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Monday, April 16, 2018

Light It Up!

This is is my third blog on a common theme. It might have the most practical application for leaders who want to make any real impact.

Following an interview with Reggie McNeal on his book, Kingdom Collaborators, I could see a straight line from his ministry orientation to the work of community organizers. So I blogged on that two weeks ago.

Then I saw parallels to the recent student led protests by David Hogg and his Parkland High School alums. Definitely some prospects for future community organizers. That was last week’s blog.

Today I’m going to share a summary of the “Eight Signature Practices of Leaders Who Turn the World Upside Down” from McNeal’s book. I’m using an excellent summary of a talk by Reggie McNeal to about 50 congregational and ministry team leaders at the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Christa Meland gave me permission to use her summary. (Article link below)

Here is the way Reggie McNeal described eight characteristics of leaders who are kingdom-centered rather than church-centered. They are:

  1. Kingdom leaders pray with one eye open. They’re not trying to shut out the world while they pray. Instead, they have the world in the cross-hairs of prayer efforts. Their prayers are informed by what’s happening in world.
  2. Kingdom leaders agitate well. They don’t just get people riled up—they get people riled up to do something. They are intentional about agitating for justice and joy. They are great about selling a problem around which people can rally to work toward a solution.
  3. Kingdom leaders combine social and spiritual entrepreneurship. If you want to help eliminate hunger in your community, for example, get different volunteers to help people find housing, locate jobs, and provide meals to children so they’re well-nourished and can focus at school.
  4. Kingdom leaders marry vision with action. They don’t just sell a passion; they build on ramps for people to get involved in it. They answer the question “So, what should I do?”
  5. Kingdom leaders shape a people-development culture. They constantly help people live a better life. It’s not how many people are in worship or participating in church activities. They measure success by the number of people who are living more abundantly as a result of their efforts.
  6. Kingdom leaders curate curiosity. McNeal cited Don Clifton, a United Methodist minister who developed the StrengthsFinder tool. His insatiable curiosity about what would happen if we focused on what was right with people instead of what’s wrong with them led him to develop a resource that’s been used by about twelve million people nationwide.
  7. Kingdom leaders call the party. Having built relationships in their community, they can easily convene a crowd. Following their passion to do something, they know how to get people around a table to make it happen. They know that leadership is not just positional, it’s personal.
  8. Kingdom leaders maintain a pain-tinged optimism. McNeal said Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech avoided a focus on what was wrong in the world; it painted a picture of a more hopeful future. All great kingdom leaders, in moments of rest, carry the pain of something that still isn’t right or needs to be done. But they convey hope because hope inspires. Dreams and hope are a vestige of the Kingdom of God.

Keep in mind Reggie McNeal wrote Kingdom Collaborators for a ministry-minded audience. Certainly his eight characteristics apply to leaders of both for-profit and non-profit organizations wanting to make a difference. And especially for community organizers.

Jesus said, “You are the world’s light—it is impossible to hide a town built on the top of a hill. Men do not light a lamp and put it under a bucket. They put it on a lamp-stand and it gives light for everybody in the house. Let your light shine like that in the sight of men. Let them see the good things you do and praise your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, Phillips)

There are your marching orders. Light it up!

That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.

Let’s Talk with Mark Elfstrand can be heard weekdays from 4-6 PM Central. To listen outside the Chicago area, tune to www.1160hope.com for live streaming or podcasts, or download the AM1160 app.

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Monday, April 9, 2018

Be a Nehemiah!

Watch out for David Hogg!

You know the guy, right? Following the tragic Parkland school shooting in Florida, David was one of several students from that school who became the voice for demanding change in our culture. From my perspective, the only plea for change that was offered that seemed to matter to him was gun control. Wise people know our cultural problems run much deeper.

Nonetheless, David has became a popular media “go to” person to urge action. He’s a young man of passion. I’d say he’s fairly well spoken except for the vulgarities that he can’t resist using to belittle those who miss his message. Or who disagree. His national platform on television and in other media no doubt has given him star-like quality among his peers. It’s just too bad it comes at the expense of those who have lost their lives at Parkland.

David Hogg drew more national attention recently when it was learned that despite his ambitions for future education, he faced some rejection. It’s not his grades. He carries a 4.2 GPA and had an SAT score of 1270. David’s preferred fields of study would be journalism, political science, or photography. And so he applied to a half-dozen universities with programs that matched his interests toward a career as a journalist or filmmaker. Three of his college applications were rejected. Three were accepted.

