Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 399

Ten Traits of Great Leaders Who Work with Me

Some of the best lessons in leadership I have learned have taken place where I work. Simply stated, I work with some incredible leaders. They may not know how carefully I observe them, but I do. While I am president of the organization, I do not observe them merely to supervise or lead them. I also observe them to learn from them.

If you've read a few of my writings, you will know that I am student of leadership. Sure, I have learned from books, journals, and leaders I don't even know. But it's fun to learn from those I see on a regular basis. They are my best instructors.

Allow me then to share ten traits of these leaders. The list is not exhaustive, but it should give you an idea of why I am so enthusiastic about working with these men and women.

They have a great work ethic. They are hard workers willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. They have a positive, can-do spirit. You can almost see the wheels in their minds turning when they are presented with a challenge. They are smart. I don't know how much of their intelligence is innate or much is learned, but they are some of the smartest people I know. They have high levels of energy. That energy is contagious. When we are in a room together, I am ready to conquer the world. They contribute positively to conversations. You know the "downer" types in conversations. Some dominate where you can't get a word in. Some are just negative. And others say almost nothing. But the leaders around me contribute in ways that are meaningful and measured. They don't hide from reality. Most organizations have challenges. Ours is no exception. The leaders who surround me don't sugarcoat or hide from challenges; they confront them with tenacity and toughness They are relational. The leaders I observe include both extroverts and introverts. Regardless of their natural disposition, they know that relationships matter. As a result, they make certain they keep relationships open and healthy. They are willing to get out of their comfort zones. Most of us have a tendency to do things and be in places where we are most comfortable. I am grateful for the leaders who surround me because of their willingness to get involved in areas that are not their natural strength or area of expertise. They are continuous learners. Some read voraciously. Others have external coaches. Others attend meaningful conferences. They are continuously seeking ways to learn and to be better leaders. They think strategically. They are always asking strategic questions like: "Why?; "Why not?"; "What's next?"

I am blessed to be surrounded by men and women who are great leaders. They challenge me. They teach me. And, in many ways, they keep me accountable and responsive.

I thought when I first came to this organization, my responsibility would be leading. Certainly that is my primary role. But I have been blessed beyond measure to be a student and learner as well. And I pray that I will always have a teachable spirit.

What Type of Service Will Your Church Hold This Christmas?

Last week LifeWay Research released data on whether churches will have services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year. The findings—and a rather spirited discussion about them—are over at Ed Stetzer's blog.

What I'd like to find out from my readers is "What type of service will your church have?" In our book Simple Church, Eric Geiger and I discussed what his church in Miami faced and how they focused their services at Christmastime.

Like many churches Christ Fellowship offered specific Christmas Eve services each year. Many people who rarely come to church attended the Christmas Eve services, but the services were completely different from the weekend services. People never got a taste of what takes place at the regular weekend services. The Christmas Eve services failed to engage people in the simple process.

Active church members attended both the Christmas Eve services and the regular weekend services. The worship staff had to prepare two different types of services during the same week, which lowered the level of excellence at both. This was also poor stewardship of space because the same people were coming multiple times instead of freeing up places for new people.

Also instead of inviting people to the weekend services, church members were inviting friends and family to the Christmas Eve services. These guests were never exposed to a typical weekend service and were less likely to return.

To simplify things and expose as many people as possible to a typical weekend service, the staff decided to combine Christmas Eve services with the weekend services. Christ Fellowship now offers several identical weekend Christmas services. The elimination of the special program paid off immediately as the number of people who were exposed to a weekend service skyrocketed.

So what type of service will your church hold this Christmas? Will visitors be exposed to your regular services, or will they leave without really knowing what to expect on a weekly basis?

Four Reasons You Should Call Instead of Write

I really do like the digital age of communications. I can send emails at faster speeds of communication than I would have dreamed years ago. I constantly communicate with my three sons and close friends via text messages. And I send hundreds of brief messages through Twitter and Facebook each month.

Indeed the speed and convenience of electronic communications are fabulous. I would not want to return to previous eras where the options were much more limited.

But there are times when you should call someone instead of writing them. I probably email and text more than I should. It fits my introverted personality not to have to talk with someone. But written communications can often be misconstrued and misunderstood. In many cases, I would have fared better with a telephone call.

