Friday, December 12, 2014

50 Salvation Army Officers I Admire

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Salvation Army Officers are a unique bunch. The 2014 yearbook highlights that there are 17,105 active Salvation Army Officers in the world and 9,252 retired officers.

For some unknown reason, I have found myself absolutely inspired by Salvation Army Officers around the globe in recent days. What a diverse, passionate group of Jesus-followers, each with varying personalities and giftings, each called to live out the Officer's Covenant.

I want to highlight 50 Salvation Army Officers I admire. Now, this list is far from exhaustive, nor scientific, nor in any particular order and undoubtedly missing spouses and friends and colleagues. In fact, to tell you the truth, the list merely popped in my head one by one. Now, If I completed a list two weeks later, the list would be different. It of course, doesn't account for everyone and nor does it account for the plethora of amazing Salvationists the world-over who give The Salvation Army its flavour and contribute to a global Kingdom impact. I'm sure you understand this.

Here we are, 50 Salvation Army Officers I admire:
  1. Captain Scott Ellery for his ability to bring Scripture alive through drama.
  2. Major Vicki McMahon for her willingness to take in a young child and care for her for years to come.
  3. Captain Aaron Stobie because of his capacity to plant missional congregations like it's a new Bono soundtrack.
  4. Steve Simms (Captain?) because he advocates for the priesthood of all believers.
  5. Commissioner Tracy Tidd because she facebooks me encouragement, even when she is dealing with national administrative tasks.
  6. Commissioner Jim Knaggs, who spoke into my life even when I smelt like a cadet.
  7. Lieutenant Simon Mapleback because he showed me spiritual gifts I hadn't thought much about a few years back.
  8. Major David Eldridge, who has done more for the social services sector than I will ever do in three lifetimes.
  9. Captain Lance Jeffrey who is a man of integrity and has a pastoral touch I really admire.
  10. My mum (well, she's a newly enrolled soldier - I can break the rules; it's my blog), because she found the courage and faith to make a commitment to the soldier's covenant.
  11. General Eva Burrows (Rtd), who still takes an interest in me and my local corps whenever I bump into her. Please note, I try not to literally bump into her these days...
  12. General William Booth, who, along with Catherine and the power of the Holy Spirit birthed a movement that is still impacting the world today.
  13. Lt. Col. Chris Reid who invests in the next generation of officers.
  14. Commissioner James Condon. What a graceful leader in the midst of challenging organisational demands.
  15. Lieutenant Michael Nally. Perseverance and focus on Jesus.
  16. Captain Craig Farrell for standing up for children in detention centres.
  17. Captain Mal Davies who has more literature in Army publications than I've had vegemite sandwiches.
  18. Colonel Janet Munn for posting up Scriptures on social media like it's the air I breathe.
  19. Major Stephen Court because of his discipline, accountability and holiness that keeps him and others focused on Christ.
  20. Cadet David Mackertich, who has a dream for global, cross-cultural impact. Let it happen Lord.
  21. Majors Gary and Julie Grant, who led an amazing Corps (Salvos 3064) and somehow, by the grace of God, Jo and I were privileged enough to take the baton for the next leg of the race.
  22. Major Rob Evans, who makes leadership look like Carlton winning the 1995 AFL premiership (i.e. a breeze).
  23. Lieutenant Meg who exemplifies compassion for Jesus. 
  24. Major Jennifer Mundy who spoke truth into my life as a cadet. An introverted dynamic servant.
  25. Major Marney Turner, who turns adversity into prayer meetings and demonic strongholds into plaster funhouses. In Jesus' name!
  26. Major Gregory Morgan who lives and breathes a missional life.
  27. Captain Kim Haworth who loves Jesus. And I love Jesus when I see that in Kim!
  28. Captain Steve Haworth who has perfected the pastoral craft of, 'So what I hear you saying is...'
  29. Lieutenant Tracy Marks. You better believe it; the way you live out your relationship with God is inspiring.
  30. Captain Adam Couchman, who writes theological stuff that makes you want to be a couchman. 
  31. Captain Stuart McGifford who exemplifies hard work, grace and intellectual rigour that motivates the people.
  32. Lieutenant Matt Kean. A straight-shooter with a prophetic edge. 
  33. Lieutenant Amy Stobie - Loves her family and therefore inspires me to love mine more!
  34. Cadet Erin Main who just wants to help people and bring about God's kingdom on earth.
  35. General John Gowans who challenged stale thinking with innovation, passion and leadership prowess.
  36. Major Gary Hart, who makes the minute book feel like a good Roald Dahl novel.
  37. Major Graham Roberts who takes biblical truth and infuses it into people's lives. Ok, that sounded a little creepy.
  38. Grace Choi (Are you a captain now?) because you can see Jesus when she smiles.
  39. Lieutenant Olivia Munn for holiness taught and lived.
  40. Lieutenant Adrian Hamond who is the big bloke with a big heart and big dreams. Change the world mate.
  41. Major Alan Laurens (rtd), who has spoken more prophetic words over people, than I've had cheeseburgers.... and I've had a lot of cheeseburgers.
  42. Captain Kevin Lumb who allowed me to preach and lead even when I had many sharp edges.
  43. Major Brendan Nottle who is a Melbourne icon because of his service and leadership to the disadvantaged. 
  44. Sandra Maunder (are you Colonel now?!), who took a chance on Jo and I when she was a Candidates Secretary. She then fled to Pakistan to escape.
  45. Major Kaye Reeves who shows support in what we do in our local corps.
  46. Captain Peer Cathcart, who finds solutions for every problem.
  47. Major Joyleen Stewart who let me run a youth group. No children were permanently injured during this time.
  48. Shaun Featherston for... wait? Are you still not an officer yet?
  49. Major Brian Pratt, who from a distance exudes compassion and kingdom-focus.
  50. My wife, Jo. Captain Brookshaw. Graphic designer. Worship Leader. Mother. Preacher. Leader. Amazing wife. What more could I say?
I admire more than 50 Salvation Army Officers. Just I knew you wouldn't read past 20, so I shortened the list.

God - Do a great work through the officers, soldiers, employees, friends and family of The Salvation Army. Collectively we can continue to transform lives, make disciples, care for people and reform society; in Jesus' name.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Top 10 Blog Posts of 2014

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If you've woken up and realised 2014 is coming to a grinding hault, you might want to take a few moments, take a deep breath and have a read of my TOP 10 Blog Posts in 2014.

  1. The Missing Ingredient of Leadership - Do you have it?
  2. The Greatest Leader Who Ever Lived.
  3. How to Throw a Bomb Under the Church without being a Terrorist.
  4. A Speech that Captured the World
  5. How to Grow as a Leader: It doesn't just happen!
  6. What is Spiritual Leadership? What?! You mean you don't know?
  7. Mediocre Prayers for Mediocre Christians. 
  8. Ten Ways to Change the World.
  9. An Open Letter to Salvation Army Soldiers
  10. TOP 100 Leadership Tips - Pete's Mammoth Guide to Effective Leadership - It's long, grandiose and full of great leadership teachings, from leaders like Jim Collins, Nelson Mandela, Bill Hybels and more. 
Let me slip in one from 2013: The Top 10 Leadership Books of All Time!

Friday, December 5, 2014

The Day I Met Tony Abbott

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Have you ever met a Prime Minister?

I want to tell you my story of the day I met Tony Abbott, and what I said to him.

Though first, I remember the former Australian Government, and the time I shook the hand of the then Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the large foyer of Parliament House in Darwin. It was like getting a photo with Santa: A long line, lots of anticipation, a quick wry smile from Kevin '07, and then a slight drooping of the shoulders from my wife and I, as we realised, this was just a handshake and we were not going to be gifted with new toys or given an additional baby bonus. You could sense the body language of the Prime Minister: 'How long is this line, and how long am I going to have to stand here and shake the hands of people I don't even know?!' and 'How humid is it in Darwin?!'

I did also shake the hand of the Liberal Treasurer, Peter Costello, some years back. Again, it was a quick handshake, a smile and one sentence that made me feel good about myself.  I'm not sure what I have gained in life by such handshakes, but I digress.

The day I met Tony Abbott.

Well, what would you have said? Now, be nice. We have a growing dissatisfaction with politicians today (atleast in Australian culture, though I suggest it is not much different in other Western world contexts). The problem is we not only hold them to account, but we trample over their self-esteem and we yell at them like they're a piece of rubbish. Irrespective of your ideology, politicians should be treated with respect. That being said, what would you say?

