Leadership Is Shepherd Board Members #267
Congratulations, you have been prayerfully asked to be a Board Member at your church or Mission. You are prayerfully considering the role. You know there are regular meetings, you also know there are other members but, what really is your role as a Board member?
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV)
The purpose of the Board is to represent the owner. That’s God! It is His church and mission. As a Board member here are 12 questions to regularly evaluate how effective you are.
- Do you model spiritual leadership to the congregation?
- Do you serve with integrity ensuring Board decisions are consistent with God’s word?
- Do you love Jesus and demonstrate God’s love at home and work?
- Do you pray consistently for your Ministry Staff, People and the church as a whole?
- Do you provide encouragement and accountability to the Lead Pastor?
- Do you represent the church, not your personal interests?
- Do you encourage the established Vision, Mission and Values of the church?
- Do you commit to the financial and volunteer needs of your church?
- Do you actively memorize scripture?
- Do you visit and communicate with individuals/couples within your church?
- Do you shepherd and care for your people as the Biblical shepherd cared for his sheep?
- Do you disciple people to know Christ better?
“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 MSG)
Leadership is … praying and implementing God’s will for His church.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership Is Expressing Thanks #261
On this Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, I’d like to start a new trend.
Research by Gerald Graham found that “58% of staff (volunteers) seldom (if ever) are thanked by their manager for a job well done, 76% seldom (if ever) receive written thanks from their manager, 78% seldom (if ever) receive public praise in the workplace. It appears that the techniques that have the greatest motivational impact are practiced the least, even though they are easier and less expensive to use.” (James C. Hunter, The World’s most powerful Leadership Principle)
This is research from the secular marketplace. Is there any correlation with churches and Christian based organizations?
Who are you thankful for?
Have you taken the opportunity to tell them?
Have you shared with others your admiration for your family, Pastor, church, neighbour or your blessings because of where you live?
I’m thankful for a lot.
Char and I have been married for 48 years. Wow! This is awesome. We are very thankful for our three adult kids and knowing that our eleven grandkids are in church every weekend is really special. On Social Media, I refer to our grandkids as our eleven favourite people. We take family seriously and they always come first. Thank you family.
We love our church family. With two services each Sunday and in addition, a dynamic Youth, Senior, Sunday School and Weekly Life Groups. We have the privilege of touching people in our church and community. Thank you to our church.
We have a Deacons Board where we pray, care and share with the goal of reaching our community and influencing our world for Christ. We have Mission responsibilities and are working with the other churches in our city. Thank you to our church leaders.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to each of you.
Leadership is expressing our thankfulness, representing God’s love on a continual basis.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership Is Christ’s Leadership #252
“True Greatness, true leadership, is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you.” (J. Oswald Sanders, Principles of Excellence For Every Believer)
Servant Leadership is not a toolbox of skills, talents and strategies, each uniquely chosen, manipulated and abused at the whim of the leader. Servant Leadership is not one person controlling, whining and leaving others feeling they have been taken advantage of. It is not a ‘we as opposed to they’ challenge. It is not teams suspicious of others or individuals vying for power, control or personal empire building. It is not competition between teams working to manipulate for personal achievement. It is not comparing, contrasting and boasting or accepting personal accolades for someone else’s achievement.
Servant Leadership is not power and control over others; “You know the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them”. (Matthew 20:25 NIV) Servant Leadership is not misguided, “Those who guide this people mislead them and those who are guided are led astray”. (Isaiah 9:16 NIV) Servant Leadership is not working independently where “everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25 NIV) or “if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit”. (Matthew 15:14 NIV)
Rehoboam had an opportunity to demonstrate Servant Leadership when his advisors said, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants”. (1 Kings 12:7 NIV) Rehoboam rejected the advice and made his followers’ workload heavier. (As a postscript, his 17 year reign was full of wars and fighting.) Rehoboam “did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord”. (2 Chronicles 12:14 NIV)
Whether in church or the corporate world, the one-person show isn’t effective. “Business (ministry) simply won’t work if each of us is only in it for ourselves”. (Simons, Fast Company) Christ set the standard of service for us.
Leadership is … serving first.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership Is About Others! # 251
Leadership is not about you. It is about others. If you are called to be a leader? It is and will be an awesome journey. You’ll have mountain top experiences. You will be thrilled to see others grow and serve. You’ll walk through some valleys. You will feel the pain and hurt of setback. You will also know that the Leadership calling to serve is an awesome opportunity.
