Brian Dodd On Leadership

The following are Top 10 leadership posts I read the week of May 20th.  This week’s list is dominated by the subjects of entrepreneurs and church finances.  I also want you to give special attention to the final post listed so you can get involved helping those affected by the tragic events in Oklahoma City this week.

• 6 Reasons the Lead Pastor MUST Know the Giving Records of the Church by Scott Cochrane
• 4 Ways To Keep Volunteers AFTER You Recruit Them by Eric Echols
• 7 Leadership Paradigms Needed for Church Growth by Ron Edmondson
• McDonald’s is pushing to get more Millennial savvy by Barry Horovitz at www.USAToday.com.  Churches can learn much about getting more millennial savvy from this article.
• 10 Ways To Be A GREAT Employee by Brad Lomenick
• The Truth About Kids And Social Media by Amy Jo Martin via www.FastCompany.com.  Amy Jo is my favorite writer on social media.  For 45 leadership insights from her incredible book Renegades Write The Rules, click here.
• Why Do Military Veterans Make Such Great Entrepreneurs? by Bill Murphy Jr. at www.Inc.com 
• Top 10 Trends: How Major Donors are Changing and What To Do About It by Gail Perry
• Swim With The Big Fish (Without Getting Swallowed) by Tim Stevens via www.ChristianityToday.com.  A great story on whether major donors should be known about and given special treatment.
• Oklahoma City…Disaster Relief by Lori Wilhite.  Lori has identified a number of churches in the Oklahoma City area that you can partner with to provide relief and aid to those devastated by this week’s tornados.

That is my Top 10 for the week.  What additional great posts did you read this week?

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“Growth results from great tools given to the right person and trusting him.” – Trent Dollyhigh

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Trent Dollyhigh, Campus Pastor at Lanier Hills Church in Gainesville, GA.  This 3-year-old church has seen a 25% increase in giving in the last year.

How did they do it and is it replicable at your church?  The answer is “Yes!”  While some increase is attributable to numerical growth, Trent gave great insights into how to increase giving that I want to pass on to you.

1. Recognize The Importance Of Leadership In Increasing Giving – Trent quoted John Maxwell when he said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
2. Recognize The Limitations Of Leadership In Increasing Giving – Trent told me, “Brian, a pastor can’t do everything.”
3. Get The Right Tools To Increase Giving – Trent purchased the Giving Rocket core coaching program which helps churches increase weekly giving.
4. Give The Right Tools To The Right Leaders To Increase Giving – Trent used Giving Rocket as the resource to empower a generous Elder at the church who was now championing giving.  As Trent said, “Who you give it to is critical.”
5. Ask For Commitment To Increase Giving – When Trent enlisted this leader, he went to him personally, gave clarity to the need, and asked for his commitment.
6. Trust Leaders To Increase Giving – Trent then provided incredible insight.  He said, “Growth results from great tools (Giving Rocket) given to the right person (Generous Leader) and trusting him.”
7. Accountability Increases Giving – The expanded leadership base freed Trent up for other ministry assignments.  However, he still gave his Elder freedom to hold him accountable for his personal generosity.

The Importance Of Leadership, Recognize Limitations, Get The Right Tools In The Hands Of The Right Leaders, Ask For Commitment, Trust Leaders, And Be Accountable.

Lanier Hills Church is a growing ministry.  They are seeing the ministry expansion and mission and vision come to life.  If you practice these seven things, you may also see an 25% increase in giving in a single year.

If you want to discuss how The Rocket Company can help you increase your weekly giving, simply leave me a comment or click here.  We would be honored to serve you.

Subscribe here so future posts can be sent directly to your Inbox. As a gift for doing so, I will also send you a FREE copy of my brand new eBook 455 Leadership Quotes: Lessons From 2012′s Top Christian Conference Speakers.

Do you want to lead like Jesus?  Who wouldn’t?  Jesus is the greatest leader that ever lived.  I love studying Jesus and the things He did during His earthly ministry.

Because He is God, whatever insights I am shown are only be a small glimpse into His impact but I still love dissecting passages of Scripture for what I can learn.

One of the Bible’s most famous historical events was Jesus walking on the water located in Matthew 14:22-33.   As I read the text from a leadership perspective, I discovered 13 Habits Highly Effective Leaders Can Learn From Jesus.

