Effort, Success and Effectiveness

I want to compare/contrast (mostly contrast) several approaches and outcomes of leadership.  The post will look at the topic of Effort (trying ones best) that results in failure, Success that accomplishes the job and Effectiveness which accomplishes the job but has added bonuses.  I believe that to become the leader you are called to be, the leader that your team needs you to be, requires you to become effective in your leadership.  Let's look at each term as I define them.  More importantly than the term, understand the definition, examples used and the attitude and mindset behind each one.

Tried, but Failed - In this leadership outcome you have tried your best (I don't have a category for leaders who fail to give 100% effort  because it is hard to consider them leaders at all) but come up short of reaching the goal.  It could be winning a game/championship, making a sale, or whatever applies to your situation.  Like everyone else in this category you probably have a few really good excuses why the goal couldn't be reached.  Maybe you didn't receive enough resources, enough support or encouragement, maybe you had some negative people who actively worked against you.  Whatever the circumstances were, you didn't get the job done.  You didn't lead your team to victory.  Obviously this is not a great place to be as a leader.  Ultimately, your job is to get results.  The Army General has one job "Get Stuff Done" and you failed to live up to that expectation.  We have all been in this category before.  Let's move out and find a way to get results.

Success - My definition of success is that you got the job done.  See the Army General above.  Whatever the obstacles you faced you found a way to accomplish your mission.  You led your band to districts, you completed a tough race, you inspired your students to achieve a passing grade in Calculus.  Whatever the job was that needed done, got done because you made it happen.  To me success is a very "Me" oriented word.  I know successful people.  They can be counted on to get the job done, but how they do it is not always pretty.  People get run over, people get hurt, people get ruined.  This is the attitude of "my way or the highway" the mantras are "get out of the way, the train is coming through" and "your either with me or against me."  These people get stuff done.  They get results.  You are just glad when they leave.  Yes, they are successful at accomplishing tasks, but the toll is large.  People are soured towards them, their victories are hollow.  At the end of the day their success is all they have.  They have ruined relationships and companies as they pursued their victory.

Effectiveness - I am definitely biased towards the concept of effectiveness.  It takes success to another level.  In effectiveness leaders return results, but do it in a win-win way.  Leaders who strive for effectiveness find ways to win and make sure their followers win as well.  When leaders effectively lead a group to the top of the mountain that group cannot wait to take on another challenge with the same leader.  Effective leaders use their organizations to build people, never use their people to build their organizations.  Get results, build people in the process.  Effective leaders will never wear out their followers.  They will attract new followers.  Everyone wants to be on a winning team, especially when they get to partner with an effective leader.

The In Demand Leader

Two types of leaders are always in demand.  The Firefighter and the Bridge Builder.  If you can become one (or even both)of these types of leaders you will become in demand.  Your opportunities for influence will increase.  Your value to your current employer will skyrocket and prospective employers will view you as a highly sought after commodity.  Better yet, you will be able to more effectively serve those around you.  You will be able to add value to the most important people in your life.

The Firefighter - Firefighters are brave, selfless heroes who save others from dangerous situations.  The popular saying goes "they are running into burning buildings, while everyone else is running out."  They save people who are in need.  They problem solve.  They keep small fires from becoming large fires.

The "Firefighter Leader" is someone who solves problems and makes everything else run smoothly.  When you get to a point that you "bring solutions, not problems" you become increasingly valuable to your organization.  You are the person who comes to meetings with solutions to problems.When everyone else is bailing out and running for safety, you are the person who can fix everything.  Firefighter leader are proactive as well.  They anticipate needs and problems before anyone else in the organization which allows them to be quicker to see the solution.  They do not allow little "fires"/problems to become a big problem.  They find solutions before any major damage is done, while protecting the people they are in charge of.

The Bridge Builder - Bridges connect two separate things.  They connect two parts of town that were previously separated by a river, creek or ravine.  They make life easier and help everyone to be more connected.

The "Bridge Builder Leader" connects people.  They come along and see two people who could have a mutually beneficial relationship and puts them together.  Bridge Builders connect people to ideas.  They teach and instruct.  They lead a follower to find answers through books or new ideas.  They are constantly connecting.  They connect people to opportunities.  They are constantly looking to make someone's life better through helping them be better connected to people, ideas and opportunities.