If I had my chance again I would've asked him, how he would feel if he was fleeing violence from his country of origin, and was locked up in a jail in Nauru. Maybe I would've asked him to suggest that Christopher Pyne smile a little more. I could've asked him whether he was a little harsh on Julia Gillard during her time in office.

Though, the day I met Tony Abbott, this is what happened. Prime Minister Abbott asked if I had any thoughts on how to develop leaders.We spoke about leadership development for some time. I spoke about the importance of Emotional Intelligence and developing the capacity to deal with all sorts of criticism. I suggested the need to empower people, to develop just economic policies and tips on how to clearly articulate any future governmental policy decisions.

The problem was... This was a dream I had last night. We did in fact speak of such things, but only in the imagination of my pre-frontal cortext or whatever area my dreamy brain was using.

I do wonder though, if I did have a chance to meet another Australian Prime Minister, whether I would just shake a hand, and stand, curious and in awe of the office of the Prime Minister, or whether I would have the guts to ask something of significance that would be for the betterment of Australian culture.

God willing, one day I will have the chance.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Which COUNTRY reads my blog the most?

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Following on from Major Stephen Court's blog on the predominant countries reading his blog, let me offer you the Top 10 Countries that Read My Blog (statistics atleast taken from the last fortnight, thanks to www.statcounter.com):

  1. U.S.A - A whopping 62% readership. Maybe I should be advocating a little stronger against gun ownership, and yelling out praise for the Obama administration - that way I'd give other countries opportunity to up their percentage.
  2. Australia (15% of the readership - thanks Mum) - This is where my credible audience comes from. ;)
  3. The United Kingdom - If I'm speaking about The Salvation Army specifically, I'll increase readership from the UK.
  4. Philippines - Yes, the Philippines. Thanks for wading your way through the sand, in order to find the pearls.
  5. Canada - Thanks Stephen Court and others. You are so fortunate to be reading an Australian's views on the world.
  6. Hong Kong - And I haven't even committed to a blog about pro-democracy demonstrations in the region (the Umbrella Movement).
  7. Ireland - Who knows why.
  8. Nigeria - Actual readership? I hope so. 
  9. Vietnam - Hmm... It's surely all the amazing blogs about leadership.
  10. India - Did I do a blog about Cricket?

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

10 Things I'm Sick Of...

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It's time to get some things off my chest. Here's my list of 10 Things I'm sick of:

1. I'm sick of television adverts that tell me I need to grow my hair, lose some weight and brush my teeth. I can't remember ever watching an advert that told me to simply appreciate the looks I've been given.

2. I'm sick of facebook changing the alogorithm to my 'Newsfeed', so that I am only able to read what facebook believes I think I should be reading.

3. I'm sick of my bank thinking they can pass my mobile number on to any section of their bank that they believe might be able to sell me something.

4. I'm sick of  being told that, 'your call is important to us', though not important enough that you would employ enough people to answer my call.

5. I'm sick of people smoking in non-smoking areas.

6. I'm sick of people driving UTEs parking in 'Pram' Parks.

I must say, I love a good coffee. But let me continue my rant.

7. I'm sick of news reports that spend 6 minutes talking about the latest scandal in sport and barely give a mention to anything worthy of news, like: human trafficking, unemployment, the plight of asylum seekers, etc.

8. I'm sick of people telling other people off for being judgemental and sounding judgemental in the process. And yes, that was probably judgemental.

9. I'm sick of big conglomerates doing fundraising initiatives, that fundamentally are marketing campaigns to increase their brand loyalty while giving very little (proportionately) to the charity.

10. I'm sick of politicians being treated like animals, irrespective of their ideological persuasion.

I could go on. In fact, I really could. I'm not stopping here because I have run out of content. No way. I still have plenty to say. Though, what would it achieve? I mean, I guess I would allow a few concerns to get off my chest, but my frustration would probably still linger.

Here's the crux of what I want to say: I have to choose a different outlook. In fact, I do. I choose to lift my eyes to the Lord. I choose to rise above a bad attitude towards the inherent brokenness of our society. I choose to do what Paul once wrote:

'Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.' - Phil 4:8.

It's a choice though, and one I do not always make. The manipulation of big business is apparent to me, everyday. The wilful sinfulness of others is so noticeable (let alone my own failings). BUT, I must lift up my eyes and fix them on Jesus; the author and perfector of my faith. I must look to him. I must concentrate on what and who really matters.

I mean, in the end, that causes me to be a little less frustrated...

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Who would have thought Leadership would come from there?

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Sometimes you find leadership material from the most unlikely places. Well, maybe it should be a given, but I was not expecting this...

As my role on a local school council, I have come across discussion of leadership from the perspective of the Victorian Education Department; namely what they called, 'The Developmental Learning Framework for School Leaders'.

Take a deep breath. There's some content in there that's worth having a look at. The document is about helping school leaders reflect on their leadership practice and to identify strengths and work areas.

In recent days I have had the privelege of helping in the employment of a new school principal and this is where this new framework comes into play.

There are five areas that sum up the 'organisation of leadership framework' produced by the Department of Education Victoria. The five areas of leadership (related to education but also leadership on a broader spectrum) are:

1. Technical Leadership
2. Human Leadership
3. Cultural Leadership
4. Educational Leadership
5. Symbolic Leadership

Technical leadership is about an effective leader demonstrating the capacity to optimise the school's finances, physical and human resources. Human leadership is about fostering an environment that is safe, meaningful and inclusive amongst all the relevant stakeholders (students, parents, staff, etc). Cultural leadership is about the leader being able to have vision, purpose and values that are relevant to particular educational environment. Educational leadership is unique to the education system, and of course is related to a leader's capacity to understand and engage with effective learning processes that will enhance learning in a school. Symbolic leadership is about a teacher's ability to 'model important values and behaviours' to the school, the community, etc.

If you're interested, read more about leadership from an education perspective here.

So, out of ten, how do you rate when it comes to modelling important values and behaviours in your own leadership context?

Out of ten, how well do you acheive when it comes to enhancing a particular environment so that it is safe, inclusive and meaningful?

Out of ten, how well do you do at cultural leadership? That is, do you have a vision? Do you know what you value? Do you have purpose and meaning around what you do?

Thursday, October 23, 2014

What wing are you? Left? Right?

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Someone is labelled a left-wing liberal. Someone is ridiculed for being a right-wing fundamentalist. Is there anybody who is simply, in the middle?

When it comes to faith, I want to be in the middle. In the middle of what God wants me to do. In the middle of a proper outlook on life. In the middle of my understanding of the Scriptures.

I don't want to be left-wing or right-wing. I just want to be in the middle.

Though, who is ever in the middle? No one is ever labelled as being, 'in the middle'. Maybe the middle is too hard to handle, like a slippery eel. A place that is reserved for no one. A place too difficult to navigate towards.

Reading through the political reflections of Bob Hawke in his autobiography, 'The Hawke Memoirs' (1994), he speaks of keeping the radical left-wingers of his own party united, and keeping the right-wingers at bay. Creating unity within the seemingly volatile political landscape was no easy feat. Bob Hawke had to lead a country with right-wing opposition and left-wing political maneuvering to remove him from office.

I don't intend to be right-wing or left-wing, politically or religiously. I intend to do my best, even if you call it naive, to be in the middle of God's plans and purposes.

The challenge? Define the middle ground.  

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

To Succeed is not to Fail

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To succeed is not to fail.

Let me explain.

When something flourishes, do we celebrate the success? Or do we explain 'the success' away and feel the need to justify that it was even appropriate for that something to go well in the first place? Can you relate to this? We feel the need to justify the results. We treat success like a failure. Or rather we become ever so wary of other failings, that we cannot stop and smell the roses of the good thing that is happening.

We fear success because if we succeed (in whatever that looks like), we have to explain failure. We feel we have to justify why we have succeeded and why others have not.

Let's look at it this way:

I do well at A.

Someone does not do well at B.

I feel bad about A because of B.

Yet A does not equal B.

A is mutually exclusive to B. They are different circumstances. And here's the point: We should just celebrate A and resource B.

Celebrate good times.

Celebrate when the chips are up, and keep persevering when the chips are down. And if all is bad... just eat chips.
_________

More on leadership here.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

An Open Letter to Salvation Army Soldiers

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Dear Salvation Army Soldier,

What if you recruited one soldier in 2015? Think about it, what if every soldier saw it as their privilege to lead a friend to join them in the mission of The Salvation Army as a soldier of Jesus Christ?