1. Highly Effective Leaders Provide Clear Objectives For Their Team – v. 22 – “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side.”
2. Highly Effective Leaders Schedule Times Of Solitude – v. 23 – “And when He had sent the multitude away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.”
3. Highly Effective Leaders Anticipate Challenges – v. 24 – “But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.”
4. Highly Effective Leaders Engage These Challenges – v. 25 – “Jesus went to them”
5. Highly Effective Leaders Then Do What Only They Can Do In For Organization – v. 25 “walking on the sea.”
6. Highly Effective Leaders Listen To Their Teams – v. 26 – “they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’  And they cried out for fear.”
7. Highly Effective Leaders Immediately Respond To Their Teams’ Concerns.  They Are Not Passive – v.27 – “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer!  It is I: do not be afraid.”
8. Highly Effective Leaders Model Behavior – v. 28-29 – “And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water?’  So He said, ‘Come.’”
9. Highly Effective Leaders Give Their Teams Permission To Fail – v. 30 – “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink.”
10. Highly Effective Leaders Provide Solutions – v.31 – “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.”
11. Highly Effective Leaders Look For Teachable Moments – v.31 – “(Jesus) said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
12. Highly Effective Leaders Will Change The Environment For Better Or Worse By Simply Walking Into The Room - v.32 – “And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”
13. Highly Effective Leaders Allow God To Tell His Amazing Story Through Their Lives – v.33 – “Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’”

When I compare my leadership to that of Jesus, I fall woefully short.  Everyday I am reminded of the vast difference between Jesus and myself.  It is only by His grace and what He did for me on the cross that I am worthy to lead anything.  It is certainly not because of my competencies, background, experiences, or network.

Perhaps by learning more about Him from Scripture and allowing Him to live through my life, maybe tomorrow I can be a better leader.

How about you?

Subscribe here so future posts can be sent directly to your Inbox. As a gift for doing so, I will also send you a FREE copy of my brand new eBook 455 Leadership Quotes: Lessons From 2012′s Top Christian Conference Speakers.

Last week I featured a re-post of a great blog I read called 7 Things I Learned Watching Andy Stanley Teach Junior High Students by Michael Lukaszewski.  The response has been overwhelming!

Therefore, I am having Michael write a new post specifically for this site.  When he asked me what topic I would like, I recommended a post on leading a faith-based or non-profit business.  

Michael and Casey Graham lead The Rocket Company, the organization I work for which serves church leaders.  You will find his thoughts quite insightful.  Michael’s incredible blog can be read by clicking here.  Enjoy!

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I got my first job at a church as a freshman at Florida State University and worked with teenagers for a little over a decade.  Then in 2006, my family and I moved to Atlanta to start a new church.  I had the honor of leading that organization for five years.  For the last couple of years, I’ve been working with The Rocket Company, a faith-based business that helps churches succeed.

Add it all up, and it’s about twenty years of working in non-profit or faith-based businesses.  Armed with wins, losses and experiences, here are four principles about leading a faith-based or non-profit business

1.  You don’t have to be unprofitable.  

Somewhere along the line, people buy into the idea that a faith-based business or a non-profit organization can’t be financially secure.  If they do too well, we start questioning things. If their leaders drive non-beater cars, something must be wrong.  In the business world, we honor leaders that do well, but cross the line into business with a purpose, and the rules change.

I’m not suggesting that leaders of these kind of businesses should be rich, but I am saying we should change our perspective.  Just because you’re leading a non-profit doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to do well.  Just because you’re leading a business with a bigger purpose doesn’t mean you need to go broke.

A struggling faith-based ministry is not more honorable than the successful one.

If you are leading a faith-based or non-profit business, you need to attract top talent and pay them well.  They need benefits and a 401(k) as soon as possible.  You might need office space that wasn’t furnished from a yard sale.

Yes, you will be able to attract some people to work for the cause, but as people get older and have families, they need to provide for them.   No, you don’t need to have luxurious offices, but if you have a meeting, you might need more than a crate.

2.  Don’t buy into the broke mentality.

Too many faith-based or non-profit business approach things with a broke mindset, constantly asking for special treatment or special pricing.

A broke mentality will keep you from investing in your own business.  For-profit organizations know advertising and marketing done right yield tremendous results, sometimes five or ten times the investment.  But a broke mentality will convince you not to spend money on proven strategies to grow the business.  Always looking for the free or cheap alternative can actually hinder your growth.

A broke mentality will keep you from investing in your own leadership. I’ve talked to leaders in this industry who can’t imagine the idea of paying for coaching, when there are so many free resources on the Internet.  So you email people and ask to “pick their brain.”  And that free advice is generally worth what you paid for it.

Pay for coaching.  Attend conferences. Invest in your own leadership.

3.  Pursue profit with a purpose.  

Whether your business is faith-based or not, I believe finding a greater purpose will motivate you and your team to accomplish more.  At The Rocket Company, we have a four word mission statement.  It took a few years for it to bubble up, but it’s clear.  We help churches succeed.  For us, that’s a greater purpose than making money.

I don’t believe stuff will truly satisfy your soul.  And as a person of faith, I believe Jesus when he said that our souls were more important than our stuff.

Success in business ought to lead you to be MORE generous, not less.  Profits ought to allow your company to do MORE good in the world, not less.

Wesley said we should make all we can, save all we can and give all we can.  If you stop at the first part, you’ll miss the greater purpose of money.  But if you work hard to find sustainable success, and stay focused on what you’re becoming and whom you are helping, good things can happen.

No matter whether you make widgets or run a food pantry, I believe every business needs to find their deeper purpose.

