Archive for the ‘leadership’ Category

FOCUS

Posted: February 28, 2011 in Christianity, leadership
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Dawn and I just got back from a vacation in Miami. We’ve been married for 16 years and, for the most part, we’ve spent the bulk of those years focused on the “stuff” that comes with adult life (money, college, careers, kids, ministry, etc.).

This vacation was different.

No kids.

No work.

No to-do lists.

No chores.

No phones.

No email.

No blogs.

No Facebook.

No Twitter.

No text messages.

No contact with the outside world.

Just US.

It was amazing!

It strengthened our relationship in a way that “date night” never could. It seems that the simple act of giving each other our UNDIVIDED ATTENTION for an extended period of time has propelled our relationship into another realm.

What comes after “awesome” and “amazing?”

Whatever it is … that’s where we are.

There’s an intensity to our love that rivals the most passionate of newlyweds; and there’s a depth to our love that only comes from a lifetime spent together.

Newlyweds can never have that.

What we have is better.

So … I’ve taken some time to decide what this year (2011) is about for me, and I’ve decided it’s about FOCUS.

I think the principle Dawn & I learned in Miami can work in other areas of life.

If we focus on the things that matter most and eliminate the distractions, we can see amazing things happen.

How many of us fall short of our ultimate potential (in marriage, in family, in ministry, in life) because we spend too much time preoccupied with things that don’t really matter that much in the long run?

I’m guilty of pursuing too many “noble distractions.” Good ideas that should be allowed to die, or be delegated to someone else. Things I’m good at, but not great at. Things I like, but I don’t love. Things that matter, but don’t matter much. Things that are urgent, but not important.

Not this year.

This year I’m going to focus on the things that matter most to me.

1. My wife.
I know that all good pastors are supposed to put God in the #1 slot, but I believe God has called me to love my wife on His behalf. The more I love her, the more I love Him. I’m going to focus on being a better husband.

2. My kids.
My parenting role is changing now that Courtney & Kaden are getting older. I want to be a guide for them; I want to offer counsel and encouragement; and I want to see them soar like eagles. I’m going to focus on being a better dad.

3. Ministry.
I cannot explain how deeply I’ve been impacted by my study of the prophets. The requirements of Micah 6:8 (echoed in various forms throughout the entire Bible) to ACT JUSTLY, LOVE MERCY and WALK HUMBLY have transformed my understanding of biblical Christianity. I’m going to focus on applying those principles to my life and ministry.

4. Teaching.
At the core of my calling is a mandate to teach and preach. I know that I cannot be obedient to the Lord without providing instruction and exhortation to the body of Christ. It’s not about a denomination or a location — it’s about preparing God’s people for the coming of the Lord. I’m going to focus on my calling.

5. Strategies.
God has given me an ability to move people and organizations from where they are to where they want to be. I don’t write that in arrogance; but in recognition of the responsibility that comes with the gifts that God provides. I’m going to focus on developing strategies that make individuals and organizations more effective in the kingdom of God.

That’s it.

That’s what I’m going to do this year (and for the rest of my life).

Everything else is clutter.

Everything else distracts me from what’s most important.

I may occasionally blog, but I am not a blogger.

I am a husband … a dad … an ambassador of justice, mercy, and faith … a teacher … and a strategist.

FIVE things.

In FOCUS.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

What are the things that matter most to YOU?

Tension and Relaxation

Posted: January 17, 2011 in culture, leadership, life
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I confess: I like to make people a little uncomfortable.

Not just for the sake of making them uncomfortable, but to create enough tension to make them want to move out of their current condition.

Tension elevates teams to new heights. It’s tension that causes individuals to strive to be better. Tension moves organizations out of mediocrity.

Tension is a good thing.

The opposite of tension is relaxation … and everyone likes relaxation.

We long for it. We strive to create it. We avoid situations that will prevent it.

The problem with relaxation in organizational and personal culture is it creates complacency and acceptance of the status quo.

Nobody achieves greatness when they’re comfortable with average.

So…how about introducing some tension into your life?

You may find that you need it more than you need a break.

Power Shift

Posted: October 5, 2010 in Bible, Christianity, leadership, prophecy
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In the fall of 1995 I was flying over Naples, Italy on a beautiful, starry night. I remember that it was nearly impossible to tell where the land ended and the sky began because the lights of the city blended perfectly with the stars in the sky. Looking across the horizon I noticed the one distinguishing factor between the two: as we flew across the peninsula the lights from the city slowly moved from left to right across my window but the stars appeared to be fixed in place.

In that moment I felt like the Lord told me, “Look, Kraig… The things that man puts in place will come and go, but the things I set in place are established forever.”

In my heart I finally understood the significance of the old hymn:

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the works thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed; Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

The things that man puts in place will come and go…

After 150 years of dominance, the Assyrian Empire finally began to crumble. Weak leadership, generations of cruelty, distractions and overreaching military strategies began to take their toll on the Assyrians at the same time Babylon was rising in power. With the assistance of the Medes (more on them during the Rebuilding Crisis) Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C. and Babylon assumed supremacy over the land. Fifteen years later, Jerusalem itself fell to Babylonian control & its citizens were taken into captivity.

Those who find themselves at the top should remember the fragility of their position.

The things that man puts in place will come and go, but the things God sets in place are established forever…

Here are a few leadership takeaways:

  1. All earthly positions of leadership are temporary.
  2. Leadership is a gift from God & must be stewarded accordingly.
  3. You’re not the smartest or the most gifted person in your organization–you’re just the leader. (Thank you Andy Stanley for that one!)
  4. The perversion of purpose (as established by God) is sin — whether in leadership or any other sphere of life.
  5. The purpose of leadership is to serve others in justice, mercy & humility.
  6. Leaders should leverage their position & power to elevate others to achieve their full potential.
  7. Cruelty and disrespect from leadership breeds contempt and revolt. (If you lead with an iron first, you will fall on an iron sword.)
  8. Today’s subordinate may be tomorrow’s superior.
  9. You will be held accountable for the way you lead.
  10. God is watching.

Crisis Leadership

Posted: December 21, 2009 in leadership
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My family and I just returned from a cruise. It was supposed to be a 5-day trip to Cozumel & Calica, Mexico with two full, sun-drenched days at sea. Instead it was a 4-day disappointment that started with a form letter (handed to us by a parking lot attendant) followed by several hours of chaos in the Mobile Civic Center.

We experienced first-hand the problems that arise when leadership is NOT PREPARED for a crisis.

Rather than critique all the things the cruise line did wrong (it’s a long list), I think I’ll outline a few things EVERY LEADER should do in times of crisis.

#1. Remember that a CORE COMPETENCY of leadership is to inspire CONFIDENCE and TRUST in the people who have chosen to follow you. How you handle crisis situations will determine whether or not people will stick with you through tough times.

#2. Prepare for a crisis BEFORE there is a crisis. Visionary leadership means you see things other people don’t; thus part of your visioneering process needs to include the recognition of potential pitfalls (a.k.a. risks) and the formulation of a contingency plan should those RISKS become REALITIES. Not every potential risk needs to be mitigated but you can’t be prepared for any emergency you didn’t forsee.

#3. Discuss your crisis management plan with your first-responders. Your key personnel in an emergency (the people who will help you respond to the problem) need to know IN ADVANCE what the plan will be if a crisis arises. PUT IT IN WRITING. Your credibility as a leader will quickly dissolve if your first-responders are clueless.    (more…)

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