question we need to ask ourselves, however, is what are those areas we need to place first? I think the answer is fairly simple. It’s people.

In Matt Perman’s book, What’s Best Next: How The Gospel Transforms The Way You Get Things Done, he writes that in regards to the daily execution of tasks, we need to ask ourselves in everything we do: How can I build others up? For Perman, this brings us back to the fundamental principle behind everything: You are here to do good for others, to the glory of God. 

All productivity practices, writes Perman, all of our work, everything is given to us by God for the purpose of serving others. Therefore, we need to be deliberate about this in all of our work–both the work we get paid for and the work of running our households. This means not simply doing the things we do for the sake of others; it means building others up in the very act of doing what we do. The aim needs to be not simply to get our tasks done but to build people up in the accomplishing of our tasks.

For me, this reorientates why we do what we do. We send emails, go to meetings, answer phones, wash dishes, wait tables, cook food, give presentations, design buildings, teach children, stock groceries, clean houses, diagnose diseases, write news stories, drive buses and more for the building up of others.

We need to remember that our job is bigger than the tasks we perform. Perman writes that we need to see our day “in terms of people and relationships first, not tasks. Tasks matter and are important and fun, but tasks have to take a back seat to people.”

I think there is always a tendency to view people as getting in the way of what we are trying to do. We are busy and important people, or so we think, and tend to lose sight of what it is we are really trying to do. Jesus told us to love God and love others. Pretty simple. Well, maybe not that simple. But Jesus words do help us to refocus what it means to be truly productive people.

 

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5 Things To Learn From The San Antonio Spurs

Published by Jeff Kennon on June 4, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcEYrjU_3sM

Even if you are not a Spurs fan, or even a fan of basketball, there are some things we can appreciate and learn from the way they play basketball.

1. Team comes first.

So many times we promote the individual and we leave out what’s important…TEAM. The Spurs are not seeking a lot glamour. They have gotten over themselves.

Their attitude is: I have a shot, you have a better shot.

2. Character is critical.

The Spurs don’t get knuckleheads, they don’t get clowns, they don’t get guys with huge egos, they get guys that do what they are told to do.

3. There are times to lead and times to follow.

The Spurs know how to execute a game plan. They do what they are told and they do it with class. Players believe in their coaches and the coaches believe in their players. They each give credit to each other.

Each person on the team has a role and they accept it. Each knows when he needs to lead and when he needs to follow.

4. Commitment is vital.

The Spurs understand what they want and are committed to it. Everybody is in the same circle and they believe in it. They are all in it together.

5. It’s not always about the glitz.

If you are a purist about the game of basketball, you watch the Spurs play. If you want the glitz and glamour, you may watch another team.

How can we miss what the Spurs do night in and night out? The Spurs play basic fundamental basketball and we need to appreciate what they are doing. They do all the little things well. How is it that we don’t appreciate what they do?

 

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One Reason You Should Develop Leadership Skills

Published by Jeff Kennon on March 14, 2014

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Have you ever thought about the relationship between you developing as a leader and it’s impact upon society?

Consider this:  As you grow as a leader, it impacts you personally. This growth in your personal life then affects your work life. And as your work life is impacted and becomes more productive, then the organization you work in is influenced and becomes more effective. And finally, when your organization or business becomes more effective, then society is impacted.

Do you see the domino effect that can occur by developing good leadership skills?

Personal Skills

↓

Your work

↓

Your Organization

↓

Our Society

Matt Perman, in his new book  What’s Best Next, writes about this relationship between our effectiveness as leaders and the impact it has on society. He writes that by us being more effective, we aren’t simply serving our bosses and coworkers better, as important as that is. We are serving our entire organizations and enabling them to become better as well, and thus serving everyone they influence (p. 304).

Leo Tolstoy wrote: Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. Could this be because we don’t see the relationship between our personal growth and its impact upon those around us?

What if you began to understand and implement the dynamics of servant leadership? How would becoming more aware of the needs of those around you, specifically those you work with, make an impact? Would it increase worker morale? What about your boss? Could your servant mentality have an impact upon him/her?

There might be some reading this who don’t consider themselves leaders. You might hold a job that doesn’t have an official leadership title. Or you are  a stay-at-home parent or a retired member of a community. Regardless of where you are in life or what you do, developing as a leader is bigger than holding a title or position. Leadership is about influence.

You may not have a title at work, but your work, though you may think its insignificant, effects those around you. Your parenting has influence not only among your children but among other parents. If you are retired, there is an abundance of opportunity to make those around you better (My grandfather is a great example. Read about him).

Do you see why I think leadership development is important for everyone? As you grow, you impact those around you who in turn impact those around them and so on and so on.

Where do you start?

One place to start (or continue) your leadership development would be to do some reading. Below are a few books that I would recommend. Pick one and get to reading.

The Leadership Challenge: How To Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by Kouzes and Posner. This book proposes that anyone can develop leadership skills. For more info about the book, read the review by Trevin Wax.

Leaders Who Last by Dave Kraft. He writes: As a leader, everything I am and everything I do needs to be anchored in my identity with Christ. Leadership begins and ends with a clear understanding of the gospel and being rooted in the grace of Jesus Christ as a free gift.

You Don’t Need To Have A Title To Be A Leader by Mark Sanborn. This is a fairly short book. I think the title says it all.

What’s Bext Next: How The Gospel Transforms The Way You Get Things Done by Matt Perman. This is a new book and is excellent in helping one to understand productivity. This book has been tremendously helpful for me. For more info, read my review of the book.

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