As mentioned in earlier posts, I believe Bill Hybels brings up some very good ideas. It is hard to pick out just a few points because there are so many.
Chap 7 - Discovering and Developing Your Own Leadership Style. He brought out 10 leadership styles in this chapter. Before reading the chapter I probably would have only come up with a few. If I had to choose the style or styles that I fall into, it would probably be The strategic leadership style - taking something and breaking it down into smaller pieces. Another category may be the shepherding leadership style. This type of leadership takes place over a period of time and doesn't happen quickly. At the end of the chapter he lists 4 steps to help lead and provide a high impact. Step 4 - Commit yourself both to developing your strong leadership styles and growing in your weaker leadership styles, really stuck out to me. The point of growing in your weaker areas may be the driving point. With how things are changing so quickly in society today, if you don't try to keep up, or at least be aware of the changes around you, you will find yourself on the outside looking in. Mr. Hybles made the point - No matter how strong leaders are in their particular leadership style, totally overlooking the areas in which they are weak will eventually compromise their ability to lead.
Chapter 8 - A Leader's Sixth Sense
In this chapter he discusses data sources that we use to make decisions. Knowing these sources and being aware of them will help us understand better why we make some of the decisions we do. What I believe - what are my core values and beliefs. What I know other leaders would do. This would go back to who I surround myself with - people who I allow to speak into my life, mentors, friends, etc,. Pain or probably another way to say it is past experiences. Hopefully we have learned things in the past and don't repeat the same mistakes. May we be able to see where an idea or program will lead even if it is "packaged or wrapped" a little different. The Holy Spirit. We always need to be open to the Holy Spirit's leading. At times this may seem to go against, or not line up fully with some of the earlier points just discussed. He brought out some very good questions that I need to ask myself in this area: Is there enough quietness in your life for you to hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit? Do you have the guts to carry out promptings, even though you might not understand them fully, and even though your team might question your wisdom? Are you willing to walk by faith? Will you commit yourself to allowing the Spirit to fully inform your decision-making?
Chapter 9 - The Art of Self-leadership
I thought his compass analogy was good. It reminded me of being an all around team player. So many times it is easy to just focus on those who you are responsible for. He brings up the point of the toughest leadership challenge - yourself. It is so easy to get focused on a goal or mission and overlook your own needs or areas of weakness. One thought comes to mind - you can't lead someone where you haven't been yourself. Or you may be on a journey with your team and don't have all the answers, but you at least have God's peace while going on the journey. In this chapter he goes on and lists many questions that we as leaders need to ask ourselves from time to time. Some that stuck out to me - Is my character submitted to Christ? Everytime time you compromise character you compromise leadership. In a round about way I am reminded of a former boss - he would never ask any of his workers to do anything he wouldn't do himself. Am I asking those I am a servant leader to, to do things or have expectations of them that I am not doing myself? Is my pride subdued? There probably are better ways of doing things than just my way. Am I overcoming fear? This can keep me from doing things or making changes that need to be done. Is my pace sustainable? I think that this is one question that is not asked enough. So many times we take our family and our physical bodies for granted. The topic of burnout comes into play. In the "church" community and even other areas in our life, if things get going to fast and get out of hand and lead to a mental, physical, or family breakdown, that is not good. He makes the point that we in large part are responsible for the pace at which we live our lives.
Once again, many good points mentioned in these chapters.
Awesome input...
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