Firm Foundation

Leadership is just like building a house. We have to put the planning and effort into building a firm foundation or the whole house is doomed. Without a firm foundation, a house can become a nightmare, a money pit or even worse, it can eventually crumble.
So it is with leadership.
Here’s what I think are some key components to a solid leadership foundation:


Get the right plan


Meet with the Master Builder of your life. Talk about His dreams and design for you as a leader. Discover the design and commit to the building process.
There are no short cuts.
Great builders use great precision and planning, the right skills and supplies to create a quality product. It’s good to remember that it may take a while before the plan becomes solid and clear. This is not wasted time, but a necessary investment.
Know how you are created. Ask God to reveal your unique design and purpose to you.
Who are you as a leader?
Who is God calling you to be?
What is your foundational calling, your values, goals? Keep to this. Don’t mix in anything extra.

Dig out the land


Do what it takes.  Spend the time with God, the Kind Excavator.
Sometimes there are big “rocks” that God needs to clear from your heart. Don’t be afraid of that removal process. Invest the energy and effort it takes to get the land of your heart cleared free from obstacles and debris so that it is ready for God to lay the foundation for your leadership future. Healthy leaders spend time to grow in their emotional intelligence and pursue excellence from the inside out.

Set the footings and forms in place


It is impossible to form a foundation without these. Otherwise the cement has no shape, no purpose. It would just be blobs of hard rock.
What are the support structures you need in place to pour a really good foundation for you as a leader?
Create healthy habits by surrounding yourself with good counsel as the Master Builder sets these forms in place. It’s being accountable to His plan for your life.
How can you learn from other leadership lessons?
What are “must have” support structures for you as you establish this life-long foundation?
Prepare for greatness.

Pour the cement and let it set 


It’s important to get the ingredients right. We need the right amount of concrete (solid word, truth, purpose, and determination), the right amount of water (word, spiritual formation, and soul care), the right mixing tools (training, skills, etc.)  And of course, timing is everything! Leadership isn’t learned in a day, it’s a commitment to life-long learning. God’s timing is perfect. Often we are in a rush to graduate to a new stage of leadership, when He knows that we would be more solid if we let ourselves “sit a while” in the current stage.

Wherever you are in your leadership process and development – be encouraged.
God, the Master Builder and Planner are with you, constructing a magnificent masterpiece.

A Time Out

I've had the privilege of having Nancy Beach in Kelowna this week. I've been able to work with her and to help facilitate Gifted to Lead events in 4 different provinces in Canada this year During this time I have come to really appreciated and admire her ability to communicate and I have been overwhelmed with the wealth of wisdom that she possesses from years of experience as a Arts Director at Willow Creek Association.

Last night she went above and beyond and shared at a special arts gathering. During this evening we drilled her with all sorts of questions that are on the mind of arts leaders in the church.

One of he things she talked about was making sure you take time apart as a worship/arts team. It can be a day or two, at a home of a friend, or at a retreat center, but is so important to just do it.
Here is what she says are the key elements of a retreat for your team. I think these elements are not important for any team, and even a family gathering.

Take time out to:

1. Celebrate (where you've come from and the things you've accomplished)
   
2. Honor (one another and the processes you have been in)
   
3. Have Fun (what can I say? Laughter is good medicine!)
   

I'd say that this is good advice!

Inspiration. To make a difference.

I'm blessed to work at a The Leadership Centre Willow Creek Canada.
Each year we manage and partner with local churches to host The Leadership Summit at 20 sites across Canada. What a great thing to be involved in. An annual gathering of inspiration for leader's not only across Canada, but all across North America.

I was inspired as I heard from the incredible speakers chosen for this year.
I was inspired:
To continue to pursue leadership, and my spirit was filled with a heart of worship as I was inspired by the presence of the Holy Spirit. As I spent time pondering what God was saying to me through the speakers, I realized, more than ever, that God has great things for me.

He has great things for you. Only believe.

One of the speakers reminded us of the old Franciscan Prayer. I leave it with you today.

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.