Category Archives: Podcast

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Who Is Influencing You?

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As we face the beginning of 2022, we are staring at irrelevance in all 8 streams of Influence in every society and nation on the planet. That is a huge statement to be making. However, if we simply focus on the current trends over the last 20 months, it is not hard to see irrelevance in all major streams of influence within every society. Allow me to mention these 8 streams of influence: 

Government, Business, Education, Faith, Healthcare, Media, Arts, & Sports. 

It seems that every stream of influence is pushing a moral/cultural agenda that no one is buying. We have lost common-sense because or wokeness and political correctness. Left is right and down is up! That said, this is not the worst thing to be focusing our attention. What could be worse you ask?

I do not see a concern that is sufficient for transformation and rehabilitation to occur. Currently, we are not even concerned at all about selling what the public is not buying. We are not concerned about being relevant!

So, allow me to personalize this Podcast by asking a piercing question – Are you relevant in your community & industry? Are you hanging with people that have a bigger vision? Is the room that you are in stretching you or suppressing you?

I want to give you 4 questions that will challenge your thinking about the people that you are currently allowing to influence your life.

The People Influencing Your Life Today…………

Are They Grounded? – As you consider who these influencers are in your life are they solid? Do they have their feet on the ground? Are they flighty? Are they leading with integrity?

Just remember that you can only grow based upon the foundation that has been dug and poured. Small-minded thinking, dreaming, acting, and influencing will not build lasting significance.

Are They Growing? –  Growth is not automatic! Intentionality is required. Aging is automatic – Growth is optional! Do your current influencers have a dream of being an Infinite-Minded Leader? In other words they are more interested in developing people who will take the dream far beyond your life-span. Trophies do not matter – Legacy is what matters! If these influencers do not have this type of mindset, you may be allowing and idol instead of a mentor to influence you.

Are They Grateful? – If the individuals that are influencing your life act without gratefulness – find somebody new to influence your life. You cannot go through life with an ungrateful attitude! Gratefulness celebrates “WE” and not “me.” Grateful leaders will hold you accountable for an attitude of gratefulness. 

Are They Generous? – Generous Leaders are not worried about if your success goes beyond theirs. They embrace this types of wins in other people. If those who are your influencers teach raw competitiveness and winning at all cost, remember this; A competitive spirit will always cause you to shortchange someone.

In such turbulent times we need Transformational Influencers that will impact others so they can impact their sphere of influence. We need these types of leaders to influence our speech, thought patterns, and actions in such a way that we become a positive transformational person for others.

The 8 streams of influence in every society is in desperate need of transformational leadership. WHY? Relevance is at stake! Without Relevance the 8 streams of influence are at great risk in holding our community together.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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The State of Pastors 2021

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A Crisis on The Horizon

YES we have moved from 3-n-10 to 2-n-5 pastors are giving serious consideration of leaving the ministry completely. This is a vocational exodus! When you consider there are approximately 350,000 protestant churches in America  with 38% considering leaving, this will become a crisis of spiritual leadership within our nation. This is 133,000 Pastors considering their departure today. To give a perspective on this number consider there are approximately 35,000 McDonalds in America. The possibility of spiritual leadership loss in American is greater than the iconic McDonalds fast food chain. 

Let’s examine some of the underlying points of data and discussion.

•We must reach back to 9/11 to see demographics at this level where people are considering leaving their current career.

•Understand, this is not a FAITH EXIT. It is however a career exit•Bi-vocational ministry has real potential for the future. There are huge pressures being exerted on pastor’s families and futures. This could be a beginning of significant changes in shaping what church looks like and how it will be conducted in the future.

•Currently, Pastoral Ministry is VERY HARD work with only ½ or less return for such incredible effort being exerted. Hard work with ½ return creates frustration.

•Pastors that are under the age of 45 have a 46% likelihood of quitting. Pastors over the age of 45 are 36% more likely to quit the ministry.

•When it comes to “Well-Being” there are six categories: Relational, Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Vocational, and Financial well-being. One-third of all ministers stated they were below average to poor in these six essentials of Well-Being.

