John Maxwell's Commentary in His Introduction to Genesis:
Lessons in Leadership:
*God created humankind to lead and rule, but only within the context
of His leadership.
*Leaders must learn to adjust their plans while holding tenaciously to the vision.
*Everyone leads and follows someone.
*No one can lead well without following well.
*Individuals must see the benefits of the vision before they will
commit to it.
*To win trust, leaders must exhibit both character and competence.
Mike's Thoughts:
Mike's Action Points:
1- I will pray for wisdom, strength and courage to do the following:
A- Be a leader according to God's will and within the context of His leadership.
B- Be flexible enough to adjust my plans and yet hold firmly onto
the vision God has given me.
C- Help me to be an excellent example of what a good follower looks like.
D- Help me to be a good communicator of the benefits of the vision God has trusted me with.
E- Help me to exhibit character and competence in everything I do.
Showing posts with label vision. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vision. Show all posts
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
God Modeled Leadership
John Maxwell's Commentary in His Introduction to Genesis:
God's Role in Genesis:
God wanted His creation to begin well. He communicated His vision
for the world to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, then to Isaac and Jacob.
Like all good leaders, God took initiative. Yet He never forced His
leadership on anyone. Each time His people failed, He laid out His plan, then selected those He would invite to take appropriate action. He relentlessly pursued His plan of redeeming men and women from their failures, even as He maintained a relationship with them.
Mike's Thoughts:
There are many leadership lessons in this paragraph and I will use them as Mike's Action Points for today:
1- If I'm to be an excellent leader, I will communicate, communicate & communicate!
2- I will take initiative.
3- I won't force my leadership on anyone.
4- I will communicate my plan over and over.
5- I will select those I wish to invite to take action.
6- I will relentlessly pursue my plan.
7- I will maintain a relationship with my people.
Please see my leadership blog: http://legacycoach.blogspot.com
God's Role in Genesis:
God wanted His creation to begin well. He communicated His vision
for the world to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, then to Isaac and Jacob.
Like all good leaders, God took initiative. Yet He never forced His
leadership on anyone. Each time His people failed, He laid out His plan, then selected those He would invite to take appropriate action. He relentlessly pursued His plan of redeeming men and women from their failures, even as He maintained a relationship with them.
Mike's Thoughts:
There are many leadership lessons in this paragraph and I will use them as Mike's Action Points for today:
1- If I'm to be an excellent leader, I will communicate, communicate & communicate!
2- I will take initiative.
3- I won't force my leadership on anyone.
4- I will communicate my plan over and over.
5- I will select those I wish to invite to take action.
6- I will relentlessly pursue my plan.
7- I will maintain a relationship with my people.
Please see my leadership blog: http://legacycoach.blogspot.com
Saturday, July 18, 2009
All that You Know May Not be Wise!
Ecclesiastes 1:17-18:
17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.18 For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Mike's Thoughts:
I get "burned out" sometimes and I'm sure you do, too. It is a natural
human emotion and I believe that Soloman was experiencing such emotions
in the book of Ecclesiastes. Rick Warren teaches that my life is not to be
about me, but it is ALL about God. It is obvious in the verses above that
Soloman has lost the focus on God in his life. God blessed Soloman as
the wisest man to ever live and unfortunately, Soloman in all his wisdom,
lost his focus on God and, in his pursuit for more personal wisdom, found
knowledge that depressed him. Many times in the Bible God talks about
seeking wisdom, NEVER does He ask us to seek "madness and folly".
These are pursuits of the flesh and not Godly pursuits. As a leader I need
to keep my focus on heavenly pursuits that are in line with the vision and
mission of my company, community and family. Of course, I must also
create visions and missions that foster heavenly pursuits. Please note that there is an important distinction between wisdom and knowledge. All wisdom is knowledge, not all knowledge is wisdom, just ask Adam and Eve!
Mike's action points:
* When feeling down or depressed or burned out, I need to ask
myself if my focus is on me or on God?
* Study 2 Corinthians 7:1 and 2 Peter 1:2-11.
* A friend of mine is writing a book to be released late in 2009 and in
this book he makes a profound statement: "Ask him (God) to
show you barriers and then help you remove them." I need to spend quiet time with God asking Him to do just that especially as it relates to maintaining my focus on Him.
* Check the vision/mission(s) I am pursuing to make sure I can
pursue them in a Godly manner. If not, change them.
17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.18 For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Mike's Thoughts:
I get "burned out" sometimes and I'm sure you do, too. It is a natural
human emotion and I believe that Soloman was experiencing such emotions
in the book of Ecclesiastes. Rick Warren teaches that my life is not to be
about me, but it is ALL about God. It is obvious in the verses above that
Soloman has lost the focus on God in his life. God blessed Soloman as
the wisest man to ever live and unfortunately, Soloman in all his wisdom,
lost his focus on God and, in his pursuit for more personal wisdom, found
knowledge that depressed him. Many times in the Bible God talks about
seeking wisdom, NEVER does He ask us to seek "madness and folly".
These are pursuits of the flesh and not Godly pursuits. As a leader I need
to keep my focus on heavenly pursuits that are in line with the vision and
mission of my company, community and family. Of course, I must also
create visions and missions that foster heavenly pursuits. Please note that there is an important distinction between wisdom and knowledge. All wisdom is knowledge, not all knowledge is wisdom, just ask Adam and Eve!
Mike's action points:
* When feeling down or depressed or burned out, I need to ask
myself if my focus is on me or on God?
* Study 2 Corinthians 7:1 and 2 Peter 1:2-11.
* A friend of mine is writing a book to be released late in 2009 and in
this book he makes a profound statement: "Ask him (God) to
show you barriers and then help you remove them." I need to spend quiet time with God asking Him to do just that especially as it relates to maintaining my focus on Him.
* Check the vision/mission(s) I am pursuing to make sure I can
pursue them in a Godly manner. If not, change them.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Will You Change Eternity?
John Maxwell's Commentary in His Introduction to Ecclesiastes:
Why we do something ultimately determines what we do.
.... all earthly goals and blessings, when pursued as an end in themselves,
lead to dissatisfaction and emptiness.
All good leaders operate from a personal and corporate mission statement.
Vision drives them.
.... leaders ought to wrestle with how they might change eternity through
their leadership.
Mike's Thoughts:
As a servant/legacy leader, my motives behind my actions are important to
God and may have a profound effect on those I lead. It is my job to lead
people with a mission and vision that honor God and not earthly goals. As
I become involved in projects and activities and assume leadership positions, I should always seek to serve others in such a way that they will
be so inspired to "pay it forward" for future generations. This is Legacy
Leadership!
Why we do something ultimately determines what we do.
.... all earthly goals and blessings, when pursued as an end in themselves,
lead to dissatisfaction and emptiness.
All good leaders operate from a personal and corporate mission statement.
Vision drives them.
.... leaders ought to wrestle with how they might change eternity through
their leadership.
Mike's Thoughts:
As a servant/legacy leader, my motives behind my actions are important to
God and may have a profound effect on those I lead. It is my job to lead
people with a mission and vision that honor God and not earthly goals. As
I become involved in projects and activities and assume leadership positions, I should always seek to serve others in such a way that they will
be so inspired to "pay it forward" for future generations. This is Legacy
Leadership!
Monday, July 6, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
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.
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.
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