Dilbert Leadership

5 Ways to Build Your Integrity

See full article at: http://careynieuwhof.com/2012/02/5-ways-to-build-your-integrity

Integrity is about more than just doing the right thing. It’s about building the kind of character that can survive a crisis intact. In the same way a building that has integrity can survive a storm, a life that has integrity can do the same.

So how do you build integrity?

1. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself. Of all the lies we tell, the ones we tell ourselves are the most deadly. Question your motives. Stop justifying what you know to be wrong. Stop excusing yourself.

2. Seek wise counsel. We all have blind spots. It’s one thing to be honest with yourself, but sometimes you and I are just blind to faults others can see. Find three or four people who believe in you and ask them for feedback on your life.

3. Decide to honor God, not please people. Doing the right thing is almost never the easy thing, and sometimes it’s not the popular thing. Honoring God is not the same as believing you are always right and everyone else is wrong – it simply means you are going to live with a long view of what to do, informed by scripture. It means enduring short term pain for longer term gain. To avoid becoming arrogant or deluded, make sure you test what obedience looks like for you not only against scripture and prayer, but also with your circle of wise counsel (see above). They will see things you can’t see.

4. Be appropriately transparent. We’d all like to be something we’re not. Admit your shortcomings. You don’t have to tell everyone what you’re struggling with, but you need to tell someone. Part of being honest with yourself is being honest with others. And as much as you might be afraid that everyone will think less of you, living transparently and not pretending to be someone you aren’t actually makes people think more of you. It’s counter-intuitive. It’s also transformative.

5. Put yourself first when it comes to personal growth. I know that sounds selfish, even unbibilical, but I’m not sure it is. Jesus prepared for thirty years before ministering for three. And during those three years he often disappeared to pray. You can only give what you’ve got. And he spent whole seasons of his life receiving from God what he needed to give to the world. Cancel some appointments. Tell the kids to wait. You need to build a solid spiritual, emotional and relational foundation for your life. Pray. Open the Bible (for you – not for anyone else pastors). Go for a run. Eat something healthy. Go for dinner with a friend who gives you life. If your cup is empty, how are you going to fill anyone else’s?

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:17

Pastor Daniel

Twitter: @PastorDaniel321

Email: PastorDaniel321@gmail.com

5 Signs You Lack Integrity

See full article at: http://careynieuwhof.com/2012/02/5-signs-you-lack-integrity

Don’t just think of these things as character flaws, think of what’s at stake: when the crises hit (and they will), you won’t be left standing.  Simple as that.  When you attend to these things, you integrity grows, and so does your ability to live and lead through difficult times.

1. It’s all about you. You can say it’s about God.  You can say it’s about others.  But only you and God know your heart.  Selfish people harm their organizations, families and friends.  If it’s all about you, you won’t go the distance.  Or you will,  but you’ll hurt a lot of people in the process and you’ll never know what could have happened if you made it about God and others.

2. Your self esteem rises and falls with the opinion of others. A secure leader can see the right way and lead people there through tough conditions.  An insecure leader will bend with every change in public opinion. This means you’re not actually leading anyone, not even yourself.

3. You’re hiding things. You shouldn’t be telling everyone everything (that’s not healthy) - but someone needs to know everything.  If you’re keeping secrets, you’re heading for a fall.  Between my wife, elders, close friends and counselor, I have an inner circle that knows everything about me.  (By the way, if you’re afraid to give your password on your computer or phone to anyone in that circle, you’re hiding things.)

4. You fail to do what you said you were going to do. This isn’t just about keeping promises; it’s about keeping your word in everything.  Better to say nothing and surprise someone by delivering than blurt out an intention you can’t fulfill.   Ultimately, people lose confidence in you when you fail to deliver.  It’s a trust issue.   A fairly easy way to address this is to say less and deliver more.  A great follow up system also helps (sometimes a lack of integrity isn’t even a moral issue – just an awareness and organization issue).

5. You make too many compromises. Leadership is not about getting everyone to like you or about finding the easiest path.  It’s about discerning the best way forward.  It’s about getting people to go where they wouldn’t go if it wasn’t for leadership.  If you make too many decisional compromises or even a handful of personal compromises, your effectiveness will be–you guessed it– compromised.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:17

Pastor Daniel

Twitter: @PastorDaniel321

Email: PastorDaniel321@gmail.com

7 Questions in 10 Minutes

Consider asking yourself these seven questions within the first 10 minutes of your morning.