Four Reasons to Call

I could write a separate and compelling article on the advantages of writing over calling. You don't have to coordinate a time for both parties to get together. You can proofread your words before you send them. And you have a clear record of exactly what was said when you have it in writing.

But there are times that a phone call is more appropriate. It would be difficult to establish rules and guidelines for calling. Instead, I offer four advantages of calling over writing. You can determine when you should use those advantages as you communicate with others.

Written communication does not always make emotions clear. Even with the availability of a wide range of emoticons (which I try to avoid), the written word cannot fully replace the inflections of the voice, the pauses, and the emphases that are readily detectible by phone. I recently received a text message from someone close to me. I admit that my feelings were hurt when I read the message. Later that day, I called that person to clarify what he said. Once I heard his voice and laughter, I knew that I had taken his written communication wrongly.

Written communication can appear cowardly. With few exceptions, I first communicate bad news in person or by phone. I do not want to appear to be avoiding talking with that person. I want him or her to hear clearly what I'm saying and why I'm saying it. Sometimes it's easier to send an email than to make a call because you don't have to face that person. But that doesn't make it right.

Written communication does not allow for instant dialogue. I know. Messaging was originally called instant messaging because one party could respond immediately to another party. Indeed such is the case today. But talking in person or by phone is even more instantaneous. You don't have to wait for the person to complete his or her thought. You can get immediate clarification even while a person is in mid-sentence or mid-thought. And while interruptions are not always best, they can be used wisely so that any misunderstanding can be cleared immediately.

Written communication does not carry the investment of one's self as a call does. How many times have you heard someone say that they appreciate your call? Communicating by voice gives the impression, rightly so, that you took time to find that person, to say your words, and to allow them to respond immediately. Calling simply shows that you care.

A Time to Write. A Time to Call.

I fully expect that I will continue to use written electronic communication as my dominant means of connecting with people. But I hope that I will use wisdom to know that sometimes a call is better; sometimes a call carries a lot more weight.

Sure, it's not always easy to connect with someone by phone. It may take a while to reach them, and the conversation may go longer than you would like. But in all likelihood, the person you called will appreciate your making the effort more than they would had you texted or emailed them.

As a result, relationships will be better with family members, business associates, friends, and even foes. Then we will know that the extra effort to make that call was really worth it.

Friday is for Freebies (December 2, 2011)

My giveaway this Friday is the black, genuine leather version of the HCSB Study Bible. The unique, full-color design and format are the direct result of a nationwide research project. The Bible people wanted is the Bible B&H built. The result is a visual Bible that's comprehensive, easy to read, and easy to use, with features and formats specifically designed to enhance your Bible study experience. You can also go to MyStudyBible.com and dive right in for a complete digital experience.

This Bible has a retail price of $79.99 and features 15,000 study notes, 290 Hebrew and Greek word studies, 66 highly detailed book introductions, 62 maps, 27 topical articles, 20 charts, and 18 illustrations, all focusing on the most important topics and questions in Bible study.

To be eligible to win, take a fresh look at your favorite Scripture or passage at MyStudyBible.com. Then copy and paste it in the comment section for this post.

The deadline to enter is midnight CST this Saturday. We will select one winner from the entries on Monday morning.

Notable Voices (December 1, 2011)

10 Ideas: How to be your little man's dad — As a father of boys, I think all this is a great piece for Dads with sons. (Here's another one for dads with daughters, too.)

Pastors plan to host Christmas services despite busyness of Christmas Day — New data from LifeWay Research shows that 9 out of 10 pastors are hosting services, and many are including Christmas Eve services.

Avoid these 10 time wasting tweets — Humorous and helpful.

What to say to church members leaving for poor reasons — Jonathan Leeman offers some wise counsel here in this important, and increasingly common, scenario.

35 values I wish I had when I started pastoring — I can affirm many of the same from my own experience.

What the Gettysburg Address teaches every presenter — Five lessons from Abraham Lincoln's 270-word speech that you can apply to your next talk, speech, or message.

Courageous Leadership

In a recent article in Harvard Business Review, Rosabeth Moss Kanter looked at the connection between courage and leadership. Her article, "Courage in the C-Suite," was written for and about high-level leaders in corporations.

