Leadership Blog @ ClakrsvilleNow.com

Leading in Crisis…The Example of General Stanley McChrystal

Ron Edmondson — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:10:42 +0000

4 Reasons Why I Hate Policies and What to Do About It

Ron Edmondson — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:00:43 +0000

I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge fan of policies. It may be because I’m not a very good rule follower, but I honestly don’t think they work as well as they are intended.

Policies are a course, plan or principle of action. They are designed to offer a sense of control. In theory, policies are to make things better. They are a necessary part of dealing with people in an organizational setting.

My problem with polices is that they often interrupt progress rather than enhance it. If not careful, a policy may control the success you want to see as a leader.

Here are 4 reasons I hate policies:

Policies control a sense of freedom – Policies, by nature, are methods of control, which can limit people’s sense of freedom.

Policies limit ability to think outside the box – Policies can limit thoughts to a pre-determined outcome, which keeps the random and potentially explosive thoughts from developing.

Policies stall attempts at excellence – The parameters of a policy often produce an atmosphere of mediocrity.

Policies curtail the pursuit of progress – The weight of meeting a policy’s demands can take energy from pursuing things with the opportunity of greater progress.

My suggestion?

In lieu of a policy, here are 4 suggestions:

Handle individual problems individually – Rather than create a new policy to control an issue, deal directly with the individual who needs more control. (It works…try it.)

Treat people differently – If a team has more than one person, then there will be more than one type of person on the team. Did you follow that? Policies treat everyone the same, which ignores individuality and personality differences. (I wrote about that HERE)

Lead rather than manage – Management is much about implementing policies and seeing they are adhered to completely. Leadership sets a vision and guides people towards it. Less policies are needed in that process. (I wrote about that HERE)

Allow for more mistakes – Policies are easier to measure. They have a pass/fail assessment attached to them. Without policies, grace and forgiveness can be more freely applied. People can learn from their failures, without the repercussions of breaking a policy.

My bottom line:

I’m not suggesting we can do without policies, but I am suggesting they should not be the “go to” solution to a problem. Most problems in an organization don’t need a new policy. Policies can weigh down progress. Leadership can be more difficult without policies; even a little messy, but with less policies you’ll have more opportunities for success.

Be honest. Are you more likely to want a policy or resist a policy?

Disecting Galatians 5: What Does it Mean to Be Free?

Ron Edmondson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:28:37 +0000

Galatians 5 from Gcomchurch Sermons on Vimeo.

Try to Kill Your Ideas, It Will Make Them Better

Ron Edmondson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:16:39 +0000

Sometimes I try to kill my own ideas.

Especially with an idea that has major consequences for change and potential.

I brought it to the table.

I believe in it.

I want it to happen.

I got people excited about it.

I energized the team.

Now I’m attempting to kill it.

I’m trying to find holes in the idea.

I am questioning the validity of the idea.

I’m even causing some to ask if I still support the idea.

My idea.

What’s my point?

Am I that difficult as a leader?

Well, that may be a matter of opinion, but I have a good reason.

I want the idea to stand the test of time and scrutiny.

If it survives, it has a better chance of succeeding.

If it doesn’t, well, let’s move on to a new idea.

As a leader, I’ve learned I can often get excited about my own ideas. I can get other people excited about my ideas…I can pitch an impressive vision…I can motivate people to say yes to my suggestions.

Whether because of position or power of persuasion, I have the ability to excite people around a cause. I can even find ways to justify my idea, even, if necessary, make it appear it was a “God-given” idea.

The bottom line is I’m capable of being wrong. I’m capable of some really bad ideas. I’m even capable of justifying my personal idea as a “God-idea”. Just being honest.

When an idea hasn’t been tested thoroughly before it meets the vote of the public, and it fails, it puts a strain against my credibility as a leader. If it has been tested, questioned and kicked around thoroughly, especially among the team I lead, it has the full support of everyone from the beginning, actually starts to feel like their idea, and has a better chance of succeeding.

Have a great idea?

Be the first to try to kill it and see if it’s worth pushing forward.

If it passes the test, you’ve got the potential of a great idea.

Have you ever tried to kill one of your own ideas?

5 Aspects of the Heart of a Leader

Ron Edmondson — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:55 +0000

Let’s consider the heart of a leader.

Someone asked me recently what I primarily look for in the hiring of a staff position. I said, without reservation, first and foremost, I look for a heart. I want a heart that honors Christ more than self, that desires to grow and learn, and that is willing to sacrifice personal privilege for benevolent purpose of others. The heart of a leader is more important than any other characteristic.

