Disconnectedness: The Greatest Leadership Strength

One of the most overlooked leadership principles is the art of being disconnected but still in full control. For instance:

I asked my assistant (my mother) to plan and coordinate my trip to the Catalyst conference in Georgia. I had other things to do, like cut coupons, collect little coffee creamers from 7-11 (i don't have to buy creamer ever), read leadership books, influence stuff----so I acted like any good leader and delegated it out.

Well, I wasn't available to dot my q's and p's- so when I got off the plane in Atlanta- I found myself arriving at a Cattle Conference. The wrong place at the wrong time. Instead of powerful speakers, there were fast talkin' farmers telling me to watch my step. My mother had failed me in misunderstanding what I wanted to do so I benched her. (See my post on Character issues)

About the only thing I'd learned there was how to deliver a cow baby. As interesting as that is and I did come up with some leadership metaphors from it, I needed to be at Catalyst. I quickly drove across town but they wouldn't let me in even though I was going to give away my pamphlet ( I had three copies with me) I even tried to get in with last years lanyard which i happened to be wearing--- but no go.
Thanks alot mom.

I forgot what my point was. Pray about it. There's something to be learned here.
If anyone wants to know how to deliver and raise young cows go ahead and contact me I'll forward you my notes.

Sleepyness And Other Character Issues

If you are a leader, then you know that everything, no matter what, can be tied to a leadership or character issue. It's a great way for people in your ministry and teams to always stay in check and in constant fear of failing.

Here's a test-

1. Someone on your team accidentally purchased an extra six pack of soda for the meeting.

Leadership issue: They don't truly value money and lack leadership and planning skills.
Character Issue: They need to work on their wholeness, and faithfulness.
Conclusion: Can't be trusted with the next task or anything involving leadership or influence until they prove themselves faithful or at least hang out with the right people.

2. A girl on your team has a crush on Johnny Depp but only in the Pirates movies.

Leadership issue: They don't truly value 21 Jump Street.
Character Issue: They need to work on their wholeness and courage and ability to discern when a career is at it's peak or ending.
Conclusion: Can't be trusted with the next task, renting movies, or anything involving leadership or influence until they prove themselves faithful or at least hang out with the right people.

I hope this has helped you in understanding the benefits to pointing out to others why their dysfunction in their daily choices is the roadblock to why God is just not using them as effectively as you.

Next time we'll discuss why you should never take interns seriously. Because well...they're interns. If we were supposed to-- they would be called "Lanterns" or "Eternals" or "Interestings". Nope. They are "Interns."

Reaching The Generationalness In Others

How do you connect with people younger than you? That has always been a mystery in the church through the 80's and early 90's if you ask me. Case in point, I was the only Jr. Higher to show up at a Second Chapter of Acts concert. I was the only one in my senior high gym class to sport a Sandi Patti T-shirt too. Someone didn't do a good job reaching out to me. If I had only known about Geoff Moore and the Distance.

All of that aside, I knew I needed to branch out and understand the younger generation now if I was to ever reach them with the love of Jesus. So here are a few things I did:

1. I played bass in my churches summer outreach worship band. I didn't know how to play but I looked awesome. We just played a United CD over the loudspeaker so no one in the nursing home could tell the difference.

2. I wear tight pants and Toms shoes. This has drastically affected my posture and walk so I don't do this very often. I tend to walk with a sway now and when I sit down I feel like 70 percent of my body fat goes into my deltoids. I have to practice with this one. Shoes are comfortable though and I feel like I've helped an Aborigine child in Afghanistan get shoes.

3. I take Mixed Martial Arts lessons. I thought UFC stood for Undergrads For Christ till I paid for the view and got alittle David and Goliath violence. Never hurts to learn how to punch a kidney. Or maybe it does. What's so bad about a sport where a fighter gives God glory after kicking a guys nose into his brain?

4. Do the Twitter. After a week of letting everyone know leadership lessons after I leave the bathroom, I'm realizing that alot more will have to change if I'm going to use this tool effectively.

How do you love the younger generation? Maybe I should do what my friends dad did- played football and then drove us to Dairy Queen for video games and sundaes.

Iconic Metaphoricalness

I'm about to take the lead out of leadership, put it back in the pencil and sharpen it to get right to the point. Not using metaphors like the one I just used in your messages is one step backwards in effectiveness. It's like saying Amish people are ugly. I've seen the movie Witness and believe me, Kelly McGillis is not ugly.

Metaphors and symbols are powerful tools in leadership. People who generally argue against them in their blogs, saying that you are putting objects before God or worshiping pagan symbols are usually the same people who have a picture of themselves as their symbol or icon in their Facebook page or blogs. So I guess that means they worship themselves. Peanut butter and Idolatry sandwiches anyone?

It's hard to lead people and not use metaphors. Let me show you the impact they make. Lets suppose I'm facing some volunteers and I want to communicate a new vision to them. I could either say " Hey Everyone- I believe God is taking us in this direction. It may take risk but I'm willing to lead you there."

