October Leadership Moment - Leadership Moment

October Leadership Moment

10/2/08
Is It Biblical to Lead?

Christians have debated the subject of leadership for years. Is it biblical to lead? Are we not called to be followers instead of leaders? Are we not called to be servants instead of rulers?

Well, consider this…the first description of mankind in the Bible involves leadership. And God said after he made man that it would be man’s job to “rule” and have authority over all the earth. If God told us to rule, that means we must have the ability to rule. Think about it: Today, you have the ability to lead someone else in some area of life!

10/3/08
Use Your Influence – Lead!

J. Oswald Sanders said it first. Leadership is influence. Nothing more. Nothing less. It’s not dependent on titles or positions. It is dependent on someone catching a vision from God and mobilizing others to join them in its fulfillment. When this happens, leadership arises in its purest form.

You may not have a title today – nor a position – but if you have influence, you qualify as someone who is the definition of a leader. Our world is crying today for Godly, effective leaders – people who use their influence to make other peoples lives better.

I’m John Hull. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/6/08
Drop Your Excuses and Lead

Do you remember reading about Moses at the burning bush? When he faced that bush in Exodus 3, he felt inadequate and unprepared to lead. But that’s what God called him to do. Many potential leaders in the Bible were afraid and ran from their call.

Most of us can list why we don’t lead effectively, just as Moses did. When God called on him to lead he used excuse after excuse. Now, what’s your excuse? Too shy? Too scared? Too stubborn? Today, drop your excuses to lead; respond to God’s call to lead in your family, your neighborhood, your church, or business.

I’m John Hull. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/7/08
Leaders Perceive a Need

The most effective leaders perceive a great need. In Judges, there were no leadership positions to fill. There was no protocol or structure at all. There was no voting. If you led, it was because you saw a need and got other people to help you. A lot of the judges in the book of Judges got their start when they saw a specific problem they could address.

Pure leadership starts with a need and sparks a passion. Then, others respond to the need and move others to get involved. Remember, the most effective leaders perceive a great need. See any needs around you this day?

I’m John Hull. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/8/08
Inward Gifting

When an outward need in your community or church matches up with an inward gifting in your life, a leader often will be consumed with passion to meet that need. The passion becomes apparent to others – and then others want to get involved.

In the book of Judges, several leaders had a kind of inward chemistry that sparked an outer passion. Passion is amazing. It makes up for a lack of resources. Now resources are great, but the Judges of the Bible weren’t flush with lots of cash or options. But what they did have – and it defined their leadership – was passion!

I’m John Hull. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/9/08
Rise Up

In every age, there comes a time when a leader must come forward to meet the needs of the hour. Therefore, there is no potential leader who does not have the opportunity to make a positive difference in society. Tragically, there are times when a leader does not rise to that hour.

Why is it that when circumstances call for it, a leaders does not rise to that hour? Many times, it’s because that leader has not prepared his or her heart to serve. Mission critical to our success in leadership is having a “servant heart.” When we lose our heart for what God’s called us to do, we lose our ability to lead others to a better way of living.

10/10/08
Identity in Christ

In John 13, Jesus modeled a servant’s heart when he washed the disciples’ feet. Now, what enabled him to do this? It was a strong sense of security. Leaders who are not secure in their identity in Christ will eventually sabotage their leadership. Insecure leaders become their own worst enemies.

They cannot share victories or sorrows. For the insecure leader, it’s all about them. Only secure leaders give their power and attention to others. Secure leaders want to add value to others. Insecure leaders want to gain value from others.

I’m John Hull. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/13/08
A Shared Vision

Once a leader has clarified and shared the vision, he or she can focus on serving and being responsive to the needs of the people, understanding that the role of leadership is to remove barriers and help people achieve the vision. The greatest leaders mobilize by coalescing people around a shared vision.

A compelling vision creates a strong culture in which the energy of everyone in the organization is aligned. What’s your vision? Have you made it clear and compelling as you shared it? Maybe it’s time to think about better ways to share the vision with those you need to carry it out.

10/14/08
Mistaken Priorities

Mistaken priorities lie at the heart of ineffective leadership. In Matthew 23, Jesus scolded the Pharisees for confusing what was and wasn’t important. Their priorities were enforcing laws and rules. Christ’s priorities were the spiritual needs of others.

Great leaders know the heart of their people and act with that end in mind. As spiritual leaders, we know that Jesus died for us and that our ultimate, priority mission is the Great Commission. Consequently, we always need to ask God for wisdom, keeping that big picture in mind.

Leaders who have it together know how to say, ‘No.’ Now they do it gracefully, but they do do it…they say ‘No.’ Now when you say ‘no’, make it clear to the person your declining that you’re not rejecting them…just the idea. You can affirm the idea – even love the idea – but at the end of the day, if the idea doesn’t fit the plan of your leadership, you have to say ‘no.’

The fact is, you and I can say ‘no’ much easier when we know what our life purpose is. If we know who we are, what our gifts are and what our calling is, ‘no’ is a word we have to learn to say regularly and graciously.

I’m John Hull. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/16/2008
Three Attitudes

In their good book TOYBOX LEADERSHIP, authors Hunter and Waddell write about three attitudes that promote a confident face:

First, there is the Sense of Identity: Be secure in who you are. People can tell if you believe in yourself or don’t believe in yourself. Next, have a Sense of Purpose. Understand where and how you fit into the world around you. And finally, have a Sense of Competence. Competence is having the skills and experience to properly carry out what is expected of you.

