To all our highly valued clients and acquaintances:
For this month’s issue of “Taking Yourself to the Next Level”, I will be sharing a few notes from Willow Creek Leadership Summit 2009. As I have done in recent years after attending conferences, I want to share a set of key points from the various presenters.
This is the 2nd year that I have attended this Leadership Summit, which is now Willow Creek’s 15th Summit. This one exceeded my experience of the previous 2008 Summit and plans for the 2010 Summit make it sound like a “must attend”. Jack Welch is confirmed.
While unofficial notes, I hope it offers you a flavor for what this is all about, with the diverse exposure of Leadership Principles and Practices from serious people from all walks of life. All for your consideration and future discussion/planning/collaborating.
FYI – 120,000+ leaders from throughout the world participated at various satellite sites. While designed for ministry leaders, I think these ideas can serve as true for us as well.
Pastor Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church
we are all leading in a new reality – not sure if we are ever going to experience the new normal ever again - storms require constant action at the helm – what can we learn in a downturn? A lot of learning to do – plan for worst case scenarios, forced by financial realities - uncertainty is horrifying for people - this might be the new reality
make sure we have and are providing adequate replenishment strategies for depleted conditions - what do you clients and colleagues see when they look at you?
are you filled with life and peace? Or are you exhausted and fearful?
We may need a planned negligence strategy – a not-to-do list
Jack Welch – “the kindest form of management is the truth”
Gary Hamel - Author of “Leading the Revolution: How to Thrive in Turbulent Times by Making Innovation a Way of Life”
Are we in the vanguard or are we the old guard? Are we innovating and adapting?
Pace of change is hypercritical – churches are islands of spiritual vitality
Need to change the way we change – overcome temptation to take refuge in denial
It delays renewal and can last for decades – we need to inoculate ourselves against denial, face the facts - Bill Gates once said “Microsoft is always 2 years away from failure”
The future has already happened – and it’s unevenly distributed.
Acorn analogy – many acorns on the ground to get one oak tree – likewise with ideas
Generate tons of crazy ideas – we need to diverge before we can converge
The biggest question for us to ask ourselves? How can we increase our impact?
Be careful for mistaking edge of your rut for horizon – innovate all the time and fight bureaucracy – for ex, let’s take a look at google policy - get to be a leader when you are asked – anyone can say no to any request – then flat out focus on what they commit to do
Head-snapping change – most organizations not adaptable, malleable and expandable
strength of the ideas carry the day - authority comes from value-added
Need to re-invent how we manage and lead – possible to be the most vibrant, adaptable
Learn how to take a little and make much – role of leaders is to equip your team/members
Time for us to have our finest hour – nothing is impossible to those who believe
Relationships trump visions – time to be “relationaries” in order to be revolutionaries
David Gergen – author of “Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership Nixon to Clinton”
Considers himself a reflective practitioner and a student of the presidency
“Not every reader is a leader but every leader is a reader”
Sometimes leaders confuse motion with progress
one of easiest things to do is to fool ourselves - to pull the wool over our own eyes
as a student of history, the farther back we can see, the farther forward we can see
WWII vets tempered by war – sense of common sacrifice and sense of humor
Theory, for centuries – great leaders carry with them great flaws
Growing maturity is coming to terms with our flaws – 1st thing is self-awareness
Have to be realistic that most won’t cover their flaws – need to keep them at bay
Alignment of public and private life – military very demanding about this - many great public leaders have messy private lives – how do we square public life with private life?
One of the hardest questions discussed in the classrooms at Harvard (where he teaches)
Leadership doesn’t have to be lonely – “the days of the lone ranger are over” – Bennis
Leaders should have teams – got to learn how to partner and collaborate.
“if you want to go fast, go alone – if you want to go far, go together”
Leadership is working together for shared goals - function of trust and communication
Increasingly, the demand on us is who are we going to listen to in all of this cacophony
Be straight, authentic, rooted, competent, clear, simple – know what you’re talking about
Personal habits of leaders matter a lot – self-discipline applies to way you lead your life
Be with people you cherish and who cherish you – social relationships key
Important to have good anchors in life – ego can get very large as you succeed
Hubris is a great quality for living too close to the sun
Be the change – blessed to inherit this world, this fire – bring another log to the fire
Tony Blair – former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Normal person in an abnormal situation – felt compelled to step out
Saying what I knew they did not want to hear
We got to change – not a message we want to hear – come from an irreducible core
Most of us want to be liked – can’t yield on your stand duty you owe them
Be prepared to walk away – not petulant – got to continually question if I am right
If the facts change, change our mind – have doubt? Then deep reflection & consideration
Never easy – decide and do versus just commentary – got to be prepared to adjust
Keep sustained aim w enormous strength & courage – play increasing role in 21st Century
Negotiating? Let’s go back to work on how we can all find common ground
Crisis? Get the facts - make management decisions in clinical way – speak w constituents
Process pain and disappointment by counting your blessing – it’s a privilege to do the job
Stand up and get out there – count your blessings – what are you complaining about?
Leadership is a blessing – a gift you can use to help others – worth doing, if you can
Without the leader, things don’t get done – joy makes it worth it
Pastor Bill Hybels –
Paint pictures for people to aspire to, with long-term effects and benefits – suggest:
- Daily to prepare for the day - leaders need fresh inspiration everyday
- Commit to reading 30 minutes per day for rest of your life – something substantial
- Review your replenishment strategy
Should you be a little worried about yourself? Net gain or net depletion?
- Infusing leadership development into some people
- Make this Summit profoundly profitable –
work with resource refinement – work with what you have
your life matters – this is not the pre-game – this is the game to fight for God
intensely personal decision to fight hard
I love being with other leaders – the challenge of it is very cool
Make plans that will give you life & peace and make plans that will change the world
That’s it!! Your rigorous feedback & thoughtful comments are whole-heartedly welcome.
Feel free to pass this on - we appreciate our relationship & thank you for keeping engaged and allowing us to be of service – til the next time we connect, we are…
Always looking to serve you with productive and revenue generating ideas.
Coach Don
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