Friday, November 23, 2007
The Winning Team
Every leader desperately wants a team that can win. This is certainly true for profit ventures. It may be even more deeply coveted in non-profit endeavors. After all the desired outcome addresses our core values and convictions.
I can hardly remember the last conversation I had with a business owner, pastor of a large church or CEO of a non-profit organization which did not at some point surface the issue of staffing concerns. Where do we find the right people?
The current issue of INC. has a paragraph buried in the middle worth the price of the issue. A business owner shares they give quarterly reviews to all employees. Each employee is evaluated in four areas:
1) Attitude
2) Flexibility
3) Aptitude
4) Initiative
Each category can receive a high of 25 points. The employee is rewarded for any score over 75. Two quarters under 70 means dismissal.
I began to ponder these four selected check points according to the grid we use. The transferable ingredients were amazing.
1) Attitude-----speaks of Chemistry (does the person seem to fit? Are they happy? Do they make the people who must work with them happy?"
2) Flexibility---speaks of Configuration (do they fit the mix of gifts, personalities, strengths and weaknesses of the others on the team. Are they willing to bend a bit when called upon to make the human mosaic work?)
3) Aptitude----speaks of Competency (do they have the skills and training required to get the job done they were hired to do?)
4) Initiative----speaks of Competitiveness (once they grasp the vision and goals of the team are they willing to step up and do whatever is necessary to win?).
As I pondered these four essentials of an effective team member I realized there are at least two more that should be added to the list for the non-profit sector.
5) Communications skills. While not everyone is called upon to do public speaking all must be willing to communicate well. Willingness to share with other team members, let others know what they are doing and what they need to be effective is crucial. People who wish to function as an island are liabilities. This includes tech people. We must also consider the necessity of written skills. With computers front and center on every desk virtually everyone needs to learn how to write well.
6) Character. Lack in this area will eventually bring down any organization.
Some initial thoughts here. What do you think?
Would like to noodle a bit on the #4 item soon. Is the term "competitive" too strong? I think not. We want a team full of competitors--as long as we can remember who the enemy is.
I can hardly remember the last conversation I had with a business owner, pastor of a large church or CEO of a non-profit organization which did not at some point surface the issue of staffing concerns. Where do we find the right people?
The current issue of INC. has a paragraph buried in the middle worth the price of the issue. A business owner shares they give quarterly reviews to all employees. Each employee is evaluated in four areas:
1) Attitude
2) Flexibility
3) Aptitude
4) Initiative
Each category can receive a high of 25 points. The employee is rewarded for any score over 75. Two quarters under 70 means dismissal.
I began to ponder these four selected check points according to the grid we use. The transferable ingredients were amazing.
1) Attitude-----speaks of Chemistry (does the person seem to fit? Are they happy? Do they make the people who must work with them happy?"
2) Flexibility---speaks of Configuration (do they fit the mix of gifts, personalities, strengths and weaknesses of the others on the team. Are they willing to bend a bit when called upon to make the human mosaic work?)
3) Aptitude----speaks of Competency (do they have the skills and training required to get the job done they were hired to do?)
4) Initiative----speaks of Competitiveness (once they grasp the vision and goals of the team are they willing to step up and do whatever is necessary to win?).
As I pondered these four essentials of an effective team member I realized there are at least two more that should be added to the list for the non-profit sector.
5) Communications skills. While not everyone is called upon to do public speaking all must be willing to communicate well. Willingness to share with other team members, let others know what they are doing and what they need to be effective is crucial. People who wish to function as an island are liabilities. This includes tech people. We must also consider the necessity of written skills. With computers front and center on every desk virtually everyone needs to learn how to write well.
6) Character. Lack in this area will eventually bring down any organization.
Some initial thoughts here. What do you think?
Would like to noodle a bit on the #4 item soon. Is the term "competitive" too strong? I think not. We want a team full of competitors--as long as we can remember who the enemy is.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Those little kids
James 1:27 suggests that pure religion, untainted by the world, will focus on the plight of orphans and widows.
Don't have to travel much to have your heart touched by them.