Consider, for example, the life of a Bible character by the name of Joseph. Joseph’s story runs from Genesis 37-50. It’s an amazing story of God’s sovereignty and grace. Joseph is a standard bearer for character in the Old Testament. Some say he’s in many ways an Old Testament example of Christ; not sinless, as Christ was, but certainly a God-fearing man.

The part of Joseph’s story I want to point out has to do with what identified him with the heart of leader. I submit his heart is representative of the kind of heart all leaders should seek to have.

Here are 5 qualities to seek in the heart of a leader:

Imagination - Joseph was a dreamer. It caused him some problems, but he was able to see what others couldn’t see. He saw the big picture. Of course, this came from God, but I believe God has equipped all of us with the ability to dream. It may not be prophetic in nature, but we can seek and find the big picture if we are looking for it.

Integrity – When tempted by Potiphar’s wife and when an opportunity for revenge against his brothers presented itself, Joseph resisted temptation. The leader’s heart must continually seek what is right and good. People are watching and even the perception of evil can ruin a good leader. The heart of a leader must be above reproach.

Investment – Joseph helped the men in prison, he helped the Pharaoh and he even helped his brothers who had hurt him most. Joseph obviously believed the principle that helping others helps yourself. The heart of a leader must be willing to sacrifice his or her own agenda for the agenda of others.

Intentionality – Joseph was diligent during the famine, during the days of prison, even when he had the opportunity to get even with his brothers, but didn’t. Joseph was confident God had a plan for his life, so he refused to be distracted by things of lesser value.

Innovation – Joseph devised an ingenious plan to save the nations from desolation. Using godly wisdom, Joseph conserved the resources he had to accommodate the days of plenty and the days of few.

Reflect on your own leadership. Consider your own heart as a leader.

What could you learn from the heart of Joseph?

5 Questions to Ask When Facing Rejection

Ron Edmondson — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:00:20 +0000

When I started in the insurance business, I made hundreds of cold calls. I got accustomed to rejection. It still hurt sometimes, but I learned it was a natural part of successful selling.

No one likes rejection.

Your proposal. Your product. Your presentation.

You love it. You believe in it. You want it to go forward. How could anyone reject what you’ve put your heart into?

It’s difficult not to take rejection personal, but it should be understood that rejection isn’t always personal.

Next time you face rejection, consider these questions:

Is it true? – Many times rejection has no basis of truth. People may reject because of their own misunderstandings or their unwillingness to accept something new. If you are selling a product, they may not want what you have to sell. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have a poor product, only that it doesn’t match their needs.

Is it about you? - If it’s personal rejection then that’s one thing, but if it’s rejection of something you only represent then it should be viewed differently; not taken personally. That goes for a product you sell or a Gospel you tell. If someone rejects the Gospel they aren’t rejecting you a much as they are God. Let Him deal with that. (If it is about you, refer to some of these other questions.)

Is it from a source that matters? – You aren’t called to minister to everyone. A mentor once told me to find my affirmation among the people God sent me to minister to. Great advice.

Is it permanent? - Sometimes people say no many times before they say yes. Persistence often makes the difference with great salespeople. No one likes a pest either, but don’t be quick to dismiss an opportunity that may still be there.

Is it changeable? – Did the rejection have more to do with the presentation than the product? Perhaps there is a better way to make your case. Maybe this is a learning experience for future presentations. Rejection can be a great teaching tool. Learn from it.

Add to this post. Give me an example of a time you felt rejection. How did you deal with it?

4 Activities for When Life is Uncertain

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:00:03 +0000

What do you do when life is uncertain?

Trust – God has a plan even when you can’t discern it. Faith is being certain when life is uncertain; believing when you cannot see. It’s much harder to worry when you are trusting. Psalm 56:3, Proverbs 3:5, Jeremiah 17:7

Pray – Ask God for discernment and clarity, but also for patience. Keep talking and listening. Jeremiah 29:12, Mark 14:38, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Wait – God will reveal Himself in due time. Our job is to be still. Psalm 27:14, Psalm 46:10

Act – Waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means acting on only what you’ve been given instructions to do. That’s usually plenty to keep us busy. 1 Kings 2:6a, Isaiah 52:13, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Colossians 3:23

Are you in a time of uncertainty?

Which of these is proving most difficult for you right now?

Which do you most need to do?

When Humble Does Forgiveness

Ron Edmondson — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:15:38 +0000

Humble knows relationships.

Humble knows grace.

Humble knows forgiveness.

Humble attracts the favor of God.

When Humble forgives, or asks forgiveness, Humble:

Doesn’t make excuses

Doesn’t speak sarcastically

Doesn’t point out another’s faults

Doesn’t justify actions

Doesn’t act as a martyr

Doesn’t hold a grudge

Doesn’t spread rumors

Humble knows forgiveness.

