This weekend I shared a leadership idea with my athletes that has the potential to help them become great leaders on their high school teams. I encouraged them to be servant-leaders by using their gifts and talents to serve others.
Our society is postured in a way that motivates us to work so that we can be served. Instead, we need to serve others by working. It's not about making money so people can wait on us. We should be waiting on others. The idea is not to work to be served by others, but to serve others by working.
The most important aspect to leadership and creating more influence is in serving others. The servant-leader wants to serve first. By serving, he can become a leader because his top concern is caring for the needs of others. The people he leads grow as individuals and while being served, become healthier, wiser and more likely to become who they were created to be.
The challenge to my athletes was simple. Ask, "how can I help?" and mean it. How can you help on your team, at school, at home, at work, etc.?
Servant-leadership can only be acquired through humility - the greatest character trait that one can seek.
"But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
- Luke 22:36 (NLT)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Is patience a virtue?
In 1377, William Langland wrote the allegorical narrative Piers Plowman. From this piece came a very popular proverb: patience is a virtue. The ability to wait for something without excessive frustration is a valuable character trait. It's similar to the Latin, Maxima enim..patientia virtus (Patience is the greatest virtue) and the French, Patience est une grand vertu (Patience is a great value).
Personally, I don't believe patience alone is the greatest virtue (I believe humility is), but it is rightfully a very desirable character trait that individuals have sought after over the course of history. This is why I thought it was important to mention that I spent the weekend in New York City and was shocked by the lack of patience that I saw so proudly on display.
I admit, I don't identify with the hustle and bustle and fast lifestyle that it takes to survive on Wall St. or to live in Manhattan. I'm a Midwesterner who enjoys the slower pace that the East Coast lacks. I don't think this is reason for the lack of patience that I witnessed this weekend, though.
I could list numerous examples, but I think I will stick to one in particular: elevators. I choose not to ride elevators for a variety of reasons, but I was literally forced to this weekend in New York City. I was shocked by the lack of patience that individuals exercise while riding up and down. Before they even stepped foot on the elevator, I saw individuals repeatedly pushing the "up" or "down" button in the lobby as if they didn't notice the obvious light that indicated that it had already been pushed by someone, in most cases, themselves. I gave a pass for this because there are circumstances that force the elevator to take more time than usual.
Watching people exit and enter elevators became and interesting social experiment for me, too. I didn't see the manners that I thought everyone learned from their grandmother as an infant. Let others get off before you get on. Seems pretty reasonable, especially if you live in a culture that depends on elevators. I didn't concern myself with this "phenomenon" much, either. I mean, I can't change the entire culture in NYC much like I can't explain to people in Moscow the concept of a single file line.
The thing that got me the most was that little button at the bottom of the menu of buttons - the "close door" button. I saw people abuse this button and push it as if their life depended on it. It was so noticeable, that I thought I would research the difference this most-popular button actually makes. I went online to find a few answers, but there was nothing definitive. I was surprised to see some claims that the button actually wasn't wired to anything. It was simply there to give passengers the illusion of control. The lift control mechanisms decide when the doors should actually shut according to their programmed cycles. Others claimed it actually does work. One writer who had "evidence" for the importance of pushing the close door button said the door in his building will close in five seconds after pushing any button, but will close in only three seconds after pushing the close door button. He saves close to two seconds in an amazing display of impatience.
Is patience a virtue? The elevator illustration might be an impractical example, but where else do we experience a lack of patience that is just as ridiculous when we break it down? Traffic lights, buffering videos, microwaves, mobile phones, etc. are all pieces of technology that drastically make for more time, but somehow rob us of our patience. The elevator might be insignificant, but is that lack of patience rolling over to other, more important, areas of our lives? I think so.
Personally, I don't believe patience alone is the greatest virtue (I believe humility is), but it is rightfully a very desirable character trait that individuals have sought after over the course of history. This is why I thought it was important to mention that I spent the weekend in New York City and was shocked by the lack of patience that I saw so proudly on display.
