The Leadership Den

Choices.. Making The Right Ones

2011-05-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

The choices we make, make us.. If we only would take that thought more into account.. The choices we all make, eventually will make us!

I can say with utmost honesty I've made some bad choices (amen) If I was to change those choices I would, but it's to late that choice has been made. So looking head what would or should I do different when making choices? I'm not the best person to ask on this subject, but hey I can offer my experience on the subject having made some boo boos..

Wrong choices = Wrong results

Right choices = Right results

If we are experiencing the wrong results- pretty good indicator we've been making the wrong choices.. The truth about choices nobody else can make'em for you.. Having said that, let me offer what I think through my personal experience how to decrease the making of wrong choices and shift over to make the right ones.

1) Pray Over The Choice

Too often this sounds over simplistic, but really- do we ?

Save us a whole lot of unnecessary trials..

2) Seek Out Counsel

Not all the time but it depends on the choice that has to be made

Proverbs says: there is safety in a multitude of counselors

Let me insert this quickly: As a leader the choices you make not only effect you but many that follow are also affected

3) Study Past Choices

What was the choice
What was the outcome
Did it bring it's intended result
Who was effected by my choice
What feeling where associated with that choice

When we study past choices it can help extremely on make new one's

4) Timing Is Crucial

You make a choice too early or too late or not at all -- "to be indecisive is still making a decision"

There's a principle called- Peak to Peak principle

Meaning this: We have the tendency during the valleys not the peaks to make choices, and usually the valleys are the wrong times to make those choice (valley- lows of life).. It's not on the peaks (good times-success) in our careers or marriages or ministry, that we make choices.

Often the choice we make during the valleys are decisions of quiting or moving on..

Here's an example of this peak to peak principle in action: Marriage is experiencing hardships, arguing almost every other day, bills are piling up..(valley-lows of life) WRONG TIME TO MAKE DECISIONS... Peak= Blessed in every which way marriage is growing, and glowing..RIGHT TIME TO MAKE A DECISION

Well I hope that this has been helpful.. Till next time, remember - Leaders are readers

Appreciate your feedback Leave a comet:

When A Leader Faces Lonely Times

2011-04-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

For sure each leader has and will face those lonely times, it's a matter of when. If you face those times what can we do? This is not a quick fix approach to the problem of loneliness..

When and if you ever feel lonely, allow me to suggest 5

things to do:

1) Friendships

2) Fight through it

3) Fellowship

4) Focus

5) Find Help

Let me just share a little more in depth on two of the five I mentioned

1. Focus: Our focus sometimes is turned inward rather than upward, we might focus on what or who we don't have in our lives verses who and what we have.. Please recognize your outlook will determine your outcome

I have at times- must admit been lonely- even in a crowded room.. Thank God I didn't stay there too long - It was a matter of focus!

2. Find Help

Did you know that you are not the only one who has ever faced lonely times?

There's help out there: professional, pastoral, parents, and even peers

There hardest thing is asking for it; Why do we as leaders find it hard to ask for help?

3 things come to mind- here let me share them with you:

a. Pride

b. People -opinions, what will so, so think- are you more interested in what they think than you well being?

c. Past - letdowns, hurt- from those we've shared intimate stuff with.

Let me share this important thought with you: Loneliness is the first thing which God's eye named, not good.. so it is not good for you to be alone!! Thank you for stopping by The Leadership Den...Until Next Time

When Leaders Lose Their Cutting Edge Prt2

2011-03-03T11:02:00.001-08:00

Dear Rising Leader,

How does a leader remain S.H.A.R.P.? If we are to remain sharp or cutting edge leaders> we must first acknowledge "if" we're losing our edge, them proceed.

Keep in mind it really doesn't become a reality within an individual until he/she passes from paper to practice. Let me explain: everything always looks good on paper, or should I say in theory. But in practice well.... Vision looks fantastic on paper, Goals look amazing on paper, and a mission statement looks utterly tremendous. But? What get pictured and doesn't get done is what I liken it to: "a submarine with screen doors" Pretty much> useless. Or a decoration on the wall of some large foyer of an organization.