•Only one-n-three pastors say they are healthy in terms of Well-Being matrix.

•Healthy Pastors are defined as those who selected “Excellent” or “Good” as their response to the Well-Being matrix.

•Overall, the Pastors that are contemplating quitting are less healthy in all the well-being categories compared to Pastors who not contemplating quitting.

•We need to be careful about allowing correlation to be a means to causation. 

•The warning bells started sounding in the 2017 State of the Pastors study.

•After 18 months of the pandemic, along with congregational divisions, financial strain an alarming number of pastors are seriously leaving the vocational ministry for other pursuits in life.

David Kinnaman, President of Barna Research states that now more than ever, the church needs resilient leaders who are humble, agile, rooted in prayer and those who are committed to being healthy as an essential aspect of effective leadership.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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Inspirational Leadership 2022

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Napoleon Bonaparte stated that Leaders are dealers in hope. So how do we inspire those who need to inspire? Inspiration is more than words on a wall. We begin by reconnecting people around the purpose of the organization. PURPOSE is timeless! VISION is time balanced/seasonal! 

2022 must be a year that we as leader embrace the true definition of leadership: Leadership is not being in charge, it is caring for those in your charge,

While it is true that leaders spend exorbitant amounts of time to enact the latest and greatest strategy. The downside to always chasing the trends is the very people we need to become our torch bearers for this new vision are being ignored. The primary thought to keep from ignoring people is to make sure we are developing people around our purpose first! Visionary strategies have a limited shelf life. Significance is where the real excitement is at.

Let’s focus upon the 4 Needs of Followers if we are to become the Inspirational Leaders for 2022.

Trust – Trust is an outgrowth of honesty, integrity and being a believable leader! Nobody desires to follow dishonesty and fabrications of reality. People desire honesty now more than ever. It feels at times that we have become a nation of lies and manipulated news. As a nation we have become tired and frustrated. We are searching for honest leaders that lead with integrity. Followers are looking for a person that inspires and that we can aspire to become.

Compassion – Coming out of the pandemic  we all are asking 3 very important questions: (1) Do you know me? (2) Can you help me? (3) Can I trust you? If the answer is yes then our need for emotional connection will be satisfied. Pre-pandemic there was a crisis of loneliness. We are more disconnected socially now than ever.

Stability – As a leader in this pandemic world with its multiple agendas, we need to demonstrate Calm, Clarity, and Purpose in the face of chaos! As a leader, when you are stable, you are in position to inspire others, Communicate clearly, and to effect change in your orbit.

Hope – Hope in this sense is not pie in the sky statements about I think – I feel. Rather it is more about declaring I see a way forward and I can see good times just ahead.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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The Law of Legacy

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The Law of Legacy is about your Life Sentence.” When you figure this out, this will become you’re the north star for your life. You now have direction that determines the legacy that you will leave behind.

All of the success that you have obtained up to this point will mean absolutely nothing if you do not leave something behind. A Leaders lasting value is measured by succession.

Every person will leave a legacy. For some it will be positive for others it will be negative. The choice is yours right now! Intentionality is required to make a lasting legacy.

Let’s exam 4 facets of establishing a lasting legacy.

Declare It – Most people accept their lives instead of leading their lives and calling it fate! So many leaders are swept along by the currents of life and trends without ever checking to see if they are in the correct channel. By taking some time to reflect upon the legacy you desire to leave behind will give you the best possible chance to leave a legacy worth remembering. It will greatly improve your chance to make it a reality.

Live It Out – In order for your legacy to actually happen in the future, it must begin right now today and it begins with you. You have to become the leader of yourself. Wisdom comes from experience. You cannot pass on knowledge and wisdom you do not have have. You must create now what you want others to sustain.

Prepare Your Successor – Effective Leaders work to develop other leaders. The only time that you have to do that is now. Let’s face the truth – when you are no longer the leader, someone will take your spot. Why not groom someone to succeed you. The more a potential leader stays within your orbit the more they will learn and the more likely they will continue the legacy that has begun in you.