Too grandiose? Irrelevant? There's too much other work to do?

Let me say this. Yes, I know that recruiting a soldier does not encapsulate everything within the mission of The Salvation Army. I know recruiting a soldier does not get food on the plate at a community lunch. I know recruiting a soldier does not provide support to an alcoholic at their time of need. I do know this though: If every soldier recruited one other soldier, we would have double the legs on the ground in order to continue the salvation work of the Army. I am one of the most pragmatic soldiers in The Salvation Army, let me tell you that, though I realise, that always focusing on 'doing the work' and never about 'mobilizing others' to assist in the work will be to the movement's detriment.

Dare I answer a question that is far too frequently uttered amongst salvationists: Does soldiership even matter today? Well let me tell you... Yes. I am not going to offer you a critique on why, but rather, I will say this:

We are soldiers of salvation. We are not soldiers of war as you consider war to be. We hold steadfast to a mission of allowing the love of God to permeate the lives of a broken humanity. When we confront this brokenness we realise we are at war. We are battling against the violent man who bashes his wife during the early hours of the night. We are hustling our way through the inner city to offer hope to a cold, shivering homeless boy. We struggle against the institutions that seemingly and unknowingly oppress the already marginalised and downtrodden. We hold governments to account. We lead people to Christ. We tear down the Devil’s kingdom. We don’t shelter in a country club on a Sunday morning. We appreciate that we are a global army. We equip ourselves, through the power of the Holy Spirit for the painstaking yet rewarding, gritty yet fulfilling work of the kingdom. We are not soldiers of war as you consider war to be. We are soldiers of salvation.
~Captain Pete Brookshaw

Let me ask you. Will you recruit someone else to join you in the mission? Pray for someone. Share stories and experiences that ignite their passion for salvation work. Show them the freedom and opportunity they have within the promises made in the soldier's covenant to make a difference in the world. 

I have called it the Global Soldier's Challenge 2015. Every soldier recruit a soldier in 2015. Start thinking about it.

__________
Captain Pete Brookshaw is the Corps Officer of Craigieburn Corps (Northern Suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). His views on this blog do not necessarily represent the official position of The Salvation Army



Monday, September 29, 2014

Top 100 Leadership Tips - Pete's Mammoth Guide to Effective Leadership

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Here is a mammoth guide to effective leadership. 100 Leadership Tips. Plenty of leadership quotes. Read at your own leisure. These are leadership axioms aimed at equipping you to lead more effectively. If you find them helpful, please share.

    Leadership Tip 1 - Visionary leaders impart exciting, gripping visions. Leaders understand that without vision, people wander aimlessly.

    Leadership Tip 2 - Visionary leaders inspire action and harness buy-in.

    Leadership Tip 3 - Most people can see out to the horizon, but it takes a visionary leader to see beyond the horizon and then call people to follow that which they cannot see.

    Leadership Tip 4 - Kouzes and Posner speak of the importance of inspiring a shared vision. Leaders, 'envision the future, creating an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become' (The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership Model)

    Leadership Tip 5 - In the 2010 Global Leadership Summit, founder of the Summit, Bill Hybels offered four insights into leadership. One of them was that a leader moves people from HERE to THERE. Sounds simple, but the fact is, this is difficult. One may argue that communicating a compelling vision is not enough. A leader must create a sense of discontent with the current circumstances so as to have others even begin to consider moving to THERE.

    Leadership Tip 6 - Continuing on with Bill Hybels insights into leadership, he suggests leaders need to identify fantastic people. He speaks about 'character, chemistry and competence' as foundational aspects for a leader. See, many projects, visions and dreams will rise or fall depending on the strength of the leader. This is not rocket science, but it's true. So find and retain fantastic leaders.

    Leadership Tip 7 - Seek first to understand, then to be understood (Stephen Covey). Covey says we typically seek first to be understood. We need empathic listening skills to really harness this concept. Let me say it again; seek first to understand before you seek to be understood.

    Leadership Tip 8 -Practice makes pretty perfect. Do you think famous basketballers just fell upon success? Do you think movie stars become great at their craft overnight? So, why then would you presume leadership skill and ability is a given? It is not. Grow as a leader and be intentional about it.

    Leadership Tip 9 -Think outside the box to stay innovative. Innovative leaders are few and far between. Most leaders are too content with what is happening inside the box in front of them.

    Leadership Tip 10 - Have good character. Good character is the foundation of good leadership. Albert Schweitzer (Nobel Peace Prize-winner) says, 'Example is leadership'. That is to say, leaders lead by example, through their character, their actions and their integrity. Who they are is what makes them a leader or not.

    Leadership Tip 11 - Character precedes competence. You may be a great leader, but transformative leadership will crumble without understanding that character outweighs competence. When I say character I think of traits such as honesty, integrity, consistency and humility. Too many leaders have fallen because they slept with someone who was not their spouse, or embezzled money or showed nepotism. Competence without character will not last.

    Leadership Tip 12 – Self-discipline is a requirement for every good leader. James R. Lowell says, 'No one can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing with himself'. Leadership demands self-discipline. With urgent expectations, emails to answer, health to contend with and good character a necessity, self-discipline is a must.

    Leadership Tip 13 – People follow what they see, not necessarily what you teach. If the actions of a leader do not line up with the words, people will dismiss the words. This is about authenticity in leadership and people can smell a hypocrite a mile away! Consider a child that you ask to, ‘Speak nicely of others.’ They will be more willing to proceed with the request, if you as a parent do the same thing. They will follow what they see, not necessarily what they hear.  
    Leadership Tip 14 - Prioritize character development; that is, spend time working on developing your character. This is a leadership tip that cuts to the heart. Try to be nicer to your spouse, do the laundry without whingeing, be aware of how you speak and act to other employees. Developing character is not a given. You do not just turn up to work one day, and 'character' is in an envelope waiting to be pried open. Jack Hayford says, 'Our human disposition finds it easier to spend time "tweaking systems" than prioritizing honest-to-God introspection and constant availability to transformation'.

    Leadership Tip 15 - 'Leadership is not about personality; it's about behavior; an observable set of skills and abilities' (Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner). #leadership quote

    Leadership Tip 16 - You may not consider this, but one of the best leaders in the world is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Billions of followers today. He taught some radical ideas in relation to leadership. He spoke of serving more than status, he spoke of putting others first before yourself, and loving your enemies. Jesus exemplified leadership qualities. My leadership tip? Follow Jesus.

    Leadership Tip 17 - Emotional resilience is of paramount importance in leadership. As the pressure increases from relational aspects of organisational life, a leader must be resilient in his/her emotions. A leader shouldn't 'crack under pressure' or 'flip out' when something doesn't go his/her way. You must find a way to be emotionally resilient.

    Leadership Tip 18 - Nip it in the bud. Yes, that's right. When a people issue arises, do something about it. Cool it down before it flares up. Leaders take initiative in this respect.
      Leadership Tip 19 - Ideas are only ideas until they are acted upon. Don't just be an ideas man. That's not leadership. Be an implementer.

      Leadership Tip 20 - Good leaders 'model the way'. This is one of five practices of exemplary leadership as noted by Kouzes and Posner. Modelling the way is about creating standards of excellence; it is about setting the bar high and showing people through observable actions, how to reach the bar.

      Leadership Tip 21 - Modelling the way may look like this: Show someone a task as they watch, then help them do the task, then let them do the task as you watch, and then finally, let them do the task themselves. Leadership is about modelling the way.

      Leadership Tip 22 - I once spoke to someone about 'not having enough time'. Well, the response was the classic leadership response (and it's true), that everyone has 24 hours in the day. It's not about how much time you have, but how you prioritize your time that is important. That's priority management.

      Leadership Tip 23 - Stephen Covey highlights the priority matrix in his classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He speaks of four quadrants:

      Quadrant 1: URGENT tasks and VERY IMPORTANT tasks
      Quadrant 2: Not URGENT tasks but VERY IMPORTANT tasks
      Quadrant 3: URGENT tasks but not VERY IMPORTANT tasks
      Quadrant 4: Not URGENT tasks and not VERY IMPORTANT tasks

      Leaders will often spend time in quadrant one and quadrant three. It is the tyranny of the urgent. You have opportunities to delegate quadrant three tasks (urgent but not important tasks), e.g. responding to some emails, posting letters, etc. Great leaders will learn to spend time in quadrant two (not URGENT but VERY IMPORTANT tasks), as this is where visionary leadership comes from. These are the moments you step back and spend time developing leaders and investing in the lives of others. Quadrant two is about growing your own capacity. Stephen Covey would suggest to not get caught up in just quadrant one and three. And let it go without saying, that quadrant four is for lazy leaders, who sit around and play Candy Crush and Minesweeper while the day passes them by.