1.   If I could only get one thing done today, what would it be?

2.   Have I set aside quiet time with God to pray, reflect and read His Word?

3.   Is there any unconfessed sin in my life that I should confess?

4.   Are there any relational issues with others that need rectifying?

5.   Am I eating a healthy breakfast with plenty of protein and healthy carbs?

6.   Am I focusing on the positive, good things in life and ministry, or do my thoughts immediately turn negative?

7.   Do I have a consistent routine like getting up at the same time, eating at the same time, taking a shower at the same time, etc., or is each morning dramatically different?

What we do first thing in the morning will dramatically affect the rest of your day. The Psalmist offers great advice with these words:

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. (Ps 143.8, NIV)

  

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/246539-7-questions-leaders-ask-every-morning.html

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:17

Pastor Daniel

Twitter: @PastorDaniel321

Email: PastorDaniel321@gmail.com

EMPOWERMENT - One Time When It’s Not a Good Idea

What do you do if you really don’t think the person is capable of accomplishing the goals they’ve set? When it comes to aiming high with employees [or volunteers], you have to be careful. If you are so encouraging and have such a high value for fairness that you treat everyone the same way regardless of their competence or skill level, because you believe anything is possible, and you haven’t been disappointed yet, you will be soon.

Just because you see great potential in an employee and desperately want that person to be capable of great growth doesn't mean they are actually ready, willing, and able to rise to the occasion. For some, all you have to do is set the bar high and they won’t stop until they succeed. But others really just want to stay cozy in their comfort zone and do exactly what is expected. These are not the people with whom empowerment will be effective.

See full article here:

http://leaderchat.org/2015/02/07/empowerment-one-time-when-its-not-a-good-idea

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:17

Pastor Daniel

@PastorDaniel321

PastorDaniel321@gmail.com

Ten Ways To Say "Yes" To Saying "No"

Saying “no” feels like a door closing. Those who can’t say no end up over-committed, overwhelmed, and ineffective. Saying no is the first step toward freedom for someone who says yes too much. 

Yes:

1. Keeps options open.
2. Reflects positive attitude.
3. Explores opportunity.
4. Moves forward.

 Too many "Yes's" cause:

1. Confusion.
2. Over-commitment.
3. Missed deadlines.
4. Mediocre results.
5. Anxiety.
6. Neglected relationships.
7. Diluted impact.
8. Letting teams down.
9. Persistent fatigue.
10. Stress.

"NO" PROTECTS SUCCESS.

No:

1. Protects energy
2. Enables focus.
3. Limits distraction. 

THE QUICKEST WAY TO RADICALLY IMPROVE LIFE AND LEADERSHIP, FOR THOSE ADDICTED TO "YES" IS SAYING "NO."

A good "No":

1. Makes room for priorities.
2. Keeps you living in your strengths.
3. Opens a door. 

THOSE WHO CAN’T SAY "NO" ARE DOOMED TO FRUSTRATION AND MEDIOCRITY.

Saying "No":

1. Don’t fully book. Leave open spaces on your calendar.
2. Practice saying no with friends. Get together and say, “Let’s learn how to say no.”
3. Choose a no statement that feels good to you. “I’d love to but I can’t.”
4. Say yes selectively. Ask yourself, “Do I love this, or, am I tolerating it?”
5. Say no sooner rather than later. It’s hard to say no after you said yes.
6. Identify your values. Say to yourself, “That’s not important to me.”
7. Do more of what fulfills.
8. Stop saying, “If I can just get through this … things will be better.”
9. Give yourself space. When you feel pressure to say yes, say, “Let me think about it.” But, realize a delay keeps issues on your plate.
10. Go ahead and explain yourself. “I’d love to say yes, but ….”

Pressured to say "Yes"?

Leaders who can’t say no are pushed around by people and opportunities.

People who pressure you to say yes are manipulators. Once you start saying yes, they’ll keep expecting you to say yes. Stand your ground or be a doormat.

See article here: https://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/ten-ways-to-say-yes-to-saying-no

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:17

Pastor Daniel

Twitter: @PastorDaniel321

EMail: PastorDaniel321@gmail.com