Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Leadership - How Attitude Affects Your Leadership Potential

Perhaps one of the most important parts of leadership is your attitude. Your attitude will decide your altitude in business as well as in life. You can't alter someone else's mindset for them. However, this powerful saying is a great tip that you can place in front of anybody who needs a good attitude adjustment. I wish to talk about some of the ways all of us can develop a fantastic attitude every day. It is what leadership is all about.

Dale Carnegie said: "Yes, if we think pleasant thoughts, we will be pleasant. If we think unpleasant thoughts, we will be unpleasant. If we think fearful thoughts, we will become fearful. If we think we will fail, we will definitely will.

Am I promoting a " everything in life is great" mindset toward all our difficulties? No. Life is not that cut and dry. What I am saying is that we must possess a positive mindset instead of a damaging one.

Leadership - How Attitude Affects Your Leadership Potential

Your mental attitude is the power all of us hold in our mind. Reality can be transformed significantly by a individual thought. In diet the saying is you are what you eat. With leadership, it's more you are what you believe. Unlike what individuals wish to think, external influences for the most part don't figure in your happiness or even success, instead it's how all of us respond to those influences, good or bad. So how do we alter our responses to those external forces?

Make the way you respond a mindful goal.

Humor is essential. When stuff isn't going your way, always try to keep things in perspective and loosen up. Sometimes you just have to laugh. Many will moan and groan and become negative.

Believe me, positive emotions not just help you accomplish more; they also help to make other people want to be around you and your leadership. People are attracted to others who possess that positive outlook and have that never quit attitude. Complainers don't gather a following unless it's just other miserable people.

One of the most important parts of leadership is to project a positive and self-confident atmosphere, projecting the attitude that failing is not a option. A positive mindset is the foundation of leadership. It is the same mindset that a successful athlete projects every time you see them.

To attain that strength and not end up being drained by the toxic people out there, here are some suggestions:

Concentrate on the people who have the same goals and mindset. Stay away from toxic people..

Tap into your own self-development and move forward.

Don't allow yourself or others on your team to fall into a rut or dull routine. Keep it exciting and do something everyday for your business.

Ask questions and actually listen to the things going on around you. Listen to your team's desires and dreams. It will make a huge difference with your leadership.

You must be accountable to your team, not someone else. It all lies on you and sometimes it will be difficult but that is what taking on the leadership role will entail. If you do it correctly you will actually see the mindset of the people around you start to change for the good.

Leadership - How Attitude Affects Your Leadership Potential
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The author of this article is Co-Founder of TLR (The Leaders Role). TLR offers state-of-the-art leadership training in today's E market including marketing tutorials, weekly business building webinars, and one-on-one mentoring. Find more detailed answers to your question, "Leadership" at http://www.theleadersrole.com Today!
mwe1313@yahoo.com
Skype: mike.erwin13

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Monday, February 25, 2013

6 Characteristics of the Lion to Consider For Your Own Leadership

As a leader, there are certain qualities and characteristics of lions that you might find useful to consider - for yourself and your "pride." Let us just take a few minutes to explore these and as with all metaphors, we aren't going to beat this one to death.

1. Protective

You don't have to watch very many Discovery Channel shows about lions to see how very protective they are - of territory, themselves, their young, and so forth. As far as being more lion-like, what do you need to be protective of? Protective of yourself? Your money? Your children? Your partner? Your spouse? Your business? Your colleagues? Your position? Your beliefs? So, exactly what do you need to be protective of?

6 Characteristics of the Lion to Consider For Your Own Leadership

2. Brave

Being lion-like means you are brave and courageous. Naturally, you choose when and where to be brave vs. timid, courageous vs. cowardly. We all make choices every day. Look for opportunities today and every day where you can be brave. It does make a difference, both for you and for others.

3. Willing to fight

Hmm...we know that lions will fight when need be. They don't pick fights but because they are willing to protect their food, their mates, their territory and so forth, they will fight if necessary. What is the one thing you are willing to fight for?

Many readers are parents and my guess is that many parents would be willing to fight for their children. Or maybe you are a professor who is willing to fight when you see other faculty members being bullied. Maybe you are a teacher who is fighting for particular students who need your "protection."

What is it for you? Really. What are you willing to fight for? The one thing?