There must be an applying of the following keys: 1) S- Skills: in the Book of Ecc. we're reminded of a scripture that says if the axe is dull it takes more strength, but skill will bring success.

Staying shrp involves aquiring and maintaing skills. Such as people skills (listening, communication, etc) 2) H- Heart : do you still have a heart for people and ministry?

Or have you become harden due to hurts, disappointments and even betrayal? We must cultivate a passion with compassion in our hearts continually.

3) A- Attitude: It's has been said before Attitude not aptitude will determine your altitude in this life. You attitude will determine how far you go in this life.. How you do what you do?
Is a measuring of our attitude> An example of this is when given something to do> do You respond based on how you feel or do you just do it? 4) R- Read: to lead you must continually read! Not what's trendy or "IN" But relevant and worthy of application. Not everything you and I read is for where we are at for that particular time. Lastly to remain sharp: P- 5)Pray: for the christian leader this a non-negotiable item. Remember: God is not like a spare tire, call on him only when we need him!! Consistently seeking him- for the Refining, Refueling, Realignment, and Restoration..

Until Next time: Leaders Are Readers.

When Leaders Lose Their Cutting Edge

2011-02-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Dear rising leader,
Have you ever asked yourself do I still have the cutting edge as I did in the begining of my leadership? Many leaders today have lost their cutting edge and may not even realize it.
The tradegy is that they don't have it and continue to operate as if they still had it.
In the pages of Gods Word we find an account of a story that depicts this very thing. In 2 kings 6: 1-6, please allow me to paraphase this passage: As they were cutting, the iron axe fell..The individual cries out " it was borrowed"--> Exactly; all we have is borrowed: Time Talent, Treasue, and even Titles.

Nothing really belongs to us anyway!

The axe head is now floating Not attached (the cutting edge is lost)
Please note is another passage in the bible it speaks about when the axe is dull it takes more strength.
This is why so many Leaders are burned out--> they have lost their cutting edge..
The Cutting Edge: Signs that you might be loosing or lost your cutting edge.
First and foremost, There's a lack of Relationship Building. Remember people are your greatest asset. Secondly, not Reproducing other Leaders. As Leadership expert John Maxwell says: It takes a leader to know a leader, to show a leader and to grow a leader.
Thirdly, the constant inability to Retain Followers..If there is a revolving door in your ministry or business this an indicator. Quick test: how many people in your organization that were close to you have left in the last 3months. Lastly: Resilience That's Fading. IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU'RE AT A POINT OF ALMOST QUITTING. I didn't say quitting- but almost. We've all had those days: I almost lost my temper, I almost slipped my tongue, I almost walked out of my marriage. I'm sayin that happens but come on--> every week? somethings wrong. be careful my friend..You resilience is fading.. So how do you remain S.H.A.R.P.? A cutting edge leader?
Stay tuned - next issue. Until next time: remember leaders are readers!!

What About Me?

2011-02-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

This is a statement that is not a laughing matter, or one that's not spoken about in many circles but I guarantee it's run through many of our minds (amen)..

If we can be honest about it > I've been here on many occasions...

What about me Lord? I see so and so getting used, acknowledged, blessed, etc.
Now if this sounds way too familar- don't be surprised "it happens" So if it is happening now, how should we respond?

Allow me to suggest three simple yet profound(in my opinion) things to help us through this:

1) The Lord Has Not Forgotten You
Read this passage slowly: Isa 49: 15-16 And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you.Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands;

2) He Is Not Done Using You
Phil 1:6 he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

3) He's Dealing With Us
Please understand what I'm about to say to you: If you're feeling like you're on a shelf and God is not using you the way you would like him to: pay close attention to this: People around us may possible read us wrong when were in this place (God's dealings) For example: Remember Hannah in 1 Samuel- when she was crying out to God because she was barren: vs 12 -14 says: As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.

The point is this:
other people might see something wrong with you, but they don't know God's dealing with you .

So bottomline: sit tight this will pass!!

Hey thanks for stopping by The Leadership Den- until next time remember: Readers are Leaders..