I saw, however, a broader application in some of the principles she articulated. Indeed, some of the principles hit home for me.

Leading with Courage

Anyone in a significant place of leadership must be courageous to be an effective leader. Clichés abound about the challenge of leadership: "It's lonely at the top"; "It's tough to be in the leader's shoes"; and "Leaders must make the difficult decisions." But the reason those clichés exist is because there are elements of truth in all of them. And the common theme evident in each of them is the need for courageous leadership.

Expounding upon the HBR article, let's look more specifically at four different types of courage all leaders must demonstrate.

Four Aspects of Courageous Leadership

In the last few weeks we've heard reports of several child sexual abuse cases. I even wrote a recent article on the issue. While the act of sexual abuse is morally reprehensible itself, additionally disconcerting has been the failure of high-level leaders to respond to the problem. Too many times we were told that leaders knew about the problem, but decided to take the cowardly path and sweep it under the rug.

The first and foremost requisite courage needed for leaders is moral courage, defined simply as "acting on principle." Leaders lose all of their credibility if they do not demonstrate this courage. Leaders first must do that which is right. Every other act or decision is secondary.

Great leaders must also demonstrate selfless courage. Effective leaders will seek to put employees, the organization, and others before themselves. Their first concern is not their own job security, their paycheck, or their ego. Jim Collins described this type of leader in his recent book, Great by Choice: "They're ambitious, to be sure, but for a purpose beyond themselves, be it building a great company, changing the world, or achieving some great objective that's ultimately not about them."

Great leaders also have intellectual courage. They are not managers who simply respond to orders. They are men and women who challenge conventional wisdom, who think beyond "the way we've always done it," and who set aside time to imagine new possibilities. They are great thinkers who act on their newly found knowledge.

Finally, those who lead with courage have execution courage. These leaders act quickly and decisively. They don't wait until they get 100 percent of the facts before they take action. They are not reckless or irresponsible; they simply understand that indecisiveness can paralyze and demoralize an organization. Timidity leads to mediocrity.

Good News/Bad News

The bad news is that relatively few leaders demonstrate courageous leadership. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that relatively few leaders demonstrate all four aspects of courageous leadership.

The good news is that much of courageous leadership can be learned. But becoming a courageous leader demands a willingness to put others first, to make tough decisions that are often personally costly, and to have the willingness to take reasonable risks.

Most leaders understand these choices. Fewer are willing to make such choices. But those who do can lead organizations to greater health and, for many, change the world for good.

A Time to Pray

if you would like the readers of this blog to pray for you or someone else, feel free to specify your prayer request in the comments. Blogs are used for a variety of purposes; let's utilize this blog today for thousands to pray for brothers and sisters across the world.

If you would prefer not to give your name, simply write "Anonymous" in the name blank.

Also, feel free to comment to those who are requesting prayers.

What is your prayer need?

May God be glorified as we lift us these prayers to Him.

Reclaiming Biblical Fatherhood

Recently I saw some statistics from the National Center for Fathering and National Fatherhood Initiative. Despite the numbers, I'm still optimistic.

• There are 98 million men in America.

• 90 million are not connected to other men for spiritual growth.

• 63 million say they have no faith in Christ.

• Fewer than 10% of U.S. churches have an ongoing men's ministry.

• Only 50% of kids will spend their childhood in an intact family.

• 40% of Christian marriages are affected by infidelity.

• Over 24 million kids live apart from their biological fathers (1/3 of all kids).

• 39% of male prison inmates had no father at home.

• 50% of female inmates had no father at home.

How could I possibly be optimistic? Because I believe we're in the midst of a revolution. A major shot was fired on September 30 with the theatrical release of Courageous. More than one million people saw it on opening weekend. Many Christian men and women who watch the movie are convicted to leave a godly legacy to their children. Fathers are resolving to be better than "good enough" dads. New Christians are multiplying. And churches are building on the momentum by offering Bible studies based on the movie.

Also, LifeWay is introducing a new men's strategy, based on the success Kenny Luck has had at Saddleback Church. This four-part process helps men: 1) get in to churches through special events; 2) get healthy in their relationships and personal morality and character; 3) get strong in their spiritual development, and 4) get going into their communities to bring others into the body of Christ. LifeWay will soon release several new men's Bible studies to help church leaders support men through this strategy.