Don’t Forget To Pass The Baton – The most important aspect of a relay race is the hand-off. This is the point that a runner hands the baton to the next runner. In a relay race you have the fastest runners – record setters in their own right. But if you do not pass off the baton effectively you will loose the race. If you pass the baton to early or hold on to it too long – a bad exchange will weaken or irrevocably damage your legacy

Where are you in the process of Legacy building?•Developing your own skills and credibility as a leader•Attracting and influencing leaders•Selecting a successor•Developing and grooming a successor•Empowering and releasing a successor

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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The Value of Values

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The Enron scandal of the early 2000’s awakened a great need for business ethics. What came out of that awakening was a realization there is no such thing as business ethics. There is only ethics!. So what is the foundation of ethics? Could it be that the Golden Rule is the foundation of all ethics? After all in all major religions of the world there is a narration that discusses treating others as you desired to be treated. The verbiage may be different, but the essence is the same.

John Maxwell coined the statement that “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” However, do you know what two things are responsible for making leadership rise? The first is competence. No one wants to follow and incompetent leader. The second is values. Values defined is simply principles that guide our decisions and behaviors. When the value system is good, it only brings benefits and never harm to yourself or others.

I want to give you 4 more Qualifiers that comprise Good Values

Good Values Establish Trust – To thrive in this upside-down world, trust must be the foundation. A movement can only move at the speed of trust because of the inherent trust in the collaboration process. Consider these three facets of positive relationships. (1) Generosity – giving up resources for the whole, (2) Humility – giving up your won importance, position and power, & (3) Integrity – Truthfulness so that others can depend on your character. Think about these facets this way……

Generosity is the fuel for transformation. It is the opposite of selfishness. Proverbs declares; a generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Humility is the spirit of transformation. It is the opposite of Pride. Proverbs states when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Integrity is the strength of transformation. It is the opposite of deceit. Again Proverbs states the integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

Good Values Are Better Lived Than Spoken – Consider the following values statement of a famous corporation. Respect – we treat others like we want to be treated. Integrity – we work with our customers with openness, honesty, and sincerity. Communication – we have an obligation to communicate, talk and above all to listen. Excellence – we are satisfied with nothing less than our best. Who is this famous corporation – ENRON! Here is the truth of the matter; For leadership to be good and lasting, it must be preceded by good living. Good living comes from good values!

If there is a disconnect between what you say is important and what you do, then teaching values is worthless. So is rhetoric. The actions you and I take is what gives us real credibility.

Good Values Change Your World – The largest bank of Guatemala, Bantrab in 2014 began to take seriously the idea of good values can change your world. They used Transformation Tables (Discussion groups) to teach and advance good values to 2,792 employees. The impact was a 3% growth initially and they would go on to become one of the nations top 3% performers. This company model would expand to their clients and customers, impacting over 1500 clients/companies that is changing a nation.

Good Values Make You More Valuable – Here is the truth of the matter; Organizations don’t transform, people do! Good values will help you gage your emotions, vision, attitude, speech, desires, and life direction.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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The Value of Values

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:30 — 21.3MB) | Embed

The Enron scandal of the early 2000’s awakened a great need for business ethics. What came out of that awakening was a realization there is no such thing as business ethics. There is only ethics!. So what is the foundation of ethics? Could it be that the Golden Rule is the foundation of all ethics? After all in all major religions of the world there is a narration that discusses treating others as you desired to be treated. The verbiage may be different, but the essence is the same.

John Maxwell coined the statement that “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” However, do you know what two things are responsible for making leadership rise? The first is competence. No one wants to follow and incompetent leader. The second is values. Values defined is simply principles that guide our decisions and behaviors. When the value system is good, it only brings benefits and never harm to yourself or others.

I want to give you 8 Qualifiers that comprise Good Values. This is 2-part Podcast Series

Good Values Make Positive Change Possible – Take notice of the list of values in the table below. Ask yourself, which of these values would you like to apply to your life right now?

Choice is the difference maker when it comes to values. Choosing makes change possible!

