The People's Vision
As I keep mulling over the question, "Whose vision is more important, the leader's or the people's?", I have to look at what the people envision. This is where so many church's & organizations grind to a halt in their effectiveness.
Here's the obvious tension: when leading an organization or ministry, it's possible that there is a unique "vision" for every person that is a part of your group. If you lead a congregation of 300 people, then there could be 300 visions for what that church should be. If you lead a team comprised of 5 people, there could be 5 distinct visions for what your team should be doing. That's the tension that leaders live with everyday, & I'm not sure if the people they lead can really appreciate that.
That being said, the vision of the people isn't always a bad thing. The "micro-visions" of the people can be harnessed to achieve the God given vision that the leader is trying to cast. It's all about cultivating relationships & communicating the vision in such a way that people see how they can be a part of what the leader is sharing with them. The vision of the people doesn't have to be at odds with the leader's vision. Much of that will be determined by how the leader leads & communicates the vision that God has given him/her.
However, it obvious that there are times that the "will of the people" impedes the vision that the leader is trying to cast. That's the problem: the will of the people. The will of people is almost always self-centered & self-glorifying. Leaders have to creatively confront those that they lead while continually casting the vision for the greater good.
Here's the bottom line of dynamics between the leader & those he/she leads. This too came from Rob Jacobs, whose initial question sparked these previous posts. "Buy into the vision, but not the leader= change the leader. Buy into the leader, but not the vision = change vision. Buy into both = RESULTS." Not only do we have to get people to buy into & trust us, but we also have to get people to buy into where we're leading. It's about more than our personality. It's about how we lead everyday. That means TIME. Chances are people will try to change the leader. It's happened to most of us in leadership. They'll also attack the vision. That's where wise leaders slow it down a little, invest the necessary time to know they've effectively cultivated & communicated with those they lead, then take action to achieve the vision.
Leading is hard. It's a grind, but I love every minute of it, even the times when I or the vision come under attack. I know that those struggles have the opportunity to galvanize me, the vision, & those that I lead so that we can move forward & do greater things.
March 31, 2009
The Leader's Vision
Last week I read an interesting question, "Is the vision of the leader or the people more important?" Deep stuff huh? And it's probably at the core of most of the problems that many of us face as we lead our organizations & ministries. Today I want to look at the leader's vision.
First & foremost, it cannot be the "leader's vision". If it's the leader's vision, it's not big enough! The leader's vision has to be something that is born out of his or her growing relationship with Christ. As the leader pursues the relationship with Christ, God reveals where He wants to take the leader & the people the leader leads. Leaders, is the vision that we claim to have our vision or is it part of God's greater vision for His people & His Kingdom? We have to answer that questions honestly before we can go any farther.
I believe that the vision that God gives the leader(s) of His church is important because that's how God has designed His church to work. It's also the way that leadership works in organizations outside the church-because it's a basic leadership principle. But that's another post for another day. God wants to use His leader(s) to guide His people toward a Kingdom mission. So it is important, yet it's more important for us as leaders to make sure the vision we are casting is actually a God-sized, God-originated vision. Otherwise, we are taking on good things at the expense of being a part of God things.
Last week I read an interesting question, "Is the vision of the leader or the people more important?" Deep stuff huh? And it's probably at the core of most of the problems that many of us face as we lead our organizations & ministries. Today I want to look at the leader's vision.
First & foremost, it cannot be the "leader's vision". If it's the leader's vision, it's not big enough! The leader's vision has to be something that is born out of his or her growing relationship with Christ. As the leader pursues the relationship with Christ, God reveals where He wants to take the leader & the people the leader leads. Leaders, is the vision that we claim to have our vision or is it part of God's greater vision for His people & His Kingdom? We have to answer that questions honestly before we can go any farther.
I believe that the vision that God gives the leader(s) of His church is important because that's how God has designed His church to work. It's also the way that leadership works in organizations outside the church-because it's a basic leadership principle. But that's another post for another day. God wants to use His leader(s) to guide His people toward a Kingdom mission. So it is important, yet it's more important for us as leaders to make sure the vision we are casting is actually a God-sized, God-originated vision. Otherwise, we are taking on good things at the expense of being a part of God things.
March 27, 2009
Vision
Today I read an interesting question from one of my tweet peeps, Rob Jacobs. He asked, "Whose vision matters most, the leader's or the people that he/she leads?" That little question really got my mind to working. I think if we can answer this question, we can sharpen ourselves as leaders, empower & mobilize our people to get behind the vision, & chances are we will also be able to develop them into the kind of leaders that not only work alongside us, but that also enlist new people to invest in the vision.
But this isn't as easy a question to answer as you might think. I'm going to spend some time really thinking about this because this question has a couple of layers to it that I fear many young leaders like myself overlook, & they end up stuck. Next week I'm going to look at the "leader's vision" & the "people's vision". I want to look at how they're different, how they often work against one another, & how they can work together.
But what's your gut reaction? Whose vision is more important, the leader's vision or the vision of the people?
Today I read an interesting question from one of my tweet peeps, Rob Jacobs. He asked, "Whose vision matters most, the leader's or the people that he/she leads?" That little question really got my mind to working. I think if we can answer this question, we can sharpen ourselves as leaders, empower & mobilize our people to get behind the vision, & chances are we will also be able to develop them into the kind of leaders that not only work alongside us, but that also enlist new people to invest in the vision.
But this isn't as easy a question to answer as you might think. I'm going to spend some time really thinking about this because this question has a couple of layers to it that I fear many young leaders like myself overlook, & they end up stuck. Next week I'm going to look at the "leader's vision" & the "people's vision". I want to look at how they're different, how they often work against one another, & how they can work together.
