How I think about Leadership Development – Part 4

#4: I Go where I am Needed.

Part of Reproducing Leaders for me is about simply going where I am needed. Much of leadership development doesn’t ever make it to the front page. So much of it happens over the phone, by developing relationships with other leaders who are desperate for someone to come along side them and lift them higher.

That’s my role! I want to go where others won’t. I have a heart for the little guy who is struggling to go up the middle in their leadership journey.

It’s not always glamorous, but it’s the most rewarding thing I do.

? Who could use a phone call today of encouragement? Why not be that person who will lift someone who needs it today?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I think about Leadership Development – Part 3

#3: I believe Great Leadership is defined not by My Personal Success but by the success I help others achieve.

When it comes to leadership reproduction, I believe the purest sign of a great leader is one who lifts those around them to be great! A few thoughts…

1. I want to help people believe they are capable of more. I want to be a believer in people. The greatest compliment anyone could give me would be, “Matt, you helped me believe in myself when no one else did.”

2. I want to help people see things in themselves they’ve never seen before. Part of becoming a great leader is self-awareness. I want others to be self-aware to such a degree that they are able to self-assess where they are weak and where they are strong.

3. I want to help people dream things they’ve never dreamt before. My heart is for so many other leaders to begin dreaming of mountains we can climb together. That’s how we help one another escape the mundane of our leadership lives.

? How will you help someone see something they have never seen before this week?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I think about Leadership Development – Part 2

#2: I focus on Making Them Better than they could ever be alone.

Yesterday, we began a series of blogs on How I think about Reproducing Leaders. I spend a large portion of my week playing to my strengths in such a way that it will add value to the leaders I influence. Here are a few thoughts…

The Essence of Reproducing Leaders is found in Multiplying our Effectiveness. When I take that which I’ve learned and know and add it to what someone else has learned and knows, a multiplying effect kicks in. Suddenly, we both become exponentially greater than either of us were alone.

I believe when we make reproducing leaders around us a priority, we set them up to be better than they ever could be by themselves. For me, that’s the best reward imaginable.

? Who are you intentionally helping to become better than they ever could be on their own?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I think about Leadership Development – Part 1

One of the keys to growing a successful organization is in the realm of leadership development. I have a huge heart for growing leaders! This week’s blogs are centered around how I think about reproducing leaders.

#1: It’s not something I do, it’s part of who I am.

Reproducing leaders isn’t just an item on my to do list. I carve out large blocks of time to devote myself to intentional leadership development. This stems from a belief I have that reproducing leaders is the way to change the world.

As Leaders, we don’t have the luxury of NOT reproducing leaders. It’s the only way to multiply our effectiveness.

I have a heart to see others become better. Perhaps it’s just the pastor’s heart in me, but I have a desire to see other leaders grow in their leadership ability and giftings. Again, that stems from a belief that when we grow a leader, we multiply our effectiveness.

Challenge question: How much time are you dedicating in a week to growing the leaders around you? Nothing is quite as important as that.

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Deal with Criticism – Part 5

#5: I have to Grow Through Criticism.

At the end of the day, criticism happens, and when it does, I…

1. Stand and take it like a man. It’s not always fun, but it’s not going to kill me either. I used to fear the confrontation of it all, now it’s kind of like, “Well, let’s get this over with, and get on with it.”

2. Recognize it is not the end of the world. The reality is, criticism won’t last forever. I always try and keep it in perspective.

3. Realize that no one decision or win will define me long term. Just like in baseball where they play 162 games a year, no one win or loss defines a season, so it is in leadership. Getting up and playing everyday is about learning the art of leadership, not becoming a perfect master of it.

? Are you putting too much weight on the criticism moments of your leadership? If so, begin tweaking your approach to it, today,

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Deal with Criticism – Part 4

#4: I can’t take Criticism Personally.

When criticism comes my way, I have to recognize that most of the time it is aimed at my position, not me personally. This is obviously easier said than done, and takes some serious intentionality to do well. Here are a few thoughts:

1. I have to let the best idea win. When criticism is aimed at an idea, rather than take it personally, I have to allow the best idea for the organization win.

2. I have to let the organization win more than I win. Leadership is selfless at it’s core. In the decision making process the most important thing that matters is that the best decision gets heard and made for the organization, regardless of personal implications.