AttitudeGratitudeListeningResponsibility
CommitmentHopeLoveSelf-Regulation
CommunicationHumilityPerseveranceSelf-Worth
CourageInitiativePersonal GrowthServanthood
FairnessIntegrityPrioritiesTeachability
ForgivenessKindnessRelationshipsTeamwork
GenerosityLeadershipRespectWork Ethic

Good Values Always Value People – You might ask, how will I know if a value is good or not? There is one and only one standard that must be met. Values must value people all of the time in all situations. There are no shortcuts, no rationalizations, no exceptions. If a value values people, then it is positive and worth embracing. If it devalues people in any way, it is not a good value. 

Millard Fuller, Founder of Habitat For Humanity stated; “For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based upon people’s love and concern for each other.”

Valuing people must be the cornerstone of your company enterprise. Become a Leader, Company, and non-profit that values people who values others and adds value to them.

Good Values Must Be Personal – In his book, Awaken The Leader Within, Bill Perkins describes the difference between practices, principles, and values (pp. 35-36). He states “a practice is an activity or action that may work in one situation but not necessarily in another. Unlike a practice, a value applies to every situation. Values are different from principles. A principle is an external truth that is as reliable as a physical law such as the Law of Gravity…..While we may acknowledge the reliability of many principles, we only internalize those we deem important. When this happens, the principle has become a value that serves as an internal map we use to direct our lives. A value, then, is an internalized principle that guides our decisions.”

If you desire to change your world, community, or family, you must internalize good values yourself before you will be able to change anything outside of yourself.

Good Values Create Stability – The old adage is true; an empty bag will not stand up straight. Without good values a person is empty and weak. Americans tend to believe that a good job, financial stability, education, and technology will create the strength to hold up culture. Let’s consider the story of Palo Alto, California. This is the seat of Silicon Valley with higher-than-average income, lower than average unemployment, and 4x higher than the national average of teen suicide.

What we know to be true is that Good Values provide structure and meaning so that people live more healthy and stable lives. Transformed people transform communities. Positive transformation comes from living out what never changes in a time when everything around you seems to be changing.

Stephen Covey wrote once there are no shortcuts, but there is a pathway. That path is based upon principles revered throughout history. Meaningful living is not based upon speed or efficiency. Meaningful living is more of a matter good values. If your values are good, your life will be stable.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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A Cause Bigger Than You

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To start this discussion, there is a fundamental desire in each person to be part of something that is bigger than themselves. People desire to leave a positive legacy for others to learn and follow. Even our English word, Religion comes from the Latin word “ligare” means to link our lives with something that is bigger than ourselves. Yes, even in the basic concepts of faith we learn there is a desire to connect with larger causes, reaching beyond ourselves.

To answer the question why people rally around various causes, let’s consider three key thoughts.

People seek connections with other people – Generally speaking people desire a sense of community which simply starts with people getting together. Connecting centers around d shared purposes. Accomplishment of tasks and goals is the bond that keeps people together. Having a sense of purpose creates an extra level of connection that can lead us to make a movement.

From late 2019 to the present the world is being awakened to a consciousness of being connected of the lack of connection. Global citizens are asking quietly 3 key questions: (1) Do you know me? (2) Can you help me (3) Can I trust you? I would suggest now more than ever, people are awakening to a desire to make a difference and realigning their life and resources in order to accomplish this sense of connected purpose.

People are seeking participation of something bigger than themselves – Busyness is not satisfying! Now more than ever we are searching for that which is meaningful. A life of purpose is satisfying! It is immensely more gratifying to connect to larger causes. Ultimately, we ae looking to connect to a cause that allows us to express our deepest desires and highest aspirations. Said another way, people want to create memories by participating in something that is memorable.

If you question if this statement is true, then ask yourself why people would be willing to wear different color bracelets identifying a cause, or wear something pink to identify with Breast Cancer Awareness, or to participate in the Ice-Bucket Challenge? When enough people sharing the same values follow their desires to make a difference and do it together, a movement is born.