Constructing A New Leader

2011-01-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

When I consider Leadership, there is always room for improvement. For example; there are things that are constant and one of those things is change. Today I have found that as I enter a new year, I must start thinking of constructing a new me. How about You do you feel the same.. What is needed for the construction project, cause believe me it's a project. The tools one needs are:

1) Prayer
Without God none of it is possible

2)Partnership
Can't do it alone

3) Pressure
not all pressure is good..but the pressure that makes you want better for your life is good

4)Purpose
Without it, you'll do it for only a season and not continue

lastlly> the tool we need
5) Persistence
Because it will not be easy!!

So how do we construct a new you....

It's within the pages of God's word
Phillipians 3
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul Gives Us key things that will help us:
But one thing I do:
1) Devotion

he did not say 5 things or 9 things I do, he said one thing

Need to be devoted to becoming a new us!

straining toward
2) Direction
We need to have direction as to what were aiming at to become

If we don't know where we're going how will we know

we got there

press on toward the goal
3)Determination
it will get difficult, and hard when you begin to make needed changes(ouch)
but if we keep on with it and not quit...

There is a new leaderon the horizons.. Thanks for stopping by the Leadership den..

till next time ...

Why Adversity?

2011-01-14T11:40:00.000-08:00

Have you ever asked yourself, why does God allow adversity? I have more than a few times The Bible says: Many are the afflictions but..the Lord
I really hope this will be a sense of encouragement for you as I have experienced this hope.
For what's it worth, I might say that I have experienced some adversity and believe me, it isn't that fun when you're in the middle of it..
For leaders I think sometimes the people are looking to us to be somehow either exempt or unmoved. But allow me to be real> It's painful and I'm human (Amen)

Here is what I consider the 7 Reasons
Why God Allows Adversity To Come
read: 2 Cor 12: 1-7 and Isa. 48: 10 both speak of a type of adversity
Paul writes about his personal experience,the other speaks of God taking the children of Israel through..

Adversity def.> persistant cause of suffering / trouble
Heres the reasons: Which I recommend you share with others as well
1.To Get our attention

2. Expressing His Love towards Us

3. Examine Ourselves
Proverbs says:If you falter in times of trouble how small is your strength

in the book of Cor, Paul had "revelations"
4. To Conquer Our Pride

"In my weakness"
5. Reminding Us Of our Weaknesses

6. See the Truth become Real
And the Last reason: 2 Cor. 1: 4

7. God's way of preparing us to Comfort Others

Cling to theses passages as a reminder that God's on your side
Jn. 16: 33 & Acts 14:22
Until Next Time remember: Leaders are Readers.
Hey and thanks for stopping by the leadership den..

Create Your Culture

2011-01-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

It is the responsibility of the leader to create his/ her culture.
Oh did I mention what culture is?
Well culture: def: the way we do things. So if my culture is about leadership- then its the way we do things- on a leadership bias.
Here's an observation about culture, you either create it or it gets created by itself. The latter is most dangerous, because you cannot control it at all. So therefore you will soon realize that the way things are done in your church are not due to you at all. What a shame that when visitors or upcoming potential leaders arrive they will adapt to a culture that does not rereflect you. Is this making sense?
Some insight on how to create the culture you want:
1) Initiate what you want
2) Continually model what you want
For example- if want a family atmosphere then you got to take the neccesary approaches to creating that
3) Influence the key influencers
Who can team up with you to create that culture
4) Project and picture what you want
What gets pictured gets done..how thru conversations, sermons, deliberate instructions on the what and when
Lastly:
5) Give it time
Rome wasn't built in a day- neither will culture be created in a weekend service.

