Transcript Incarnational Leadership in a Changing World

Incarnate leadership in a
Changing World
Dan Winter
Incarnate Leadership in a
Changing World
Session 1
The Incarnate Leader
Session 2
The Challenge of Change
Session 3
Applying Incarnate Leadership in a Changing World
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SESSION #1
THE INCARNATE LEADER
“THE Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen
His glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full
of grace and truth.”
John 1: 14
Incarnate Leaders
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Stay close to those they lead
Are transparent with those they lead
Reflect the mission rather than
personal glory
Lead with truth and grace
Are willing to sacrifice for those they
lead
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Staying Close to Those We
Lead
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Leading from the Middle
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Resisting Pedestals
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Others want to place us there.
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Resisting forces that create gaps between us and those we lead
Putting ourselves in a position where we can reach out and touch those we
lead
Loving Those We Lead
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Matthew 8:1
Does not mean we have to stand with those we lead – Christ became a man,
but didn’t cease to be God
Being Intentional
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Out of respect but,
Its not what they really want
If we don’t it’s tough to come down from the mountain
People sense it and are drawn to it
Paradox of Leadership
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Being both player and coach
Does not mean forfeiting our responsibilities as leaders
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Staying Close to Those We Lead
“The most powerful position of leadership
is beside those God calls us to lead.
Among them”
- Bill Robinson
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Leading with Transparency
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Trust begets Trust
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Leaders must take the responsibility for taking
the risk – to share information
A vacuum will always seek to be filled.
“Nature abhors a vacuum. So does human nature.
We all want to know the why behind the what.
Sometimes we try to figure out why even before
there is a what.”
- Bill Robinson
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Leading with Transparency
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Insist on Personal Visibility and
Accountability
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Reduces likelihood of moral and ethical
compromises
Exposes us to “the light”
Develop a Culture Based on Integrity
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Truthfulness
Moral character
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Mission Versus Self
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“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by
himself; he can do only what he sees his Father
doing, because whatever the Father does the Son
also does.”
John 5:19
“…My power is made perfect in weakness…”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“…His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the
Father…”
John 1:14
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Mission Versus Self
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It’s not about us
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Being “reflectors” of the Light, rather than
“absorbers”
Pride turns the mirror back on ourselves
Ego is the Achilles heel of a leader
“May God keep us from trying to drink the sunlight
that is Christ. We cannot absorb the glory that
belongs to Him without troubling the waters and
distorting the reflection of His beauty, truth and
grace”
- Bill Robinson
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Mission Versus Self
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Humility
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Not to be confused with timidity
Channels our ambition to the glory of God and
the success of the organization, not ourselves
The Mission (What’s our mission
statement?)
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Is it noble?
Does it contribute to the common good?
Does it reflect our core values?
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Mission Versus Self
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“When we are confident and not humble we
deny the grace of God. When we are
humble and not confident we deny the
power of God”
- Bill Robinson
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“”Being confident of this, that He who began
a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
- Philippians 1:6
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Applying Truth with Grace
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Should always be tempered with common
sense.
“Grace and truth need each other. Grace
ceases to be grace if it lacks truth. And truth
loses its power if it lacks grace.”
- Bill Robinson
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Applying Truth with Grace
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Grace travels from the inside out
The parable of the unforgiving servant
(Matthew 18: 23-35)
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We are beneficiaries of grace
We should therefore be benefactors of grace
Grace favors trust over cynicism
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Trust leads to trust
Doubt leads to doubt
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Applying Truth with Grace
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Truth
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Commitment to Truth
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Cultural aspect
Theological aspect
Personal aspect
Willingness to tell it
Willingness to hear it
Leading with Truth and Grace
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What is the grace-filled thing to do?
What is the truth-filled thing to do?
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Applying Truth with Grace
 “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who
came from the Father, full of grace and truth”
John 1: 14
• “For Jesus, leading with grace and truth cost him everything,
but it made the greatest leader who ever lived. It made Him our
Savior”
- Bill Robinson
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Sacrificial Leadership
“ Who, being in very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be
grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking
the very nature of a servant, being made in
human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death – even death
on a cross!”