      Leadership Tip 24 - How do you define leadership? Kevin Kruse at Forbes.com defines leadership as, 'a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal.'

      Leadership Tip 25 - Leaders need to have power. Let me qualify this by defining power. 'Power refers to the means leaders have to potentially influence others' (Day & Antonakis). Now there are different types of power, including coercive power, expert power, power that comes from example, etc. Power need not be negative, nor domineering, and status-seeking, but rather denotes the connection between a leader and a follower. How that power is expressed within leadership will speak clearly of the character of the leader. French and Raven suggest that there are 5 sources of power.

      Leadership Tip 26
      - Great leaders 'challenge the process'. Kouzes and Posner highlight one of the five practices of exemplary leadership as having the capacity in leadership to try and fail. Leadership pushes against the status-quo. Leadership breaks old paradigms and pursues new ways of thinking and new ways of acting.

      Leadership Tip 27- 'Leaders have a significant role in creating the state of mind that is the society. They can serve as symbols of the moral unity of the society. They can express the values that hold the society together. Most important, they can conceive and articulate goals that lift people out of their petty preoccupations, carry them above the conflicts that tear a society apart, and unite them in the pursuit of objectives worthy of their best efforts.' (J. W. Gardner, 1965. #leadership quote)

      Leadership Tip 28 - House and Shamir (1993) in their article Toward the integration of transformational, charismatic, and visionary theories, highlight seven important aspects of leadership: 1) visionary behaviour, 2) positive self-presentation, 3) empowering behaviours, 4) calculated risk-taking and self-sacrificial behaviour, 5) intellectual stimulation, 6) supportive leader behaviour, and 7) adaptive behaviour.
       
      Leadership Tip 29 - When communicating (public speaking) to a small group that don't know you, I have learnt that you need to establish credibility very early on. Try and establish that credibility before you even start speaking, by breaking the ice with a few people beforehand. Trust me on this leadership tip, that a failure to create a sense of buy-in and respect beforehand, makes the communicating much harder, less responsive and overall, simply less effective.

      Leadership Tip 30 - Many leaders are polymaths. Look that one up. Leadership requires that you have a grasp of many different topics and continue to learn across a broadstroke of relevant leadership teachings: communication, vision, teamwork, negotiation, spirituality, history, business, etc. Leaders have a desire to learn.

      Leadership Tip 31 - 'Nothing is more difficult than to introduce a new order of things.' #innovation #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 32 - 'Teamwork makes the dream work.' #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 33 - 'There's no I in team.' #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 34 - Conflict and the ability to work through conflict can make or break a leader. Good leaders learn to not brush the opportunity for conflict resolution aside, but in fact embrace positive conflict to harness a positive outcome.

      Leadership Tip 35 - Leaders understand their character is tested in times of stress. If you want to see a real leader's character and values, then put him/her in a place of testing and trial.

      Leadership Tip 36 - Accountability is not the same as judgmentalism. Leadership requires at time, the need to hold people accountable (missed deadlines, unfulfilled expectations, character flaws, etc), but this is NOT the same as being judgmental. A good leader understands the difference, even if those being 'held accountable' do not. A leader holds someone accountable even if they become misunderstood, misrepresented and labelled as judgmental.

      Leadership Tip 37 - Leaders can be well respected when they take a moral stand. Chief of the Australian Army David Morrison took a stand when he filmed a speech cautioning defence personnel against violence towards women in the ranks. He spoke of having a zero tolerance. In this YouTube clip, found here, David Morrison shows leadership and moral authority. In the Australian Financial Review Boss Magazine, Morrison was selected amongst 17 other leaders for their leadership capacity and subsequent contribution to society. Of David Morrison's leadership, panellist Amanda Harkness said, 'He has sustained that position and he is another person who is fighting a system in some ways, he's a leader of a defence force which has had those cultural issues for some years and we should encourage people like that to continue their stand.'

      Leadership Tip 38 - 'Methods are many, principles are few. Methods always change, principles never do.' ~ Warren Wiersbe. #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 39 - Create clarity and communicate clarity. Leadership involves the process of clarifying where you are heading and building clarity around how you're going to get there. Leaders must create clarity around their strategic direction. Leaders must communicate this strategic direction with the team.

      Leadership Tip 40 - Following on from leadership tip number 39, a leader must harness the support and buy-in from the team in relation to the strategic direction.

      Leadership Tip 41 -There is a difference between espoused values and actual values. An organisation may tell you that they value, 'everyone feeling welcome', and then the culture tells you the opposite. An espoused value is a value that is desired, but is not reality. Actual values are the values that in practice, characterise the organisation.

      Leadership Tip 42 - You must 'enable others to act'. Building teams is an imperative in today's culture. Failure to build teams will cause you as the leader to have to shoulder the burden and the simple truth is, you can only do so much! Enabling others to act is part of Kouzes and Posner's five practices of exemplary leadership.

      Leadership Tip 43 - Overcommunicate vision. Vision leaks; therefore overcommunicate it.

      Leadership Tip 44 - Some employees and volunteers become bored, disengaged and indifferent, especially when fulfilling repetitive and undemanding leadership tasks. Daniel Goleman in Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence (2013), says, 'To get the disengaged workers any nearer the focused range demands upping their motivation and enthusiasm, evoking a sense of purpose, and adding a dollop of pressure.'

      Leadership Tip 45 - Most of our biggest expenses are personnel. There must be accountability to an employee's performance. One of the difficulties is for volunteer-based organisations, like local churches, who attempt to performance manage volunteers. Bill Hybels in Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs, says, 'If staff members are doing their jobs really well-- meeting or exceeding my expectations--then I give them more freedom and look over their shoulders less.' One of the leadership challenges is to balance holding people accountable to their performance and conversely disempowering them by micro-managing.

      Leadership Tip 46 - Communicate with authority, competence and clarity. Here's a post I wrote on communication, called, "Public Speaking: How to Speak without Notes."

      Leadership Tip 47 - Cut red tape. That's right. Do it. Don't make excuses that it's beyond your control. Make a difference and cut red tape. Unnecessary bureaucracy burdens organisations. Most policy's are created because of incompetence and a fundamental distrust of employees to execute their work in a professional manner. Trust employees. Don't over micro-manage.

      Leadership Tip 48 - In a post on Public Speaking I outline some tips for effective public speaking. If you didn't know, leadership requires taking the platform occasionally and communicating to a crowd! Some quick tips for you: Begin confidently. Know your content. Land the plane (that is, finish!). Understand the event. Know your audience/demographic and build credibility with your listening audience as quick as you can.

      Leadership Tip 49 - You will not always be right. You will not always be understood. As Mother Theresa once said, 'People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway.' #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 50 - Since we are halfway through the Top 100 Leadership Tips, let me offer you a definition of leadership. David V. Day and John Antonakis offer a comprehensive study into leadership with their textbook, The Nature of Leadership (2012). As difficult as it is to define leadership, they offer their definition of leadership before proceeding with their 600 page volume. They write:

      ...leadership can be defined in terms of (a) an influencing process-and its resultant outcomes-that occurs between a leader and followers and (b) how this influencing process is explained by the leader's dispositional characteristics and behaviors, follower perceptions and attributions of the leader, and the context in which the influencing process occurs (: 5).
      Or as John Maxwell defines it simply (some say too simply), 'Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less'.

      Leadership Tip 51 - Leaders find themselves on the cutting edge. The problem with being on the cutting edge means at times you might get cut. You might fail. Though to not be innovative and creative might be to your demise and to the demise of your organisation (one may only consider Apple in its early days or Kodak).

      Leadership Tip 52 - Nelson Mandela offers this quote: 'It always seems impossible until it's done.' There is much to say about Nelson Mandela on leadership and life. One may mention his ability to forgive after 27 years of imprisonment. One may mention his passion for racial unity. One may mention the leadership capacity he had to draw people to the cause on his heart.
      "It always seems impossible until it’s done."
      "It always seems impossible until it’s done."
      "It always seems impossible until it’s done."