People want to receive value from giving – Many times we focus on the the “cause” itself and feel that is the sufficient reason why so many people are joining. However, we cannot discount the fact that many times people desire to feel their effort was meaningful and worth their investment. It is a “feel-good” emotional driver. That said, the ultimate return for people is this: Give enough to others long enough and we receive more than we gave. Love people deeply enough and love return many times over. Lift people high enough and we get lifted even higher. Consider the following progression of adding value that was birthed by John Maxwell.

Desire – “I want to add value to others.”

Question – “How can I add value to others?”

Community – “I know people who add value to others.”

Observation – “I see how they add value to others.”

Joining – “Can I help you add value to others?”

Equipping – “I know how to add value to others.”

Action – “I am adding value to others!”

Feedback – They tell me I am adding value to them.”

Fulfillment – “I am content when I am adding value to others.”

Motivation – “I want to keep adding value to others.”

Sharing – “Let’s add value to each other.”

Growing – “Let’s find others to add value to.”

Changing – “Adding value to others is changing me.”

Receiving – “Those who I added value to have multiplied value back to me!”

Life Mantra – I want to make a difference, with people who make a difference, while doing something that makes a difference, for such a time as this!

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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Tough Times

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In tough times all great leaders stretch in the direction of a challenge. On the other hand, followers shrink from or in the opposite direction of a challenge. Realize this truth, you are not made in a crisis, you are revealed by it. When squeezed oranges and lemons reveal their nature. Human beings when squeezed by the pressures of our day reveal what is on the inside – negative or positive.

This is going to be a 2-part Podcast with this one being the second. We will look at principles that I have learned from a variety of authors, speakers and teachers. In full disclosure, I must admit my profound privilege to be a founding member of the John Maxwell Company. My learning has been accelerated by a factor of 10x.

Let’s dive into Part 2.

Learn From Bad Experiences – Peter Drucker is credited with saying a crisis must never be experienced for the second time. Famous Chef Wolfgang Puck stated that he learned more from the one restaurant that failed than from all the ones that did. It has been said that experience is the best teacher. I would modify that by saying that evaluated experience is the best teacher.

Value Teamwork – It is true in any endeavor that as the challenge escalates, the need for Teamwork elevates in relation to the challenge. The true measure of a successful; leader is getting people to work hard together. Team leaders believe they do not have all the answers, they believe they do not need to make all the decisions. They do believe they cannot succeed without the combined contributions of all other team members.

Give Hope – It has been said the first and last task of a leader is to keep hope alive – the hope that we will be able to find our way through difficult days. Hope is the foundation of change! Understand the difference between Optimism and Hope. Optimism is a passive belief that things will get better. Hope is an active belief that together we can make things better.

Make It Happen – Modern leaders are measured by the size of the problem they are willing to tackle. Get out of the comfort zone of familiarity and dare to step into the challenge zone of doing something you have never attempted. Risk is required! Charles Parnell stated that far too many people are having what is called “near-life experiences.” They always hedge the bet and never dare anything of worth.

Watch Their Attitude – It is amazing to me after 40+ years in leadership how people still do not realize that attitude is a choice. You cannot always stop what happens to you, but you can make a choice of what happens in you. Attitude isn’t everything, it’s just the main thing that determines how we are going to handle problems. Your attitude is what will separate you as a successful leader from being an unsuccessful leader.

As a final word, TRUST GOD! All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen!

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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Tough Times

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:29 — 25.4MB) | Embed

In tough times all great leaders stretch in the direction of a challenge. On the other hand, followers shrink from or in the opposite direction of a challenge. Realize this truth, you are not made in a crisis, you are revealed by it. When squeezed oranges and lemons reveal their nature. Human beings when squeezed by the pressures of our day reveal what is on the inside – negative or positive.

This is going to be a 2-part Podcast with this one being the first. We will look at principles that I have learned from a variety of authors, speakers and teachers. In full disclosure, I must admit my profound privilege to be a founding member of the John Maxwell Company. My learning has been accelerated by a factor of 10x.

Let’s dive into part 1.

