The Top 10 Mistakes That Leaders Make Prepared

The Top 10 Mistakes That Leaders Make Prepared by Bernard Gillott Based on materials compiled from Hans Finzel & John Maxwell 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 1

1) The Top Down Attitude The top down approach to leadership is based on the military model of barking orders to weak underlings. It goes something like this: “I’m in charge here, and the sooner you figure that out … the better. ” 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 2

Why do people fall into top-down leadership attitudes? For 5 reasons: 1. It comes naturally 2. It is the easiest 3. It is traditional 4. It is the most common 5. It reflects the “self” oriented nature of man 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 3

Where “Top-down” Shows Up Ø Abusive authority Ø Deplorable delegation Ø Failure to listen Ø Dictatorship in decision making Ø Fear of letting go Ø Egocentric manner 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 4

Alternatives To “Top Down” Attitude or Leadership Style • Flat Organizational Characteristics: Characteristics View yourself as side by side or leading the charge but not on top of the organizational pyramid. • Servant Leadership: Being able to sit and weep with those who weep within our organizations. It requires getting down and dirty to get work done. Understand fully that there is nothing in ministry that anyone does I would not do myself. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 5

“He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk. ” – Dr. John Maxwell 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 6

2) Putting Paperwork before People-work Why do we put paperwork before people-work? We feel we are judged by what we do, not who we are. “Seen results” take priority over unseen relationships. “Task work” pushes aside “idle” talk. The material world predominates the immaterial world. Relationships don’t fit our “deadlines” mentality. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 7

How can we make an impact on others? • PEOPLE IMPACT PEOPLE BY DIRECT CONTACT • Leaders make the greatest impact on others through personal influence. • Students and staff will never how much you know until they know how much you care. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 8

3) The Absence of Affirmation What could be better than a Pay Raise? Ø We wildly underestimate the power of the tiniest personal touch of kindness. Ø Organizational researchers have demonstrated for years that affirmation motivates people far more than financial incentives. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 9

Bottom Line: We encourage others by: Ø Ø Ø 10 -2010 Listening Comforting Empathizing Carrying Burdens Encouraging iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 10

Thank you Notes: A Tiny Human Touch Goes a Long Way We wildly underestimate the power of the tiniest personal touch. And of all personal touches, I find the short, handwritten “nice job” note to have the highest impact. (It even seems to beat a call – something about the tangibility. ) -Tom Peters Can you take 15 minutes in a week to write Thank you notes to those who touched your life! 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 11

INVENTIVE INCENTIVES THINK BEYOND MONEY! Matt 5: Man does not live by bread alone … but neither does he work for money alone. In the secular work force, employees sign on for the money, but stay for other reasons, including affirmation and opportunities for personal and professional development. Top two reasons for employee disengagement are 1) lack of recognition and appreciation and 2) lack of communication. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 12

4) No Room For Mavericks? Joshua and Caleb, David’s men in the Cave of Adullam, Disciples: Y o u ! James, John, Peter, Paul. Ø Ministries have a nasty habit of becoming institutions. Ø Institutions have a troubling tendency to fade to irrelevance. Ø Movements become monuments. Ø Inspiration becomes institution. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 13

Make Room for Mavericks What is a Maverick? Not a rebel, but a pioneer, an independent thinker who doesn’t always go along with a group. Still, a team player who isn’t afraid of being different or creative, but still stays committed to the team. Breathing room and flexibility for Mavericks Give them space to soar, put them in charge of something they can own, listen to their ideas, hear them and give them room to blossom. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 14

The Ten Commandments of Ministry Paralysis Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø 10 -2010 “How dare you suggest that we are doing is wrong!” “Let’s get real, OK? ” “That’s impossible. ” “We don’t do things that way around here. “We tried something like that before and it didn’t work. ” “I wish it were that easy. ” “It’s against policy to do it that way. ” “When you’ve been around a little longer, you’ll understand. ” “Who gave you permission to think of a better way. ” “If you had been in this field as long as I have, you would know that to even suggest that is absolutely absurd!” iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 15

5) Dictatorship in Decision-making Getting beyond, “I know all the Answers” Ø The one who does the job should decide how it is done. Ø “Flat” organizations are the model of the future. Ø Where will the greatest ideas come from in our organization 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 16

“Leadership is. . . the ability to recognize the special abilities and limitations of others, combined with the capacity to fit each one into the job where he will do his best. ” - J. Oswald Sanders 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 17

How Dictators like to operate: 1. Hoard decisions. 2. Make decisions alone, in a vacuum. 3. All truth & wisdom is viewed through the filter of their opinion as the leader. 4. Restrict decisions to an elite group. 5. Set up workers for failure, innocently set up obstacles. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 18

How Godly Facilitators Lead: 1. Trust Holy Spirit to speak to the entire team. 2. Involve others in key decisions. 3. Recognize that God distributes “truth” & “wisdom” throughout the entire ministry team. 4. Be a developer. 5. See their people as their greatest resource. 6. Give people space to make decisions. 7. Let those who are responsible have the input on how the job will be done. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 19

6) The nemesis of Dirty Delegation Refusing to Relax and Let Go Why Do We as Leaders Fail to Delegate? No leadership problem is a greater challenge than learning the fine art of clean delegation. Few leadership hang ups create more defeated spirits that failure to delegate 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 20

Four Stages of Delegation: Ø Ø 10 -2010 Assignment Authority Accountability Affirmation iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 21

Four questions every follower asks: 1. What am I supposed to do? 2. Will you let me do it? 3. Will you help me when I need it? 4. Will you let me know how I am doing? Debrief - Give feedback 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 22