My son and daughter-in-law are camping out with us for a few days while they wait for their house to open up. Great couple. Love having them. The package also includes the little 1 year old grandson. This complicates things a bit.
My wife has been pestering me for years to get a hearing aid. Finally I did it as a present to her. Bad timing. Every time I put it in here at home that child is screaming. No way I would have survived raising three kids of my own if I had heard well! Had no idea the decibel level emanating from those little vocal cavities.
All which brings me to this point. Kids require massive amounts of attention. My wife and I are dumbfounded at the energy, patience, and hours our children put into their little one. And they seem to be ok. In fact so ok--they are having ANOTHER one.
Kids require attention. Lots of it. And tomorrow they need more. And the next day. And the next day. Love is spelled time. Time is life. Kids need to have others pour their lives into them to survive and thrive.
But--what about the kids in our world without those parents. They are called orphans. There are lots of them. One source suggests a new one every 14 seconds.
I spent a little time yesterday tracing through the references in the Old Testament to orphans. Found at least 35. One thing is very clear. God loves orphans. He promised to be their father, to avenge/defend their mistreatment and provide for them.
They are every where we travel today. In many countries we stop at the signal and they are tapping on the window selling--whatever. One lady told me as we sat with a group in a restaurant watching those children her own story.
Her father was long gone (the bible often refers to the fatherless). Her mother was a prostitute. She and her sisters were required to go out and sell garlic or flowers. If they returned before midnight without selling enough they were spanked and sent back out. Leaves a scar for life.
In India when the psunami hit the government was left to care for many orhpans. Probably meaning well they offered $1150 to anyone who would come and take these children from the camps. You can imagine what happened to many of them. Exploitation and abuse is the common lot of little ones with no one to love, care for, and give them attention.
Question. How does God parent, defend and provide for the orphans? The answer is simple. Through His people. In the Old Testament He specifically scripted how this would take place. Each year the tithe was set aside for them. Grain was carefully "forgotten" during the harvest and left for them laying in the field.
How does God care for them today? The answer is simple also. Through His people. You and me. I know we cannot solve all the problems. But we can solve some. We cannot do everything but we can each do something. God wants us to give them some attention. This is the evidence of true religion.
Was at the beautiful campus of Mount Vernon College--outside of Columbus this week. On the bulletin board in the commons building was a flyer. It showed the picture of a little girl. The words said it all. "I can be bought for $300. I can be saved for $3.00 per day."
She needs our attention. Who can we help?
Don't have to travel much to have your heart touched by them.
My son and daughter-in-law are camping out with us for a few days while they wait for their house to open up. Great couple. Love having them. The package also includes the little 1 year old grandson. This complicates things a bit.
My wife has been pestering me for years to get a hearing aid. Finally I did it as a present to her. Bad timing. Every time I put it in here at home that child is screaming. No way I would have survived raising three kids of my own if I had heard well! Had no idea the decibel level emanating from those little vocal cavities.
All which brings me to this point. Kids require massive amounts of attention. My wife and I are dumbfounded at the energy, patience, and hours our children put into their little one. And they seem to be ok. In fact so ok--they are having ANOTHER one.
Kids require attention. Lots of it. And tomorrow they need more. And the next day. And the next day. Love is spelled time. Time is life. Kids need to have others pour their lives into them to survive and thrive.
But--what about the kids in our world without those parents. They are called orphans. There are lots of them. One source suggests a new one every 14 seconds.
I spent a little time yesterday tracing through the references in the Old Testament to orphans. Found at least 35. One thing is very clear. God loves orphans. He promised to be their father, to avenge/defend their mistreatment and provide for them.
They are every where we travel today. In many countries we stop at the signal and they are tapping on the window selling--whatever. One lady told me as we sat with a group in a restaurant watching those children her own story.
Her father was long gone (the bible often refers to the fatherless). Her mother was a prostitute. She and her sisters were required to go out and sell garlic or flowers. If they returned before midnight without selling enough they were spanked and sent back out. Leaves a scar for life.
In India when the psunami hit the government was left to care for many orhpans. Probably meaning well they offered $1150 to anyone who would come and take these children from the camps. You can imagine what happened to many of them. Exploitation and abuse is the common lot of little ones with no one to love, care for, and give them attention.