Become a "Firefighter or Bridge Builder" today.  Find ways to solve problems and help people connect with other people or ideas that can change their lives.

Why They Play

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, as a leader or coach, why are these kids/young adults playing for my team or being led by me?  I haven't included teachers in this article because often the kids are in your class simply because they have to be.  Sometimes a kid is forced to play your sport, join your band or be part of your club.  But the majority of the kids are there willingly because they want to be.

WHY?  Why would they give up close to 20 hours per week to play the sport you are coaching (apply this to whatever it is you lead, I am just using sports terminology)?  Why would they go through the pain and physical hardships to be in shape to compete for your team?  Why do they come to practice when many of their friends are heading to the pool during the summer?  Why are they lifting weights, buying training DVD's, going to camps, etc?  Remember, they could always be doing something else.

I have heard all the macho coaches echo "they play for my team because they love to compete and they love to win."  Baloney.  If they really have such a love of competition why aren't there hundreds of entrants into the local fair's tomato growing contest and pie bake-offs.  I know that kids do enjoy competition, but not for the reasons you think.  Kids want competition because it forces them to get better themselves.  Beating someone isn't the reason they are playing for you.

Kids will sign-up for your team, join your club or band/choir for two reasons.  FUN and BENEFITS!  Studies have shown that the number one reason kids are involved in extracurricular activities is because they are fun and provide them benefits.  Some reasons they are fun include:  Time with friends, chance to improve their skills, something to do after school, they are already good at it and sports gives them a chance to shine.  Benefits include:  Fitness and overall health, a chance to leave school early on occasion, a chance at a scholarship (I think this is one of the worst reasons for a kid to play sports), recognition in the community/school/etc, clothing/team gear.

Kids will have a desire to win to a certain extent, but typically that is about the 8th out of 10 reasons why they join a sport or club.  It is typically number 1 only among the coaches and adults.

Young people want to do things that are fun and provide them benefits.  Don't get too caught up in your own ego.  They like you as a leader in relation to how much fun you provide and the access you provide to the benefits.

Keep Fun at the forefront of the group you lead.  Provide safe and exciting opportunities for your young people.  And let's be clear:  By fun I don't mean the roll the ball, fool around and then go for ice cream kind of fun.  By fun, I mean a well structured, organized group time that is upbeat and challenging.  An opportunity to grow and reap the benefits of being part of your organization.

The Art of War for Leaders

Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War around 2500 years ago in China.  The book is loaded with practical wisdom for coaches and leaders.  I have written a longer article relating the book for coaches.  This post is excerpts from that article which was adapted from the book.  I hope you can find a few practical pieces of advice from one of the greatest leaders the world has seen.

How to Treat Followers:
-"If you are careful of your men, and camp on hard ground, the army will be free from disease of every kind, and this will spell victory."
-"Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.  If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose."

When to be Aggressive in Pursuing your Objective:
-"Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; Ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive".
-"The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed upon him."

Preparation:
-"Ponder and deliberate before you make a move."
-"He will win, who prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared."
-"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."
-"The experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss."
-"The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources."

Leading
" The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom"

Flexibility
"He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain."
"The general who completely understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.  The general who does not understand these, may be well acquainted with the configuration of the country, yet he will not be able to turn his knowledge to practical account."

Inspiring
"He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit  throughout all its ranks."

I would gladly email you the entire 7 page article which goes much more in-depth if you are interested.  Drop me a line at coachpaul82@gmail.com for more information or post a comment on the blog.

Love Like Jesus Does

Mahatma Gandhi said " I like your Christ.  I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."  The fictional character Scout Finch in Harper Lee's recently released book Go Set a Watchman asks "Why doesn't their flesh creep?  How can they devoutly believe everything they hear in church and then say the things they do and listen to the things they hear without throwing up?"

