When I talk with someone about leadership coaching, one of the questions I typically ask to get a sense of who they are is, “What kind of leader are you?” Each person’s responses tell me about how they perceive themselves, and how they understand leadership. Some people view leadership as a set of qualities that leaders have from birth. Leaders are recognizable from an early age, and their behavior as children identifies them as having leadership potential. People either have... Read more
When I talk with someone about leadership coaching, we begin by getting to know each other. I ask a few questions and get a sense of who they are. “What kind of leader are you?” I typically ask. The person’s response usually tells me quite a bit. Some people tell me that they are “not really a leader.” What they mean is that they do not see themselves as having the responsibility, the education, the experience, or the authority to... Read more
In Take This Bread, Sara Miles tells her story. She writes about how working in restaurants in New York deepened her love of food. She writes about working as a journalist in the midst of armed conflicts in Central America. She writes about the birth of her daughter. She writes about being raised without spiritual faith by parents who nursed a grudge against the Christianity in which they had been raised. She also writes about the day she walked into... Read more
Having come from the world of business before becoming a lead pastor of a church I have seen a lot of things that parallel each other. However, it seems as if ministry leaders often want to distance themselves from things that are done in business. I think this is a mistake. Corporate business and the church have something in common. They both embrace vision and mission statements. Leaders are charged with casting vision and ensuring that the company—or church—stays true... Read more
A lot of progressive leaders within the local church spend time studying leadership from people such as Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric or Howard Schulz, founder and CEO of Starbucks. For me, one of the great leaders whom I respect is John Maxwell. At one time Mr Maxwell was known as Pastor Maxwell, senior pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in the San Diego, California area. He has since become a highly sought after speaker on the subject of... Read more
While I was in high school, my parents bought a new chair. It was definitely a piece of a specific point in time, almost designed to be out of fashion as soon as possible. At the same time, it was a solid example of Midwestern craft; it was built to last. The chair remained with my parents while I was in college, and became the favorite spot of one of their cats. It first moved with me while I was... Read more
One of the greatest things that ever happened to me, a day that changed my life, was the day when, as a young child, my aunt took me to the public library. I grew up in the country, outside a town of four thousand people in rural Wisconsin. Life was good. I had plenty of room to wander through woods and fields, and developed a strong imagination. There was fresh air, clean water, and plenty of food. It was a... Read more
I never met Steve Jobs in person; he inspires me as he does so many people. First, his creations remind me of the satisfaction that comes from doing good work with well-designed tools. Second, his example reinforces my core value that work can, and should, be enjoyable. For many years, I tried to enlist in different navies. I would auction my services to the best offer, accept a job, and set out to turn my job into the one I... Read more
Incognito by David Eagleman is a book about the secret lives of the human brain. Eagleman, a neuroscientist, explores what we do not know, and do not appreciate, about our own brains. He discusses how it is possible that we can talk to ourselves, and even disagree with ourselves. Dr. Eagleman also describes how our senses work within our brains, and how what we perceive is based more in how our brains process information than in what is actually happening in... Read more
At times, I have clearly been more of an activist than a contemplative. At other times, I have relied more on the contemplative aspects of whom I am. More and more, I see these two strengths coming together. Much of my life has been shaped by my deep commitment to getting things done. Achieving things is one of my greatest strengths. I am very motivated to complete projects; to check things off the list and move onto the next thing.... Read more
Strategic Monk
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