4.  Fundamental business principles still apply to you.

A couple of years into it my journey of starting a church, I realized I was starting a business.  I was dealing with government paperwork, hiring people, and contracts.   I found myself looking at cash flow reports and balance sheets.   I got into this because I wanted to lead, speak and run a church.  But I soon found out that those public things required many more private business discussions.

Now a church is more than a business, but it is also a business.   And the rules of business don’t bend because your business has a spiritual or altruistic purpose.

Whether you’re a non-profit, charity or faith-based business, the rules of business still apply to you.  You can’t write “goodwill” on a check and despite what the song says, you can’t live on love.  Not knowing how to read a balance sheet because you were praying for people isn’t a good reason when the creditors come calling.

But take heart!  Because of your unique position, you have the incredible opportunity to learn from both sides of the spectrum.  Bring your faith to your business and bring your business to your mission.  With proper perspective, it’s a powerful combination.

To read more from Michael, check out these popular posts on his blog:

Three Things Pastors Secretly Want

What Church Leaders Can Learn from Infomercials

You’re Talking About Vision TOO Much

The Five Common Struggles of Pastors

Subscribe here so future posts can be sent directly to your Inbox. As a gift for doing so, I will also send you a FREE copy of my brand new eBook 455 Leadership Quotes: Lessons From 2012′s Top Christian Conference Speakers.

Somebody reading this post needs a breakthrough right now.  You are struggling in your marriage, or in raising children, or in your career, or financially, or perhaps even spiritually.  You need a breakthrough.

At the end of this post I am going to give you insights into what has worked for me in those five areas, but first, I want to share with you the one thing you can do to make a HUGE difference in your life.

If you want to make a HUGE difference in your life, start by simply making small incremental changes daily.  We live in a world where we value shock and awe.  We want to hit the lottery, or swing for the fences, or say “All in” and put all our chips on the table.  This is a flawed approach.

Casey Graham constantly reminds me, “Everyday is more important than the big day.”  We have forgotten the value of process.  For many Christians, we have lost the value of sanctification and watching God doing something in our lives over time.

We want the fall harvest without the hard work of fixing the tractor in the winter, tilling the soil and planting the seed in the spring, and pulling weeds and praying through the summer drought.  We want the harvest today.  We want Easter without Good Friday.

I understand and struggle with those same thoughts myself.

The changes we long to see do not come from big events but rather small changes that yield HUGE results.  The following are two examples:

In the early 80′s, the San Diego Chargers drafted future Hall Of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow.  Tight ends at the time lined up on the line of scrimmage.  Winslow was getting pounded.  The coaching staff decided something revolutionary – Allow Winslow to stand up  and position himself a few yards away from the line of scrimmage.   This new position, called The Roving-Y, created multiple match-up problems and was the forerunner to today’s spread offenses.

Just a small change, moving Winslow a few yards, changed the game.

The hottest offense in the NFL today is called the pistol.  Created in 2005 by Nevada head coach Chris Ault, this formation has the quarterback positioned 4 yards behind the center rather than 8 yards in the shotgun (hence the name pistol).  Ault discovered the quarterback got the ball faster.  Pass rushers were at a disadvantage because they were used to going after the quarterbacks much farther behind the line of scrimmage.  The team could also still execute its base running package but with even more options because the quarterback and running back were now side-by-side.

Just a small change, moving the quarterback four yards, changed the game.

Small changes make a HUGE difference.  What is a four yard adjustment you can make in your life TODAY?

I will now speak specifically to husbands and fathers.  The following are fifteen small changes, four yard adjustments if you will,  you can make TODAY that will make a HUGE difference in your life:

• Marriage – Decide to outserve your spouse.  Husbands can help with laundry, dinner, and dishes.  Say “I’m sorry.”  Five little things that will yield HUGE results.
• Children – Have a date with your child once a week.  Tuck them in bed at night.  Do something together that interests them.  Pray over them.  Four little things that yield HUGE results.
• Career – Arrive 30 minutes early and stay 30 minutes late.  Admit your mistakes.  And finally, Jack Welch said, “Without question, the biggest advice I always give people is to be in a job you love and over-deliver.  When your boss asks you to do something, they already have something in their mind they want to get done.  Over-deliver.”  Three little things that yield HUGE results.
• Financially – Get on a budget allowing you to spend less than you make.  Practice generosity by giving to and serving the poor and under-resourced.  Test God by tithing.  Let’s be fair, that is two little things that yields HUGE results.  Tithing is not a little thing.
• Spiritually – Have a quiet time every morning.  That moment of reflection and listening yields HUGE results in my life.

Did you notice I did not mention health.  I’m struggling in that area and need to make some changes before I have the credibility to speak on it.  No one is perfect.

Let me hear from you.  What small changes have you made that has yielded HUGE results?

Subscribe here so future posts can be sent directly to your Inbox. As a gift for doing so, I will also send you a FREE copy of my brand new eBook 455 Leadership Quotes: Lessons From 2012′s Top Christian Conference Speakers.