4. Hunters

LOTS of people are concerned right now about financial issues. Someone wrote to me recently that she had overheard middle school girls in the bathroom at a movie talking about how they needed to come up some ways to earn money because after the legislature was over, their parents weren't going to be able to give them money for the movies any longer. You might be one of the people who is "hunting" for money. You might be hunting for it for your own personal situation or you are hunting money for projects at work or for community needs and the like.

But what else do us lion-like folks hunt for? You might describe it thus:

Bravery to find what really makes me happy Bravery to ignore what others feel is successful and find my own success Bravery to dare to make dramatic changes in the path of my career that will also change my personal life...and vice versa

What are you hunting? And just like a lion on the Savannah, you may or may not find it, but you hunt regardless.

5. Group members (part of a pride)

6. Loners in the big scheme of things

The last two - being part of a group (i.e., a pride) and also being somewhat loners in the big scheme of things - let's think about these together.

As a person who is seeking ways of staying positive, no matter how crazy things are around us, we need both to see ourselves as being part of a pride - a team - a family - a group - an association - a community - or whatever you might call it. We have to deliberately assemble our group - small or large - that will assist us in our - if I can use this word - survival. Lions aren't part of prides for no reason. There's a reason. You need a "pride" of your own if you are to "survive" in your positive place.

And, here's the other part (at least as my little brain considers this), we are also loners in the bigger scheme of things. What I mean by that is, just as lions are not hanging out with all the other animals but rather hang out - sometimes completely alone - but certainly mostly just with a few other lions, we also may need to separate ourselves sometimes.

6 Characteristics of the Lion to Consider For Your Own Leadership
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Consider what you need for your own positive leadership and see if some of these lion qualities support you in your goals. And to access other tools for positive leaders, you're welcome to check here:

http://stayingpositiveinafreakedoutworld.com/Materials.php

(c) 2010 Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D. | The Ph.D. of Productivity(tm) | http://meggin.com

Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D. works with smart people who want to consistently keep their emphasis on excellence.

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Saturday, February 16, 2013

Leadership and Organizational Change - A Team-Based Approach

Change is never easy; it is in our human nature to resist change - whatever the cause. However, despite this fact, many organizations have managed to overcome the barriers to change and have adopted new models for not only leadership styles, but many other organizational processes as well (Nahavandi, 2003). As you might have already identified, one of the most difficult models to change is moving from a typical hierarchical or autocratic style of management to a more democratic or team-oriented style of leadership. However, the key to effective organizational change is a sound change management process (Dudink & Berge, 2006). Part of that change management process, is also preparing your business for a new shift in leadership methods and requires that the organization build a team-oriented culture - starting from the top and communicating down (Rosenburg, 2001). Managers at all levels must identify and leverage each person's top skills, and create sound value-based communications between team members (Dudink & Berge, 2006).

Change can be the ultimate test of a leader. As the leader of an organization, you should implement a solid change management strategy in order to effectively manage not only your people, but the business dimensions of the organization as well (Dudink & Berge, 2006). According to John Kotter (2007) a leading expert in change management, leaders often make several key mistakes - those of which Kotter has specifically narrowed down to eight key steps. As the leader of the organization, you should consider taking these eight steps into considering in order to develop a solid approach and framework for transforming your organizational leadership methods.

The first step in dealing with change is to establish a sense of urgency. Most change begins when leaders look at the firm's current situation, performance and customer satisfaction (Kotter, 2007). Is customer satisfaction being affected because of a slow decision making process? Are there "too many cooks in the kitchen" so to speak? This is perhaps the most important step in the process and requires involvement and "aggressive cooperation" by everyone in the organization.

Leadership and Organizational Change - A Team-Based Approach

The second step is to create a powerful "guiding coalition". But what does this mean? Not only must the department or divisional leader become a key stakeholder and supporter, but so must the top-levels of the organization: the Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives. If the most important people in the company do not buy in, the rest will not either (Kotter, 2007). In a small company, this guiding team may only be three or four people, however in a larger organization, this could be a wide range; twenty to fifty people.