As the New York Times reported, “The Parkland students are a case study in civic engagement. They are among the leaders of the #NeverAgain movement, collectively delivering fiery speeches that demand change, promoting their message on social media and organizing the March for Our Lives rally…Much of their leadership and community work, driven by the loss of classmates and friends, might not have been considered in the college admission process.”

Hmmm. I know the perfect career for David Hogg. Community organizer. Last week, my blog focused on what that job looks like and the man who achieved the most from this role by becoming president of the United States. Barack Obama.

Catch this description from the website Socialworkdegreeguide.com: “By most definitions, community organizing is a specialized field in social work that is devoted to restoring democracy at the grassroots level and energizing citizens to become a more active member of their society. Community organizing focuses on fixing broken social systems, bringing about meaningful changes to peoples’ lives, and empowering vulnerable or oppressed populations. Community organizing has the goal of uniting local citizens around a common concern, ranging from preventing crime and reducing toxic wastes to fighting prejudice and creating community-building projects.”

What does that sound like? To me, it sounds like David Hogg. At least at this stage of his life.

Until I saw the story about David in the New York Times last week, I had planned on relating how this endeavor known as Community Organizer has a definite connection to giving vision for Kingdom Building. But I will wait one more week to share those insights.

In the meantime, I’m reminded of several very strong community organizers in the Bible. Moses being one of them—albeit reluctantly. And then there was Nehemiah–a man who led the charge in rebuilding the city of Jerusalem after the fall seventy years earlier. In this case, it was the people who were reluctant to rebuild in the face of opposition. But Nehemiah inspired the people to a great achievement. Just like a community organizer would.

Take time to read the short Bible book of Nehemiah. It might inspire you in your job to take new steps at improving your world. Even if it’s from inside a cubicle wall.

P.S.: Next week I’ll be sure to share more on Reggie McNeal’s Kingdom Collaborators: Eight Signature Practices of Leaders Who Turn the World Upside Down.

That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.

Let’s Talk with Mark Elfstrand can be heard weekdays from 4-6 PM Central. To listen outside the Chicago area, tune to www.1160hope.com for live streaming or podcasts, or download the AM1160 app.

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Monday, April 2, 2018

Community Organizer

Of all the opportunities in the work world, I’ve never heard a little boy or girl dream of being a community organizer. I certainly didn’t dream of such. And neither did any of my friends. Frankly, no high school counselor I’ve met encourages a young person that direction.

In one sense, that is a bit surprising. Community organizers are people of influence. Or at least they hope to be. A person might even pursue this in college once it’s known as a viable profession. I learned this from the website, Social Work Degree Guide. (Link below)

In response to the question, “What does a Community Organizer Do?,” we read, “After earning a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree with a concentration in macro community practice, some graduates choose to pursue their interests in community empowerment and program development by becoming a community organizer…. In short, community organizers are responsible for uniting people to work together to solve social problems and make the world a better place.”

Sounds useful. But what do you actually DO on a daily basis? Apparently, the skill set involves being a good listener. You would need to focus on building social organizations. Creating options and alternatives. The community organizer must be a strategic thinker, a good recruiter, and fundraiser. There are member meetings and training sessions requiring attention as well. The objective end is to build a group of people or an institution to “work toward a common goal through collective action.”

Now that the stage is set, who is the most well known community organizer of the last thirty years? I would hope one name would immediately come to mind: Barack Obama. Some have called him the “Community Organizer in Chief.” 

In December 1995, reporter Hank De Zutter of the Chicago Reader wrote a definitive lead in an article entitled "What Makes Obama Run?" He stated, “Lawyer, teacher, philanthropist, and author Barack Obama doesn't need another career. But he's entering politics to get back to his true passion–community organization.”

In Barack Obama’s own words, “It wasn’t until I moved to Chicago and became a community organizer that I think I really grew into myself in terms of my identity. … I connected in a very direct way with the African-American community in Chicago.” This was quoted in David J. Garrow’s book on the former president, Rising Star.

Regardless of your political views, it is certainly apparent that President Obama learned this trade. He developed a mastery of building relationships and connections. It helped him build a team that took him on quite a journey.

What sparked my interest in this topic? A recent guest on my talk show. Reggie McNeal is a long time pastor and church leader. He is currently working with a group out of Minnesota that thrives on making a difference. McNeal’s bio reads, “Currently, Reggie is working with community leaders around the country to build cross-domain collaborative efforts that can move the needle on big societal issues.”