Question. How does God parent, defend and provide for the orphans? The answer is simple. Through His people. In the Old Testament He specifically scripted how this would take place. Each year the tithe was set aside for them. Grain was carefully "forgotten" during the harvest and left for them laying in the field.
How does God care for them today? The answer is simple also. Through His people. You and me. I know we cannot solve all the problems. But we can solve some. We cannot do everything but we can each do something. God wants us to give them some attention. This is the evidence of true religion.
Was at the beautiful campus of Mount Vernon College--outside of Columbus this week. On the bulletin board in the commons building was a flyer. It showed the picture of a little girl. The words said it all. "I can be bought for $300. I can be saved for $3.00 per day."
She needs our attention. Who can we help?
Monday, November 12, 2007
NO BUFFALO JUMPING ALLOWED
What you can expect here is a series of articles written from wherever I am involved in ministry at any given time. The best way to introduce myself to you is to refer you to a series of websites. This is the simplest way to introduce the rationale driving the themes.
http://www.grace-church.com/
http://www.graceforasia.org/
http://www.glocalpartners.com/
http://www.leading-turnaround.org/
A quick purusal of these sites will help you understand most postings here will deal with church leadership strategies. Whether in the USA or overseas makes little difference in this glocal age.
I missed the airplane last week in Great Falls, Montana. Missing planes is not ususally a big deal--just catch the next one. But this was Great Falls. It was 7:00 a.m. and groaned when the UA clerk informed me the next flight out was 4:10 that afternoon. I fully intended to be back in Glendora in the office by noon that day. "Oh no, I'm stuck in Great Falls all day!" He responded sympathetically "I know how you feel. I've been stuck here for 11 years."
With no other choice I determined to grab a car and at least enjoy the wide-open spaces. Usually I speed by those little road signs indicating "historic site." But with nowhere in particular to go I actually followed them. I eventually found myself on a gravel road for a distance of 15 miles. At 8:30 a.m. there was no one in site. I followed it to the Uhlm State Park. I turned left, crossed the cattle gaurd and followed the road to the top of the hill.
There were signs posted regarding the prarie dog cities. Quite educational Organized little guys. Then a path. I followed it to what was simply labeled "buffalo jumping site." As you walked through the meadow of grass it seemed as if you could walk over the rolling hills for miles without interuption. But it was deceptive.
Without warning there was a precipice. I mean without warning! If you were running at full speed you would likely be unable to stop before plummeting over the edge. And that is the essence of the buffalo jump.
The natives would stampede a herd of buffalo. They were in the direction of the cliffs by young men in buffalo hides. At the end those brave hunters would find a ledge about 3 feet over the cliff, dive onto it, and crouch as these monstrous animals hurled over their heads to their death below. To assure the harvest less courageous hunters waited with speers and arrows.
As I drove away I reflected on a question I am asked often by church leaders. When is it time to leave?
I'll save the full answer to this for my sequel to "Leading Turnaround Churches." But, I have a new chapter for that book. "NO BUFFALO JUMPING ALLOWED." An ethical shepherd leader cannot lead the congregation towards a cliff with a personal escape plan in place. That places us in the catetgory of shepherds referred to in Ezekiel 34.
If we believe the church we lead must go through major change in order to assure long term effectiveness and health the so be it. Lead the charge. This may involve style of music, preaching, times of services, moving to small groups, or any number of other matters.
The one thing the congregation must believe however is that the one leading the charge is willing to go with them to the end no matter what that might be.
Once a church has been burned by a leader who led them in a change of direction and then deserted them when things did not turn out to be easy or pleasant the buffalo (sheep) which remain will probably never ben inclined to follow a leader again.
So, leaders, next time you begin a stampede please ask yourself. "Do I have an exit strategy in the back of my mind?" If you answer yes then you probably should not lead the charge.