The remaining steps include:

1. Defining a long-term vision;

2. Communicating that vision aggressively (i.e., ten times more than you initially think);

3. Removing obstacles that do not support the new vision and empowering others to support that vision;

4. Planning for, creating, and celebrating short-term "wins"

5. Consolidating improvements and preparing for more change (i.e., do not declare victory too soon), and;

6. Institutionalizing the new approaches.

But, how do you effectively persuade others to buy-in to organizational change; specifically from an autocratic to a democratic style of leadership? The first question that should be posed to each and every individual in your guiding coalition should be, "What is leadership?" Carefully listen to each person's definition: one will typically find many different versions of what each person believes leadership is. However, despite these differences Nahavandi (2003) points out that leadership contains three similar elements: (1) leadership is a group phenomenon; there can be no leaders without followers and therefore is already a team environment, (2) leadership is goal directed, meaning leaders always influence or guide teams to a specific course of action to achieve a specific goals, and (3) in the presence of a leader, one assumes some form of hierarchy or autocratic leadership. However, while this may be the case, it can also be informal, flexible and with mostly equal power.

By addressing these three similar elements, Nahavandi (2003) continues to show that by joining them, we define a leader as any person who guides or influences teams and helps them in establishing and reaching goals and objectives in an efficient manner; in a non-autocratic fashion. This shows that to be an effective leader, one does not have to use a top-down approach, and the responsibilities and accountability of the decisions can be shared amongst the team.

But, the next question is, "How do you get them to change their style of leadership?" In order to sustain a revolutionary change in an organization, you need to first motivate those in your guiding collation or transformational leadership team. Nahvandi (2003) believes transformational leadership is best achieved through inspiration of your followers, which enables them to "enact revolutionary change". Transformational leadership ultimately includes three primary factors: charisma and inspiration (i.e., creating emotional bonds), intellectual stimulation (i.e., challenging followers to solve problems instead of you), and individual consideration (i.e., developing personal relationships with each follower). When these three factors are combined, they allow a vehicle for change in not only the organization, but in the individuals themselves.

By following these types of steps an organization will consequently produces better ideas while forcing shared accountability of decisions. The greatest implication of these actions will be to change the way in which people think, act and share ideas; consequently changing the very culture of the company and how it does business.

In the words of Kotter (2007), "guiding change may be the ultimate test of a leader." Human nature is to resist change, and an aggressive and sustained change management process for the organization must be implemented as the framework for leading a significant transformation in organizational culture. Once this framework has been implemented you as the business leader will have efficiently and effectively persuaded your followers, and the rest of the organization into a new way of thinking. Thus, allowing for better, faster and higher quality decisions that in turn provide your customers with what they need: satisfaction.

References:

Dudink, G., & Berge, Z. (2006). Balancing Top-Down, Bottom-Up, and Peer-to-Peer Approaches to Sustaining Distance Training. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education , 7 (3), 144-152.

Kotter, J. (2007). Leading Change. Harvard Business Review , 85 (1), 96-103.

Nahavandi, A. (2006). The art and science of leadership. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Rosenberg, M. (2001). E-Learning: Strategies for Delivering Knowledge in the Digital Age. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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Leadership and Organizational Change - A Team-Based Approach
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Ryan Strayer has been a successful business executive for over 13 years consulting for some of the largest companies in America such as JPMorgan-Chase, BlockBuster, Boeing and IBM. With an MBA in Operations Management, his experise and experiences range from total quality management methodologies, information technology and process re-engineering to theories in management, leadership and motivation.

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Saturday, February 9, 2013

Leadership Qualities and Characteristics Are Learned, Never Inherited

Sometimes we declare that someone is a born leader. Not so! All the traits of a good leader is learned. If leadership qualities and characteristics are never inherited, can they be learned by anyone? That's a good question and one that is open for debate. Some people just can't seem to learn how to be a leader. And yet anyone can actually learn the traits of a good leader. Whether anyone can learn leadership characteristics would perhaps depend on if that person could learn.

With all that said, here's the purpose of this article. America needs quality leaders today. Our nation lacks leadership in the House and Senate. Most of our congressmen and women are about themselves. It is no longer a nation of "We the people..." Rather we have become a nation of us and them-a divided nation. Our nation has quit being a nation that takes care of the working man and woman; rather, our nation now awards the man or woman who won't work. Understand, the author has no political inclination. We can not point the finger at any particular party or individual because we have three fingers pointing back at ourselves. We the people have contributed to the devastation of our nation as surely as the politicians have. Our current President is trying to fix the problem; however, history has proven that you can't buy your way out of something you have behaved yourself into.