What does this sound like? To me, it sounds like a variation of the theme of being a community organizer. Reggie’s latest book is titled, Kingdom Collaborators: Eight Signature Practices of Leaders Who Turn the World Upside Down.

As I discussed his involvement in community change and his passion to help the church look at a bigger picture of living out the Kingdom of God, I saw a powerful way to revisit spreading the Gospel. What began in the first century church and became a movement made much more sense.

In my next blog, I want to share the eight practices he mentions. I think they offer far reaching possibilities to live out the Great Commission, “Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do all the things I have told you.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NLV)

For all I know, this may inspire you to become a Kingdom-driven community organizer. I hope so.

That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.

Let’s Talk with Mark Elfstrand can be heard weekdays from 4-6 PM Central. To listen outside the Chicago area, tune to www.1160hope.com for live streaming or podcasts, or download the AM1160 app.

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Monday, March 26, 2018

#NeedWisdom

Twitter is not my thing. At least, not yet. We tweet at the office for the radio program, but even though I have a Twitter account, I’m virtually tweetless.

However, even non-Twitter types have become very familiar with the use of so-called “hashtags”—as in #MeToo. That Twitter and Facebook item has become a rallying point around self-identifying announcements by thousands upon thousands that sexual harassment has impacted them. And the conscience of America has been awakened.

Would one expect that any workplace is immune from this problem? It is not. Including the workplace known as “the church.”

I will not delve into what I see in terms of abuse in religions outside of one—the Christian faith. A simple web search on priest abuse reveals multiple stories. I’m not going to focus there either. I’m sticking to my own family of Protestants.

The past two weeks have brought difficult and highly problematic news stories to the public eye about some faith groups and gifted church leaders. Mark Galli is the editor-in-chief of Christianity Today. He wrote a powerful editorial about a troubled organization known as Sovereign Grace Ministries in which he calls for an “independent investigation” into alleged “child sexual abuse and staff cover-up.” (A link on his story is below.)

Let me quote a most troublesome observation by Mark Galli: “Many now wonder if there has been a habit of covering up and denying child and sexual abuse in evangelical churches in general—if there is something in the evangelical DNA that makes us hesitant to deal with accusations quickly, openly, and truthfully when there is the suspicion of grave sin in our midst.” That…is painful.

Two other recent stories from Christianity Today reveal different, but equally painful, situations. It inspired the headline writer to suggest: #ChurchToo. One story involves Andy Savage, who has been serving as teaching pastor at Highpoint Church in Memphis. It’s a megachurch that ministers to thousands.

Many years ago, Savage was involved in youth ministry in Houston. He became “too friendly” with one of the students. Despite his repentance at the time and requesting forgiveness, the victim felt the church was mostly unresponsive to what happened. Recently, after #MeToo gained traction, she spoke out against the Andy Savage abuse in 1998 while claiming she is still haunted by it.

Her concerns were raised publicly. The story gained wide attention. Highpoint Church backed their pastor. But recently, Andy Savage resigned.

The third story, which is complicated and still evolving, centered around the incredible visionary and church leader Bill Hybels, here in Chicago. There is flat denial of charges of sexual misconduct by Bill. But there are very credible sources claiming a different story. Again, a Christianity Today link can be found below.

The trail of pain, and the cost of desires gone wrong, is impossible to calculate. Moreover, there is a need of insight and guidance by church leadership in dealing with such matters. Grace and justice are wrestling in conflict.

These are not new problems in the church. Words of warning have been given to us often by the apostle Paul. One of the hardest verses of Scripture to live by is 1 Corinthians 10:13: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

May God give all of His Kingdom workers the strength to live by that verse. Especially in these days, we must seek God’s guidance…daily. Call it a #NeedWisdom moment.

That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.

Let’s Talk with Mark Elfstrand can be heard weekdays from 4-6 PM Central. To listen outside the Chicago area, tune to www.1160hope.com for live streaming or podcasts, or download the AM1160 app.

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Monday, March 19, 2018

Rank and Yank

Organizations that have a very high priority on winning see personnel transition as an unfortunate part of the game. Witness the hubbub over the seeming revolving door at the White House and with the Trump appointments. This past week we saw the termination of the Secretary of State and rumors of possible departures of the President’s National Security Advisor and White House Chief of Staff. ABC News reported this week that barely more than a year into the Trump administration, more than a dozen notable members of both the White House and the administration at large have left their posts.