But what's your gut reaction? Whose vision is more important, the leader's vision or the vision of the people?
Hitting the Links
Here are a few good posts that I ran across this week. You should definitely take the time to read some of these. If you're not following these first two guys regularly, you're missing out on some really cool stuff.
Loved this post from Pastor Steven at Elevation in Charlotte. Really challenging thoughts for so many of us young leaders in ministry. And as a guitar player I really appreciate the metaphor.
http://www.stevenfurtick.com/ministry-perspective/guitar-hero-ministry-mentality/
You should also read Perry Noble's series of posts on "Four Leadership Myths That Aren't Usually Talked About". I love Perry. He's got a "no holds barred" approach to talking about leadership. Everything is on the table with Perry. These are some good thoughts. Check them out.
Myth #1-Anger Is Ungodly: http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/03/24/four-leadership-myths-that-arent-usually-talked-about-part-one/
Myth #2-You Should Always Say Nice Things: http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/03/25/four-leadership-myths-that-arent-usually-talked-about-part-two/
Myth #3-Confrontation Should Be Avoided At All Costs: http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/03/26/four-leadership-myths-that-arent-usually-talked-about-part-three/
Myth #4-You Must Strive To Be Well Like By Everyone: http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/03/27/four-leadership-myths-that-arent-usually-talked-about-part-four/
One last link from Marshall Goldsmith at the Harvard Business Publishing site. A really great post on spotting the "uncoachable" on your team & what to do when you find them.
http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/goldsmith/2009/03/how_to_spot_the_uncoachables.html
Enjoy
Here are a few good posts that I ran across this week. You should definitely take the time to read some of these. If you're not following these first two guys regularly, you're missing out on some really cool stuff.
Loved this post from Pastor Steven at Elevation in Charlotte. Really challenging thoughts for so many of us young leaders in ministry. And as a guitar player I really appreciate the metaphor.
http://www.stevenfurtick.com/ministry-perspective/guitar-hero-ministry-mentality/
You should also read Perry Noble's series of posts on "Four Leadership Myths That Aren't Usually Talked About". I love Perry. He's got a "no holds barred" approach to talking about leadership. Everything is on the table with Perry. These are some good thoughts. Check them out.
Myth #1-Anger Is Ungodly: http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/03/24/four-leadership-myths-that-arent-usually-talked-about-part-one/
Myth #2-You Should Always Say Nice Things: http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/03/25/four-leadership-myths-that-arent-usually-talked-about-part-two/
Myth #3-Confrontation Should Be Avoided At All Costs: http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/03/26/four-leadership-myths-that-arent-usually-talked-about-part-three/
Myth #4-You Must Strive To Be Well Like By Everyone: http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/03/27/four-leadership-myths-that-arent-usually-talked-about-part-four/
One last link from Marshall Goldsmith at the Harvard Business Publishing site. A really great post on spotting the "uncoachable" on your team & what to do when you find them.
http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/goldsmith/2009/03/how_to_spot_the_uncoachables.html
Enjoy
March 17, 2009
The Aftermath of Accountability
Awhile back I published a post on accountability & challenged us to return to it, even though it's difficult & messy. A few people asked me to think further on the issue & follow up with another post. So here goes! Today I was thinking about a very familiar story from the beginning of the Bible that illustrates how our response to being held accountable has the power to direct the course of our lives.
In the story of Cain & Abel, Cain brings an unacceptable sacrifice to God. He brings cheap worship. Abel meanwhile brings the absolute best offering that he can. His worship was truly sacrificial. God calls Cain out about this. God rejects Cain's offering because it's obvious that Cain is simply "going through the motions". At this point, God recognizes that Cain isn't taking this moment of accountability very well. God warns him & says, "sin is crouching at the door." At this point God has shifted gears from the issue of an empty offering to the issue of how Cain will choose to respond to being held accountable for his actions. Cain of course disregarded the warning.
After killing his brother, Cain was basically exiled, forced to wander the world. The rest of Cain's life was determined by his response to being held accountable for his actions. When we are holding one another accountable we must recognize this. Very rarely does someone embrace accountability. Even when we invite it, it's hard to embrace. However, how we respond to that accountability has the power to forever alter the course of our lives.
How have you seen this played out in your life? How have you seen it played out in relationships where you had to hold someone else accountable? How can we protect one another from making poor decisions in the aftermath of accountability.
Awhile back I published a post on accountability & challenged us to return to it, even though it's difficult & messy. A few people asked me to think further on the issue & follow up with another post. So here goes! Today I was thinking about a very familiar story from the beginning of the Bible that illustrates how our response to being held accountable has the power to direct the course of our lives.
In the story of Cain & Abel, Cain brings an unacceptable sacrifice to God. He brings cheap worship. Abel meanwhile brings the absolute best offering that he can. His worship was truly sacrificial. God calls Cain out about this. God rejects Cain's offering because it's obvious that Cain is simply "going through the motions". At this point, God recognizes that Cain isn't taking this moment of accountability very well. God warns him & says, "sin is crouching at the door." At this point God has shifted gears from the issue of an empty offering to the issue of how Cain will choose to respond to being held accountable for his actions. Cain of course disregarded the warning.
After killing his brother, Cain was basically exiled, forced to wander the world. The rest of Cain's life was determined by his response to being held accountable for his actions. When we are holding one another accountable we must recognize this. Very rarely does someone embrace accountability. Even when we invite it, it's hard to embrace. However, how we respond to that accountability has the power to forever alter the course of our lives.
How have you seen this played out in your life? How have you seen it played out in relationships where you had to hold someone else accountable? How can we protect one another from making poor decisions in the aftermath of accountability.
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