A Good Leader vs. A Great One
In his book, Geeks and Geezers, Warren Bennis made a scientific study of leaders and what characterized them. He found, "The ability to find meaning and strength in adversity distinguishes leaders from non-leaders more than any one single quality. When negative things happen, non-leaders feel powerless and like victims, leaders on the other hand find fresh purpose and resolve."
Do you want to be a good youth leader, or a great one? A good Christian, husband or wife, parent, disciple...or a great one? We are currently scrambling, learning how do ministry in a whole new way since the COVID-19 pandemic hit our world. Many jobs have been lost or put on hold, the students we lead that would normally be in school are doing school from home, graduations and proms have been canceled... Not only are our students looking to us for answers, but our personal worlds and routines have been turned upside down. Stop and ask yourself this strategic question from a leadership stance, what are you doing with that tough challenge? Are you letting it make you feel powerless...like a victim? Are you camping out in resentment, hurt or anger? We all certainly do that to a degree for a short period of time, so I'm not trying to call you to a guilt trip, but do you move past the hurt, disappointment, anger, resentment and the bitterness to pretty quickly try to assign meaning and strength to your adversity?
The Bible promises us "In this world you will have tribulation..." (John 16:33) Translated it means, "Don't look now folks, but it is a promise, you're going to have trouble." You're going to have challenges, that's life, no matter how amazing a Christ-follower or a leader you are. Great leaders find and assign meaning and strength in the middle of that adversity and from that take some fresh purpose and a fresh sense of resolve.
I call these "crucible" moments. The crucible is that place where we get crushed and what's inside of us comes out usually by a lot of pressure, sometimes heat, everything but enjoyment. It's in these moments that leaders move beyond blame to create a future that really matters. How are you doing with your crucible moments?
In his book, Geeks and Geezers, Warren Bennis made a scientific study of leaders and what characterized them. He found, "The ability to find meaning and strength in adversity distinguishes leaders from non-leaders more than any one single quality. When negative things happen, non-leaders feel powerless and like victims, leaders on the other hand find fresh purpose and resolve."
Do you want to be a good youth leader, or a great one? A good Christian, husband or wife, parent, disciple...or a great one? We are currently scrambling, learning how do ministry in a whole new way since the COVID-19 pandemic hit our world. Many jobs have been lost or put on hold, the students we lead that would normally be in school are doing school from home, graduations and proms have been canceled... Not only are our students looking to us for answers, but our personal worlds and routines have been turned upside down. Stop and ask yourself this strategic question from a leadership stance, what are you doing with that tough challenge? Are you letting it make you feel powerless...like a victim? Are you camping out in resentment, hurt or anger? We all certainly do that to a degree for a short period of time, so I'm not trying to call you to a guilt trip, but do you move past the hurt, disappointment, anger, resentment and the bitterness to pretty quickly try to assign meaning and strength to your adversity?
The Bible promises us "In this world you will have tribulation..." (John 16:33) Translated it means, "Don't look now folks, but it is a promise, you're going to have trouble." You're going to have challenges, that's life, no matter how amazing a Christ-follower or a leader you are. Great leaders find and assign meaning and strength in the middle of that adversity and from that take some fresh purpose and a fresh sense of resolve.
I call these "crucible" moments. The crucible is that place where we get crushed and what's inside of us comes out usually by a lot of pressure, sometimes heat, everything but enjoyment. It's in these moments that leaders move beyond blame to create a future that really matters. How are you doing with your crucible moments?
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Welcome, my friends, to a powerful topic for this Youth Leader's Coach, "Creating True Character In Your Students And In Yourself." So often we hear character preached at us as being the "big deal" in our lives and ministries, but not very often are we told how to practically help our students increase in their own character and even more importantly how to grow personally in character. So grab a cup of coffee and let me hit on this for you with 10 simple yet profoundly ignored principles in growing and teaching true character.
Lovingly,
This Youth Leader's Coach is one that comes from the crucible of several years in youth ministry. I've entitled it, "Youth Leadership And The Integrity Factor." The basis for our discussion is taken from the Old Testament prophet, Amos, as he observes the leaders of the nation of Israel.
Centuries later, Amos still has powerful leadership insights for all of us in youth ministry. Some of the primary points I highlight might surprise you. Amos seemed to foreshadow in an amazing way, some of the issues contemporary youth leaders would face. Grab your coffee and let's spend some time together.
Lovingly yours,
"The fact that people are choosing to follow you is not necessarily an indication that you deserve to be followed." Tough words to hear, aren't they? While they might not "feel good," five decades into youth ministry tell me that they are words that need to be spoken often.
The fact is I've watched the "charisma" of too many leaders take them where their "character" couldn't keep them. My heart's desire is for you to rise up and take notice and not fall into the same trap. This Youth Leader's Coach may help you to do just that.
When it comes to ministry, talent may determine your potential, but character determines your legacy. Don't be a great starter, but a poor finisher. May integrity, the true litmus test for success, be the signature of your life!
Eliminating the baby dragons,
What's a crucible? It's that place where you get crushed and everything inside comes spilling out. It's usually characterized by mounds of pressure, sometimes heat, and a whole lot of adversity. According to Warren Bennis in Geeks and Geezers, "The ability to find meaning and strength during these times of adversity is what distinguishes leaders from non-leaders more than any one single quality."
In these instances, it's as if you are handed a pen and given the opportunity to write the end of the story...your story. Whether the stormy times render you powerless or give you fresh resolve is a matter of choice.
In this Youth Leader's Coach, may my 39 years in ministry help you assign purpose to your pain and not just survive the crucibles, but thrive in them.
Turning wounds into wisdom,
In this life, whether we admit it or not, we all want to be KNOWN for something. When we're gone one day, what will people remember about us? What will they say about our character, our family life, our walk with Jesus, how we treated people in our ministry...? I had these same thoughts swarming my head many years ago when my family and ministry was just beginning. I sat down and journaled 7 simple things that I wanted to define Jeanne Mayo and I have spent my life doing my best to live them out.
In this Source, I talk about 8 "Unpleasant Observations" I so often see in our youth and young adult culture today. And then I challenged my students to consider the ultimate question in life...NOT, WHAT do you want to DO? But rather, WHO you want to BE? And then, choose their own "7 Words" that will someday define them...because...NOT to decide...is to decide.
Lovingly,