Philippians 2: 6-8
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Sacrificial Leadership
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Sacrificing Time
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Sacrificing Comfort
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A leader’s safety zone
Sacrificing Recognition
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A leader’s most precious commodity
Truly better to give than to receive
An amazing multiplier
Sacrificing Privilege
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Group takes precedence
Sacrifice leads to Sacrifice
“Leadership without sacrifice is not Christian Leadership”
- Bill Robinson
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SESSION 1 DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
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WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART OF EXERCISING
INCARNATE LEADERSHIP IN YOUR BUSINESS OR
MINISTRY
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IN WHAT WAYS CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF AND OTHERS
DOING MORE TO EXERCISE INCARNATE LEADERSHIP?
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WHAT ARE THE PEDESTALS IN YOUR BUSINESS OR
MINISTRY THAT OTHERS PLACE YOU ON? HOW DO YOU
REACT?
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HOW DOES HUMILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS BALANCE
FOR YOU?
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Session #2
The Challenge of Change
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
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Assumption #1
Change is Inevitable
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We are (and will be) in turbulent times.
“Every few hundred years throughout Western history sharp
transformation has occurred. In a matter of decades society
altogether rearranges itself – its world view, its basic values,
its social and political structures, its arts, its key institutions.
Fifty years later a new world exists. And the people born into
that world cannot even imagine the world in which
grandparents lived and into which their parents were born.”
- Peter Drucker
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Assumption #2
We Will have to Deal with Change
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Change is never “neutral”
Change always demands a response
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It will not be ignored
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It will proceed with or without you
We can choose to lead or choose to be victims of
change
“If you don’t like change you’re going to
like irrelevance even less”
General Eric Shinseski, U.S. Army
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Change Comes from All
Directions
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Science and Technology
Changing Economics/Business/Politics
Changing Educational Institutions/
Processes
Changing Cultural thoughts and
norms
A Shrinking World
Other?????
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Assumption #3
Change can be Positive or Negative
(or Both)
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It can be a Positive Force
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Forces us out of our “box”
Creates an environment for continuous
improvement/enhancement
Provides impetus for creativity
It can be a Negative Force
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Potential for impacting moral and ethical certainty
Potential for “chaos” – total lack of control
Potential for becoming an end unto itself
Potential for causing anxiety, frustration, anger and other
negative responses
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Changing Moral and Ethical
Certainty
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The Great Paradigm Shift
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Truth is not absolute but relative
Rise of Personal “Spirituality”
Postmodernism
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Dismisses the possibility of any sure and settled
knowledge of the truth
Nothing is certain – strong convictions are considered
negative
Everyone is entitled to their own truth
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Subjective truth versus absolute truth
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Changing Moral and Ethical
Certainty
“Uncertainty is the new truth. Doubt and
skepticism have been canonized as a
form of humility. Right and wrong
have been redefined in terms of
subjective feelings and personal
perspectives”
Dr. John MacArthur
“The Truth Wars”
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The Leader’s Challenge
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Maintaining a strong belief in critical
moral and ethical absolutes
“Truth slips and slithers in morally weak
hands, but it is the scepter of trust in
Christ like leadership”
Bill Robinson
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The Leader’s Challenge
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Creating a Culture of truthfulness
“…The single most important characteristic may
well be a willingness to tell the truth. In a world
of growing complexity leaders are increasingly
dependent on their subordinates for good
information, whether the leaders want to hear it
or not. Followers who tell the truth and leaders
who listen to it are an unbeatable combination”
Warren Bennis
“Managing the Dream: Reflections on Leadership and
Change”
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The Leader’s Challenge
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Consistently demonstrating, teaching
and re-enforcing the absolutes
Serving as a source of assurance &
strength amid doubt and change
Being a positive agent for appropriate
change
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“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to
show that this all-surpassing power is from
God and not from us. We are hard pressed
on every side, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not in despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the
death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may
also be revealed.”
2 Corinthians 4: 7-10
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SESSION 2 DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
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HOW DOES THE FACT THAT JESUS IS THE SAME –
YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER AFFECT YOU GIVEN
THE CHANGE ALL AROUND YOU?
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HOW CAN YOU DEMONSTRATE INCARNATE
LEADERSHIP GIVEN THE CHALLENGES OF CHANGE IN
THE CULTURE?
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HOW DO YOU REMAIN STRONG AND CENTERED
PERSONALLY IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE?