I admit, I don't identify with the hustle and bustle and fast lifestyle that it takes to survive on Wall St. or to live in Manhattan. I'm a Midwesterner who enjoys the slower pace that the East Coast lacks. I don't think this is reason for the lack of patience that I witnessed this weekend, though.
I could list numerous examples, but I think I will stick to one in particular: elevators. I choose not to ride elevators for a variety of reasons, but I was literally forced to this weekend in New York City. I was shocked by the lack of patience that individuals exercise while riding up and down. Before they even stepped foot on the elevator, I saw individuals repeatedly pushing the "up" or "down" button in the lobby as if they didn't notice the obvious light that indicated that it had already been pushed by someone, in most cases, themselves. I gave a pass for this because there are circumstances that force the elevator to take more time than usual.
Watching people exit and enter elevators became and interesting social experiment for me, too. I didn't see the manners that I thought everyone learned from their grandmother as an infant. Let others get off before you get on. Seems pretty reasonable, especially if you live in a culture that depends on elevators. I didn't concern myself with this "phenomenon" much, either. I mean, I can't change the entire culture in NYC much like I can't explain to people in Moscow the concept of a single file line.
The thing that got me the most was that little button at the bottom of the menu of buttons - the "close door" button. I saw people abuse this button and push it as if their life depended on it. It was so noticeable, that I thought I would research the difference this most-popular button actually makes. I went online to find a few answers, but there was nothing definitive. I was surprised to see some claims that the button actually wasn't wired to anything. It was simply there to give passengers the illusion of control. The lift control mechanisms decide when the doors should actually shut according to their programmed cycles. Others claimed it actually does work. One writer who had "evidence" for the importance of pushing the close door button said the door in his building will close in five seconds after pushing any button, but will close in only three seconds after pushing the close door button. He saves close to two seconds in an amazing display of impatience.
Is patience a virtue? The elevator illustration might be an impractical example, but where else do we experience a lack of patience that is just as ridiculous when we break it down? Traffic lights, buffering videos, microwaves, mobile phones, etc. are all pieces of technology that drastically make for more time, but somehow rob us of our patience. The elevator might be insignificant, but is that lack of patience rolling over to other, more important, areas of our lives? I think so.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Blissfully bouncing through the terminal
I’m on my way to New York City for the annual NYAC wrestling tournament. I’ve been attending this event as an athlete and coach for the past five years. Not that I frequent the Big Apple much, but I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of the city. It’s too big and there’s just too much hustle and bustle for my liking. Even though I’ve been open about my dislike for the New York, I want to change my perspective and offer some optimism as I take on this adventure.
I’m not going to shower the East Coast with praise. Instead, I’m going to write about my optimism while traveling by air. Isn’t it strange how something amazing like air flight can turn into one of the most dreadful experiences of one’s life? If you think about it, we often take things that were created to be great and make them miserable. To be blunt, I think it has to do with our entitled, self-centered, narcissistic life style (sorry if that was harsh). Honestly, think about it…
I’m going to New York City and it’s going to take me three and a half hours to get there. That’s incredible. I can pull out my computer and write about my experience while it’s happening. That’s amazing. Last weekend I was in San Diego and this weekend I will be in New York – coast to coast in one week. That’s astounding. If I was in a car, this would take weeks. If this was over a hundred years ago, this would take months (and my wheel would probably fall off my wagon in the mountains somewhere).
Who are we to think we can criticize air travel. It’s really incomprehensible that this whole thing works the way it does.
I’m not minimizing the negative experiences that people have while traveling, or condoning the actions of those who exercise poor customer service. I’ve had my fair share of rude flight attendants and have had flights delayed, canceled and missed. I’ve had my luggage lost in foreign countries and been on flights that I thought were far from safe (try flying within in Russia). On these things I identify with you, however, I want to help change your perspective so that you can appreciate and enjoy how spectacular air travel actually is.
