Failing to Listen =

Dysfunctional Leadership

Case in point: Rehoboam, upon assuming the kingship of Israel after his father Solomon's death.

Ancient history, you say? No application for today?

Wrong on both counts.

At my church, Elevation Church in Charlotte, Pastor Steven Furtick is in the middle of a series called "One Generation Away". It's all about the possible danger - and incredible potential - of today's younger generations. But it's a message for all of us: the 83 year-old GI Generation, the 52 year-old Baby Boomer, the 30 year-old Gen Xer, and the 18 year-old Millennial.

We are all one generation away from changing the world.

For some of us, it's in finishing our lives well, passing along decades of wisdom and experience. For others, it's pouring ourselves into those we lead, work with, and serve alongside. For still others, it's balancing the eagerness and impatience of youth with the need to proceed with deliberate haste.

It's about listening.

John Maxwell had some great thoughts on listening to accompany the story of Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 10:15:

Leaders must listen for two reasons:

1. To connect with others
2. To learn from others

To fail to listen results in:

• Narrow vision
• Poor decision-making skills
• Self-centered focus
• Demanding and impatient style

The opposite? Listen well to the following:

• Your followers-do you know each member on your team?
• Your customers-keep in contact with those you serve.
• Your competitors-don't imitate, but listen in order to learn.
• Your mentors-no leader can afford to be without a mentor's insight.
• Your inner circle-listen to those closest to you to feel the heartbeat of the organization.

Check out Pastor Steven's sermon here.

Practice listening here...

We All Fail...

...the key is not failing at it.

James Emery White, in a recent post at ChurchandCulture.org, has made a great case in realizing how not to fail at failing. His six ways churches fail at failing:

• Failure to address your failure though innovation until such innovation is pursued out of desperation and in imitation of existing mainstream innovations
• Failure to address your failure through relocation until that time when relocation is no longer a viable option
• Failure to address your failure through changes in existing staff
• Failure to address your failure through a renewed focus on the mission
• Failure to address your failure by not expanding strategically
• Failure to address your failure by failing to look in the mirror

Do you fail at failing?

In other words, do you fail to do - in the midst of failing - what needs to be done to stop failing?

For more great thoughts on failing, check out:

How the Mighty Fall, by Jim Collins

Failure is not so much a physical state as a state of mind; success is falling down, and getting up one more time, without end.



The Dip, by Seth Godin

All our successes are the same; all our failures, too.

We fail when we give up too soon.

We succeed when we are the best in the world at what we do.

We fail when we get distracted by tasks we don't have the guts to quit.

Failing Forward, by John Maxwell

When you learn to fail forward, you won't ever have to give up.

Legacy: When Activity Becomes Accomplishment

In a couple of previous posts here and here, I've reflected on what John Maxwell has written about legacy. Reading through selected Psalms as a part of Elevation Church's current series "Storytellers", I came across some additional treasures on the ideas of legacy.



A huge difference exists between a legacy and an inheritance. Anyone can leave an inheritance. An inheritance is something you leave to your family or loved ones. A legacy is something you leave in your family and loved ones. Here is what Maxwell had to day in comparing the two:


Inheritance

1. Something tangible you give to others



2. Temporarily brings them happiness



3. Eventually fades as it is spent



4. Your activity may or not may pay off

Legacy

1. Something tangible you place in others



2. Permanently transforms them



3. Lives on long after you die



4. Your activity becomes achievement

What would you rather leave: an inheritance or a legacy?

A Leader's Legacy

I was still thinking about "legacy" from yesterday's post, so I turned to John Maxwell's writings for a few more thoughts on what it means to create a legacy - in the present tense.

The most strategic expression of Moses' leadership had to be his training of Joshua. Through that training, Joshua became a key element in Moses' legacy.

Joshua finished the task that Moses started: leading the people from Egypt into the Promised Land. This was definitely a joint effort: Moses' example and equipping AND Joshua's hunger and giftedness.

Notice the way Moses passed along his legacy:

1. Moses empowered Joshua and have him authority (Num.27:20)
2. Moses gave Joshua experience and opportunities for application (Num. 27:21-22)
3. Moses gave Joshua encouragement and affirmation (Num. 27:23)

Because Moses spent the time necessary to equip Joshua, his dream of Israel entering the Promised Land came to pass even though he did not personally see it happen.

Now that's a lesson in legacy building! How are you going to put it into practice?

Thinking for a Change

I close Thinking Week by presenting the main points of "Thinking for a Change" by John Maxwell. Maxwell is probably my favorite author of pure leadership writings, and I have never been disappointed by his works. In this case, they speak volumes for anyone interested in developing their thinking.

1. Understand the Value of Good Thinking
2. Realize the Impact of Changed Thinking
3. Master the Process of Intentional Thinking
4. Acquire the Wisdom of Big-Picture Thinking
5. Unleash the Potential of Focused Thinking
6. Discover the Joy of Creative Thinking
7. Recognize the Importance of Realistic Thinking
8. Release the Power of Strategic Thinking
9. Feel the Energy of Possibility Thinking
10. Embrace the Lessons of Reflective Thinking
11. Question the Acceptance of Popular Thinking
12. Encourage the Participation of Shared Thinking
13. Experience the Satisfaction of Unselfish Thinking
14. Enjoy the Return of Bottom-Line Thinking

You can change the way you think.

Whatever things are true...noble...just...pure...lovely...are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; think on these things Philippians 4:8