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Session #3
Applying Incarnate Leadership in a
Changing World
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Applying Incarnate Leadership
in a Changing World
“And no one pours new wine into old
wineskins. If he does, otherwise the wine
will burst the skins and both the wine and
wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new
wine into new wineskins”
Matthew 2:22
“Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus”
- Colossians 3:17
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The Demand for Change
Leadership
In a world of constant change we need leaders who:
 Provide clear vision and direction
 Clearly communicate the vision
 Provide stability in the midst of apparent chaos
 Provide an example of Christ-like humility and
service
 Provide a yardstick that can be used to measure
moral and ethical behavior
 Are “high touch”
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Why Change is Always
Resisted
“Whenever human communities are forced to
adjust to shifting conditions pain is ever
present. In too many situations
improvements have been disappointing and
the carnage has been appalling with wasted
resources and burned out, scarred or
frustrated employees.”
- John Kotter
“Leading Change”
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Four Reasons People Resist
Change
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Parochial Self-Interest
Misunderstanding and Lack of Trust
Differing Assessments
Differing Values
Low Tolerance for Change
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Leadership Pitfalls
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Too much complacency
Failure to Create Ownership
No Compelling Vision
Lack of Effective Communication
Failure to Anticipate Obstacles
Failure to Create Short-Term Wins
Failure to Finish Well
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Leadership Principles that
Lead to Success
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Be Diligent
Be Focused
Be a Servant
Be a Learner
Be Content
Be a Model of Excellence
Be a Communicator
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Be a Diligent Leader
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We are accountable
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To God
To those He has given us to lead
“Do your best to present to God as one
approved, a workman who does not need
to be ashamed.”
Apostle Paul writing to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:15)
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Be a Diligent Leader
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We give God glory when we do our
best
We represent the Lord Jesus,
therefore we do our best
We serve the Lord, not men, so we do
our best
We provide a living model of our risen
Savior while we do our best
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Be a Focused Leader
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What’s our purpose?
What’s our mission?
What are our values?
What are our desired outcomes?
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Be a Servant Leader
Jesus is the model:
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Lead with a servant’s attitude
Always promote others
Always praise others
Always encourage others
Always ask, not tell
Always give, not take
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Be a Leader Who is Always
Learning
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When you stop learning you stop growing
Be a listener
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For the sound of God’s leading
To your peers (with caution)
To the inputs from those you lead
To your critics
“If God had wanted us to talk more than listen He would have
given us two mouths rather than two ears.”
- Ken Blanchard
“We are the Beloved”
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Be a Contented Leader
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God has placed you in your role
God has placed you where you are
You are ultimately working to serve
God
You are working for the glory and will
of God
The people you lead are all eternal
souls
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Be a Model of Excellence
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Integrity
Faithfulness
Quality in all you do
Accountability
Attitude
Enthusiasm
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Be a Communicator
“People without information cannot act
responsibly. People with information
are compelled to act responsibly”
Ken Blanchard
“The Heart of a Leader”
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Self-Leadership
“As a leader the most important earthly
relationship you can cultivate is a
relationship with yourself”
Ken Blanchard
“The Heart of a Leader”
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Absence of Self-Leadership
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Potential for self-interest
Potential for unseen sin
Potential for protectionism – playing
defense
Potential for Stunted Growth
Potential for mediocrity
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Attention to Self-Leadership
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Potential to remain vital
Potential to model uncommon
commitment
Potential for sustainable and satisfying
leadership energy
Potential for creating “Raving
Followers”
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The “Curse of Complexity
“Imagine that life is a game in which you are juggling five balls in
the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends, and
spirit, and you’re keeping all these in the air. You will soon
understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will
bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends
and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they
will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even
shattered. They will never be the same. Understand that, and
strive for balance in your life. Yesterday is history, tomorrow
is a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why we call it …..The
Present.”
Bryan Dyson, CEO
Coca-Cola Enterprises
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Suggested Self-Leadership
Process
Regroup
Reflect
Recalibrate
Refresh
Restore
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A FINAL WORD
GOD ASSURES US AS LEADERS AS HE ASSURED
JOSHUA THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO:
“HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG
AND COURAGEOUS. DO NOT BE TERRIFIED;
DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD
YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER
YOU GO”
JOSHUA 1: 9
WITH GOD’S ASSURANCE AND JESUS’ EXAMPLE,
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO FEAR AS LEADERS?
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SESSION 3 DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
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WHAT ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS
THAT YOU APPLY (OR CAN APPLY)
INCARNATE LEADERSHIP IN YOUR LIFE,
BUSINESS AND/OR MINISTRY?
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WHAT ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT
ASPECTS OF APPLYING INCARNATE
LEADERSHIP IN YOUR LIFE AND
BUSINESS AND/OR MINISTRY?
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