How's your team? Guidelines from the world of sports

Good teams have diversity and talent: They recognize and use all of their varied abilities.

Enthusiasm and fun: They know how to keep it enjoyable.

Good teams show creativity and open-mindedness: Don’t get locked into a game plan, but adjust creatively.

Good teams have unified goals and clear rules: Great teams have defined goals.  Everyone knows their assignments.

Good teams show quick resolution of conflict: disagreements should not be left to smolder, but resolved quickly.

Good teams backup and support and need depth to win and have a good bench. 

Good teams have a willingness to take risks and know it’s sometimes better NOT to play it safe, but go out on a limb.

Jesus pulled together a widely diverse set of personalities and molded them into a powerfully effective team that changed the world.

Think Team!

Peter Drucker says, “The most effective leaders never say “I”.  They think team.  They understand their job is to make the team function.  They accept responsibility and don’t sidestep it, but “we” gets the credit.  This is what creates trust and get the job done.”

I like this concept.  Philippians 2 says:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.  Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 

This kind of selfless thinking goes a long way in effective leadership and creates a climate of mutual success and accomplishment.

Great Leaders Listen

What are the traits of the most admired senior executives?  According to a survey by Next Level Leadership:

1     They listen.  They know part of the job of leader is to get people to talk.

2     They’re present.  Most admired leaders give 100% attention in meetings.  They’re not distracted by email or text messages. 

3     They prepare.  They accomplish more because they prepare.  They publish their agendas.  They expect others to be prepared as well.

4     They’re open.  They seek to uncover problems and get them resolved. 

5     They challenge.  They don’t intimidate. They ask open-ended questions. 

Jesus did that a lot.  He listened intently.  He gave even women and kids total attention.   He was so open to people they told him everything.  And he questioned and challenged those around him.

That’s why Jesus is one of the most admired leaders in the history of the world.

Traits of Admired Leaders--They Listen.

What are the traits of the most admired senior executives?  According to a survey by Next Level Leadership:

1     They listen.  They know part of the job of leader is to get people to talk.

2     They’re present.  Most admired leaders give 100% attention in meetings.  They’re not distracted by email or text messages. 

3     They prepare.  They accomplish more because they prepare.  They publish their agendas.  They expect others to be prepared as well.

4     They’re open.  They seek to uncover problems and get them resolved. 

5     They challenge.  They don’t intimidate. They ask open-ended questions. 

Jesus did that a lot.  He listened intently.  He gave even women and kids total attention.   He was so open to people they told him everything.  And he questioned and challenged those around him.

That’s why Jesus is one of the most admired leaders in the history of the world.

Stay in your Strength Zone

Andy Stanley has written a book describing the Next Generation Leader.

If you’re a Next Generation Leader: recognize you have limited strengths.

You don’t need to be an expert in everything.  Don’t spend time on projects outside your strength.

Narrow your focus to increase your influence. Discover your zone and stay there.

Delegate everything else.   Really, the less you do, the more you’ll accomplish.

Paul, the 1st Century apostle described this principle this way.

When I am weak, then I’m strong.  God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness.

When I realize that I can’t do it all, I rely on the resources of others.  It’s not a one man show.  And when I realize I can’t do it all, I rely the more on God’s strength.

The Leader as Shepherd

When we were in Israel touring Jerusalem, our guide made an interesting comment: “The great leaders in Israel’s history have been shepherds.”

I’ve been thinking on those words ever since. Great leaders are shepherds.

King David was the “shepherd king.” He wrote a Psalm calling the Lord his shepherd.

What do shepherds do? Shepherds provide and guide, protect and correct.

Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd gives his life for his sheep.

Our guide made another observation: in America, shepherds drive the sheep from behind. In the Middle East, shepherds lead their flocks from out front, because sheep know the shepherds voice and follow him.

Good leaders guide and provide, protect and correct. Good leaders sacrifice for their people. And good leaders lead by being in front of their team. And the team recognizes the leader and follows.