Every time I sit in the terminal waiting to board the plane, I look out and see the giant plane that I will be comfortably (most of the time) sitting in 35,000 feet above the earth. It’s mind-boggling that the science of flight actually works! That big huge piece of metal floating in the air. I think Bernoulli has something to do with it and, of course, lift force, but seriously, it just doesn’t make sense. Usually I get this unsettled feeling as the plane speeds down the runway. I wonder, “what if?” What if the Wright brothers actually had it wrong? What if this time it just doesn’t add up? Then we take off and begin ascending into the clouds and God’s creation becomes so much bigger. What I like most about flying is it makes me feel a little smaller than I do when I’m on earth. It humbles me and I think, who am I that I should not be enjoying this? Literally, I’m flying. That’s pretty cool.
Once again, I want to encourage you to be optimistic during your air travel experience. Certainly there will be a few inconveniences, but I’m fairly certain they’re worth it. Try changing your status update or Tweets from “dreadfully drudging through the terminal” to “blissfully bouncing through the terminal.” A simple change of perspective will change your entire experience.
I’m not going to shower the East Coast with praise. Instead, I’m going to write about my optimism while traveling by air. Isn’t it strange how something amazing like air flight can turn into one of the most dreadful experiences of one’s life? If you think about it, we often take things that were created to be great and make them miserable. To be blunt, I think it has to do with our entitled, self-centered, narcissistic life style (sorry if that was harsh). Honestly, think about it…
I’m going to New York City and it’s going to take me three and a half hours to get there. That’s incredible. I can pull out my computer and write about my experience while it’s happening. That’s amazing. Last weekend I was in San Diego and this weekend I will be in New York – coast to coast in one week. That’s astounding. If I was in a car, this would take weeks. If this was over a hundred years ago, this would take months (and my wheel would probably fall off my wagon in the mountains somewhere).
Who are we to think we can criticize air travel. It’s really incomprehensible that this whole thing works the way it does.
I’m not minimizing the negative experiences that people have while traveling, or condoning the actions of those who exercise poor customer service. I’ve had my fair share of rude flight attendants and have had flights delayed, canceled and missed. I’ve had my luggage lost in foreign countries and been on flights that I thought were far from safe (try flying within in Russia). On these things I identify with you, however, I want to help change your perspective so that you can appreciate and enjoy how spectacular air travel actually is.
Every time I sit in the terminal waiting to board the plane, I look out and see the giant plane that I will be comfortably (most of the time) sitting in 35,000 feet above the earth. It’s mind-boggling that the science of flight actually works! That big huge piece of metal floating in the air. I think Bernoulli has something to do with it and, of course, lift force, but seriously, it just doesn’t make sense. Usually I get this unsettled feeling as the plane speeds down the runway. I wonder, “what if?” What if the Wright brothers actually had it wrong? What if this time it just doesn’t add up? Then we take off and begin ascending into the clouds and God’s creation becomes so much bigger. What I like most about flying is it makes me feel a little smaller than I do when I’m on earth. It humbles me and I think, who am I that I should not be enjoying this? Literally, I’m flying. That’s pretty cool.
Once again, I want to encourage you to be optimistic during your air travel experience. Certainly there will be a few inconveniences, but I’m fairly certain they’re worth it. Try changing your status update or Tweets from “dreadfully drudging through the terminal” to “blissfully bouncing through the terminal.” A simple change of perspective will change your entire experience.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Repeat yourself and speak clearly
My grandma is 83 years old and like most people her age, she doesn't hear as well as she once did. As a result, when I talk to her, I often have to repeat myself to get the message across. Her youthful heart and vibrant passion keep her from embracing the technology that could help her communicate more effectively. She's apprehensive about spending the money for hearing aids and fundamentally opposed to e-mail or other Internet-based forms of communicating because they're not very personal. My family always needs to be intentional about keeping her in the loop.
