Leadership Beef Jerky

The question you might be asking is, “Do we really need another book on leadership?” Yet, books on leadership find a ready market for men and women looking for the principles and practices that will help them become better and more effective leaders. Whether we want to admit it or not, we seek the ‘holy grail,’ the ‘silver bullet’ that will unlock the mystery of becoming a great leader. I would like to add to your collection my contribution to your ongoing development whether you are a reluctant leader, a polished leader, or someone who doesn’t think they are a leader at all. I remind you that anytime to make a decision that will affect others or influence others you are leading whether in the home or the marketplace. In nearly seven decades I have had opportunity to serve in a variety of circumstances including the military, commercial business, the defense industry, higher education, and ministry. I believe I know what works and what doesn’t work. I have had the benefit of many mentors, platforms to exercise leadership, and have witnessed firsthand the efficacy of certain principles and practices. Ten foundational principles have underpinned my practice of leadership and conditioned how I lead. MISSION: Fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) in our communities requires transformed churches led by transformed leaders who are obedient to the Great Command (Matthew 22:27-37). TRAINING: God is building an army of transformed leaders for the new millennium. Christian leaders will stand out in bold relief against the backdrop of their culture. We are now being trained for such a time in the ‘in-between time.’ CHARACTER: Effective godly leadership flows from ‘being,’ is a matter of the ‘heart,’ is character-centered not skill-centered. Skills are the tools of effective leadership; character is the power of effective leadership. BATTLEFIELD: Lasting behavioral change that brings glory to God begins with the heart in general, and our core belief system. Satan’s battlefield has never been our behavior - it has always been the heart. PURPOSE: The ultimate purpose of the church is to produce Christ-likeness in its followers beginning with salvation, continuing with sanctification and concluding with glorification. AUTHENTICITY: Authentic spirituality is a prerequisite for godly leadership and is produced when we tune our lives to God’s standards of excellence. Its vitality comes from living our lives for an audience of One. EFFECTIVENESS: Effective godly leadership is developed over a lifetime, is exercised through our God-given passion and giftedness, finds its source and authority in God, is built on Biblical principles and values and is practiced in culturally sensitive ways. CREDIBILITY: The distance out front a leader is permitted to lead is directly proportional to the credibility that leader has with those being led. Willing followership depends on the status of our bank account of credibility. PERSONAL: Effective leaders know the capabilities, limitations, weaknesses and potential of their followers. The leader is responsible for providing opportunities for people to realize their potential in Christ. SERVANTHOOD: Effective godly leadership is servant leadership. Servant leadership manifests spiritual authority and is credible when the leader is what he/she teaches. It comes from a life and a ministry which demonstrates the presence of God and understands the purposes of God. I have personally observed or implemented leadership principles and practices that have withstood the test of time and have proven to be transformative, transferable, and transitional. These principles and practices could be categorized under leadership congruence, leadership character, or leadership competence—the three primary arenas of leadership development. Books on leadership competence abound because it is the easiest area to address. Who doesn’t want better competencies, skills, methodologies, tactics, strategies, procedures, or a new approach. However, who you are as a leader—your character, and how your wiring plays a role in your practice of leadership—your congruence, will determine how effective your implementation of leadership practices will be. The title of this book, Leadership Beef Jerky, is more than an attention grabber. Beef jerky, it seems, lasts forever. It retains its nourishment over time. But to enjoys its benefits it must be chewed one chunk at a time. It is healthy, convenient, and portable. To get the most from this book, the reader can move about the chapters and find what is applicable for their needs now. The book is not meant to be read from beginning to end but more like a smorgasbord where you go along the line and pick what you want or need at the stage of your life. I have divided principles and practices under three categories head, heart, and hand. What we know, what will inform our leadership, and what activities will help us lead more effectively addresses the three primary spheres of influence we will wield. Chapters under these headings are not exhaustive but succinct. They are not written to cover each topic completely but to focus on what is essential to be, know and do. Under head, you will find principles and practices that help organize how you think about leadership and what will and should inform your understanding and practice. Deciding the big questions about being-ness will enlighten our practice of doing-ness. In this section, you will find helpful information to calibrate your thinking about leadership practice. • Where and when to engage (Prioritizing) • Providing margin for growth, creativity, and innovation (Margin) • Making good decisions (Discerning) • Filling your mind with God’s mind (Meditating) • Grasping reality and adjusting expectations accordingly (Perceiving) • Understanding boundary events that move us to the next thing (Transitioning) • How to avoid barriers and finish well (Finishing) • Absorbing what matters using the reading continuum (Reading) Under heart, you will be introduced to calibration of the soul. We are told to guard our hearts because it will bring forth, good or bad, what is stored within. Out of the heart flows the wellspring of our lives. Calibration of the heart to the heart of God is essential to accomplish God’s redemptive purposes in the world. In this section, you will be introduced to the following topics that will attune your heart for leadership practice. • Determining your destiny (Calling) • Identifying the principles you will live by (Values) • Living a life of congruity (Integrity) • Finding direction for your life (Compass) • The importance of influence (Power) • Living a centered versus balanced life (Centering) • Finding your unique trajectory (Focusing) • Assessing your spiritual vitality (Auditing)