We have allowed Congress and the White House (past and present administrations) to bankrupt our nation. Our nation reminds you of Israel and its ultimate ruin. Fortunately for Israel, God raised up a great leader, Nehemiah, the builder of Jerusalem's walls. Nehemiah was a nobody. He was a servant that risked his life for a king. His job was to taste-test all food and drink that the king would later consume. If the food or drink was poisoned, Nehemiah died, not the valuable king. From his office of nobody, Nehemiah rose to a leader of people who had been sitting idle for many years (786-744 B.C. in the latest stretch). They were content to let someone else do the work. They had a good home, food on the table and it didn't matter if the king fixed their city or not. (Sound like any citizens you know?) Not only was Nehemiah a slave, but he was very young. He had been born after the Babylonian invasion.

Leadership Qualities and Characteristics Are Learned, Never Inherited

So how did a nobody slave, a kid, become one of the greatest leaders in the bible? First, he gets a vision from God. When he finally saw the enormity of the task, Nehemiah became ill and wept for days. He probably said, "God, I can't do this! Will you please get someone else?" Then after a little while, he decided that if God was on his side, nothing could keep him from completing the task. He prayed to God, and God began to form a plan for Nehemiah. It appears obvious that Nehemiah isn't a born leader. He had no leadership traits that his mother and father had passed along to him. He had been a servant from the time he was born-now a slave in the Mede and Persian Empire. However, he learned a valuable lesson from his experience; leadership qualities are never inherited but learned.

Look at some of the qualities of good leaders and ask yourself is that quality inherited or learned:

1. Integrity-learned
2. Honesty-learned.
3. Vision casting-learned.
4. Faith-learned.
5. Great Communicator-learned.
6. The Art of Delegation-learned.
7. Courage-learned.
8. Confidence-learned.
9. Tenacity-learned.
10. Perseverance-learned.

Although there are many other leadership characteristics, they are learned behaviors. So it was with Nehemiah. The first thing he saw was his country devastated. We need a Nehemiah who sees our country in spiritual and financial ruin. The USA not only is financially bankrupt, but it is in spiritual and moral bankruptcy, too. The USA needs a powerful, God-fearing leader to get a vision, trust in God and lead this country from decay and ruin to strength and Godliness. Could that someone be you? Who knows that you were born for such a time as this (paraphrase Esther 4:14b)

Nehemiah could step up at anytime because leadership qualities and characteristics are learned never inherited. We desperately need a quality leader to come to the front and lead our nation out of financial bondage. Nehemiah, where are you?

Leadership Qualities and Characteristics Are Learned, Never Inherited
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Howard believes strongly in America; however, he feels that our government has taken on the Big Brother syndrome who wants to take care of and control everything. You don't have to agree with his views. If you would like a free 2010 Whole Life Day Planner and Devotional, a value, email him at coffeyconslt@live.com or visit http://www.writepro.homestead.com You can find out how to sign up for one there.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Leadership - The Roles of Leaders vs. Managers in Business

There has been a lot of politically correct pontificating of late in corporate circles about the differences between managers and leaders. Most of the commentary I have read attempts to please both audiences. Those of you who have read my work in the past know that I am rarely politically correct nor do I ever seek to try and please all the people all the time.

While there is clearly a need for both managers and leaders in the business world and while I respect and have developed close friendships with many a manager, this author simply believes that the law of scarcity applies to the topic at hand. There is an infinitely greater supply of managers causing a much greater demand for leaders. Put simply, because leaders are much more difficult to come by, they are therefore more valuable to an enterprise.

The paragraph above begs the question why are there fewer leaders than managers? I believe it is because not everyone has it in them to be a leader and thus the old axiom "a born leader". The intrinsic quality of leadership often begins with nothing more than raw talent and a certain state of mind. To possess the innate qualities of a leader is however not the same thing as being a leader. As important as your DNA is, effective leadership skills are developed and refined by time, experience, and a true desire to be more than just a manager, but a true leader.

Leadership - The Roles of Leaders vs. Managers in Business

Let's breakdown the DNA of a typical leader...A leader is usually a very creative, dynamic, outgoing and unflappable individual. They tend to think big picture focusing on vision and strategy while looking to make a long-term impact. By way of contrast let's examine the DNA of a manager. Managers are usually more analytical while focusing on process and procedure looking to make short-term contributions. The following list adapted from Mind of a Manager, Soul of a Leader by Craig Hickman, John Wiley & Sons, demonstrates the DNA gap between leaders and managers:

Managers build systems and procedures, Leaders build teams and develop talent.

Managers surround themselves with subordinates & Leaders surround themselves with the best & brightest.

