I'm a processor. I let stuff percolate. It often comes out in bits and pieces, which isn't so great for a blog. The Leadership Summit '07 has been over for a week now.
Here's some stuff that I think I'll be working on for the next little while:
- My own sense of vision - owning our church's shared vision, living out God's vision for my life - will set the tone and enthusiasm for my team. Their sense of vision is impacted - for the better or for the worse - based on the motivation with which they see me leading. The pace of the task can easily distract us from the core motivation from which we must live and lead. Our team can answer this more honestly than we can.
- Carly Fiorina (former CEO of HP) validated something I've been trying to learn. Asking the right question is more powerful than knowing the right answer. When people hear questions, they are invited to process, dig and own the outcomes of the conversation.
- She also noted: "Give people a vision that's more compelling than what they are afraid of."
- Fear holds people back. Fear creates blocking, resists buy-in and keeps people in spectator mode.
- To what extent is it important to understand our people's fears? If it's important at all (and I think it is), then genuine connection with our people - family, team, church body - is critical to casting compelling vision.
- Willow's discussion about Christ-followers and their often unhealthy dependence on the church to "feed them" (rather than learning to feed themselves) is a discussion we're currently in at Granger - and a topic I'll be posting more about.
- Colin Powell talked about the value of creating a culture of ideas. Quite literally, he said, "Invite arguing. If you hired experts, let them talk!" Does my team know that I not only want to hear from them, but that I need to hear from them?
- Ortberg's talk on the Leader's Greatest Fear and "shadow mission" was too clarifying. I know my shadow missions. Later.
- Richard Curtis (thank you, Richard, for the hilarious comedy of Mr. Bean) confirmed the value of keeping the main thing the main thing. It's easy to follow spin-off ideas, even missional ideas, and forget the primary, original mission, purpose - or in the case of comedy - the joke.
- While Jimmy Carter had practical and wise comments to make about leadership, it was his humility and reach to humanity that struck me. I want those characteristics in my life and leadership.
- Bill Hybels' final talk about inspiration is a worthy list to keep in front of you. I'm going to. You can read the entire list here (thanks, Corey Mann).
My connections staff and I are spending the better part of Tuesday this week working through our challenges and reflections from this summit experience. I'm looking forward to the ongoing growth opportunities for me, my family, my team and our church because of what God's up to inside of me.