Let’s face it. Donald Trump likes to win. And he’s willing to part ways with talented people to put a team together that he feels best suits his leadership style and preferences.

Why is media shocked by this? It happens in every administration, but perhaps not to this degree. Transitioning a government cannot help but be messy.

Before we get too upset with the seeming cutthroat nature of this, I suggest we take a reality check from the world of sports. Or business.

Free agency season in the National Football League just provided more enormous salaries to a fair number of players. Some of them who are not among the greats of the game. But they fill much needed positions. As as result, teams are saying goodbye to some very fine players to meet the team’s “salary cap.”

Look at the Green Bay Packers. This team just cut their talented receiver Jordy Nelson. Upon hearing the news, their top-rated QB Aaron Rodgers created, in essence, an “ode to Jordy Nelson’s departure.”

This annual transition within sports organizations happens every year. And while fans bicker about who should stay and who should leave, there is often little compassion shown to those who go. Why? Winning. It’s all about winning.

And it’s true in business as well. Famed CEO Jack Welch (formerly of General Electric) strongly believed that managers should assess their employees every year. He would have them divide their personnel into three categories: the top 20 percent, the middle 70 percent, and the bottom 10 percent. The Wall Street Journal did a summary of his thinking a while back. (Link below.)

As for those in the top 20 percent, Welch advised management to shower them with “praise, affection, and various and generous financial rewards.” He also advised against the sharing of financial rewards over a much larger group.

As for the middle 70 percent, these team members should be coached and trained and pushed hard with thoughtful goal-setting. All this, hoping that these people would move into the top group. In the words of Jack Welch, “You do not want to lose the vast majority of your middle 70–-you want to improve them.”

And what about that bottom 10 percent? The hardline leader Mr. Welch states, “There is no sugarcoating this. They have to go.” He explained this philosophy in more depth in his 2005 book titled—get ready—Winning.

This practice, of course, has critics referring to this as “rank and yank.” It seems heartless on one level. But the pursuit of championship teams often takes on this mindset.

I belong to a different kind of fellowship. Our leader puts a high price tag to be part of His team. All who seek to follow Him get the same message. Three times in the Gospels in the Bible it’s repeated, “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23, ESV)

But here’s the thing. He welcomes EVERYBODY. And nobody who takes up His cause needs to worry about getting cut. There is no bottom 10 percent.

And oddly enough, in the game of life now and for eternity, Jesus is always the winner.

That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.

Let’s Talk with Mark Elfstrand can be heard weekdays from 4-6 PM Central. To listen outside the Chicago area, tune to www.1160hope.com for live streaming or podcasts, or download the AM1160 app.

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Monday, March 12, 2018

Leader of the Pack

I have a strong admiration for those who pursue a PhD. Compiling a doctoral thesis is an impressive accomplishment. Plus the commitment of education to get there.

Having said this, sometimes I look over written material from these well traveled learners and I think, “That’s pretty basic.” In those cases, I like to try my own hand at moving the discussion forward. Let me give you an example.

Patrick Leddin is a professor (PhD) at Vanderbilt University. He claims also to be a “global consultant” and writer. He recently submitted an article on LinkedIn titled, “5 Communication Behaviors of Great Leaders.”

None of them should be disputed. Here they are:
  1. Choose to address poor performance.
  2. Choose to understand what motivates.
  3. Choose to listen.
  4. Choose to talk straight.
  5. Choose to share perspectives.
True, an organization will soon flounder with a number of poor performers. Move them forward or move them out. I’m confident even not-so-great leaders know this.

Likewise, finding different ways to effectively motivate makes for a dynamic workplace. Good listening habits provide many insights a leader will miss if he or she is doing all the talking. Delivering a message that needs to be said respects the employees right to know. And keeping a culture where creativity thrives (hearing others' perspectives) might deliver your next great opportunity. 

So that is Professor Leddin’s “5 communication behaviors of great leaders.” Here are mine. 

