Author: wes

The Legacy We Leave

As much as we may not think about it, our legacies aren’t solely written after we pass away (or leave). Our legacies are the continuation of the story we live each day.

Share this:
Share

Anniversaries are interesting. It’s been a year since my grandfather passed away. I’ve found myself reflecting a lot on the past year, on his legacy, and on how my life is impacted by his legacy.

Legacies are a funny thing. As much as we may not think about it, our legacies aren’t solely written after we pass away (or leave). Our legacies are the continuation of the story we live each day. That means you and I are writing our legacies today.

What legacy are you writing today?

Last year I wrote a reflection on the passing of my grandfather. You can read a snippet below, or go ahead and click here to read the whole thing.

And there stood my granddad. The conductor. The orchestrator of it all. It never occurred to me that my granddad loved to play with trains. They were just there. He was the one in charge. But he was the one who loved to share the experience with me. It was a shared experience for us. It was one of the first things I showed my oldest the first time we visited his house. And something my girls still know about him.

Go here for the rest.

Lessons from the Bottom Bunk, Pt 2

I didn’t feel like I was holding everything close to the vest, but there was a reality taking place that I didn’t acknowledge: I was trying to do too much.

Share this:
Share

Well, my intent for the previous 2 weeks didn’t quite work out. Apparently camp keeps me busy. Who knew? Now, a few reflections from 2 weeks of camp, back to back.

“You look like you have a lot on your plate. Why don’t you let me help you with some of it?”

Those were the words spoken to me on day 4 of youth camp. I didn’t feel like I was holding everything close to the vest, but there was a reality taking place that I didn’t acknowledge until we got home: I was trying to do too much.

The abbreviated details are this: we had the largest group of students and adults I had ever taken to camp, and I was trying to address issues as though the group was half the size it really was. Little details I have handled for almost 2 decades of taking groups to camp were falling through the cracks because I picked up more and more, and I didn’t hand enough off.

Thankfully, the adults with me were understanding and gracious. And in letting “something” go, that “something” didn’t happen as quickly or efficiently as I would have done myself, but it still got done. It was accomplished without a hangup, and well enough that I honestly can’t remember what the “something” was.

So, here’s the lesson: learn to let go. Bless someone else by letting them be involved. Your (or my) incessant desire to be the one handling all the details is actually a hindrance to our growth. Do the things only you can do, then find someone to help with the rest. There’s usually someone willing to help, but they don’t always come to you first. Sometimes you have to ask.

If you want to grow as a leader. Learn to let go. Or, put another way, start answering the 3rd question: Who can I get to help?

Take a moment today and ask yourself: what do you need to release, and who can you ask to help with it?

Lessons from the Bottom Bunk, pt 1

The most important part of any camp schedule is what’s not written in the schedule.

Share this:
Share

I’m spending two weeks at camp, so I thought I would share some insight from 18 years of being a camp sponsor. Share any tips you might have in the comments!

The most important part of any camp schedule is what’s not written in the schedule.

The youth camp we go to is easily one of my favorites for many reasons. But one of the best: there’s unofficially scheduled down time. That means there are a lot of gaps. It’s not a crazily paced day designed to wear everyone out. It’s designed to make the most of the time we have, but it’s also easy to miss.

That’s why you have to make the most of the schedule. Find the gaps and use them for conversations. Linger at a meal, sharing stories and laughter. Sit in the shade, making observations about life. Dominate 9 square, getting accused of being a bully. Okay, maybe that last one isn’t the best use of time.

But the truth is the same.

Any good camp will have downtime. And sometimes the downtime provides the best opportunities for life changing conversation. Keep that in mind.

Don’t miss out on 3 Question Leadership posts! Click here to subscribe!

The Why of Leadership Development

When it comes to leadership and leadership development, I feel like I have way more blanks than answers. I look at my own development and see where I fall short. I look at how I’m developing students and see where I fall short. I look at how I’m developing adults and see where I fall short.

Share this:
Share

I’m going to go out on a limb and confess something today. I don’t have everything figured out.

When it comes to leadership and leadership development, I feel like I have way more blanks than answers. I look at my own development and see where I fall short. I look at how I’m developing students and see where I fall short. I look at how I’m developing adults and see where I fall short.

And in that moment I’m faced with a decision that I think every one of us faces: what comes next? What’s my response going to be to admitting my seemingly insurmountable shortfalls? What am I willing to do about the need that I see?

I’m going to do something. It may be the right thing. It may be the wrong thing. It may be just in time, or way too early. But the worst thing I can do is no-thing.

Leadership development is one of the most challenging things I do: It’s fluid. It’s elusive. It’s not easy. It’s exhausting. It’s frustrating. It’s never fully done.

So why do I stick with it?

Because it’s also one of the most rewarding things I do.

When a student catches the vision of the influence they have in a moment, something powerful happens. When they step up to realize the difference they can make in the lives of their peers, classmates, teammates, coworkers, parents, and teachers, lives begin to change.

So today I ask you a simple question: What are you doing to develop leaders around you? My context puts me in touch with students (and adults), so that’s my focus. What’s yours? Who in your realm of influence needs a leader cheering them on? What are you waiting for?

Who Sets the Target?

As leaders, I don’t think we have to trick people into accomplishing a task, but I do think our role becomes one of setting the target, or inviting people into the conversation as we seek to set the target.

Share this:
Share

When my girls were younger and in the “I don’t want to eat all of my food stage”, I would try to trick them. When they got to what they thought would be the end of their meal, I would say, “why don’t you take three more bites?”. From there, I would repeat the challenge until their food was gone. Eventually they caught on, but the effectiveness was surprising.

We had different targets. Their target was to finish eating as quick as possible and get back to playing. My target was their health.

As leaders, I don’t think we have to trick people into accomplishing a task, but I do think our role becomes one of setting the target, or inviting people into the conversation as we seek to set the target.

If we as leaders don’t at least help define what we’re aiming for, then the people we lead will decide instead. Letting someone else decide the target may not always be a bad thing, but you always run the risk that they will choose something that is actually the opposite of the progress of the ministry.

If our goal is to grow disciples, then having the best video games may not be the win.

If our goal is to impact our community, then having the cleanest space may not be the win.

If our goal is to lead people to worship, then having the best a/v system may not be the win.

But unless we take the time to communicate the target for which we’re aiming, we run the risk of wasted effort.

Andy Stanley talks about this as “Clarifying the Win” (you can listen to a conversation on this here, and it’s worth your time!).

At the end of the day, you have been placed in a leadership position for a reason. Take the necessary steps to make sure everyone you lead is on the same page and moving in the same direction. this happens most naturally by making sure you choose, clarify, and communicate the target at which you’re aiming.

WP to LinkedIn Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com