3. I have to refuse bitterness. When I’m criticized, it’s easy to get bitter. Let’s face it, when you’re in leadership, you’re in the people business, and it is amazingly personal. Some of the best advice I ever received from a wise old mentor of mine was, “Matt, never let yourself get bitter.” Bitterness is a poison that will sour our leadership ability.

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Deal with Criticism – Part 3

#3: It takes Trust in Myself to Deal with Criticism.

When the critic’s voice is loud in my ear I often fall back on a few things I know about myself:

1. I have to trust my process of decision making. Critics can make us 2nd guess our decision making process. In those moments I have to trust that the way I chose to make the decision was adequate and effective. If not, then their criticism was not entirely unfounded.

2. I have to trust the Information I had at the time of the decision. Every leader is called on at times to make decisions without all of the possible information. In fact, I would venture to say that there are very few times when I actually have all of the information necessary to make a decision. At the end of the day, I have to trust that based upon the information I had, I made the wisest decision for the organization.

3. I have to trust the View of the Mountain I had at the time. The essence of leadership is movement. A leader who is not moving is leading. That being the case, every decision happens in real time while climbing a mountain, so to speak. It is the job of the leader to make the wisest decision possible with the information they had at the time while standing where they are on the mountain.

When criticism comes, I have to trust these 3 things: My decision making ability, the information I had, and my view of the mountain at the time.

Challenge: The next time you make a decision, pause after the fact, and examine the way you came to the decision you did. Take into account the information and view of the mountain.

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Deal with Criticism – Part 2

#2: It takes Security to Deal with Criticism Effectively.

Yesterday, we started talking about the Issue of Criticism in Leadership. I have found that security is the backbone of good leadership. When a leader is insecure, every decision becomes about them and their feelings rather than the good of the organization.

Secure leaders can hear hard things. It’s not always easy to hear the things I need to hear in leadership. And the truth is, that which I need to hear most, is probably what I want to hear the least. But that’s how we get better, hearing the hard stuff every once in a while.

Secure leaders believe in themselves and their calling. There are moments in time where a leader must fall back on their calling to do what they’re doing. When the criticism is piling on, a leader has to be able to have the confidence that God has placed them here and that’s enough.

Secure leaders live in reality. I have to realize that there will be times in my leadership when I say dumb things, or make wrong decisions that effect people. In those moments, I have to be willing to face the reality of the situation and take what’s coming on the chin. It’s not easy, but it’s right. And I’m always stronger on the other side for it.

? Are you living in reality? Do you run from criticism or do you stand and own your mistakes?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

How I Deal with Criticism – Part 1

This week I want to spend some time talking about the issue of Criticism in Leadership. When I was younger, I think I used to see criticism as a bad thing… something to be avoided. But over the past several years, I am beginning to deal with criticism differently. That’s what this week’s bloggish thoughts are about.

#1: Criticism is Not Optional in Leadership.

Probably the best thing that has helped me deal with criticism is coming to grips with the reality that criticism is going to happen. There’s no avoiding it.

Somebody somewhere at some time, is not going to like a decision you make.

I heard Mark Batterson say recently, “You are not going to be able to please all of the people all of the time, so you might as well decide in advance who you’re going to offend.”

Leaders who fear criticism have trouble leading. If we’re always making sure that everybody is happy with every decision we make, we’re never going to lead our organizations where they need to go.

Challenge Question: Where have you been fearing the criticism of someone near you? Do you have unrealistic expectations about criticism in your leadership?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

5 Decisions I’ve Made about Myself – Part 5

Decision #5: I will take responsibility for leveraging my passions and talents in such a way that they add value to others way more than they will ever be able to add value to me.

There is a temptation that can begin to creep in as we grow in our areas of strength and giftedness and that is this…

Our talents can become more about Us then Others. In other words, we allow our passions and abilities to add more value to us than they do others. Pursuing them becomes more about what they can do for us, then it does what they can do for others.

The true path to greatness is found when we use our Strengths, Passions, Talents and Giftings to add more value to others, than they could ever add to ourselves.

Challenge Question: Are we using our talents for personal gain, or for adding value to others?

just a bloggish thought,

Matt