Managers avoid risk and Leaders thrive on risk.

Managers find comfort in the status quo & Leaders serve as a catalyst for change & growth.

Managers settle for industry standard & Leaders demand the best.

Managers wield power while Leaders apply influence.

Managers control & Leaders inspire.

Managers formulate policy & Leaders set examples.

Managers instruct...Leaders mentor.

Managers are reactive while Leaders are proactive.

Managers plan...Leaders innovate.

Managers refine...Leaders revolutionize.

Managers reorganize...Leaders reinvent.

Managers pursue the tangible while Leaders seek the intangible.

We have all witnessed companies that have been over managed in the absence of leadership. When leadership has been abdicated to management in a corporate setting you will always find that growth slows, morale declines, creativity wanes and the competitive edge is weakened. That being said, I have personally experienced the value of true leadership at every stage of my life from the athletic playing field, to the military battleground to the corporate boardroom. Let's look at an example of the value of leadership from each of the three areas:

o An example from the world of athletics...If you were the owner of an NFL franchise and had to choose between having the #1 quarterback in the league or the #1 center in league what would your choice be? Again this doesn't mean that a great center isn't valuable, it just means that the role player isn't as valuable to the team as having the talent factor and leadership characteristics of a true impact player. Simply reflect back upon your own life experiences and you'll see that you have come across many utility players over the years, but very few franchise players.

o A military example...Contrast if you will the differences of two enlisted men of the same rank. The fist is a sergeant in a headquarters unit charged with the administrative support of a company commander. The second sergeant is a combat controller in a special operations unit charged with coordinating air strikes from the ground behind enemy lines. While both of the enlisted men described above hold the same rank, are part of a team, and play important roles, one is clearly an impact player in a leadership capacity while the other is solely a utility player acting in a management capacity. The military has determined that it is a rare individual who exhibits the characteristics necessary to become a member of a special operations unit. Therefore they are willing to make a much larger investment in the combat controller and in return the military expects a much larger contribution from that individual.

o A corporate example...This example will be short and sweat, but hopefully very clear in its statement of impact. Who do you believe is of greater value and makes a larger contribution to a corporation, someone who administers policy and creates processes or someone who sets the vision and creates the strategy? Just examine the difference in the pay stubs of the two individuals contrasted above and you'll quickly see who the enterprise deems to be of higher value.

I want to be clear that I am not "anti" manager. I am however very "pro" leadership when it comes to optimizing the talent factor in any organization. My bias toward leadership doesn't mean that I don't understand the principles behind such truisms as: "there is no "I" in team" or, "the sum of the parts is greater than the whole" or that "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link." Rather it simply means that I believe you achieve a much greater return on human capital with investments made into leadership due to the scope and scale of the impact that a leader can make. The bottom line is that I prefer to lead rather than manage and to be led rather than to be managed.

Leadership - The Roles of Leaders vs. Managers in Business
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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Leadership Insights from the Apostle Paul

The Pauline letters were addressed to small groups of people that he knew by name (Timothy, Titus, and Philemon) as well as large audiences (Romans, Corinthians, Galatians). These letters provide insight into why leaders exist and what knowledge, skills, and abilities are important to leaders today. In each letter Paul attempts to answer questions about the 'meaning of life' such as sin (Romans 3:9), faith (Romans 3:22), marriage (Romans 7:2, 1 Corinthians 7), unity (1 Corinthians 1:10), spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12), and freedom (Galatians 5:17). After carefully dissecting Pauline letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Thessalonians, and Philemon I identified a set of characteristics that he viewed as being critical to the development of Christian leaders. Effective leadership traits are as varied and numerous, not to mention subtle, as the human mind and heart themselves. No list will ever be complete, nor will it be the best suited for each individual reader - these 5 characteristics are by no means exhaustive. However, they serve to communicate the power and promise that Paul offers: compassion, self-Awareness, righteousness by faith, commitment, and community. The biblical quotations in this article are from the King James Version of The Holy Bible.

Compassion through Spiritual Unity

Millions of American mailboxes are stuffed daily with letters from non-profit organizations in order to raise funds for the less fortunate. The Jewish Christians near Jerusalem were reportedly on the edge of starvation. Paul referred to them as "the poor saints" which are at Jerusalem. (Romans 15:26). In taking his collection for the poor, Paul mainly appealed to the Christian responsibility to help those in need. He sought to seize the opportunity for Gentile Christians to reach out in compassion and demonstrate spiritual unity. Paul did not engineer a mass mail charity event but he did present a direct appeal for funds (Romans 15:25-26, 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 Corinthians 8:1 - 9:15). He takes his appeal a bit further in 2 Corinthians 9:6 by illustrating the bonuses of giving - "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth boutifully shall reap also bountifully." Paul shows that generosity benefits the giver in that a gift can serve as an act of worship to God and inspire the faith of others.