      Leadership Tip 53 - In a great leadership book by Patrick Lencioni, he highlights 5 Dysfunctions of a Team which are in summary:
      • Absence of trust— the inability to be vulnerable within a team setting
      • Fear of conflict—seeking artificial harmony over debate that is passionate and constructive
      • Lack of commitment—When there is a lack of trust and a lack of ability to deal with conflict in a team, there is a lack of commitment.
      • Avoidance of accountability—neglecting the responsibility to call other on the team to account
      • Inattention to results—focusing on personal success, status and ego before team success
      Purchase Lencioni's book. It is worth the time. Find the book here: Patrick Lencioni's 5 Dysfunctions of a Team.

      Leadership Tip 54 - Did I mention the importance of perseverance? One political leader, namely, Abraham Lincoln had perseverance. Have a quick at his story here: Abraham Lincoln: Failing Forward as a Leader.

      Leadership Tip 55 - Even when you feel inadequate, continue to lead. Do not let your leadership involvement be dictated by your feelings. Some of us wake up in the morning and feel absolutely inadequate for the tasks at hand; though that does not presuppose one does not have the capacity within them nonetheless. Lead anyway.

      Leadership Tip 56 - What does one believe is the ultimate reason for pursuing skills in leadership? Is it money? Is it fame? Is it corporate success? Is it church growth? I would suggest, that the moral question related to the ultimate purpose for any type of leadership is an important question. I am first and foremost a follower: that is a follower of Christ. You choose your own moral rationale for leadership success, though I would suggest that without acknowledgement of God and God's creation in which you inhabit, leadership will most likely be a walk in the park for the pursuit of useless ideals.

      Leadership Tip 57 - Leadership and change management are closely aligned. In Organisation Development & Change (Waddell, Cummings and Worley, 2000), some tips for change management are highlighted. They say for effective change management you need to:

      • Motivate change
      • Create a vision of the change
      • Develop political support for the change
      • Manage the transition of the change
      • Sustain momentum after the change is complete
      Leadership Tip 58 - The U.S. Army's Military Philosophy is: BE - KNOW - DO.

      Leadership Tip 59 - Seth Godin, is always the one to say it as it is. To define leadership, he says, 'Leaders lead.' Got it yet? That's what they do. Don't confuse yourself.

      Leadership Tip 60 - Leaders do the occasional integrity check. Is your inner character consistent with your outward persona?

      Leadership Tip 61 - Leadership requires emotional intelligence. Mayer & Salovey (1997), write, "Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth." #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 62 - In Daniel Goleman's Five Components of Emotional Intelligence, Goleman highlights the need for self-regulation. 'The ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods, and the propensity to suspend judgment and to think before acting. Hallmarks include trustworthiness and integrity; comfort with ambiguity; and openness to change.' #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 63 - Stephen Covey speaks of developing habits. He says that a habit is the intersection of three particular things: knowledge (understanding what to do and why to do it), skill (knowing how to do it) and desire (motivation to do it). #7HabitsofHighlyEffectivePeople #leadership

      Leadership Tip 64 - Here's a quick recap of the 7 Habits in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People written by Stephen Covey:

      Habit 1: Be Proactive
      Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
      Habit 3: Put First Things First
      Habit 4: Think Win-Win
      Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood
      Habit 6: Synergize
      Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

      Find a summary of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People here.

      Leadership Tip 65 - Leaders commit to their own self-appraisals.

      Leadership Tip 66 - 'The best leaders don't feel they have the answers to everything but surround themselves with people who are going to challenge and push them' ~ Paul Bassat (Co-Founder of SEEK employment search engine). #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 67 -What is the difference between management and leadership? Seth Godin says, 'Managers want authority. Leaders take responsibility.' He says more in his blog entitled, 'The Difference Between Managment and Leadership.' In a popular blog of mine on the same topic of management and leadership differences/similarities, I offer a leadership quote from Warren Bennis, 'Management is getting people to do what needs to be done. Leadership is getting people to want to do what needs to be done. Managers push. Leaders pull. Managers command. Leaders communicate.' - Warren Bennis.

      Leadership Tip 68 - Commissioner Jim Knaggs speaks briefly on the importance of redemptive leadership. This is leadership that relates to redeeming the whole person. He says, 'Often, it’s a leader who is dealing with conflict resolution and understands the full ramifications of repentance, forgiveness, restitution, reconciliation and healing in these difficult matters.'

      Leadership Tip 69 - Gandhi challenged his people to be the change in their world and he expressed this through nonviolence. Nelson Mandela showed forgiveness to the highest degree through the way he dealt with being unjustly imprisoned for 27 years. There is something important about morality and its impact upon leadership. Don't be devoid of good character and the having the ability to make strong, wise moral judgments. 

      Leadership Tip 70 - If you want to consider leadership in action, consider a young, ruddy, handsome boy named David, who when faced with a big obstacle, mustered up the courage to act. The story that is recorded in the Bible in 1 Samuel 17, speaks of a boy, who took on the likes of Goliath. When all the Israelite people wanted to run, David took a sling shot and five smooth stones and courageously knocked down his opponent. Leadership requires courage, and this is exemplified in the life of that young boy David, who was the future King of Israel.

      Leadership Tip 71 - 'Give a man a fish, you feed him for the day; teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.' ~ Lao-Tzu. #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 72 - Paradigm shifts occur when there is a change of thinking that causes us to gain further understanding and insight to a problem at hand. Albert Einstein said, 'The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.' #leadership quote #paradigm shift

      Leadership Tip 73 - Consider the art of listening. Are you hearing what I'm saying right now? Leaders do not just communicate, but they listen; they choose to understand. Many of us need to remind ourselves, that when people are chatting with us, to be present. To listen. It relates to Stephen Covey's habit of 'Seek first to understand, then to be understood.'

      Leadership Tip 74 - 'The enemy of the best is the good' ~ Anonymous. This is really the premise of Jim Collin's Good to Great. Jim Collin's wrote, 'Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.' #leadership quote 

      See Rinse your Cottage Cheese and other great leadership tips.

      Leadership Tip 75 - Leaders understand the holistic nature of the human being. We can equip someone intellectually with particular insights, but what about their emotional state? We can pursue the lifting of one's self-esteem, but what about their physical health? Stephen Covey highlights in The 8th Habit, the need to consider different facets of the life of a leader/follower, namely a person's IQ, but also their emotional intelligence (EQ), their spiritual intelligence (SQ) and their Physical intelligence (PQ). Read more about that in my post: 'Stephen Covey: 4 Human Intelligences.'

      Leadership Tip 76 - A leader doesn't make excuses. Take the old story of God calling Moses to leave the countryside and confront the king of Egypt and request of him to free the Israelite people. Moses was full of excuses. Sometimes the potential we have within us, is greater than our mind's ability to recognise. We could call that latent potential. Don't make excuses.

      Leadership Tip 77 - Is leadership even important? Is this merely an immoral grab for power in the midst of an ego-centric world? We know by now that people exert leadership whether we label it that or not. We know 'leadership happens' in families, organisations, churches, etc. The very make-up of a family consists of parental leadership. Without leadership we often have anarchy and this is less than favourable. It is not about whether leadership is right or wrong, it's about whether the leader is leading in a way that is right or wrong. 

      Leadership Tip 78 - As John C. Maxwell would say, leaders are not developed in a day. He says, 'Becoming a leader is a lot like investing successfully in the stock market. If your hope is to make a fortune in a day, you're not going to be successful' - Click here for more leadership quotes from John C Maxwell. Grow as a leader daily.

      Leadership Tip 79 - Leadership and attitude is closely aligned. John Maxwell likes his little quips and says, 'Attitude determines altitude.' Victor Frankl said, 'We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked throughout the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number; but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way' (Man's Search for Meaning).

      Leadership Tip 80 - Spiritual leadership is not just leadership in the secular sense, but leadership that is birthed from a relationship with God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leadership can look dramatically different from other leadership, in that what characterises these leaders is servanthood, humility, a God-reliance and a strong moral ethic. There of course may be overlap with leadership in the business arena, but while business leaders may espouse these characteristics at times, great spiritual leaders will espouse these characteristics ALL the time.

      Leadership Tip 81 - Leadership = Humility. I have heard it said, humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 82 - Biblical leadership is about looking to the content of the words contained in the Christian Scriptures to inform one's leadership. Christian leadership is centered around the person of Jesus Christ, and allows the focus and character of the leader to be built around the example and teachings of Jesus.

