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Monday, January 23rd, 2012

An Interview with Jon Gordon on Leadership

Jon Gordon An Interview with Jon Gordon on Leadership Recently I was afforded the awesome opportunity of interviewing Jon Gordon. Jon is a husband, father, and author. His best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller The Energy Bus, as well as The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish, Soup: A Recipe to Nourish Your Team and Culture, and his latest book The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work. I could literally write pages and pages about all Jon’s accomplishments from sharing his principles with NFL Teams such as the Atlanta Falcons to the many Fortune 500 Companies like Noodles & Company, Campbell Soup, and Pepperidge Farm however Jon would tell you today that his past accomplishments are meaningless. What matters most is that something he says will inspire you to take action.

Please take a look at this short clip that Jon recorded sharing with you some thoughts about his new book “The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work“.

As you can see, Jon is inspirational. He has found his greater purpose and today is inspiring millions to find their’s as well. Like I said, I was afforded the awesome opportunity of interviewing Jon. So without further ado …. my interview with Jon Gordon.

What was your first recollection of experiencing great leadership?
I would say meeting and spending time with Ken Blanchard, the author of the One Minute Manager.

Who had the most significant influence on shaping you as a leader?
Honestly the answer is God. I wish I had better leaders in my life growing up and in my early career but I didn’t. People often ask me where my leadership principles come from and they come during my walks of prayers in the morning.

What are three words people would use to describe you?
Energetic, sincere, real.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?
Busyness, stress, fear and negativity.

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?
Optimism. It’s the most important characteristic of a leader.

What advice would you give someone who is considering a leadership position for the first time?
Know what you stand for. Know your purpose and vision and share them. Read leadership books. I’m amazed at how many don’t read to improve themselves as a leader. Books will help you clarify what you believe and shape you and your actions as a leader. It’s not just about reading. It’s about applying.

Over the years, what is one behavior or trait that you have seen derail great leaders?
Pride. It comes before the fall. The best leaders are humble and hungry.

If you could study leadership with anyone in the world with whom would you study?
Abraham Lincoln. For a leader who is living I would say Bob Iger the CEO of Disney.

If you could give my readers one piece of advice on leadership, what would that be?
Lead with optimism. Leadership is a transfer of belief. Steve Jobs had the ability to convince people they could do things they never thought possible and they did it.

What’s next for you? Is there another book in the works?
Yes. The Positive Dog. It’s about the benefits and strategies of positivity.

Do you have question you would like to ask Jon? Please share your question below, you may get your question answered.

If you are interested in finding out more about Jon Gordon I encourage you to visit his website at www.JonGordon.com or follow him on Twitter @JonGordon11 or Facebook.

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links” which does mean that if you click on the link and purchase the item through Amazon that I will receive a small commission however the purpose behind this post was not for monetary reasons but yet to introduce you to an incredible leader and motivator. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Bursting Out … Through Vision

vision Bursting Out ... Through Vision This is the time of year when everyone is making new years resolutions. As with many, my new years resolution is to become a healthier man. This not only includes losing that unwanted weight but also eating healthier foods and exercising more. According to statistics, 38% of all new years resolutions are related to weight but yet we are the unhealthiest country in the world. Why is this? I believe it’s an issue with our vision.

You see, it’s what is in front of us that dictates our actions. Let me give you an example, this morning the daily routine started in the bathroom like usual however today I decided to make a change. Today I stood in front of the mirror and pictured myself as a healthy fit guy. Yeah, it took some time but it was worth it. That extra 60 seconds changed my entire day and the amount of energy and motivation that I got was unbelievable. Why? It was because I was able to see the vision.

I can’t help but connect this with serving. I have seen so many people walk away from ministry because they lost the vision. They had lost sight of what they were working towards and how they were impacting the lives of people. The truth of the matter is that whatever we keep in front of us (in our vision) determines our success and impact.

God wants to blow our mind away. He has BIG plans for us all in 2012. Plans that we can’t even comprehend (Eph 3:20).

As you we launch into 2012 I want to encourage you to get a vision of the future. Save a snapshot in your heart. Remember that God said in Isaiah 43:19 “I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?”. God is about to do something brand new in you and me. Do you see it?

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Sunday, January 1st, 2012

What is Great Leadership?

Challenging times require leaders who can lead others through the challenges. Now more than ever, we need great leadership in our government, schools, businesses, hospitals and organizations. Good leadership won’t suffice. We need great leadership. There is a difference.

Good leaders get people to believe in them.
Great leaders inspire people to believe in themselves.
Good leaders say “Watch what I can do.”
Great leaders say “Let me show you what you can do.”
Good leaders catch fish for others so they can eat today.
Great leaders teach people how to fish so they can eat for a lifetime.