Just like the Shepherd of old, the Leader of today is responsible to lead the sheep, to inspire followers to be awesome and to make a difference in the lives of others. The point is to demonstrate Christ’s love and to make a difference in the lives of those who follow you.
The effective Servant Leader will encourage, congratulate, and celebrate the team and others’ experience. As leaders trust others, their followers will trust them. Your people are encouraged as they follow a Vision they believe in. Great people leave when they are not respected. The leader/follower is not a contract, it is a relationship.
“Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. (Matthew 4:19-20 MSG) He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35 MSG)
“Leadership, it turns out, is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge. The closest thing I can equate to servant leaders is the responsibility of a parent.” (Servant Leadership in Action, Ken Blanchard and Renee Broadwell)
As parents we guide direct and control. However, we will sacrifice anything for our kids. The same goes for the Servant Leader.
Leadership is … remembering there is no I in team.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership Is A Daily Decision #250
A review of current secular and business leadership uncovers a frightening cultural trend demonstrated by many contemporary leaders. This trend, is disastrous to employee and volunteer performance.
Keep information within your inner circle. Ensure controls to keep staff working. Demonstrate the superior/inferior roles of boss/employee relations. Ensure staff depend on you for decisions by demanding immediate results. Maintain a low opinion of your staff. Manage and design systems to ensure you get the credit. Reduce compassion for your staff’s personal issues. Keep your eye on the ball to be sure your personal needs and results are achieved.
My daily reading of scripture illustrates a totally different style of the Christian Servant Leader.
Develop your work influence from within your personal character. Encourage, inspire and motivate, building a positive relationship with staff while being responsive to each individuals need. Value your staff and volunteers, share decisions and encourage the skill of each individual. Be considerate and compassionate of others. Be known and valued as a coach, mentor and friend to your staff and volunteers. Live the Vision, Mission and Values that are developed, owned and lived by the leadership and staff alike.
“If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” (1 Kings 12:7 NIV) “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:42-44 NIV)
As an employee or volunteer, who would you rather work for? Which qualities do you demonstrate to your people?
Leadership is … living God’s character today and every day.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership Is The Shepherd Leader #246
Ever thought about what life would be like as a sheep?
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6 NIV) Each individual sheep, has a herding instinct and a need to stay close to the flock. Closeness is more important than being individual or unique. Follower sheep look to the strongest sheep and don’t ask about their long term plan or end result. They just follow the leader to positive, mediocrity, starvation, destruction or death.
I’ve had the awesome privilege of working for several individuals and Boards who live the characteristics of Shepherd Leaders. The shepherd leader is strong and caring. Note David, “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear.” (1 Samuel 17:36 NIV) The Shepherd Leader is protective, enduring, caring and dedicated. This leader is gentle and caring, yet strong.
David illustrated the results of working for the ideal Shepherd Leader. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:1-4 NIV)
“Shortly before a group of business travelers rushed the cockpit to stop the terrorists who had seized control of United Air Lines flight 93, Todd Beamer led them in a recitation of Psalm 23. Beamer, Thomas Burnett and others would succeed in stopping the terrorists from crashing the plane into its intended target. We suspect that Psalm 23 was more than a source of religious consolation for these heroes. Rather, we believe that the Psalm was a source of courage, strength and power.” (Shepherd Leadership by Blaine McCormick, David Davenport)
Leadership is … the shepherd leader knowing the way, providing care and confidence giving their lives for others.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Jethro Group
Serving Leaders
Leadership Is Love and Respect #244
As a Servant Leader you are not the important person. You are not the power broker and may not be the boss. The Servant Leader is primarily responsible to and feels accountability to those who follow. The Leader is, “the servant of the followership”. (Marquardt, Global Leaders for the Twenty-First Century) “It’s not about me; it’s about my crew”. (Navy Commander Michael Abrashoff USS Benfold, Fast Company.
Christ’s love sets the pattern for us. Paul tells us, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres … the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 & 13 NIV)
As Lundy puts it, “The single most important skill of an executive (leader) was his or her ability to get along with people. If you cannot get along with other people, then you are disqualified as a Servant Leader”. (Servant Leadership for Slow Learners)
Love and respect for people are terms that should be commonplace and a concept that is felt in all our church discussions, board meetings, task forces and daily discussions at work. This week, strive to find ways to demonstrate God’s love to your work associates through love and care. As a leader, you are only effective when you build on your people skills and your people feel cared for.