I asked my teenage Sunday School class "What is a Christian?" and "What does a Christian Do?"  Clearly there is a perceived disconnect in the world between Jesus Christ and how Christians (Christ Followers) live out their lives.  Almost everyone worldwide appreciates Jesus' ministry and teachings, even if they are not followers of those teachings or of Him. But Billions have decided that while Jesus Christ is good, His followers have turned them off. How can I help close the gap between what I do and what I say I believe?  How can I be a better testimony/light in a dark world to the non-believers I come into contact with each day?  How much has my life fed into this disconnect?  Hopefully not much, but unfortunately I am a sinner, saved by Grace, who makes many mistakes.  My sins (and yours) cost all Christians credibility with the non-believing world. I love Christians and believe that Jesus Christ and His followers are the only hope for this world.  I just want us who call ourselves followers of Jesus to do a better job of living like He did/would.

Here is what I found when I dug into my Bible in search of answers to "What does a Christian Do?"  Isaiah 58 tells us "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?  Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him (v. 6 and 7, NASB).  I John 3:17 and 18 tells us "whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?  Little children, let us not love with word or tongue, but in deed and truth."  I continued to find verses in a similar thought-pattern.  Ezekial 18:5-9 (excerpts) "If a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness  (emphasis added)... does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing... he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully - he is righteous and will surely live, declares the Lord God."

Practices Justice and Righteousness and Deals Faithfully.  If Christians would focus on these few words of recommendation from the Lord, I believe we could close some of the gap between how Jesus lived and how we live and act.  Righteousness means doing the right thing, in a desire to follow after God's commands for our lives.  To practice Justice and Deal Faithfully entails some works. From these verses I see that Christians should be feeding the poor, sitting w/ the lonely, healing the sick, clothing the naked and hanging out with people who are less fortunate than us.  Our love, with is derived from Christ's love should be overflowing to the point of flooding the lost, dark and dying world we live in. I suggest that if a few million Christians would start acting in this manner (how Christ lived when he was here on earth) we could literally change the world in a matter of months.

Pillars of Protection and Excellence

I have heard the saying "He is a pillar in the community" many times.  I have always read it or heard it and just kept going.  I haven't really thought too much about what that saying means until recently.  A pillar is a heavy duty object that upholds something else.  It can be used to provide a support and stability to a pier, a building or other structure.  A person who is a pillar is one who is an ideal, who supports and upholds a community and provides stability.

We would all agree that the more solid pillars that are involved in a building project the more stable and safe the building will be.  A building with 10 pillars is going to be more stable and safe than a similar building with only 8 pillars.  The more the better.  We could also agree that certain buildings will require more pillars than others.  The amount of needed pillars will vary from one building to another depending on many factors like foundations, types of weather and other demands that will be placed upon the building.

I want to apply the idea of a Pillar to the concept of parenting, teaching, coaching and leading young people.  The young people we come into contact with throughout our week as teachers, coaches, youth workers, and community leaders all are in need of pillars in their lives.  And the more the better.  Some will require more than others, but all young people need pillars. Pillars are sources of help, stability and protection.

My theory is that the more strong, quality pillars that a young person has in their lives, the more likely they are to succeed in transitioning from a teenager into a productive, outstanding adult.

Who can be a pillar for a young person?  Most importantly are the young person's parents.  Kids who come from homes with two parents are far more likely to succeed statistically speaking.  Not every family is blessed to have a two parent home.  These kids need to be around a larger amount of non-parental pillars.  Success can and should still be achieved by the young person, regardless of their home life.  Not only do parents need to be pillars for their children, they have the responsibility of placing their children in a place to be influenced by other pillars.  Other great pillars are grandparents and aunts/uncles.  When these close family members are invested in being a pillar to their young relative great gain can be had.

Non-Family pillars are a great source of strength for the young person.  These can include coaches, pastors, youth leaders, teachers and other community sources.  Employers can be a great source of help and stability to a young person as well as they begin looking for a career path.

As a coach, teacher, youth leader please be a pillar in the lives of the young people you are around.  Bless them with your time, insights and care.  You cannot do the job alone, but you can be a major source of comfort and blessing to young people.  You can fill their lives with stability, love and care.  You are called to make a difference in their lives.

We cannot accurately determine (like an algebraic formula) with certainty how a young person will turn out based on the pillars.  Sociologists can make predictions and find averages.  However, many young people with few pillars will excel (Like Dr. Ben Carson), while other young people with a seemingly unlimited supply of pillars will fail.  Ultimately it is up to the young person to make the choices that will shape their lives.  Hopefully, with the right amount of pillars they can be guided into a life of excellence.