Language Matters.

Learned:  Your effectiveness as a leader will hinge on something as “inconsequential” as word choice.

Action:  Spend more time developing my vocabulary.

Take Away: John Maxwell speaks and everyone writes it down. Chris Rock says, “One word is going to be the difference in how big your laugh is.” (Nov Sky Magazine pg 62.)  How much time was spent on the line “Real life change happens in the context of relationship”  so that Hunter in my small group would be quoting pastor Chris Hodges.

Thinking that getting the general idea across will be good enough is no longer good enough for me.  If great leaders focus on their words then I will too.

Making the Big Ask.

“Asking is a significant part of Hybels leadership role.” Pg 21

2. Learned:  “The ask” only gets bigger as you grow in ministry.  Focus on growth in this area or your ministry will not grow.  Asking  can build relationships.    If done right, you honor the other person by asking.

2. Action: Use this chapter when talking about the “Big Ask” with church planters.  Be a better asker.

Speed of the Leader, Speed of the Team

3. Learned:   Leaders must never expect from others anything more than they’re willing to deliver themselves.   When someone wonders how joyful they should be in their jobs, all they should have to do is observe the leaders level of joy.  If I can’t be joyful then those I lead will not be either.

3. Action:  Like John Maxwell says, “I must first learn to lead myself well.”

Bill Hybels’ Style

4. Learned: These Axioms are  Hybels life experiences.  The book wasn’t some theory “if you do x then y.”  He used stories from his life to show why he leads the ways he does.

4. Action: Use stories when coaching church planters.

Admit Mistakes, and Your Stock Goes Up

5. Learned:  When something goes wrong admit it and take responsibility for it.  Admitting your mistakes says something about your integrity as a leader.  Early on he felt like he had to prove himself. This lead to scrabbling behind the scenes and just made life harder. Now he just shoots straight as soon as he realizes he screwed up.  It shows his confidence as a leader.

5. Action:  Admit when I blow it.

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