Barnabas File

We cannot motivate others.     We can provide an environment in which people can become motivated, but real motivation comes from within.     In the same way, a leader cannot make people into innovators.  If this is true, then what is the role of the leader in innovation?  How much can a leader do to foster innovation among others?   Alec Horniman is the Killgallon Ohio Art Professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, teaching in the areas of ethics, strategy and leadership.  He suggests three actions that a leader can do to foster innovation.  First, invite people to join the process of innovation.  The innovative leader invites others along on the journey. He or she is not only a role model but a resource, sharing experiences and opportunities.  An innovative leader invites others to be part of the process and to learn together.  An innovative leader does...

When times get tough, what is the source of your strength?   In this readable book , Mike Flynt suggests twelve strategies to identify and maximize sources of personal strength.   As a Christian, Flynt begins with one’s relationship to God, who God has created each of us to be, and the joy of building on those discoveries to create a life. He uses personal examples, biblical references, and stories about historical and sports figures to illustrate his strategies for operating out of one's "power base." There is little new in the book but what sets it apart is the author himself.   Expelled from college before he could compete as a football player in his senior year, Flynt went on to construct a meaningful life with a loving wife and family, success as a strength coach, and the founder of a company.   He always regretted his failure as a college athlete, however, and returned to Sul Ross State University, his alma mater, to compete in collegiate football at ...

Candles, art, textures, prayer, scripture—all are ways to experience God.   As part of our church’s Lenten observance this year, members have the opportunity to participate in twelve “experiential prayer stations” that utilize all of these.   Tucked away on a quiet upper floor of an educational building, the stations provide the chance for individuals to take a few minutes to reflect, pray, and experience the presence of God in the midst of the busyness of life.    Many of the experiences are rooted in ancient disciplines of the Christian faith. As I participated in several of the prayer stations on Sunday morning, I was struck most of all by the process.   Although I had the opportunity to “pull away” for a time, the experiences not only connected me with God but reminded me of the value that God has placed on this world.   I came away with a new appreciation of how God has embraced humankind through Jesus Christ. This look to the past is also a...

In Becoming a Coaching Leader , Daniel Harkavy points out each of us contributes something unique to our organization.   He refers to these as “high payoff activities.”   These are the things that each of us offers that “bring the greatest value to your organization, team, or customer.”   Harkavy argues, of course, that we should seek to maximize these skills for the benefit of ourselves and others. The big challenge for ministerial leaders is identifying these activities and then giving them priority.   Most pastors would argue that preaching is a key activity that has great consequences in the life of the congregation.   The pastor is most highly visible when it comes time to step into the pulpit and share a word (hopefully) from the Lord.   I rarely find a pastor, however, who does not recount how hard it is to find the time to read, study, and pray in order to prepare their sermons.   Too many other things get in the way.   There are fe...

How do you measure success?  For many, it is a nice house, functional car(s), and a well-stocked refrigerator and pantry.  Just to have these things makes us richer than the majority of people in the world.  Of course, we don’t stop there.  We would like our share of electronics, opportunities to eat out on a regular basis, a few “toys” (name your favorite), and a variety of entertainment options.  If we are a bit more introspective, we will share our desire for personal health, good family or friend relationships, a challenging vocation, and a growing relationship with God. If I asked you to prepare a list of things that make one successful, you would pretty quickly come up some of the things I have already noted.  In doing this exercise, we describe our preferred reality, the type of life we work to create despite economic downturns, sickness, catastrophes, and relocations.  There is nothing inherently wrong with this, but this perception of r...

Every day we make choices—what will we do, with whom will we spend our time, what we will purchase. We have a tendency to prioritize these decisions, seeing some as more important than others. In this motivational book, author Andy Andrews challenges the reader to consider that everything matters. He writes, “When you know that everything matters—that every move counts as much as any other—you will begin living a life of permanent purpose.” Andrews goes on to provide brief accounts of individuals who made a decision—large or small—that had significant and beneficial consequences. The stories are well told and inspiring. Of course, Andrews makes a number of assumptions and sees some actions as “the” turning point in history, but even he acknowledges that each decision is the consequence of any number of prior decisions. We assume the importance of some events, but we are not omniscient, so we are really only speculating. I found the book an interesting and quick read with an encour...