I would take an educated guess and say that most of you have similar stories with your parents or grandparents. Why am I bringing this up today? Because I think by understanding the simple steps necessary to engage in meaningful conversations with my grandma are the same as the principles needed to be effective in casting your vision or following your mission: repeat yourself and speak clearly.
Let me explain myself further on this idea...
Your mission needs to be clear and concise. It cannot be ambiguous. It needs to simply state what you're set out to do and why you're doing it. The trick is that you say all of that in words that are memorable so it can be understood and repeated.
You can never repeat your vision too much. No matter how much you've said it, there's always someone out there who hasn't gotten it. Or someone who's lost it. Or someone who knows it, but has yet to internalize it or own it. You can repeat yourself without being repetitive. Find creative ways to reinforce your vision that will compel and inspires others, and do it often.
I've seen too many organizations lose track of members because their vision wasn't stated enough. I've seen businesses fail after the vision didn't materialized because it wasn't talked about enough. I've been involved with groups for an extended period of time and never heard the direction the group desired to go. And I know coaches that have a difficult time reaching their athletes with their mission and vision, but they fail to recognize they're laying out their expectations clearly.
No one can hold onto any vision indefinitely without reinforcement and repetition. It doesn’t matter how compelling it is. Was any vision ever more compelling than the one Jesus laid out? Yet even he found the need to say it again.
In Matthew 19:24 NLT, Jesus starts by stating "I'll say it again..." Jesus knew he needed to repeat himself over and over
Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!" Paul repeated himself and said it clearly. It was a simple and memorable. Rejoice!
Leaders often lose focus of their own vision because they don't take the time necessary to repeat it. Not only does repeating your vision compel others, it holds you accountable to what you're doing. I want my vision to ignite passion in the souls of my athletes and I want it to be constant reminder of why I do what I do.
If Jesus had to repeat himself, what makes us think that we don't need to? Repeat yourself and speak clearly.
I would take an educated guess and say that most of you have similar stories with your parents or grandparents. Why am I bringing this up today? Because I think by understanding the simple steps necessary to engage in meaningful conversations with my grandma are the same as the principles needed to be effective in casting your vision or following your mission: repeat yourself and speak clearly.
Let me explain myself further on this idea...
Your mission needs to be clear and concise. It cannot be ambiguous. It needs to simply state what you're set out to do and why you're doing it. The trick is that you say all of that in words that are memorable so it can be understood and repeated.
You can never repeat your vision too much. No matter how much you've said it, there's always someone out there who hasn't gotten it. Or someone who's lost it. Or someone who knows it, but has yet to internalize it or own it. You can repeat yourself without being repetitive. Find creative ways to reinforce your vision that will compel and inspires others, and do it often.
I've seen too many organizations lose track of members because their vision wasn't stated enough. I've seen businesses fail after the vision didn't materialized because it wasn't talked about enough. I've been involved with groups for an extended period of time and never heard the direction the group desired to go. And I know coaches that have a difficult time reaching their athletes with their mission and vision, but they fail to recognize they're laying out their expectations clearly.
No one can hold onto any vision indefinitely without reinforcement and repetition. It doesn’t matter how compelling it is. Was any vision ever more compelling than the one Jesus laid out? Yet even he found the need to say it again.
In Matthew 19:24 NLT, Jesus starts by stating "I'll say it again..." Jesus knew he needed to repeat himself over and over
Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!" Paul repeated himself and said it clearly. It was a simple and memorable. Rejoice!
Leaders often lose focus of their own vision because they don't take the time necessary to repeat it. Not only does repeating your vision compel others, it holds you accountable to what you're doing. I want my vision to ignite passion in the souls of my athletes and I want it to be constant reminder of why I do what I do.
If Jesus had to repeat himself, what makes us think that we don't need to? Repeat yourself and speak clearly.
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