  1. Frequently remind team members why you hired them. This has a two-tiered emphasis. The first is the simple reinforcement that you (or your company) picked the right person for the job. This alone provides the kind of encouragement that motivates. The second gives an opportunity to challenge for great things. Tell the employee of the challenges ahead and why they are capable of delivering results.
  1. Give hope for your company’s future. Great leaders reinforce the value that a company provides and why it serves the marketplace well. Beyond their personal contribution, employees want to believe they serve a worthwhile purpose. They enjoy working in a place that has earned a positive reputation and is advancing. 
  1. Admit organizational missteps. In a world where coverups seem all too common, how refreshing when a company can share with internal (and external markets) that, “We goofed on this one. And we learned from it. Here’s how we’re going to move forward. Fellow employees…help us!”
  1. Demonstrate ways that reveal your company has heart. This is NOT running a campaign for your workers to give time or money toward. It means having a watchdog in place for knowing where individuals within the company need some help. And showing true compassion for giving it. It communicates powerfully.
  1. Convey that you are a leader of vision and maintain a dream. You know the speech. I’m not African American, but the Martin Luther King, Jr., speech “I Have A Dream” is so rich and powerful. Great leaders keep vision alive by sharing that their dreams are still alive. And occasionally asking team members about THEIR dreams.
Not all of the Psalms were written by King David. Some include verses about King David. Here’s the way Asaph describes the gifted leader, “David cared for them with pure motives; he led them with skill.” (Psalm 78:72, NET)

Learning to communicate well is a skill. Pure motives are a matter of the heart. A great leader will embrace both.

That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.

Let’s Talk with Mark Elfstrand can be heard weekdays from 4-6 PM Central. To listen outside the Chicago area, tune to www.1160hope.com for live streaming or podcasts, or download the AM1160 app.

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Monday, March 5, 2018

M & Ms ... Sweet!

You thought I meant candy, didn't you? Those sweet round morsels covered in chocolate. But, no. I meant "multitasking and meditation."

Dan Harris is a broadcaster with ABC. He’s done field reporting, guest hosted Good Morning America, (GMA) and has been the host on Nightline. It was on a GMA program in the spring of 2004 that the unthinkable happened.

Dan Harris had an unexplained panic attack while on national television. As he describes it, “It felt like the world was ending. My heart was thumping. I was gasping for air. I had pretty much lost the ability to speak.” Terrifying. And in front of an audience of millions. You can see clips of this on YouTube.

I can relate in a more limited way to Dan. My first panic attack happened at the age of 19. Certain circumstances would trigger them. Being unable to remove myself from a situation was a baseline trigger.

So, while in Iceland working as a television sportscaster for American Forces, I was on camera nightly. I could manage my panic issues most of the time. A studio remodeling created a more difficult situation. I had to work inside of a small room the size of a closet while staring into a TV camera with a very warm light focused on me. A few times, this inescapable box caused my panic to elevate...but I could not leave.

Interestingly, the panic mode of Dan Harris took him on a search for answers. And this journey has led to several books describing his pursuit of relief and peace. His most recent is titled, Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book.

Two aspects of his journey are worth considering. One involves meditation. The other focuses on our mistaken perception of how we multitask. The two are connected.

Dan Harris has his own approach, which emerged from a study of religions. He follows a method taught by a monk. To keep himself from thought overload, he’s learned to stop multitasking. As Dan tells it, “The term 'multitasking' is a computer term. Unlike computers, we humans only have one processor.” He adds, “We can’t multitask. So we do it to our own detriment.”

It’s interesting that many in Silicon Valley find great relief in meditation. They learn to remove the constant flow of information from so many levels that clog up the brain. Have you been there?

That’s why Dan has re-programmed himself to approach life differently—disciplining his focus to one thing at a time. When someone comes into his office, he’ll turn off his computer and pay attention to just that conversation. Look at what people do today: text while walking, read and send emails during meetings... and the same at lunches or dinners even with our loved ones. Bottom line: we can all take steps to avoid a multitask-driven life.

Dan Harris has become a zealot for the meditation cause. He started a company he calls “10% Happier” which uses an app to teach people how to meditate. The app features meditation teachers and scientists delivering a variety of lessons on the subject.

As a Christ-follower, I believe there is a healthy and an unhealthy way to approach meditation. Bluntly, any form of meditation that emerges out of false religious practices is risky. Emptying the mind would be an example of this. (I’ve included a link below with thoughts by theologian Dr. Albert Mohler on this.)

As Dr. Mohler explains, the Bible teaches that we SHOULD meditate. But with our focus on spiritual truths. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV) And the Psalmist writes, “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” (Psalm 119:15, ESV)

If you struggle with peace of mind, step away from multitasking and give the Creator of the Universe some focused time. I think the investment will give you a better than 10% happiness return.

That’s The Way WE Work. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.

Let’s Talk with Mark Elfstrand can be heard weekdays from 4-6 PM Central. To listen outside the Chicago area, tune to www.1160hope.com for live streaming or podcasts, or download the AM1160 app.

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