      Leadership Tip 83 - Christian leaders hear whispers from God.

      Leadership Tip 84 - Psychology expert Kendra Cherry in her blog post, 10 Ways to Become a Better Leader, highlights are few reminders about leadership, including: Be passionate, encourage creativity, learn more about your personality type and serve as a role model.

      Leadership Tip 85 - This is not a leadership tip, but click here for my Top 10 Leadership Books of all Time.

      Leadership Tip 86 - When hiring you need someone with competence and character. I've heard it said, if you have to choose between the two, choose character. A leader with both competence and character is of course even better.

      Leadership Tip 87 - Leaders make decisions. Now, don't let me get too simplistic here, but you know what I am referring to right? How many so called leaders can you think of who hesitate to make a decision? Leaders make decisions. They may consult, sure, but they make decisions.

      Leadership Tip 88 - Leaders need to be FAT. That is, Faithful, Available and Teachable. Teaching unteachable people is difficult but one thing I know is that, leaders ARE teachable. Others may not be teachable, but leaders surely are. To not be teachable is to hold on to some egocentric philosophical outlook that suggests you know everything. You don't. Be teachable.

      Leadership Tip 89 - Just because you have an opinion on something does not mean you are right. In fact, some people will hold religiously to an idea or viewpoint, irrespective of whether it is right, to simply justify their own behaviour. One may argue, for instance, against the merits of eating vegetables on a regular basis, when deep-down all they are doing is perpetuating their own bad behaviours of how they eat. I remember Dale Carnegie making the point in How to Win Friends and Influence People, when saying, don't bother showing people are wrong. They will rarely admit it, and most times they will simply find ways to justify their 'wrongness'.

      Leadership Tip 90 - In Aristotle's work, the Rhetoric, he highlights three key means of being persuasive: Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Ethos is about having credibility. Pathos is about the ability to emotionally connect with your listeners and logos relates to using rationality to logically convince someone of your content. Interestingly Aristotle's writing still resonates in leadership circles today.

      Leadership Tip 91 - An emotionally resilient leader is able to 'encourage the heart' of others. They recognise contributions and celebrate achievements. This kind of empathetic leadership is able to genuinely allow others to feel appreciated. You can find more about this from Kouze and Posner's five practices of exemplary leadership.

      Leadership Tip 92 - 'Retail king Gerry Harvey claims top communications skills, impeccable timing and knowing what customers want are the key talents of successful salespeople' - Anthony Black. I would say this also characterises leadership in general.

      Leadership Tip 93 - Jim Collins suggest that if you want to stimulate progress in an organisation, then set BHAGs; that is, have Big Hairy Audacious Goals. If you don't aim high, you won't reach the heights. Simple. People don't achieve big goals by accident.

      Leadership Tip 94 - What are the results of great leadership in those who are following? People will have increased levels of self-esteem, increased self-worth and increased self-efficacy. (See The Nature of Leadership, page 270).

      Leadership Tip 95 - Let me suggest a biblical leader who is etched in my mind. His name is Nehemiah. In short, he hears that in his home town, Jerusalem, the walls around the city have been destroyed. He cries and prays before God. He grabs a hold of a vision for restoration and he rallies the troops to rebuild the wall. Now, he gets the wall half built around the entire city and opposition occurs. What does Nehemiah do? He does what leaders do; he calls his helpers to continue to finish building the wall and finish what they started. Read more about the story of Nehemiah here.

      Leadership Tip 96 - There was a man named Barnabas, as recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, who was known as an encourager. Barnabas 'bridged the gaps of differing opinions'. He stood by John Mark for instance, even when the Apostle Paul wanted to desert him. Encouragement characterised his leadership.

      Leadership Tip 97 - The Apostle Peter had an up and down career! If you know much about Peter, he denied any allegiance to Jesus when Jesus was heading to the cross to be crucified. This was a defining moment for Peter, who realised he had just rejected Jesus Christ in the midst of other peers. What would happen now? Peter chose to get back up, and following some extraordinary circumstances, Peter became the first person to preach up a storm following the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. He went from being broken and bruised to being bold and courageous.

      Leadership Tip 98 - Interestingly after all my prattling on about leadership, we see in the Biblical Scriptures that the word leadership is not used. What word is used? Diakonia: this refers to service and servanthood. Let me iterate this, leadership is synonymous with servanthood.

      Leadership Tip 99 - 'Transforming leaders theoretically raise the consciousness of followers for what is important, especially with regard to moral and ethical implications, and make them transcend their self-interest for that of the greater good.' (Antonakis and Day, The Nature of Leadership) #leadership quote

      Leadership Tip 100 - Even when you think all is said and done about leadership, there is always more to be said and more to be done. 

        A mammoth guide to effective leadership! Compiling the Top 100 Leadership Tips was an enriching task. This Top 100 Tips on Leadership is an attempt to draw out helpful, practical tips that will enhance your own capacity to lead.

        Feel free to leave your comments below on any leadership tips you have that would be helpful and subscribe to my blog.


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        Thursday, September 25, 2014

        The Danger for Every Salvation Army Soldier

        3 comments:


        I want to highlight something that is critical if you are part of The Salvation Army. I became a Salvation Army soldier just over a decade ago, and one of the reasons was this: I loved the pragmatic nature of the Salvos. I am not saying this was everything for me (there was commitment to fighting for the cause, acceptance in a community of faith and loads more), but this one thing rang true.

        Some call it, 'Faith with the sleeves rolled up.' Which is good if you wear long sleeves.

        When someone was in need, I saw The Salvation Army had a desire to help. Not that other faith communities didn't, I just became involved in a church community that sought to transform their local community. It had me hooked. I was in. Jesus inside of me; motivating me to make a difference. Salvation for my whole community. Salvation for the whole world.

        But there is a danger that I believe is pertinent to Salvation Army soldiers and officers.

        Let me highlight a scripture for you. Hebrews chapter nine outlines some Old Testament practices of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. When a tabernacle was set up, there were customs and religious duties that the priests fulfilled within the Holy Place. Once a year the High Priest was able to enter the Most Holy Place (behind the curtain), and offer blood on behalf of the sins of the people. Now stay with me for a minute. Hebrews 9:6 says that the priests entered regularly into the outer room (Holy Place) to carry on their ministry. Jesus became the High Priest and his death on the cross (as mentioned in the book of Hebrews) became a sacrifice for us once and for all. This is the good news: We are now able to enter the MOST HOLY PLACE all the time! That is, because the Spirit of Jesus is inside of us, we can be in that most intimate, close place with God.

        Here is the danger.

        As a Salvation Army sometimes (in my opinion), we can be so busy doing the work of ministry in the outer courts, so to speak, and neglect the importance of entering the most holy place with God.

        Prayer coupled with ministry precedes revival, not ministry in and of itself. We cannot allow the pragmatic nature of The Salvation Army to hinder us from spending significant time with Jesus and to allow time to intellectually consider all that we are doing and its subsequent impact upon our community.

        In a rapidly changing global environment, one must not simply 'do something' as William Booth once asserted, but also, spend time in the presence of God.

        The danger for every Salvation Army soldier is that you spend so much time serving God, you forget to rely on the God you serve.


        Hebrew 10:19-25
        19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

        Tuesday, September 23, 2014

        Law No. 14 - The Law of Buy-In - John C. Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

        No comments:

        John C. Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - The Law of Buy-In (Law No. 14)

        The leadership axiom is this, 'People buy into the leader, then the vision.' The premise is, that people do not simply follow worthy causes, but rather they follow capable, inspiring leaders who are promoting a worthy cause.

        Is this always the case? I would say, nine times out of ten, yes. I would argue though, that some causes, in and of themselves, are inspiring enough to garner support even if the leader of that cause lacks capacity.

        The most recent case I can think of where John Maxwell's leadership axiom was very evident to me, was when I spoke at a Men's Breakfast event. I did not know the people present. I spoke on a particular topic that was a slightly controversial topic. The support for the content of what I was saying, I felt, was severely impacted by the lack of buy-in I had from the men who were gathered. How could I have addressed this leadership insight better? Well, maybe I could have spoken to more men (over coffee) before I began my talk. Maybe I could have spent the first few minutes building some cohesion between myself and the men who were present. This law of leadership is closely related to the law of respect.

