Barnabas File

Leadership has been a popular topic of discussion down through the ages.  There has been an ebb and flow of emphases—authoritarian vs. participative; task vs. relational and many more. Take your choice.   A recent graphic by Kavit Haria that caught my attention exemplifies two contemporary approaches to leadership.  Haria suggests that many people tend to think that leadership is two things:  giving orders and always having an answer.  He then presents a broader understanding of what leadership  actually  is.  Here are his suggestions:     Making people feel safe.  Individuals contribute more to an organization when they feel that they are safe physically, intellectually, and professionally.  If a person fears or dreads coming to work, something is wrong.  A feeling of safety facilitates participation and personal investment.   Coaching.  A good leader calls forth...

Abraham Lincoln is reported to have said: “If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.” Stephen Covey in his   The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People  changed this to “Sharpen your saw.”     But even earlier, the author of Ecclesiastes wrote, If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.” (10:10, NIV).    The Message has, “Remember: “The duller the ax the harder the work; use your head: the more brains, the less muscle.”   The basic idea behind the quote and the story is that we must spend time preparing to accomplish the tasks at hand.  What does this mean for us in these volatile times that challenge our capacity and resilience?  Let me share some ideas.   First, Rest.  In addition to an adequate amount of sleep each night, seize the opportunity during the da...

Leaders will often say that the people in their organization are its most important asset.     Many probably believe this.     As I have been thinking about the development of clergy leaders, I wonder if lay and denominational leaders believe this.     Is there sufficient investment in retaining, developing, and maintain clergy leaders?      In his book  The Systems Leader , Robert E. Siegel suggests that investing in staff should be a priority concern. Let’s look at his observations and apply them to our church and denominational settings.   First, Siegel observes that it is cheaper and easier to retrain that replace. He writes, “Studies show that it often costs less to reskill a current employee than to recruit, hire, and train a new one. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, finding and training a new employee can cost as much as six to nine months of their salary.”    This means reskilling existing pe...

We often talk about the value of coaches and mentors in professional development but give little attention to the value of peers in helping us achieve what we are seeking.   In The Career Game Loop , author Jessica Lindl emphasizes the importance of peers to our development.  They can be older, younger, or the same age.  The key is that you share a desire to learn and grow, and you are willing to make a mutual commitment to the relationship.  Peers can provide both accountability and inspiration.    Peers can hold each other accountable by giving attention to the following:   Setting goals.  We can share with our peer where we are and where we want to be, then articulating both specific goals and timelines to achieve them.   Sharing progress. We need to keep in touch regularly with our peer to motivate us to make headway between conversations.   Asking for feedback.  Questions and feedback from a peer can he...

When I began coaching, my colleague Mark Tidsworth introduced me to the concept of “positive psychology.”  I have come to appreciate how this approach, pioneered by Martin Seligman and others, can enrich and inform my coaching.   Basically, positive psychology is like the "glass half full" approach to understanding people. Instead of just focusing on what's wrong with us, it's all about what makes us feel good and live a good life.   Think of it this way:   It's not just about fixing problems:  It's about figuring out what makes us happy and how to get more of that. It's about our strengths:  Instead of dwelling on our weaknesses, it looks at what we're good at and how we can use those things. Happy feelings matter:  It looks at why feeling things like joy and gratitude are important. Getting lost in the moment is good:  That feeling when you're totally absorbed in something you love? That's important for feeling good. Friends are key:  Good ...

I am not an apologist for social media—it can be divisive, time-consuming, and distasteful. Even so, I continue to post regularly on Facebook.    Here are my reasons:   Posting reminds me to celebrate the good things of life—family, friends, special occasions.  I am reminded of the blessings of present and past relationships.  That’s why you will see lots of pictures of my grandchildren and great grandchildren!   Posting allows me to connect with a large community of people with both similar and diverse opinions.  Many of these are trusted friends and colleagues. I want to maintain that contact, not matter how tenuous. Posting is a way to encourage others.  I share scripture, key quotes, and ideas that have caught my attention.  There’s enough negativity out there; let’s encourage each other with positive ideas. Posting gives me the opportunity to teach.  That may sound a bit presumptuous, but I consider mys...