Today, as a child of God, make sure you demonstrate a…Confident Face!

I’m John Hull. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/17/2008
Who Do You Trust?

Our US coins are engraved with the motto: IN GOD WE TRUST. These are some powerful words that reflect the values of a previous generation. But do they reflect the values of our present generation? Are we living with the conviction that “without faith, it is impossible to please God?”

Young leaders have a lot of places to center their trust. But a life of faith is the most exemplary life of all. A life of faith challenges a leader at his/her core. Now, here’s a test for the young leader…as gifted as you are, can you look in the mirror, face yourself and say: “In God and God alone, I trust?” Your answer is going to tell you a lot.

The best leaders take risks. No one ever stubs his or her toe while standing still. FDR once said, “It is common sense to take a method and try it. But above all, try SOMETHING.” Failing to try because of a desire to be secure is going to result in a failure to lead.

Bill Hybels says it this way: “Every single day we make choices. We choose whether we are courageous or cowardly. We choose between the right thing and the convenient thing.” Today in your leadership, choose to do courageous and right things over the cowardly and convenient things. To do anything else is failure.

My friend Paul Borthwick admits he’s not much of an outdoorsman, but he has profound respect for a friend of his who is. Here’s how Paul describes his outdoor friend Gerry. “If I were lost in the wilderness, I would want to be with Gerry. He is not the strongest or most athletic hiker I’ve ever met, but he knows the forest – and in the challenge of being lost, he would know how to keep us alive.

That’s really what the best leaders do. In the midst of times when things get confused, even lost, leaders know where to turn and where to find the resources needed to make it through the toughest challenges.

I’m John Hull. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/22/08
Be Knowledgeable

Every leader needn’t be brilliant; but that same leader should be knowledgeable. Now, Jesus commands that we follow him and learn from him. Christian leaders need a knowledge of the Bible. But they also need a knowledge of themselves. And, it helps to have a knowledge of people too.

Finally, leaders should have a knowledge of our world because our world is rapid and complex – ever changing. And in this ever-changing world, we need leaders who can fully tap the knowledge available to them so that they can effectively lead the Church in bringing the gospel to the world.

One day a man was arriving at the airport and saw a well-dressed businessman yelling at a porter about the way he was handling his luggage. The more irate the businessman became, the calmer and more professional the porter appeared. When the abusive man left, the first man complimented the porter on his restraint. “Oh, it was nothing,” said the porter. “You know, that man’s going to Miami, but his bags – they’re headed for Kalamazoo.”

People who disrespect others always hurt themselves relationally – and they often react in negative ways. Here’s what we know, to be a great leader you need to treat people with respect. That just goes with the leadership responsibility.

I’m John Hull. To find out how to be a more significant leader in your community, visit leadershipmoment.org. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/24/08
Put Others First

The best way to start off on the right foot is to put others first. The most basic way to do that is to practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you take that mindset into all your interactions with others, you just can’t go wrong. But there are other ways as well to show people that they matter: You can walk slowly by them, say considerate things toward them, remember their names, smile at people, and be quick to offer help.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

I’m John Hull. And Elections matter. Elected leaders make decisions and form policies that affect our lives everyday. In November our nation will be making some important political choices. How do you know it will be the right choice? Go to leadershipmoment.org and sign up to receive a free classic leadership lesson entitled “How to Make Right Choices.”

10/27/08
Give Time to Your Most Valuable Relationships

Most people give away their relational energy on a first-come, first-served basis. Whoever gets their attention first gobbles up their time and relational energy. That’s why the squeaky wheels instead of high producers at work consume so much attention and why so many people have nothing left to give when they get home from work.

Family provides that most valuable relationship of your life. Family should come first. Spend time with your families. .

I’m John Hull. With the presidential election approaching this November, citizens find themselves once again casting a strategic ballot as to who will lead the nation for the next four years. I’ve prepared two free resources for you: The Qualities of a Leader and How to Make Right Choices and both are free – just go to leadershipmoment.org. That’s leadershipmoment.org.

10/28/08
Giving Turns Your Focus Outward

Here’s what a literary critic once wrote, he said, “How delightful is the company of generous people, who overlook trifles and keep their minds instinctively fixed on whatever is good and positive in the world around them. Now compare that to people who are small of caliber; they are people who are always showing their superiority, their knowledge, their prowess or their good breeding. But magnanimous people have no vanity, no jealousy, no reserves, and they feed on the true and solid wherever they find it.” How great it is to be around magnanimous people.

I’m John Hull. Elections do matter and elected leaders are making decisions and forming policies that impact our futures everyday. As you prepare to vote this November, I’ve prepared two free resources for you: The Qualities of a Leader and How to Make Right Decisions – both are free. Just go to leadershipmoment.org. That’s leadershipmoment.org.

10/29/08
Giving Adds Value to Others

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson said it this way: “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of home and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” No one stands taller in the climb to success than the person who is willing to bend over to help up someone else.

As a leader, add value to others, and when you do that you don’t take anything away from yourself.

I’m John Hull. Elections matter. Elected leaders make decisions and form policies that impact our future lives and security. As you and I prepare to vote, I’ve prepared two free resources for you: Qualities of a Leader and How to Make Right Decisions. Now both are free – just go to leadershipmoment.org. That’s leadershipmoment.org.