        The law of buy-in is not gospel for me. I am still wrestling with this one. Some leadership decisions require the commander leadership style that bucks against this 'leadership law', and makes a decision irrespective of the colloborative buy-in or support from other team players. For toxic cultural environments that require leadership, asking for buy-in from the team is not conducive to dealing with a bad culture. Though one may agree, that the need was to make quick decisions to change the culture, but the axion still holds true, that people do not buy into the vision until they buy-in into the leader. So, in unhealthy organizational culture, a leader may have to deal with making quick, tough decisions even without the colloborative buy-in of respective team members.

        See a further post on the ins and outs of visionary leadership. A visionary leader has a few challenges at hand.

        So for the most part, John C. Maxwell's Law of Buy-In holds true.


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        Saturday, September 20, 2014

        Visionary Leadership is not a walk in the park.

        2 comments:

        Visionary leadership is not a walk in the park; it's more like an awkward shuffle with a ball and chain around your ankle.

        Spiritual visionary leadership is difficult yet rewarding; tiring yet dynamic! If you are visionary leader, then have a read of these eight steps (adapted from Dr. J. Robert Clinton, The Making of a Leader), on what he calls the Eight-Stage Leadership Backlash Cycle:
        1. The leader gets hold of a vision from God.
        2. The followers become convinced of the vision.
        3. The group moves in the direction outlined by the vision.
        4. The group then experiences persecution, hard times, or attacks from Satan (spiritual warfare) because of the impending implementation of the vision.
        5. There is backlash from the group.
        6. The leader is driven to God to seek affirmation of the original vision, and for perseverance in light of the opposition.
        7. God reveals himself further to the leader of the vision, and who he is, what he intends to do, and God provides reassurance of the fact that he will deliver the vision.
        8. God vindicates himself and the leader.
        Visionary leadership is difficult. Now, grabbing a hold of a vision from God, and convincing others of the vision is generally the exciting part. People are energized and ready to change the world. The group moves forward and starts to 'kick some goals'. Then the roadblocks happen. I would suggest many a leader gives up at this point. Let me say this: Just because you come up against an obstacle does not invalidate the original vision, but more than likely confirms the importance of its fulfillment. Visionary leaders must push forward when opposition comes. Visionary leaders must not give up when group members turn their back away, become cynical and leave. Visionary leaders spend copious amounts of time in prayer and seek that the Lord would fulfil the vision. Visionary leaders don't give up in the midst of obstacles and set-backs. A God-given vision is a God-given opportunity for change.


        More on Leadership Here.
        What is a Visionary leader?

        #savetheworld

        Thursday, September 18, 2014

        Appointment Changes - The Salvation Army - Australia Southern Territory

        No comments:

        AUSTRALIAN SOUTHERN TERRITORY

        Bulletin Posting - 18 September 2014
        General Change 2015 Appointment Bulletin




        The Territorial Commander has approved the following appointments:


        TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS


        OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY
        Major

        Heather Ellis Associate Executive Support OfficerNeil Venables Secretary for Communications*


        CATHERINE BOOTH COLLEGE Major

        Christine Faragher Co-ordinator Community Engagement* / Director of the
        School for Christian Studies Title Change Gregory Morgan Catherine Booth College Chair* / Training Principal of the

        School for Officer Training Title ChangePriya Morgan Co-ordinator of Mission and Ministry Formation
        Heather Sharp Facilities and Events Co-ordinatorTitle Change
        Jim Weymouth Co-ordinator Planning and Administration* / Director of

        the School for Learning & DevelopmentTitle Change

        Captain
        David Janssen Assistant Director of the School for Christian Studies
        Title Change Katherine Parker External Training Officer
        Richard Parker Assistant Training Principal
        Catherine Spiller Assistant Co-ordinator of Mission and Ministry Formation

        Title ChangeRhys Spiller Co-ordinator of Education and Theological Formation
        Brenda Young Co-ordinator of Personal and Spiritual Formation


        EDITORIALCaptain

        Malcolm Davies Territorial Literary SecretaryAdditional AppointmentJune Knop National Editor-In-Chief (Pro Tem) – Additional

        Appointment

        EMPLOYMENT PLUS Major

        Wendy Hateley Employment Plus, Chaplain – VictoriaElaine Trendell Employment Plus, Chaplain - South AustraliaAdditional

        AppointmentHoward Trendell Employment Plus, Chaplain - South AustraliaAdditional

        Appointment
        Cadet [to be Lieutenant on commissioning]
        Adrian Hamond Employment Plus, Chaplain - Port LincolnAdditional
        AppointmentLydia (Kyungae) Hamond Employment Plus, Chaplain - Port LincolnAdditional

        Appointment

        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY FOR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

        Lt-Colonel
        Samuel Pho Assistant Territorial Public Relations Secretary - Asian
        Media & Corporate AffairsTitle Change

        Major
        Peter Ellis Territorial Public Relations Officer / ChaplainPaul Hateley Territorial Public Relations Secretary
        Erica Kollmorgen Territorial Planned Giving & Public Relations Consultant
        Peter Walker Territorial Planned Giving Operations Director
        Stephen Wallis Territorial Planned Giving & Public Relations Consultant


        Envoy
        Duncan Locke Assistant Territorial Public Relations Secretary –
        Operations ManagerTitle Change

        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY FOR PERSONNEL
        Major

        Marjory Ellis Personnel Administrative OfficerDouglas Kollmorgen Pastoral Care Officer
        Kelvin Merrett Assistant Secretary for Personnel
        Lisa Venables Assistant Territorial Officer Development Secretary

        & THQ Chaplain

        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY FOR PROGRAMME
        Major

        Sandy Crowden Territorial Social Justice Secretary & Indigenous /
        Multicultural Ministries ConsultantAdditional
        AppointmentMarion Weymouth Social Justice Projects Officer


        Captain
        Rachael Castle Associate Director for Emerging Faith Communities*Rowan Castle Director for Emerging Faith Communities*
        Craig Farrell Territorial Youth Secretary
        Gerald Mitchell RSDS Senior Representative, Robertson Barracks Darwin
        Mairi Mitchell RSDS Senior Representative, Robertson Barracks Darwin


        Lieutenant
        Sonia Jeffrey Territorial Children's Ministries Secretary

        DIVISIONS

        EASTERN VICTORIA DIVISION
        Major

        Andrea Elkington Positive Lifestyle Counselling Services - Ringwood,
        Positive Lifestyle Programme FacilitatorAdditional
        AppointmentTim Lynn Courts & Prisons Services, SalvoCare Eastern, Senior

        ChaplainLance Sharp SalvoCare Eastern (Homelessness Services), Chaplain


        Captain
        Cheryl Butcher Rosebud, Corps OfficerRachael Castle Mitcham, Associate Corps OfficerAdditional

        AppointmentCraig Exon Divisional Youth Secretary
        Judy Lumb Assistant Divisional Secretary Women's Ministries
        Kevin Lumb Divisional Mission Resources Secretary
        Rosemary Massey Rowville, Corps Officer
        Ken Smith Divisional Social Programme Secretary
        Leanne Smith Divisional Secretary Women's Ministries & Divisional

        Candidates Secretary Additional Appointment

        Lieutenant
        Russell Butcher Rosebud, Corps OfficerSimon Mapleback Mitcham, Corps Officer
        Daniel Smith Court & Prison Services, Moorabbin Justice Centre,

        Chaplain Additional AppointmentMichelle Smith Court & Prison Services, Moorabbin Justice Centre,

        Chaplain Additional Appointment

        Envoy
        Amanda Ballantyne Traralgon, Corps OfficerGraeme Bright Court & Prison Services, Ringwood Court, Chaplain


        Cadet [to be Lieutenant on commissioning]
        Sarah Mackertich Divisional Children's Ministries SecretarySamantha Oldfield Noble Park, Corps Officer
        Stanley Oldfield Noble Park, Corps Officer
        Belinda Saunders Pakenham, Corps Officer
        Dale Saunders Pakenham, Corps Officer
        Suyi Xiang Ringwood, Assistant Corps Officer


        Employees
        Alan Wu Surrey Hills Chinese, Corps LeaderAmy Wu Surrey Hills Chinese, Corps Leader


        MELBOURNE CENTRAL DIVISION
        Major

        Jenny Begent Divisional Social Programme SecretaryCathy Elkington Moreland, Corps Officer
        Darren Elkington Moreland, Corps Officer
        Colin Elkington Asylum Seekers and Refugee Services, Chaplain Title

