TCC Pastor's Page

Transformational Leadership Takes Time

2010-06-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

When my son, Trae, was playing football he was concerned with gaining weight. He thought he needed to be heavier in order to be more effective at his starting positions -- center and defensive end.

I, too, have always been concerned with gaining weight, but with a different objective in mind -- I have always needed to lose weight.

We both wanted the transformation to occur immediately. But, transformation usually takes time.

Transformational leadership does indeed take time. It takes time to get the ship headed in the right direction. It takes time to change the culture of an organization. It takes time....

We know that leadership is about doing the right things the right way. The "right things" are determined by the mission.

Our challenge is to keep on (or start) doing the right things the right way. And, in the right time we'll get the right results.

Don't get discouraged -- transformational leadership takes time to unfold. And, in time, you'll see the fruit of your leadership.

Pastor Dwight

2010-06-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

The following is from "180 Ways to Walk the Leadership Talk" by John Baldoni

Of all the leadership attributes, listening may be the most important. Listening may be the most important. (Which begs the question: To whom am I listening.)

Listening opens the door to genuine, real authentic communication.

Not only are we to listen, but we must also learn from it.

7 Tips for Listening More Effectively…
1. Know the difference between hearing and listening. To hear means ‘to perceive by the ear.’ To listen means ‘to pay attention.’ There’s a big difference!
2. Get into the ACT of listening. Employ body language. Look at the person who is speaking. Make and keep eye contact. Position your body in a way that shows you are open and receptive to what the person is saying.
3. Adopt the 2/1 Rule: Listen twice as much as you talk. 2 ears, 1 mouth.
4. Play the ‘concentration game.’ Focus on what the speaker is saying. Try not to jump to conclusions before the speaker is finished talking. Pretend that you will be tested on what the speaker says. Make mental notes (or take written notes) on what is said.
5. While listening, ask questions as a way of demonstrating interest as well as soliciting more information (e.g., ‘Can you tell me more about…?’). Or, use questions as summaries (e.g., ‘Let me see if I understand…. Is that correct?’).
6. Welcome ideas that are NOT your own. Be open to what others have to say without getting defensive. Make it okay for others to share their ideas – even if those ideas conflict with yours.
7. Practice the ‘All-Sides Rule.’ Listen to all sides of an issue before making a final decision. The more you learn about a situation, the better prepared you’ll be to act fairly and appropriately.

Christmas Leadership

2009-12-10T08:34:00.000-08:00

"Leading the Way" is one of the five tasks of an exemplary leader according to James Kouzes and Barry Posner in The Leadership Challenge Planner.

As I think about this leadership component at Christmas time, I'm aware of how God is obviously the consummate leader. He "led the way," taking the initiative to "challenge the status quo." The status quo was bondage, darkness, and hopelessness. Yet, God was not willing that we should perish in our bondage, so He took the initiative - led the way - by sending His one and only Son to save us.

Not only did God lead the way, but He "encouraged our hearts" by sending Jesus to poor, common people like ... us. Plus, all of this is motivated by love.

As leaders, we must follow the example of God: Lead the way, challenge the status quo, and encourage the heart.

Hear the Christmas Story again... For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Dwight

The Heart of Leadership

2009-11-19T10:02:00.000-08:00

Mission, Target Audience, Strategic Plan ... all are connected in the world of leadership. Leaders know this - it is not a new thought.

However, as I was meditating on John 3;16-17 this week I saw these three come together in the activity of God. Take a look...

John 3:16-17 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Target Audience -- the world, people, the "whoever" -- God has a target audience. He had people in mind. Leaders must understand who is the target audience. With whom are you trying to connect. Who is the organization trying to reach.

Mission -- "save the world" -- Two very important points to consider...

1. The mission is shaped by the needs of the target audience. The world was perishing and needed to be saved. This is often overlooked by leadership and organizations. Leaders make the mistake at times of giving the target audience what they don't need rather than what they need. To be a great leader we must understand the needs of the target audience.

2. The mission is expressed through a relationship. God sent his one and only Son. Through him are we saved. Through a relationship is the mission accomplished. This, too, can be a challenge for organizations and leaders. Our work is done through relationships. If we "lord it over" the people we're trying to serve we will not be effective leaders and the mission will not truly be accomplished.

Strategic Plan -- "send his one and only Son" -- There was both a positive and a negative component to the strategic plan. Positive -- save the world. Negative -- don't condemn the world. In leadership there are positive/proactive steps we take and there are negative issues we avoid. Good leadership understands this.

Notice a very important truth: It all started with the heart of God toward the target audience. It all starts with the heart of a leader toward the target audience. Is it truly our desire to serve? This is the beginning point of all great leadership. Service to others is the heart of all great leadership.

Change and Innovation

2009-11-09T13:48:00.000-08:00

(from The Leadership Bible)

Change is inherent in leadership. In Acts 10:9-23, God led Peter from being an opponent of change to a champion of change.

1. God started where Peter was. He addressed Peter's values and convictions (10:9-16). The wise innovator takes time to understand the people who must adapt to the change and demonstrates that it will not violate their values and convictions.

2. God allowed Peter to challenge the idea (10:14-15). Deal with the challenges in authenticity rather than in antagonism.

3. God gave Peter time to work through his resistance (10:16-17). Adaptation to change takes time. Give time.

4. God permitted Peter to observe change in a limited situation before suggesting wholesale change.

5. The change proposal was well prepared (10:1-7, 19-23, 30-33). God anticipated Peter's questions and had evidence ready to support his answer. When introducing change, wise leaders will be prepared to answer questions that might arise.

6. God didn't ask Peter to "change"; he invited him to participate in improving what Peter loved -- the new over the old (10:34).

7. God convinced a key leader and allowed that leader himself to champion the change (Acts 11:1-18). Individuals are easier to work with than a group. Some changes need the support of a few key leaders who will then help others to reconcile themselves to the new circumstances.

Change is part of life. How we deal with it reflects our maturity.

Thanks for the ways in which you, as leaders of TCC, have embraced and initiated change. May your tribe increase!

Christlike Leadership

2009-11-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

Author and leader Sam Chand says, "I look at the people I'm working with and look for growth in their lives in becoming more other-ward, more other-focused. Success is for a leader to see the need and the potential in others, come alongside them, and help them do what they need to do and go where they need to go."

Lou Holtz made the statement, "I think success as a leader is getting people to achieve things that they didn't think were possible on their own. We all have more talent and ability than we think, but we need somebody who really believes in us, and sets goals and standards, and shows us how we could possibly achieve them."

When I reflect on these two statements I am reminded of how God created the church -- the community of faith -- to be the means of accomplishing His mission in the world.

1. God is concerned with His people being "other-focused."
2. God sees potential in all people.
3. God comes alongside us by way of the Holy Spirit and wants us to come alongside of others and help them reach their potential.
4. God will give us greater victory through His power and presence than we could achieve on our own.
5. God believes in us and we should believe in each other.

With all that said, our concern in leadership is to be like God -- like Christ -- Christlike -- in all the ways we express leadership in the world around us.

Thank you, TCC leaders, for your Christlike work to advance the Kingdom and Mission of God in our world.

In the grip of grace,
Dwight