Getting there early

Coaching, Leadership, Prioritizing

One way to practice treating people with respect is by getting to appointments on time or early. When you leave for an appointment, always leave enough margin for the unexpected—which will often happen. By the same token, always bring something with you to do or to...

Intuitive leaders in 8th grade

Developing, Leadership, Training

An 8th grade girl I know had the following conversation with her mom: Daughter: “I think now that I’m going into high school next year, there might be enough kids in the church youth group for them to start having a separate group for the high schoolers. They could...

The intentional leader

Leadership, Training

Here’s one thing I have discovered about leaders in any culture: They’re just a bit more intentional and strategic than the other folks. I watched a leader in Honduras who had a very relaxed way of making connections with people. He’d drop by, talk for a while. In the...

Leadership: recognized, not appointed

Developing, Leadership

During my time in Honduras, I found the way that handle leadership fascinating. Leaders are not appointed– they are recognized through results. One of their titles of leadership is “extension chain teacher.” That title indicates someone who has raised up 10...

Recalibrate

Leadership, Networking

When you have a compass, you need to recalibrate it depending on your current location. With the electronic compass on my iPhone I move the phone in a figure 8 several times to allow it to calibrate to my current location. I can’t just pull it out and use it. If the...

If you don’t learn, you don’t teach

Leadership, Training

When I was in Honduras, I discovered that they define “learning” as something you actually put into practice, not as knowledge. That’s how they structure their training: 75% is practice, while only 25% is input. They figure– rightly, I think– that it’s...