        ChangeKaren Elkington Asylum Seekers and Refugee Services, Manager Title

        ChangeKylie Kop Greensborough, Corps Officer
        Mark Kop Greensborough, Corps Officer
        Len Turner Divisional Candidates SecretaryAdditional Appointment


        Captain
        Jason Davies-Kildea Victorian Social Programme Policy Unit Manager Title
        ChangeLynn Jones Brunswick, Corps Officer and General Manager
        Michelle Myles St Kilda Crisis Services, Chaplain
        Alison Platt Melbourne Magistrates Court, Chaplain
        Lilian Platts Thornbury, Corps Officer
        Nigel Platts The Open Door, Chaplain & Thornbury, Ministry Assistant

        Additional AppointmentJanette Shepherd St Kilda Chapel, Corps OfficerTitle Change
        Scott Smallacombe Assistant Divisional Social Programme Secretary
        Catherine Spencer Heidelberg Mission, Team Leader


        Lieutenant
        Karen Agnew Heidelberg Mission, Team MemberAdditional
        AppointmentRobert Champion Westcare Child & Adolescent Services, Chaplain
        Penny Cooper Courts & Prisons, Broadmeadows Court, Chaplain

        Additional AppointmentBrynley Haycock Brunswick, Associate Officer / Chaplain
        Marie Kovacs Courts & Prisons, Heidelberg Court, Chaplain &

        Heidelberg Mission, Team MemberAdditional
        Appointment

        Cadet [to be Lieutenant on commissioning]
        Lauren Kirkham Divisional Youth Secretary & Divisional Social Justice
        Co-ordinatorAdditional AppointmentLauren Stobie Plenty Valley, Corps Officer


        Cadet-in-Appointment
        Colin Reynolds Sunshine, Corps Officer

        NORTHERN TERRITORY
        Major

        Pam Marshall Darwin, Corps OfficerJanette Philp Top End Social Network, Chaplain & Regional Candidates

        Secretary / Regional Mission Support OfficerAdditional
        AppointmentsJeff Philp Regional Social Programme Secretary / Regional Public

        Relations Secretary & Regional Social Justice Co-ordinator
        Additional Appointment

        Captain
        Simon Pickens Regional Youth & Children's Ministries Special Events
        Co-ordinatorAdditional Appointment

        Cadet [to be Lieutenant on commissioning]
        Mark Smalley Sunrise Centre, Manager / Drug & Alcohol Services
        Top End, ManagerSimone Smalley Darwin, Assistant Corps Officer


        NORTHERN VICTORIA DIVISION
        Major

        Adye Viney Social Programmes, Senior ChaplainKaye Viney Divisional Secretary Women's Ministries


        Captain
        Christine Ellis Bendigo, Corps Officer & Divisional Youth & Candidates
        SecretaryAdditional AppointmentBronwyn Wood Divisional Children's Ministries Secretary
        Craig Wood Divisional Public Relations Secretary / Divisional Mission

        Resources Secretary

        Lieutenant
        Rachel Attard Benalla, Corps OfficerSean Attard Benalla, Corps Officer
        Judy Shaw Castlemaine, Corps Officer
        Kirsty Stringer Divisional Social Justice Co-ordinatorAdditional

        Appointment

        Cadet [to be Lieutenant on commissioning]
        Christopher Marsh Eaglehawk, Corps OfficerMelissa Marsh Eaglehawk, Corps Officer


        SOUTH AUSTRALIA DIVISION
        Captain

        David Collinson Ingle Farm, Corps OfficerKylie Collinson Ingle Farm, Corps Officer

        Cadet [to be Lieutenant on commissioning]
        Adrian Hamond Port Lincoln, Corps Officer Lydia (Kyungae) Hamond Port Lincoln, Corps Officer


        TASMANIA DIVISION
        Captain

        Catherine Abram Launceston Citadel, Corps OfficerPhilip Abram Launceston Citadel, Corps Officer


        Lieutenant
        Amy Jones Moonah, Corps OfficerDianne Size New Norfolk, Corps Officer
        Tim Size New Norfolk, Corps Officer


        WESTERN AUSTRALIA DIVISION
        Major

        Denise Ashby York, Corps OfficerKatie Beardsley Albany, Corps Officer
        Paul Beardsley Albany, Corps Officer
        Andrew Craib Divisional Social Programme Secretary
        Jenny Craib Graceville, Chaplain
        Deidre Dearing Harry Hunter Rehabilitation Centre Manager
        Ian Dearing Harry Hunter Rehabilitation Centre Manager
        Kirsten Elliott Divisional Secretary for Officer Development
        Margaret MacDonald Director - Family & Domestic Violence / Senior

        Chaplain & PLP ServicesColin Medling Special Projects Officer
        Marilyn Medling Special Projects Officer
        Nikki Novell Merriwa, Corps Officer
        Kaye Reeves Northam, Corps Officer
        Raymond Reeves Northam, Corps Officer
        Elizabeth Wallis Gosnells, Corps Officer


        Captain
        Darren Aitken Balga, Corps OfficerMegan Aitken Balga, Corps Officer
        Cymon Brooks Bridge House, Assistant Manager
        Naava Brooks Graceville, Manager
        Sharon Bywaters Baldivis, Corps OfficerTitle Change
        Leah Ellery Divisional Children's Ministries Secretary
        Scott Ellery Divisional Youth & Candidates Secretary
        Allison Footer Harry Hunter Rehabilitation Centre, Assistant Manager –

        OperationsChris Footer Harry Hunter Rehabilitation Centre, Assistant Manager –

        ProgrammeNiall Gibson Karratha, Corps Officer
        Michelle Gibson Karratha, Corps Officer
        Natalie Norman Heathridge, Corps Officer
        Scott Norman Heathridge, Corps Officer


        Lieutenant
        Carol O'Leary Swan View, Corps Officer

        WESTERN VICTORIA DIVISION
        Major

        Kirsty McKenzie Ballarat Community Church, Associate Corps Officer /
        Community Support Services ManagerChristine Pitman-Jones Torquay, Corps Officer
        Vic Pitman-Jones Torquay, Corps Officer
        Bunita Pittaway SalvoConnect Chaplaincy Services, Geelong Withdrawal

        Centre, ChaplainJeanette van Gaalen Ballarat Community Church, Corps Officer
        Karina Wood Warrnambool, Corps Officer
        Peter Wood Warrnambool, Corps Officer


        Captain
        Malcolm Davies South Barwon, Corps OfficerTracey Davies South Barwon, Corps Officer
        David Day Geelong, Corps Officer
        Patricia Day Geelong, Corps Officer
        Jenni Sutton Divisional Mission Resources Secretary / Divisional

        Public Relations SecretaryAndrew van Gaalen Ballarat Community Church, Corps Officer


        Cadet [to be Lieutenant on commissioning]
        Tracy Marks Kaniva / Broughton, Corps Officer Christopher Sutton Kaniva / Broughton, Corps Officer


        OVERSEAS & EXCHANGE OFFICERS
        EXCHANGE INTO AUSTRALIA SOUTHERN TERRITORY
        Captain

        David Day FROM: Australia Eastern TerritoryPatricia Day FROM: Australia Eastern Territory

        RETURNING INTO AUSTRALIA SOUTHERN TERRITORY
        Major

        Cathy Elkington FROM: New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga TerritoryDarren Elkington FROM: New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory


        RETIREMENTS
        Major

        Major Wendy Oliver Effective 13 January 2015Major Ken Agnew Effective 1 March 2015
        Major Margaret Maxfield Effective 1 March 2015
        Major Colin Medling Effective 1 March 2015
        Major Marilyn Medling Effective 1 March 2015
        Major Marion Weymouth Effective 1 March 2015
        Major Margaret Collins Effective 11 March 2015
        Major Peter Collins Effective 11 March 2015


        Envoy
        Lauris Bright Effective 1 January 2015Maria Baker Effective 14 January 2015
        Robert Baker Effective 14 January 2015


        TO BE ADVISED
        Wyndham City, Assistant Corps Officer(s), VIC
        Carlton Corps, TAS
        George Town Corps, TAS
        Scottsdale Corps, TAS
        Perth Chinese Corps, WA



        * For further explanation, please refer to “Explanation re. Structural / Departmental Changes” under
        Announcements on the AUS Territory Bulletin Board.


          APPROVED

            signed by :
          Commissioner Floyd J TiddTerritorial Commander
          The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
          DATE Thursday 18 September 2014

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