Key Ingredients for Clean Delegation Ø Faith- in the one to whom you delegate Ø Release –fight the desire to do it better yourself Ø Relaxation- free yourself from the obsession that it has to be done your way Ø Patience- fight thee desire to do it faster by yourself Ø Vision- allow others to grow and to develop through your freedom to delegate 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 23

Guidelines for Clean Delegation Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø 10 -2010 Choose qualified people Exhibit confidence Make their duties clear Delegate the proper authority Do not tell them how to do the work Set up accountability points along the way Supervise based on their follow-through style Give them room to fail occasionally Give praise & credit for work well done. iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 24

Why Leaders Don’t Delegate: Ø Fear of losing authority Ø Fear of work being done poorly Ø Fear of work being done better Ø Unwillingness to take the necessary time Ø Fear of depending on others Ø Lack of training and positive experience 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 25

“The Best Executive is. . . the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and selfrestraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. ” -Theodore Roosevelt 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 26

7) Communication Chaos Singing Off the Same Page in the Hymnbook Never assume that anyone knows anything! Define your terms and expectations clearly. The bigger the group, the more attention the ministry must give to communication. Effective communication must be the passionate focus of effective leadership. Nothing Happens Until People Talk! 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 27

The nuts and bolts of clear communication: Ø Ø Impart the vision and values of the group. Know the chain of command. Have organizational charts. Supply & support job descriptions. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 28

The words information and communication are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; Communication is getting through. - Sydney J. Harris 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 29

8) Missing the Clues of Ministry Culture The Unseen Killer of Many a Leader Cultivating and defining the culture should be one of leadership’s top priorities. DEFINITION: The ministry “sub-culture” is the way insiders behave based on the values and group traditions they hold. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 30

Six Reactions to Culture Conflict Ø Conformer - “I just have to accept things as they are. ” Ø Complainer – “I may have to work here, but I don’t have to like it. ” Ø Innovator – “Let’s change things around here!” Ø Ritualist –“Vision? What Vision? I’m just puttin’ in time here” Ø Retreatist – “I have got to get out of this situation, RIGHT now!” Ø Rebel – “They can’t make me conform – I’ll show ‘em!” 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 31

Corporate Value Statements Are: Ø Like Glue –They help leaders hold an organization together. Ø Like a Magnet – They attract newcomers employees and donors. Ø A Ruler – By which a leader can measure how their group is doing. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 32

Moral absolutes, black-and-white issues Ø We will have open, honest relationships and ask forgiveness if we wrong another worker in our organization. Ø Theft will not be tolerated among our people. Ø My family comes “before” my work. (balance) Ø Lying can have no place between our workers. Ø We will not hold bitterness. Ø We cannot tolerate immorality among our workers. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 33

Missing the Clues of Corporate Culture Skill and Will – ØONE can be taught, the other can not. ØSkill can be learned, adapted, changed and improved. ØWill is an engine fueled by beliefs that define behavior. ØWill is not about whether you can do the job, but whether you will. ØWhat you believe is what you think, and what you think determines how you act. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 34

Missing the Clues of Corporate Culture ØBeliefs and values dictate how people interact with the world. ØWhen an individual’s values are aligned with the values important to the ministry and recognized and rewarded, the outcome is engagement and high performance. ØWhen vision, values, and beliefs of the ministry and the individual are different, they create the virus of disengagement. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 35

9) No success without successors Planning Your Departure the Day You Begin There is NO SUCCESS WITHOUT SUCCESSORS Mentoring is a non-negotiable function of successful leadership. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 36

STEPS TO MENTOR YOUR SUCCESSOR: Ø Evaluate them: Knowledge, Skill, Desire Ø Model for them: Walk your talk Ø Give them permission to succeed: 10 -2010 Ø Ø Ø Encourage it Expect It Recognize It Ø Reward It iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 37

STEPS TO MENTOR YOUR SUCCESSOR: Ø Transfer authority to them Ø Publicly show your confidence in them Ø Supply them with feedback Ø Release them to continue on their own Mentoring is the greatest thing you will ever do as a leader. 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 38

What makes a good mentor? Ø The ability to see potential in a person Ø Tolerance of mistakes and still see the potential develop Ø Flexibility to respond to people in circumstances Ø Patience Ø Perspective: having the vision and ability to see down the road Ø Gifts and abilities that build up and encourage others 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 39

Leadership is a high calling and a great privilege. Ø Success comes when a leader empowers followers to do great things with him. Ø Significance comes when a leader develops leaders to do great things for him. Ø And a legacy is created only when a leader puts the organization into the position to do great things without him! 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 40

10) Failure to see forward Prepare Yourself, It’s Later than You Think! The future is rushing at us at breakneck speed! A leader’s concentration must not be on the past nor on the crisis at present, but on the future. If it works, it may be obsolete! 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 41

Failure to Focus on the Future Where are you at today, in accomplishing things you have always wanted to do? What is keeping you? Let us move from success to significance! 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 42

Ø The future is coming – Ø One thing is Constant – Change! Ø Dreamers and Vision – Ø Becoming a Learning Organization – Ø Faith and the Future - 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 43

Set smart goals: One who Does not have goals does not know where they are going or if they have arrived ! S – specific M – measurable A – attainable R – relevant 10 -2010 T - trackable iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 44

Special thanks for materials supplied & contributions compiled from: Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Makeby Hans Finzel 21 Qualities of a Leader by Dr. John Maxwell Leadership Defined by 10 -2010 General Alexander Haig & Sharon Mc. Gee iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 45

Contact Information Global Teen Challenge Globaltc. org iteenchallenge. org gtc@globaltc. org 10 -2010 iteenchallenge. org Course T 107. 01 46