Proverbs 27:1 (MSG) Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow.
I was having calendar problems today. Syncing this one with that one and getting too many duplicate meetings between them. Got me thinking about leading and “tomorrows.”
Influencing others is a today thing – can’t put that off for tomorrow. I remember getting so focused on today’s tasks, that the people needing positive influence (nurture, direction, encouragement, care) were placed in the tomorrow slot. As if I would know that I would be there tomorrow to provide that leading. That brashness may not have been verbally announced, but it was part of my thinking. God-like. Knowing tomorrow would be there for me. For them.
Good leadership is about being present. Aware of and taking care of the people and problems - today. You, and they, may not have tomorrow.
Sure, planning is important. So is scheduling properly. That’s not the issue: tomorrow is about attitude. We either have the “I’m in charge” attitude or the “God is in charge” attitude. Which one we adopt shapes how we think about today. And tomorrow.
Got the right attitude?
Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
INFLUENCE: A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
Proverbs 22:24-25 (MSG) Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious— don't get infected.
How you influence others may well depend on how others influence you.
There is an undercurrent of anger about the economy, health care and America’s “place” in the world. Those issues are important and discussion about them vital. Small businesspeople must make tough decisions about staffing, inventory, sales – all sorts of business decisions – because these kinds of external factors play a role in how business “gets done.”
Notwithstanding the importance of collaboration, the servant-leader, who seeks to positively influence followers, must not allow clicks of the cankerous to be part of his/her circle of friends. God has called His followers to trust in Him, not the government, not cash flow, the budget, wars and rumors of wars. Him. Alone.
A great leader put it this way: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.1” Not the words of a hothead – a bad tempered or angry person. I’d like to hang out with him! Can’t – in person. But I look for people with this attitude. It influences by perspective.
Who is influencing you?
Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
_______________________
1Psalm 62:1-2
How you influence others may well depend on how others influence you.
There is an undercurrent of anger about the economy, health care and America’s “place” in the world. Those issues are important and discussion about them vital. Small businesspeople must make tough decisions about staffing, inventory, sales – all sorts of business decisions – because these kinds of external factors play a role in how business “gets done.”
Notwithstanding the importance of collaboration, the servant-leader, who seeks to positively influence followers, must not allow clicks of the cankerous to be part of his/her circle of friends. God has called His followers to trust in Him, not the government, not cash flow, the budget, wars and rumors of wars. Him. Alone.
A great leader put it this way: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.1” Not the words of a hothead – a bad tempered or angry person. I’d like to hang out with him! Can’t – in person. But I look for people with this attitude. It influences by perspective.
Who is influencing you?
Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
_______________________
1Psalm 62:1-2
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
10 Additional Ways to Influence the Workplace
1 - 10
11. Practice being open to others by actively listening to them and not “telling” them
12. Daily prepare your heart so you are not seduced by subtle ethical distinctions – subtlety has a way of sneaking up – ambushes work on the ill prepared – be prepared.
13. Develop your personal purpose statement (Why were you created - born? What are you meant to accomplish?) and lead from it (and we all lead no matter our title)
14. As a person thinks so is he – therefore, practice Phil 4: 8-9 “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – if excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
15. Be present in all your business conversations – connect with the person speaking – listening is an active activity – passive listening does not honor the speaker
16. Develop inner contentment – joy is accepting the circumstances with an understanding that our loving Father wants what is best for us in spite of the stuff happening around us. The peace of God is directly related to our anxiety.
17. Remember – you are a steward of this company, this team, this project, this business idea, this family – you and I own nothing.
18. Make all business decisions with integrity remembering that wealth is not a goal but a consequence
19. Idle words are dangerous – practice clear, concise, encouraging, edifying conversation
20. Understand what drives you (how God wired you) and then understand how God has wired others and communicate with them in the style that best meets their needs – not yours.
Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
11. Practice being open to others by actively listening to them and not “telling” them
12. Daily prepare your heart so you are not seduced by subtle ethical distinctions – subtlety has a way of sneaking up – ambushes work on the ill prepared – be prepared.
13. Develop your personal purpose statement (Why were you created - born? What are you meant to accomplish?) and lead from it (and we all lead no matter our title)
14. As a person thinks so is he – therefore, practice Phil 4: 8-9 “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – if excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
15. Be present in all your business conversations – connect with the person speaking – listening is an active activity – passive listening does not honor the speaker
16. Develop inner contentment – joy is accepting the circumstances with an understanding that our loving Father wants what is best for us in spite of the stuff happening around us. The peace of God is directly related to our anxiety.
17. Remember – you are a steward of this company, this team, this project, this business idea, this family – you and I own nothing.
18. Make all business decisions with integrity remembering that wealth is not a goal but a consequence
19. Idle words are dangerous – practice clear, concise, encouraging, edifying conversation
20. Understand what drives you (how God wired you) and then understand how God has wired others and communicate with them in the style that best meets their needs – not yours.
Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010
10 Ways to Influence the Workplace
1. Don’t worship self – work on your internal attitude – remember: it’s not all about you!
2. Value others – by tangible, external expressions - like expressing appreciation or saying “Thank you!” and meaning it.
3. Lead with a moral compass – if you have not thought about your core values, just ask yourself this question: “What would Christ do?”
4. Remember what a wise writer once wrote: – Accept the words of Wisdom as truth; memorize them and store them up; tune your ear to listen to people who are grounded in Wisdom; apply your heart to wisdom; i.e. your mind, will and emotions; and, finally, call for insight, ask for wisdom and cry aloud for understanding.
5. Realize that innovations, insights and impact in the market have their source in God – by doing this an attitude adjustment will follow which will be reflected in your treat other people
6. Show a concern for truth by the questions you ask peers, subordinates and bosses
7. When leading a team or a company, practice humility, modesty and shared decision-making
8. Practice personal discipline to guard your heart with being daily in the Word
9. Build influence by being authentic – For example: when you don’t know, don’t fake it: say you don’t know, but will find out.
10. Practice, with diligence, the art of observing, learning from results (good or bad – no matter), teaching what is learned and mentoring someone to take your place
Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
2. Value others – by tangible, external expressions - like expressing appreciation or saying “Thank you!” and meaning it.
3. Lead with a moral compass – if you have not thought about your core values, just ask yourself this question: “What would Christ do?”
4. Remember what a wise writer once wrote: – Accept the words of Wisdom as truth; memorize them and store them up; tune your ear to listen to people who are grounded in Wisdom; apply your heart to wisdom; i.e. your mind, will and emotions; and, finally, call for insight, ask for wisdom and cry aloud for understanding.
5. Realize that innovations, insights and impact in the market have their source in God – by doing this an attitude adjustment will follow which will be reflected in your treat other people
6. Show a concern for truth by the questions you ask peers, subordinates and bosses
7. When leading a team or a company, practice humility, modesty and shared decision-making
8. Practice personal discipline to guard your heart with being daily in the Word
9. Build influence by being authentic – For example: when you don’t know, don’t fake it: say you don’t know, but will find out.
10. Practice, with diligence, the art of observing, learning from results (good or bad – no matter), teaching what is learned and mentoring someone to take your place
Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
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Sunday, April 11, 2010
Guided Leaders…Guiding
Proverbs 11:2b-3a (NIV) …with humility comes wisdom; the integrity of the upright guides them...
To guide others well, one must first be guided.
Guiding others, without a clear grasp of personal purpose (Why am I here? What’s my meaning?), is difficult, indeed one might say, impossible. God’s guidance for the Believing Leader is not a guessing game. His Word clearly provides the fundamental moral and ethical principles and the application examples are plenteous – those who successfully led others were committed to being lead by the Lord both actively (visions, a still, small voice, physical appearances) and passively (His revelation, powerful relationships with others and recognition of circumstances).
Guidance from our Creator is all about relationship: a deep, personal relationship with the one who “shepherds” us. That analogy of shepherding implies that we take the posture of sheep. Not easily done. We humans often aspire to be lions, tigers, cheetahs – fleet, strong animals. Sheep? Probably not. Sheep need to be lead. They tend to wander and get in trouble on their own. They can’t find green pasture on their own. Need to be lead to quiet watering holes. The leader, who is willing to be directed by the Sprit of God, will prove her/himself a capable leader filled with integrity and a clear sense of purpose and meaning.
Leading is not only about doing, but more importantly it is about being.
Are you investing the time needed to be centered, purposeful and humble?
Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
To guide others well, one must first be guided.
Guiding others, without a clear grasp of personal purpose (Why am I here? What’s my meaning?), is difficult, indeed one might say, impossible. God’s guidance for the Believing Leader is not a guessing game. His Word clearly provides the fundamental moral and ethical principles and the application examples are plenteous – those who successfully led others were committed to being lead by the Lord both actively (visions, a still, small voice, physical appearances) and passively (His revelation, powerful relationships with others and recognition of circumstances).
Guidance from our Creator is all about relationship: a deep, personal relationship with the one who “shepherds” us. That analogy of shepherding implies that we take the posture of sheep. Not easily done. We humans often aspire to be lions, tigers, cheetahs – fleet, strong animals. Sheep? Probably not. Sheep need to be lead. They tend to wander and get in trouble on their own. They can’t find green pasture on their own. Need to be lead to quiet watering holes. The leader, who is willing to be directed by the Sprit of God, will prove her/himself a capable leader filled with integrity and a clear sense of purpose and meaning.
Leading is not only about doing, but more importantly it is about being.
Are you investing the time needed to be centered, purposeful and humble?
Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
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