Leadership Insights from the Apostle Paul

Compassionate leadership is acting in the interest of your followers, your peers, and your organization. This is the boss for whom the employees are willing to work their hardest. "Loyalty and devotion to task and grow out of trust and the knowledge of protection that comes from the employment relationship." (Winston, 2002). The employees can feel the support for them and are compelled to give their full support in return. This manager brings out the best in her subordinates by their example.

Self-Awareness

General awareness, confidence, and especially self-awareness strengthen the Christian leader. "The leader must first make peace in his own life before he can successfully make peace in his organization. A leader in conflict with himself is a house divided." (Winston, 2002, p. 82). Leaders must be willing to carefully explore their values and how they can move their organization in the direction of a vision that is unwavering. Effective Leaders lead with a purpose rather than "run like a man running aimlessly" (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). From the biblical sense this means that we live for His purpose, not ours. As Christians, we recognize that our need for Christ will bring us beyond our failures so we can grow increasingly effective. As we grow in Christ, we will become aware of our futility and inadequacy as human beings.

In Romans 14:1-2, Paul reminds us that Christians do not have to agree on all matters pertaining to the Christian life and continues by describing the difference between a strong and weak Christian. In an attempt to explain the role of diversity in God's overall plan of redemption Paul uses faith as a sense of assurance of confidence where the proper understanding of the gospel allows the strong Christian to recognize that his diet has no spiritual significance. (Romans 14:2, Colossian 2:16).

Righteousness by Faith

Paul uses the Greek verb "justified" 27 times, mostly in Romans and Galatians. The term describes what happens when someone believes in Christ as his Savior. Paul emphasizes two distinct points. First, no one lives a perfect life. "For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God." (Romans 3:24). Secondly, even though we are all sinners, God will declare everyone who puts his trust in Jesus not guilty but righteous. The central thought in justification is that, although we deserve to be declared guilty (Romans 3:9-19), because of our faith in Christ God declares us righteous. In Galatians 2:16 Paul uses the verb justified three times, three times this verse tells us that no one is justified by observing the law, and three times it underscores the indispensable requirement of placing our faith in Christ.

Commitment to the Growth

Christian leaders believe that people have an intrinsic value beyond their tangible contributions as workers. As such, leaders are deeply committed to a personal, professional, and spiritual growth of each and every individual within the organization. Every Christian is obligated to be the best he can be for God. Like any other worthwhile activity, if leadership can be improved, we should seek to improve it. In doing so, we prepare ourselves for higher service that may be just around the corner. Romans 12:1 issues an imperative to leaders: "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." The verb "present" is followed by 36 verbs that specify what happens when we obey one of which is noteworthy here.

First, exert yourself to lead - "Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation...he that ruleth, with diligence..." (Romans 12:8). This is a summons to dive wholeheartedly into leadership. Exhort others with an uplifting, cheerful call to worthwhile accomplishment.

Building Community

Christian leaders are aware that the shift from local communities to large institutions as the primary shaper of human lives has changed our perceptions and caused a sort of loss. 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13 begins the theme of being united in mind and purpose. "Divisions within the community betray the purpose for which Christ was crucified: to unite everyone in one body, the body of Christ." (Matera, 2001, p.10). Leaders should seek to identify a means for building community among those who work within a given institution. I believe that Paul was conveying one body working together - emphasizing unity - but I also believe that he illustrates the lessons to be learned from the community. "If I were a single member, were would the body be...The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'..." (I Corinthians 12:19 - 21). Can we get along in life without hands? Yes, but we would have to make adjustments...learn to use prosthetic limbs or find alternative methods to picking up objects. Though the body remains incomplete, it survives. However, the strongest hands are worthless without the body. The hands need the signals generated by the brain and the nourishment provided by the blood.

The bottom line is that a body without hands can manage, but a hand without a body is inconceivable. Diverse churches such as Corinth are aware of the differences among its membership, which is why Paul's letter stressed unity issues that still plague churches today. The solution is to respect each other and take direction from Jesus Christ, the head.

ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION CONCEPTS OF PAUL

How do leaders address the people side of change without jeopardizing the business side of change? How can a leader make the tough decisions without losing sight of the emotions and concerns of his followers? Leading change is largely about making sense of competing views. "Change cannot be managed, it emerges. Managers are part of the system, not outside the system." (Cameron, 2004, p. 123). It is about developing a style that builds trust through authenticity and careful balance. Of course, given the tensions that are continually in play, there will be circumstances that require more emphasis on one of the competing competencies than on the other. It's not possible to be perfectly in balance all the time. But it's an ideal worth striving for. "When leaders focus on establishing trust, they are better able to deal with both the structural and the human elements of change. Instead of taking a one-sided approach, leaders find they can be both tough and empathetic, committed to the plan and understanding of the pain. They become agile and resilient, and able to do what it takes to lead through change and transition." (Bunker and Wakefield, 2006, p. 3).

DIVERSITY CONCEPTS OF PAUL

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reveals the equality of Christian life very optimistically. Paul does not describe the sins that that took place in Corinth. But rather he observes other dangers in the Galatians' thinking: "I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel." (Galatians 1:6). By some unnecessarily stressing their Jewish heritage, the sacrifice of Christ would begin to diminish -faith in Christ would become one of the many steps in salvation and not the only one. Paul feared that subtle differences between Christians would begin to have priority as observed in Galatians 2:12 when Peter spurned the Gentiles because he feared the Judaizers.

Paul also stresses that those baptized in Christ are "...neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female..." (Galatians 3:28). Jesus came to tear down walls between people - the unity in Christ transcends ethnic, social and sexual distinctions. (Romans 10:12, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 2:15-16). We are called to faithfulness in our relationships - supporting and encouraging each other, accepting one another recognizing there are no second-class Christians. Faith in Christ and not anyone's set of laws opens the door to acceptance by God. (Galatians 2:16).

STRATEGY FORMATION CONCEPTS OF PAUL

In a time when the church is threatened by interest groups and ideologies, and when parishes are in danger of being divided by the same, the Pauline letters summons contemporary congregations to find their unity in the crucified Christ. Christians in Paul's day debated such issues as vegetarianism, eating meat sacrificed to idols, and celebrating pagan festival days. Even today we continue to quarrel over issues such as smoking, urban music, and hip-hop clothing. The advice Paul gives in Romans 14:1-4 to both weak and strong Christians of his day applies to people in all cultures who debate questionable issues - do not judge another.

Strategy formation (thinking, planning, and implementation) is a characteristic that enables Christian leaders to understand lessons from the past, the realities of the present, and the likely consequence of a decision in the future. It is deeply rooted in the intuitive mind. Strategy formation involves the leader's ability to visualize the end result of the policies and methods he advocates. The leader looks to understand how the policies will affect future generations. "[Strategy formation] is a clear picture of what the leader sees his or her group being or doing" (Maxwell, 1993, p. 149).

Paul Among Jews, Gentiles, and Modern-day Christians

The issue of whether to engage in the Gentile mission and the question of how to receive the Gentiles caused serious tensions during the early Christian Church. Paul's struggle was to defend the gospel of which the fundamental principle is to accept others as they are. In Paul's case this consisted of the Gentiles. For the contemporary church the basis of acceptance revolves around such issues as race, gender, ethnicity, and social status. The Pauline letters play an important role in the New Testament and in the modern-day congregation. Of the 27 writings that make-up the New Testament, nearly half are attributed to Paul. "Paul's unfolding theology of inclusivity still has much to contribute to our effort to remain faithful as Christians and at the same time become good citizens of the global village - citizens who are willing and able to see essential authenticity in others, as Paul saw a glimpse of it long ago." (Park, 2003, p. 80).

REFERENCES

Bunker, K. A. and Wakefield, M. (May, 2006). Leading in Times of Change. Boston, MA: Harvard Management Update Article Volume 11, No. 5.

Cameron, Esther. (2004). Making Sense of Change Management: A Complete Guide to the Models, Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change. London, GBR: Kogan Page, Limited.

Holy Bible. (1997). King James Version. Grand Raids, MI: Zondervan Publishing.

Matera, Frank J. (2001). Strategies for Preaching Paul. Collegeville, MN. The Liturgical Press.