Some pastors are already planning a "get in" event by hosting a Courageous movie night at their churches. This approach is a great way to kick off a Bible study or to get new people into a church. You can do so by purchasing a license to show the movie in your church or group. Starting today, licenses are available at www.lifeway.com/courageous.

The statistics above cannot be changed by one movie or one strategy. It will take much more than that. However, if these endeavors are indications that God is beginning to move, we all have cause for optimism.

Thank You

I am taking the remainder of this week off to spend time with my wife, my three sons, my three daughters-in-law, my three grandchildren, and Nellie Jo's parents. Even as I wrote that sentence, I realized once again the many reasons I have to be thankful.

It would be negligent on my part not to give thanks to you, the readers of this blog, for your willingness to read the brief missives I pen each week. I am honored and humbled that you would take time to read my words.

During this week of Thanksgiving, may you, your families, and your churches have a great and blessed time. We all have so much for which to be thankful.

"Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth.

Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God.

He made us and we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good, and His love is eternal;

His faithfulness endures for all generations."

Psalm 100, HCSB

8 Traits of Effective Church Leaders

I am a bit reluctant to articulate the characteristics of effective church leaders for fear that some may take the information and reduce it to a neat, quick-fix formula, and that others may see this approach as human-centered, denying the reality of a sovereign God. Nevertheless, in our studies of churches that are reaching people and retaining them through biblical discipleship we have seen a very clear pattern develop, especially in contrast to leaders in other churches that did not meet our criteria.

Keep in mind that it is the total and the composition of these traits that distinguish the effective leaders from other leaders. Many of the less effective leaders share some, but not all, of these traits. I will refer to these leaders as pastors, though some of the churches used other nomenclature, such as ministers.

1. Fierce biblical faithfulness. Without exception, these pastors held to the total truthfulness of God's Word. Not only did they believe the veracity of Scripture, they passionately lived out their beliefs.

2. Longer tenure. The leaders we studied are willing and even want to have long-term ministries at one church. While longer tenure itself is not the key to effective leadership, a series of short-term pastorates rarely allows one time to establish lasting leadership in a church. In one of our national surveys of pastors, we found the average pastoral tenure to be 3.6 years. But in different studies of effective leaders, those pastors had an average tenure ranging from 11.2 to 21.6 years.

3. Confident humility. In our subjective interviews with effective church leaders across the nation, our interviewers repeatedly reported that the leaders had a clear and compelling confidence about their own leadership. But that confidence was not arrogance. To the contrary, their confidence centered more on what God was doing and less on their own inherent abilities.

4. Acceptance of responsibility. We did not hear of excuses for ineffective ministry from these effective leaders, even though many of them experienced prolonged periods of struggles. Instead, these pastors accepted the leadership responsibility that comes with their position, and they refused to blame circumstances or others when the inevitable times of conflict and challenge occur.

5. Unconditional love of the people. Ministry can be dirty and Christians can be jerks. It is often difficult to love those who complain and attack you. But these effective leaders, with no claims of perfection, still expressed an intense love for the members of their congregations. In some measure, they have learned to love as Christ loved us.

6. Persistence. Because these leaders have a long-term perspective of their ministries at the churches where they serve, they are able to lead toward progress one incremental step at a time. That is not to say they have a laissez-faire attitude; to the contrary, these pastors are incredibly persistent.

7. Outwardly-focused vision. An integral part of the lives of these effective leaders was their passion and vision to reach people who were not Christians and who were not a part of their churches. To say that these leaders are evangelistically focused would be an understatement. They are passionate about reaching the lost and unchurched, and the visions they communicated inevitably reflected this priority.

8. A desire for a lasting legacy. The ambition and drive of these leaders cannot be denied. But that ambition is not limited to their personal successes. They are ambitious for their churches to be thriving and healthy well beyond their ministries and even their lifetimes.

In the final analysis, we cannot know how much of leadership skills are innate and how much can be acquired. These leaders will tell you, however, that they have made significant strides in becoming better leaders. Such are their testimonies. And perhaps, in God's strength, we can follow these examples and become the types of leaders God wants us to be.