Information Needs Application

John Maxwell's Commentary on Jude 17-23:
Jude doesn't close his message with mere points of information, but offers
points of application. Effective leaders give both information and application.

Mike's Thoughts:
Jude appears to be a book of "communication". Throughout the book Jude
is encouraging leaders to be effective communicators. I find the above
commentary simple, yet profound. Often I have been in situations
where my leadership gave me information and then dissappeared and I
was left with this half-full feeling of; "Okay, just what do they expect me to
do with this?" The problem is that they gave me the information for a reason
and I felt like they expected me to do something with it, but they didn't give
me the application and I was left to figure it out on my own, which often led
to ineffecient use of my time and a project or task that had to be re-worked
at least once. I have found that sometimes a self-serving leader would do
this purposefully, especially if they felt threatened by me. They obviously did
not understand or embrace the concept of servant/legacy leadership. Other
times they may not have thought the situation through fully and how
dissemination of the information would effect the receivers. Other times they
may have known the information was important but, didn't know how to apply it themselves and were just hoping that I would figure it out for them.
As a leader who wants an effective and efficient team and to set an example of servant/legacy leadership it is to my advantage and is my duty that when I
dissimenate information to also give application for it. I have a few
suggestions on this topic:
1- If I am the recipient of information from leadership without
application and I suspect this is with malicious intent, I need to recognize that this is the evil one doing his deeds in the work place. I need to stay calm, pray about it and then don't act on it until I receive clarification about the application either from God or from my leadership. I should go to my leadership and explain that I am seeking clarification on what they expect me to do with the information and wait for their response. It may not be wise to
offer suggestions until I have heard their response otherwise
they may attempt to use it against me.
2- If I am the recipient of information from leadership without
application and suspect it is because they did not think it
through or did not know how to apply it themselves, I must be careful about my own motives when asking for clarification. Again, I should be calm and pray about it. Then I should look for possible applications without acting on them and then go to my leadership with a servant heart and explain that I am seeking application for the information they shared and ask for their feedback and guidance on the possible applications I came up with.
3- As a leader, I should strive to never disseminate information
without offering application for it. I should always share
information with pure motives and the attitude of a servant/legacy leader. If I feel the need to share information and
I don't have an application for it, then I should ask the recipient
for their prayer and/or thoughts on the information and how we
should apply it.

Are You a Confronter?

John Maxwell's Commentary on Jude 3-4:
Confrontation: Jude Admonishes People to do Right
Confrontation is a necessary evil. No one enjoys it, but it must be
done in order to rectify, purify, and unify the organization. When
leaders refuse to confront wrongs, the atmosphere can become
lethargic and unfocused. When leaders don't stand for something,
their people will fall for anything.

Mike's Thoughts:
As a leader, I must have courage to confront wrongs and set the ship on
the right path. Sometimes wrong happens innocently, sometimes
purposefully. Regardless, it must be confronted and dealt with. As a leader
I must reflect the values and vision of my organization/family and
communicate such frequently to the people so that they may stay focused
and not stray from the course.

Are You Good at Pictures?

John Maxwell's Commentary in his Introduction to Jude:
Lessons in Leadership:
* Leaders must use pictures to capture the hearts of their people.
* Leaders must express certainty when possible, but clarity at all
times.
* Effective leaders don't demand, but exhort, appeal, and urge others
to act.
* People need both negative and positive reinforcement.

Mike's Thoughts:
I have always struggled with the first point on using pictures to influence
people. I have just bought a book called, "the Power to Write" by Caroline
Joy Adams and I hope it will help me in this area. It is advertised as "a
writing workshop in a book" and has "Seven Keys to Discover Your Writer
Within". Isn't it interesting how virtually every modern leadership philosophy
that is worth its salt can find its basis in the Bible? I believe the above
mentioned traits are just as important in the family, if not more so, as they
are in the work place.

Can You Deal with Contention?

John Maxwell's Commentary in his Introduction to Jude:
Jude also teaches leaders how to communicate values. Every organization
has values, whether they talk about them or not. Jude urges his readers to
"contend earnestly for the faith" (v.3). He communicates simply and with
great humility, making an example of Michael, the archangel, who
contended with satan, but who spoke only in the authority and power of
Jesus' name.

Mike's Thoughts:
Of course this caught my attention because of my namesake. There are a several leadership lessons in this paragraph for me.
1- As a leader, I need to communicate the values of my organization
and/or family.
2- He speaks of "contending earnestly for the faith." In light of the
current economic, political, social and foreign relations challenges we are experiencing today, I have been calling for
Christians to stand up to the forces of evil and push them back.
Seems that Jude was calling for much the same in his day.
Perhaps it will be the major struggle of man until Jesus returns?
3- When confronted with a contentious situation, I am instructed how to respond .... to communicate simply, with great humility and ONLY with the authority and power of Jesus' name. Obviously,
in the secular work and family environment I usually cannot say out loud "in Jesus name", but I can certainly think and believe it. I
should seek His guidance before responding and then do so
simply, with humility and in Jesus' name, even if it is said so
silently. God will hear!

What to do about a Wanderer ...

John Maxwell's Commentary in his Introduction to Jude:
Jude teaches leaders how to confront those who meander from the vision.
He is direct, yet rational. He is convictional, yet compassionate.

Mike's Thoughts:
As a leader, when people in my organization begin to wander from the
vision of the company (or family or community), it is my job to "reel them in" and get them back on track. According to Jude, there are four characteristics I am to show when confronting a wanderer.
1- I need to be direct with the wanderer and not beat around the bush.
2- I need to communicate in a rational manner to the wanderer why
he/she is off base and why they need to stay focused on the
vision.
3- I need to communicate conviction in my attitude about staying
focused on the vision.
4- At the same time, I need to communicate compassion and
understanding to the wanderer.
Also, as a leader, I need to understand that on rare ocassion it may be
appropriate to adjust our vision to meet shifts in the marketplace or our own
capabilities and resources.