Maxwell, John C. (1993). Developing the Leader within You. Nashville, TN. Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Park, Eung C. (2003). Either Jew of Gentile: Paul's Unfolding Theology of Inclusivity. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

Winston, Bruce (2002). Be a Leader for God's Sake. Regent University, School of Leadership Studies. Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Leadership Insights from the Apostle Paul
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Lieutenant Ken Rice is an Active Duty Naval Officer stationed in Norfolk VA. He is currently assigned to Commander, Naval Surface Force's Warfare Requirments Directorate as the FORCEnet Requirements Officer. Lieutenant Rice is responsible for the program analasys and budget oversight for Information Technology Transformation for the Surface Fleet. He is currently enrolled at Regent University working towards a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Abraham Lincoln - Leadership Characteristics From Our 16th President

Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the best presidents in the history of the United States.  He grew up in humble circumstances on the frontier in the early 1800's.  He was mostly self-educated, and became a lawyer in his home state of Illinois.  Although he was elected to the US House of Representatives, he was unsuccessful in two attempts to get elected to the US Senate.  Nevertheless, he was still elected to two consecutive terms as President of the United States in perhaps the most challenging period of our history, the American Civil War.  His leadership was the key to keeping the nation together and offers some valuable lessons for leaders today.  Here are a just a few leadership characteristics from our 16th President:

Persistence:  Lincoln's rise to become the Commander-in-Chief was certainly not a sure bet.  Starting with humble beginnings, he became a self-educated lawyer by sheer will power and desire to succeed. Later, he failed in two attempts to win election to the United States Senate, but still succeeded in becoming the 16th President.  As Commander-in-Chief, he fired a succession of ineffective generals until he finally appointed Ulysses S. Grant to head the Union Army during the Civil War.  In both his personal life and his political life, persistence was a key to his success.  Without persistence, he would have never become a lawyer, never run for office after his first failed attempt to become a senator, and never would have persisted until he found the fighting General Grant to lead the Union Army to victory.

Courage:  As President, Lincoln faced with unimaginable problems including the dissolution of the union and dealing with the issue of slavery.  He had the courage of his convictions to succeed.  While various politicians opposed his policies and personally ridiculed him, Lincoln had the courage to do what was necessary to keep the nation together and end slavery. 

Abraham Lincoln - Leadership Characteristics From Our 16th President

Learning: Growing up on the prairie as a young boy, Lincoln's family moved from his birthplace in Kentucky to Indiana and later Illinois which made it difficult for him to attend school.  He had less than two years of formal education, but he was passionate about reading and learning all during his lifetime.  As a quick study, he was able to learn and apply lessons.  This passion for learning made him a successful lawyer and then again served him well when leading the nation as Commander-in-Chief.   

Humility:  Lincoln never forgot his humble beginnings.  Although he attained the highest office in the land, he remained a humble man throughout his life.  His humility allowed him to incorporate some of his major political rivals into his presidential staff and create what historian Doris Kearns Goodwin called, "a team of rivals." In her book about Lincoln's cabinet by the same name, she defines his genius as his ability to gather a team of high-profile rivals to deal with the issues of the Civil War.  Only his humility allowed him to build a team with men who had big egos and held widely divergent views.

Humor:  Lincoln had a good sense of humor which he used to disarm opponents and to win friends over to his position.  He used wit and humor to teach simple, but profound lessons with parables, short stories, and memorable quotes.

There a many reasons why Americans hold Abraham Lincoln in high esteem; however his personal leadership qualities are one reason why he is often regarded as our best president.  By personal example, he demonstrated how a leader can succeed even in the most difficult circumstances.  A Union victory and ending slavery were never pre-ordained outcomes of the Civil War.  It was only through Lincoln's courageous and steadfast leadership that the nation was saved and freedom was extended to the oppressed.  Lincoln stood tall then, and his legacy still stands now as an inspiration to young leaders facing difficult challenges today.

Abraham Lincoln - Leadership Characteristics From Our 16th President
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Leonard Kloeber is an author and leadership consultant. He has extensive leadership experience as business executive and as a military officer. He has been a hands-on leader in a variety of organizations large and small. Most recently he was a human resources executive for a Fortune 100 company. His book - Victory Principles, Leadership Lessons from D-Day - illustrates seven bedrock leadership principles that all successful leaders use. Download a free summary of the Victory Principles at: http://www.victoryprinciples.com and find other bonus materials for leaders. Contact him at staffride@gmail.com

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