Take a minute and think though the 1 Corinthians verses again. Imagine these verses forming the culture at your place of worship. As Christian Servant Leaders we can and should redefine the standard by handling all our interactions with love and respect. As Christian Leaders, at home, with neighbors, at work and at church we need to be known by His love.
Leadership is … a Servant Leader committed to serving others.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership IsServant Leadership #243
Servant Leadership is different, based on values, character and integrity with roots in Christ’s teaching.
Servant Leadership is “Diametrically opposed to the typically secular, top down, Manager as control, model of organizations.” (With an Eye on the Future; Development and Mission in the 21st. Century, Elmer and McKinney)
“Servant Leadership is not worldly leadership with the rough edges knocked off and a dollop of good will toward others layered on. It’s something fundamentally different in both internal origin and external motivation and process.” (Dr. Guy Saffold, Trinity Western University)
Servant Leadership turns the power and control motivated organizational chart upside down, inside out and builds a team of equals. Servant Leadership is based on a different set of values than other leadership styles. In the traditional organization, power, authority and salary are loosely tied to the number of employees supervised. In Servant Leadership, the value is “not the number of one’s servants but the number of whom one serves.” (J. D. Lundy, Servant Leadership for Slow Learners)
Servant Leadership is value based and follows Christ’s example by putting others first. The challenge is to re-learn, re-focus and work to change our style of leading. The power and control method doesn’t encourage long-term change, individual growth or caring relationships. The ‘me first’ or ‘do it my way’ philosophy doesn’t build value and character into those individuals we work with. It is only as we learn to live and demonstrate God’s love through service that others will be impacted to accomplish the vision of our organization and Gods long-term plan.
Christ put it like this, The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:11-12 NIV)
What can you do today to add value to those individuals within your sphere of influence?
Leadership is … demonstrating God’s love by adding value to someone’s life.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership Is Vision Focused #240
“Vision and commitment are critical to turn an organization around to revitalize it, make it more flexible, innovative, and competitive.” (Angie Mays, Courteous Rebel Jesus’ Model of Leadership)
It is a privilege to work with Leaders encouraging them toward the Biblical characteristics of Christian Servant Leadership. As Jonathan Swift illustrates, “Vision is the art of seeing the invisible.” Being a Visionary under God’s leadership is a faith driven privilege to let go and let God. Just like the Israelites, we each have days of doubt. Our challenge is to look to God each and every day to find His plan for our lives.
The writer of Proverbs tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV) the prophet Haggai tells us to “Give careful thought to your ways”, (Haggai 1:5 NIV) and then Habakkuk, a leader contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel says we need to “write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that who reads it”. (Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV) Vision is living by faith to accomplish what God has in mind even when the accomplishment doesn’t seem realistic. The writer of Hebrews suggests we need to “Live by faith”. (Hebrews 10:38 NIV) as scriptural individuals did, literally trusting God by faith for their future. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark”. (Hebrews 11:7 NIV)
As a Christian Leader, our role is to discover the Vision and plan that God has for us. Healthy Churches, Mission organizations and businesses are led by Leaders, Boards and Teams that carefully follow their prayerful dream towards God’s ultimate vision.
Leadership is … praying, for God’s Vision for yourself, your family and your church.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership Is Partnering #236
The Lone Ranger style doesn’t work. Working alone, carrying the weight, bearing the risk in today’s challenged economy is foolish. The pressure, risk of burnout and health issues resulting from increasing the daily challenge of working alone doesn’t work.
“I saw something meaningless under the sun: There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—a miserable business! Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:7-9 NIV)
God gave each of us strengths, weaknesses, skills and abilities. When we work alone, we are prone to fail. We lack support. When we partner, there is more fun in the work; my strengths help another’s weakness and together we produce more.
In a former home church, we built a new building with 90% volunteer labor. Each of us had strengths and weaknesses. We found friends who were willing to help in their area of expertise. Working alone we could not accomplish much, yet when we put all our abilities, relationships and networks together we received free advice, volunteer time, effort and donated equipment.
Our relationship with Christ is similar.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NIV)
Solomon confirms. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV)
Leadership is … learning to partner as we work to serve God.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
Leadership Is... 