Hey remember: leaders are readers
And thanks for stopping by the Leadership. Den

Developing Potential Leaders Prt 1

2010-12-30T14:19:00.000-08:00

Dear readers, Or should I say Leaders:
Here's the latest for rising leaders...
You can not push anyone up a ladder- unless he's willing to climb a little

The Development..Of Potential Leaders
Sometimes in our endeavors to find potential leaders we all make the mistake of choosing the wrong candidate(s). Several mistakes are made, allow me to give them to you.
1) Outward appearance - right conversation, looks faithful, even demonstrates some qualities
2) Potential - just cause some have potential dosen't neccesarily mean that they have "IT"
I need to pause for a minute and explain that thought. All of us have potential. For Example when it comes to growth, people have potential to grow, yet doesn't mean they'll grow. It is dependant upon what that individual does with what has been given them. (Application)
I Have a saying that goes like this: Information + Application = Transformation
reverse of that> Information without application = Spiritual constipation.
Another area that I found myself making mistakes when it comes to developing Potential leaders
3) Unwillingness from the person
this goes hand in hand with my quote in the opening of this teaching.
I found myself pushing instead of leading..T Roosevelt "hitting people over the head is not leadership, that's an assault"

these were just a couple of mistakes that I've made, if time would allow me, I would write about endless mistakes that I've made. I'll cover more next time on the how to's of developing potential leaders.
Until then, Remember: Leaders are Readers
(if this has been helpful to you please email me a response)

Increase Availability

2010-12-29T21:19:00.000-08:00

Increase your availability....must first create more time to do that ..but how
1) Shift from being a doer to developer
Can't always be hands on..develop the people around You, especially those who need a new world to
Conquer..
2) Prioritize according to passion
3) Give up the important for the more important
..in other words: sacrifice the good for the greater

Develop Today Or Regret Tomorrow

2010-12-27T11:51:00.001-08:00

The danger of always wanting to just develop by doing what is expected only; is a great problem within Christian circles today. We have to want to develop for the better each day.

What areas are you willing to develop? Remember If you wait until you feel like it you won’t!

There is Stages of Development

If presented the question to several people - you’d get several different answers.
Let me begin by saying that some people think that as long as they are moving forward that’s enough (wrong). Movement doesn’t necessarily mean accomplishment.

Charlie Brown is a prime example Of people who depend on others and only get disappointed..
If you’re gonna develop it begins with you.
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."- John Wooden

The Stages:
4)Leader of Leaders
3)Leaders Of Followers
2)Worker To Leader
1)Convert To Disciple
It's imperative to our development, by first identifying where we are
At in theses stages, then move beyond it..

Next we'll cover how to move people/self through the stages…..Until Then: Remember Leaders Are Readers

Facing The Giants In Leadership

2010-09-15T21:29:00.000-07:00

Facing The Giants In Leadership.
We all have them even if we don't want to admit it. That can be a giant in it's self, the unwillingness to admit we have giants.
I think it takes a lot of self-examination to get anywhere in leadership." An unexamined life is a life not worth living"
Let's look at a few giants that we as leaders will face:
1. Pleasing People - this is subtle giant that doesn't raise it's ugly head right away. This giant shows up once you begin to demand commitment and a loyal following. Then it's then that the resistance that you and I sense that causes us to all of sudden become apologetic and say and do certain things to keep a following (wrong) but it is a giant that must be slain.
King Saul had this giant...always wanting to please people, that can be seen in 1 Sam.15.

2. Pedestal Propping - this is giant many leaders don't even recognize. Leaders are often propped up on a pedestal by the people who follow them. How you might wonder.. it's through excessive flattery, numerous thank you's, especially in public. What's amazing, as leaders, we sometimes prop ourselves up without anybodies help.

3. Pride- ooh, this giant is a scary one. This giant is one that hangs around or even creeped in thru the cracks as we might say. It slipped into our leadership. It's not a pride from the world, its worst- spiritual pride! The bible says: pride comes before a fall. The giant of Pride shows up when somebody "less experience" than us attempts to teach us something and we can't even hear that person out and even think we know what they're going to tell us before they finish speaking.

4. Passiveness - this is an obvious giant, it lurks around any task that requires dilligence. Instead being passionate about serving, leading the way, this giant steps up and introduces us to it's twin - apathy. Too many fall at the feet of this giant with a lack of motivation and desire...wow these giants are fierce and out to stifle and hinder our leadership efforts. They can be slain, yes there's more giants which I won't labor, but mentioned - pleasure, prayerlessness and politics. In the next issue we'll discover how. Thanks for stopping by The Leadership Den.