During Tough Times, Leaders ……

Face Reality

The first responsibility of a leader during a crisis is define reality. Peter Drucker stated that times of turbulence are dangerous times, but the greatest danger is a temptation to deny reality as a leader. Why is it hard to face reality? Here are some possible reasons. (1) Leaders tend to surround themselves with people who are like them (2) Leaders have selective hearing 0 hearing only what you want to hear (3) Leaders engage in wishful thinking (4) Fear of contrary viewpoints.

Simply stated, facing reality is to see things as they are, not as they were, or we wished they were. 

See The Big Picture

It has been stated that vision is the world’s most desperate need. There are no hopeless situations, only people who think hopelessly. Andy Stanley suggests that uncertainity is not an indication of poor leadership. It is the opposite – it indicates a need for leadership because there is always an element of uncertainity. A leader’s temptation is to think that if I were truly a good leader, I would know exactly what to do. Realize this truth, Leaders can afford to be uncertain, but we cannot afford to be unclear. People will not follow fuzzy leadership!

Make Good Choices  

Consider the choices you should have made prior to tough times. (1) Settle your values – Who I am (2) Mission – What I do (3) Responsibilities – What must I do (4) Potential Problems – What should I do.

Consider choices that you make during tough times. Peter Drucker offers some excellent wisdom here. (1) Courageous Decisions – What must be done? (2) Priority Decisions – What must be done first? Drucker suggests first things first and last things not at all (3) Change Decisions – What must be done differently? (4) Creative Decisions – What are my options? (5) Support Decisions – Who can help me?

In any decision-making process there is a finite number of options, usually not more than five. They include (1) Keeping things the way they are; and (5) Changing everything in a dramatic way. Which only leaves you three options – Pick one!

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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Leading In Difficult Times

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In 2019, Signa Health conducted a global survey with over 20,000 participants. Here is a quick snapshot of what they learned.

Half of all surveyed reported that either always or sometimes they felt alone.

Only one-half of those surveyed have meaningful social interaction daily

The Gen-Z’s (18 somethings) are the loneliest generation. They are claiming poorer mental/emotional health than Seniors/Elders.

Loneliness was already and epidemic before the pandemic.

Consider what has changed in our world……

13yrs ago smartphones were scarce in terms of today’s abundance 80% of world’s population has a smart phone.

Positive aspects of this truth – accessibility and availability

Negative aspects of this truth – accessibility and availability

Because we can be all-consumed in the digital world, we are hindered from being fully present in key moments of life.

Technology Free Zones are now a thing.

Social platforms allow us to present a “faux” image without ever being authentic.

We are missing the joy of being fully loved, fully excepted, and fully known for who we are.

Our attention span has shrunk – 12-week groups are now 3–4-week groups

We are witnessing the death of conversation.

Social interaction is nothing more than an FB post, Memes, and Snap-chats moments.

Consider the following resource: www.groupleaders.org

It is obvious there are a lot of changes in our world. But do we simply shrug our shoulders as if that is all there is to be said? What are we missing? What if I told you that what is missing is as old as civilization itself. Since the Garden with Adam and Eve there has been a struggle between forces of Good and Forces of Evil. This is a major starting presupposition that we seemingly are uneasy to talk about. “We are so enlightened these day” we say to ourselves. Yet the belly of civilization has true pure unadulterated evil at its core.

We are attempting to rewrite the Law of Noncontradiction which says that something cannot be true and false at the same time in the same way. This is a way to think about reality. However, this does not suggest that people cannot have differing emotions about an experience. Differing emotions does not settle a matter, this is part of subjective reality. What is true for you may not be true for me. Subjective Reality cannot stand under its own weight because of the constant changing emotional state of people over time.

Leading in difficult times will be emotional. Your decisions as a leader must remain objective. Simply because of the outcry of the many does not give authority that something subjective is now objective. Instead, it affirms more that which is subjective shifts with time because of inconsistency.

Great leaders STRETCH toward a challenge. Followers SHRINK from a challenge.

LINKS

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FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!