NO BUFFALO JUMPING ALLOWED.
http://www.grace-church.com/
http://www.graceforasia.org/
http://www.glocalpartners.com/
http://www.leading-turnaround.org/
A quick purusal of these sites will help you understand most postings here will deal with church leadership strategies. Whether in the USA or overseas makes little difference in this glocal age.
I missed the airplane last week in Great Falls, Montana. Missing planes is not ususally a big deal--just catch the next one. But this was Great Falls. It was 7:00 a.m. and groaned when the UA clerk informed me the next flight out was 4:10 that afternoon. I fully intended to be back in Glendora in the office by noon that day. "Oh no, I'm stuck in Great Falls all day!" He responded sympathetically "I know how you feel. I've been stuck here for 11 years."
With no other choice I determined to grab a car and at least enjoy the wide-open spaces. Usually I speed by those little road signs indicating "historic site." But with nowhere in particular to go I actually followed them. I eventually found myself on a gravel road for a distance of 15 miles. At 8:30 a.m. there was no one in site. I followed it to the Uhlm State Park. I turned left, crossed the cattle gaurd and followed the road to the top of the hill.
There were signs posted regarding the prarie dog cities. Quite educational Organized little guys. Then a path. I followed it to what was simply labeled "buffalo jumping site." As you walked through the meadow of grass it seemed as if you could walk over the rolling hills for miles without interuption. But it was deceptive.
Without warning there was a precipice. I mean without warning! If you were running at full speed you would likely be unable to stop before plummeting over the edge. And that is the essence of the buffalo jump.
The natives would stampede a herd of buffalo. They were in the direction of the cliffs by young men in buffalo hides. At the end those brave hunters would find a ledge about 3 feet over the cliff, dive onto it, and crouch as these monstrous animals hurled over their heads to their death below. To assure the harvest less courageous hunters waited with speers and arrows.
As I drove away I reflected on a question I am asked often by church leaders. When is it time to leave?
I'll save the full answer to this for my sequel to "Leading Turnaround Churches." But, I have a new chapter for that book. "NO BUFFALO JUMPING ALLOWED." An ethical shepherd leader cannot lead the congregation towards a cliff with a personal escape plan in place. That places us in the catetgory of shepherds referred to in Ezekiel 34.
If we believe the church we lead must go through major change in order to assure long term effectiveness and health the so be it. Lead the charge. This may involve style of music, preaching, times of services, moving to small groups, or any number of other matters.
The one thing the congregation must believe however is that the one leading the charge is willing to go with them to the end no matter what that might be.
Once a church has been burned by a leader who led them in a change of direction and then deserted them when things did not turn out to be easy or pleasant the buffalo (sheep) which remain will probably never ben inclined to follow a leader again.
So, leaders, next time you begin a stampede please ask yourself. "Do I have an exit strategy in the back of my mind?" If you answer yes then you probably should not lead the charge.
NO BUFFALO JUMPING ALLOWED.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The Glocal Reality
The world is shrinking due to technological advances, the break-down of travel barriers and the ever increasing usage of English as an international language. Today, we have opportunities which were almost unimaginable a few short years ago. This is what I've come to term the "Glocal Reality"
The Glocal reality lays before us an incredible new journey... the journey of partnership. Because of the glocal realities mentioned above the need for expensive agencies and long standing missionary accounts is no longer a prerequisite for global influence.
Today the church can influence the farthest reachest of the world simply by partnering with like minded bodies of other regions. Finances are liquid, philosophies shared, and impact exponential as churches combine their specialties in sharing the truth of Jesus Christ.
I'd encourage you to check out our website http://www.graceforasia.org/, read a few pages of our book Going Glocal, or send me your thoughts as we begin this journey together....
The Glocal reality lays before us an incredible new journey... the journey of partnership. Because of the glocal realities mentioned above the need for expensive agencies and long standing missionary accounts is no longer a prerequisite for global influence.
Today the church can influence the farthest reachest of the world simply by partnering with like minded bodies of other regions. Finances are liquid, philosophies shared, and impact exponential as churches combine their specialties in sharing the truth of Jesus Christ.
I'd encourage you to check out our website http://www.graceforasia.org/, read a few pages of our book Going Glocal, or send me your thoughts as we begin this journey together....
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