Having worked with countless leaders over the years in businesses, schools and professional sports, I’ve realized that great leadership is really a transfer of belief. Great leaders share their belief, vision, purpose and passion with others, and in the process, they inspire others to believe, act and impact. Great leaders are positively contagious and they instill confidence and belief in others.

Great sales managers inspire their sales people to believe in themselves and their product/service. Great school principals inspire their teachers to believe they can make a difference. Great teachers inspire and empower their students to believe in themselves. Great pastors inspire their congregations to serve and impact the community. Great sports coaches inspire their teams to believe they can win. And the people who have changed the world have been those who instilled in others the confidence to step up, serve, take initiative and create positive change. You don’t need a title to be a leader. You just need to lead.

To lead others in a powerful way you must invite them on your bus, share your vision for the road ahead and then encourage, empower and inspire them to drive their own bus. In the process, instead of having just one bus that you drive, you create a fleet of buses and bus drivers, all moving in the same positive direction. When you create a fleet of buses and empower people to drive their own bus, you generate an amazing amount of power and momentum that becomes an unstoppable force. This is what great leadership is all about.

Written By Jon Gordon

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Friday, December 30th, 2011

Keep Focused

There are so many times in our lives when we lose focus of what our goal and purpose is. Last night I was reminded about Peter walking on the water and how he lost focus.

Matthew 14:22-36 reads …

As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.

But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come ahead.”

Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”

Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”

The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”

On return, they beached the boat at Gennesaret. When the people got wind that he was back, they sent out word through the neighborhood and rounded up all the sick, who asked for permission to touch the edge of his coat. And whoever touched him was healed.

The Bible says “Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand.” This tells me that Peter had literally walked all the way out to Jesus and when he was literally just foot or two away he lost focus.

How many times have you taken a step of faith and while hearing the voice of God, only to get literally feet away from the goal when fear takes you down?

The waves always get a little rough when we are in the Will of God and in those moments satans goal is to get us to take our eyes off God … even just for a second.

As we approach the New Year, I want to encourage you to “Keep Focused”. Keep your eyes on Him. If Peter had just stayed focused of God, fear would have never had the opportunity to shake him up.

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Monday, December 5th, 2011

5 Core Tips For KidMin Small Group Leaders

kids1 5 Core Tips For KidMin Small Group Leaders We are social beings. God created us to respond and relate to others. Even in the mothers womb one could argue that we are socially aware and needing interaction with the outside world. For this reason, I personally believe that it is imperative that every church has a small group opportunity for kids.

As a leader at one of the largest churches in Northeast Wisconsin I see more and more every day the importance behind our small group programming. Hundreds of kids attend our services each and every weekend and while our leaders do a great job at connecting with as many as possible, there is a greater need for a personal relationship. With this in mind our Wednesday evening programming is programmed for small groups from birth to sixth grade. We have also recently integrated small group times into our weekend programming as well which has proven to really help the kids develop relationships with their peers..

Leading a small group though can be a struggle. Especially if you have never lead one before. With this in mind I would like to share with you what I believe to be the 5 Core Tips For KidMin Small Group Leaders.

1. Round Them Up – I always recommend our small group leaders to gather the kids around in a circle. Nobody, including kids, enjoy looking around or over someone when they are trying to listen to a leader. A circle will provide the kids with a direct visual and allows them to feel like an important part of the group.

2. Everyone Participates – Sometimes sharing in a small group can be awkward but you can nip that in the butt right away by going around the group and getting everyone to answer one simple question. I always encourage the age old question “How was your week? Did you do anything super exciting this week?”. Kids always seem to open up with that question. Asking an open ended question will always get the kids involved and sharing. Even if they respond with “Nothing exciting happened this week” you have broke the ice for that child to speak openly to the group.

3. Be Prepared To Lead Not Read - There is nothing more boring that watching someone read something off a piece of paper. This can be applied to almost any ministry but I guarantee you this much, when you come prepared, your small group time will go well because you are able to flow with your thought processes. Kids will discuss more and be more open with you if you are actually having a discussion with them instead of a book or piece of paper.

4. Bring it – Bring something to your small group that you can pass around the circle. I tend to pass the prop around the circle. Having a prop related to your discussion earns you BIG POINTS! When the child has the prop in their hand they get the opportunity to share. This will add massive structure to your group and will keep kids listening and only speaking at the appropriate time. The prop can be anything from a stuffed animal, a Bible or even a small stone. As long as the kids can hold it in their hands … it’s a win.

5. Create Structure – I have heard many small group leaders over the years comment on how disobedient their group is and how hard it is to keep the kids on topic. I would say that 90% of the time this issue is resolved with solid structure. Design a set format for your small group that the kids will see every week. This will keep them on tract and will help you stay on track as well. We can’t ask the kids to be orderly if there is no order.

There are obviously many other tips out there that would help in the leading of a successful small group however I personally feel that these 5 tips should be at the core of every small group.

Do you lead a small group? Do you have any tips that you would like to share?

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