Or communicating the same point through one image or icon. I recently chose to represent my new vision for the C.C.C.C. by having my staff (my mother) stare at a Pop Tart. A Pop Tart is a powerful icon for Leadership and Conferences.

Boom. Done. Think about it.

5 Essential Leadership Tools Yet To Be Created

Since I’m a futuristical leader, I’m going to share with you 5 things or tools, if created, that will revolutionize and help Leaders in the church lead better someday.

1. Leading Leadership Leaders to Lead like Leading Leaders: For Beginners.

This is a workshop on how to lead Leadership Workshops. Sure, we can lead our churches and even lead other leaders, but can we effectively lead Leadership Workshops?

2. The Bible in email form. If the buzz of the blackberry’s going to consistently draw our attention away from the moment, why not let it be the Word of God! This program emails you a verse every 3 minutes! I’m talkin about getting Evites from the Levites. Wives, children and friends are more forgiving of the interruption if they know Truth is texting. That way, you can read a beatitude and a twitter update without getting a second glance! A win, win for any leader.

3. Google Maps, Church Boundaries Application. Henry Cloud’s book was good, but how does that basic idea of boundaries get applied to Pastors and churches as a whole? With this Google maps application, Churches can now draw virtual lines and borders around a city or community or more importantly a location, letting other churches and Pastors know where to stay out and away from the people God has given THEM to Pastor. A virtual spiritual tagging system lets other Pastors know where not to “cross” and what other areas of the city are available instead for their own outreach.

4. SLAM Session: SLAM stands for- Some Learning After Moving. We learn from others mistakes so why not give a small amount of time in each service to hear from someone who has just left a previous church to talk about why? I think Christians want to know what other churches are doing wrong so that their own church can watch out and avoid the same blind sin or mistakes. Open sharing of spiritual blind spots and unfaithfulness in other communities is the healthiest thing leaders can allow to stimulate health and stuff.

5. Public COMMENTS sections on Blogs or Websites specifically for PRAISE! Fan club pages are created allowing people YOU have healed and helped --to share with one another and compare ways of which they never could have done it without you!!

CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE FANTASY LEAGUE

Here are my picks for this summers Christian Conference Fantasy League.

My Speakers:
Stephen Baldwin (great for promo)
Eric Bryant (Adds element of Stand up- humor is always a point getter)
Mark Batterson ( insightful blog writers on your team score huge too)
Ravi Zacharias (A sure point getter for his brilliance and heart. A little over the head of your average Promise Keepers attendee and mid-west Christian arts and media conferences so be selective. Also-Fantastic point tallies for pre and post speaking interviews. I always grab him quick.+++)
Greg Steir (Always have at least one rebellious youth specialist, great with kids, who doesn't get along with older dogmatic Pastors)
Joe White (Gotta have a powerful closer)
Francis Chan (Great speaker! Cultural diversity gets extra points too.)
Shantanu Narayen (CEO of Adobe) (Rumored to have gone to church a few times in college which qualifies him for speaking)


Worship Leader:
Jeremy Camp
(I wanted Chris Thomlin but James Duke grabbed him in the draft before me.)

Breakout Sessions:
Why You Don't Get it and I Do (My most successful breakout session)
12 Steps to Creating a 6 Step Process
How to Make/ Sell Your Own Christian T- Shirts
Leadership For Advanced Beginners
So Your Church Fired You: Leadership Principles Review
Breakout: The Breaking Out Breakout
How To Make Everything a Character Issue: Because It Is

Resources
12 x 15 Booth Space
(I was able to get a bigger space this year in the draft! Finally!)
4 tables
8 banners

SPECIAL GUESTS:
M.C. Hammer
Garret Russel (grandson of Herbert Russel- inventor of the SPORK and author of
"Lead like a Spork: Leadership Principles from a Useful Utensil."
The Script Supervisor for the Movie "Left Behind" (Last pick in the draft- I got her)

ARTS and Relevant Media
Mildred and Carmella Skit Drama Troupe (Sure they're over 55 and sisters but their skit about Every Mans Battle is right on and a big point getter)
MIMESation (no words can describe this group and what they bring to the table. I hear they're booked solid all summer long in Ohio-should get me alot of points. )

TECH
Mediashout (My first year yusing this tool. Should be cool! I wanted the Painted Backdrops again but I needed a change.)
Extension Chords (Not sure why I used my draft pick to get more extension chords. I guess you could never have enough of these.)

There you have it. We'll see how everyone does for me. How many points I get. I'll be at the conferences this year--all of them- to personally keep up with them. My only disappointment is that Humanitarian Videos of African Children being held by white people only get you 2 points this year. Oh well.

My Username and Password Leadership Struggles

Well it's been a while, but I must say I've learned probably the biggest, most important leadership lesson this year in the history of my year long ministry- always remember your username and password! CONFUSION!!! That's what happens when your blog password is the date of your favorite Leadership Conference. Since I've got so many favorites now - no wonder I wasn't able to get in here!