Do you know Humble?

7 Ways to be a Prolific Blogger

Ron Edmondson — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:07 +0000

I’m often asked how I manage to blog as often as I do. I’ve been referred to as a “prolific blogger”. I’ll be honest, I had to look up the word prolific to make sure I was okay with being one , but I guess I do “produce many works” as the definition contends.

It may not be as difficult as it seems. I’ve been “prolific” in daily writing for over 15 years. You can read my “prolific” daily devotional writings HERE.

Here are 7 ways to be a prolific blogger:

Look for one thought – I’m not trying to teach multiple principles in a post; just one. That makes it easier for me. I can turn one tweet into a blog post that way, or a Bible verse, because I’m only looking for one main idea. It could be from something I experience, something I read, something I hear, or just a random thought. Some days, I have more than one thought. Guess what? That’s more than one blog post that begins on those days.

Keep every thought – If you know one thought can be expanded into a blog post, why not keep every thought? Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Keep thoughts convenient – One reason I use Evernote is so I always have easy access to the thoughts I have. In days past, this was a notebook. With Evernote, every thought goes into a separate notebook (file). When a new idea about the thought comes to me, I can instantly add to my file. Before long, I have a complete blog post. (You can find my eBook on Evernote HERE.)

Discipline – You had to know that was part of it, right? If you decide you want to be a regular blogger, you’ll have to set aside some time to blog. I do this usually late at night (hence the occasional typos), or sometimes early in the morning.

Repeat – Don’t be afraid to go back to the same idea you wrote about previously. I’ve written about forgiveness many times. The subject of delegation never gets old. I believe I could write about ways to be a good leader everyday. If the subject is still a current subject, it’s fair game to write about again.

Practice – It gets easier over time. It really does. Just like with exercise or healthy eating, once it becomes a part of a daily routine, I’m much more likely to complete it.

Risk – I realize whenever I post something, that it may or may not be a reader’s favorite. I can’t wait until I believe it will be my most popular post ever. In fact, I never know, but I go with my gut, post my thoughts, and let the readers decide.

If you’re still timid about being a blogger, you may want to read my post entitled, “The Way to Guarantee NO ONE Reads Your Blog Post“.

Are you a blogger? What tips do you have?

5 Ways to Take Back a Delegated Project

Ron Edmondson — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:58 +0000

I’m a fan of delegation. In fact, I consider myself somewhat of a professional delegator, if there is such a thing. I certainly love to delegate.

If you want to read more of my thoughts on delegation, consider:

5 Reasons Delegation Fails
No Dumping: 5 Keys to Effective Delegation
4 Critical Aspects of Delegation
4 “Easy” Steps to Delegation

Also, on the subject of delegation…

Have you ever given away a project, though, and wished you could take it back?

Recently someone emailed me with the question of how to do it.

Maybe it was the wrong fit. Perhaps the person was overloaded with other responsibilities. It could be they simply weren’t cut out for the task. You may have misjudged their potential, so you gave them the delegation. Now you wish you hadn’t.

What do you do?

How do you take back a delegated project without causing hurt feelings, injuring a valued team member, or causing disruption in the organization? Many times the person has assumed a certain sense of ownership and pride in the assignment, even if they haven’t done a good job with it. Taking the project away from them may feel like personal rejection. What do you do?

Here are 5 ways to take back a delegated project:

Set up the right to remove on the front end – The process should really be clear from the beginning. The culture of a healthy organization has everyone operating as a team. It’s easier to do the right thing on a healthy team, even reassign an project. You may not be able to do that this time, but certainly work towards establishing that environment for the future.

Make sure you delegate well – Effective delegation will eliminate much of the need to take back a project. You can read more about healthy delegation HERE and HERE, but basically, try to help. This can happen at any stage in the project, but ideally should come before and during the process of completing a delegated project. It could be the person doesn’t have all the answers or all the resources to complete what’s been assigned. They may be afraid to ask for help.

Do it quickly – As soon as you realize the person is not going to be able to complete the task, if you’ve tried working with them, but it hasn’t helped, address and re-assign as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for everyone.

Do it graciously – If done correctly, it could be a relief for them, as well as the organization. You may be able to refocus the person’s attention on other things, but certainly you should try to encourage their overall potential in the process.

Help them learn – They may not have been able to do this particular project, but, if handled correctly, It could end up being beneficial for their personal development. Help them see what they did wrong, why the delegated task is being reassigned, and how they could do things differently in the future.

The bottom line is that the organization must move forward. Sometimes that means tasks have to be reassigned. Good leaders are willing to make hard decisions, even if that means taking back a delegated project.

Have you ever had to take back a delegated project? How did you do it?