On Leading Well

Year: 2007

  • Do You Prefer Storms or Hope?

    Words have power. Most people I know prefer hope to conflict, challenge, opposition, bad weather, delays, shipwreck, drowning, injury and possible death. The same was true in 1488 when Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias first encountered what he called the Cape of Storms while seeking a trade route to the Far East.

    John II, king of Portugal at the time of Dias’ report, didn’t see it the same way. Being the visionary, John wanted to recruit oodles of explorers to locate a faster way to get goods to and from the East. “Cape of Storms” just didn’t seem like the right heading for the brochure, so John II changed the name on the map to “Cape of Good Hope.” The Cape represents a major geographic and psychological landmark for shippers who, after weeks heading south, longed to turn east in search of the Orient.

    The same was true for me last week as I observed a variety of leaders meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. As those seeking to positively influence others, we need to watch our words carefully. This is one area I am constantly needing to grow in. I tend to be more of a prophet than a salesman, which doesn’t always help my hearers receive my message with my intended impact. It helps me to consider Nathan’s “here’s an interesting story” approach to confronting King David.

    Proverbs 15 also offers some counsel for us seeking to shape the conversation:

    A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

    A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

    Next time an opportunity presents itself, let’s seek to focus on hope rather than storms.

    Lesson for those who lead well: Word choice can open new trade routes to previously unexplored opportunities.

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  • What Makes A House A Home?

    On the way to the airport at 0-dark-30 this morning, I realized I had not ridden in a vehicle on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. All I rode was our couch for the long holiday weekend. It’s true what they say: Diligence brings fruit in the long run, but laziness always pays off now. I think that’s a corollary to my brother-in-law Gary’s famous dictum: Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap. Yes, it was a good Thanksgiving.

    Ann has kept a family Thanksgiving Journal since 1990. Each year on the fourth Thursday, no matter where we are, she pulls it out. Our family leisurely reflects on God’s goodness to us over the past 12 months and we fill a few pages with praises. We also review previous years’ entries which never fails to surface laughter and stories. Like one of Amy’s earliest entries: “Raisins.”

    Last year Ann made one request as I began searching for a place to live: “Don’t buy us a house, buy us a home.” Five months into our transition, we can honestly say Orlando has begun to feel like home. We’re thankful to the Lord for his amazing kindness on this journey. Some key elements that help make our house our home include:

    – Sensing God’s presence, peace & favor.
    – Having S P A C E to live, host friends, and nap.
    – A daily sunrise out our back door that inspires wonder ->.
    – Being able to find stuff when we need it.
    – Our pictures & personality decorate spaces.
    – Shared memories & conversations fill each room.

    The Lord provided a guest room in our new home that has encouraged many of these conversations. Since July we’ve hosted both sets of grandparents as well as staff members serving in Australia, East Asia, England, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Senegal and the US. The guest room also provides the perfect hiding place for sleeping off a pecan-pie-topped-with-ice-cream-blood-sugar-dip. Come on over and give it a try.

    Lesson: There is no such thing as a bad nap.

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  • Enchiladas and Enquiry

    Travis and I just wrapped up a tasty beef and cheese enchilada dinner at Amigos. Topics of discussion included cross-country season, college applications, dating (or not), the need for a few good friends, personal walk with God, and men who might not be worthy to date my daughter. On the drive home we discussed intellectual freedom. True intellectual freedom would support one’s ability to objectively assess multiple points of view on a given issue. To disallow multiple points of view to be expressed, or to expect others to hold to the majority view, would obviously not support the concept of intellectual freedom. Trav’s observation: Teaching only the theory of evolution in a public high school does not allow students to explore alternate points of view. Thus, students are not intellectually free.

    How free are we – are you – to entertain and express divergent points of view?

    Speaking of squelching divergent points of view, here’s a great blog highlighting five types of organizations that shouldn’t blog. Do I see myself, or my organization, exhibiting some of those tendencies? If I do, what attitudes and behaviors can I change that might encourage healthy dissent?

    Lesson to aspiring leaders: Learn to invite dissent.

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