This little gem comes via Mark Batterson on Twitter: "Your level of influence isn't determined by YOUR competence but by the competence of the people you surround yourself with."
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Individually or as a group, one of the most powerful things we can do is create momentum (moh-men-tuhm). In physics, momentum is defined as the mass of an object multiplied by velocity. In simpler terms, it's the tendency of a moving object to continue moving. You know when you have momentum ... and you know when you don't. As individuals, we may sense a loss of momentum when our work becomes dull or our energy level dips low. A lack of motivation is also a symptom of waning momentum. When we're gaining momentum, external forces of motivation aren't necessary -- we get up earlier, we work longer, we play harder. Not because we're told to but because we want to. In a group setting, momentum gives birth to excitement and new ideas. There is an air of expectancy in the culture. Employees come to work expecting to have a good…
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A few weeks ago I spoke at Mountainview on the topic, "Casting Nets or Casting Stones" (listen to the podcast). The basic idea was this: you can be a person who uses your influence to cast a net, helping draw people closer to God. Or, you can be a person that is quick to cast a stone of judgment towards those who are disconnected from God. At the end of the message, I asked the crowd at all four services to look around at the empty chairs. These chairs represent the people who live in your neighborhood, work in your office, or the kids you pass in the hallway at school. These chairs are families who are on the brink of exploding, single moms wrestling with enormous challenges, or young adults contemplating suicide. Then I asked them to fast-forward to the last Sunday of 2010. Imagine no empty chairs. Imagine…
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One of the bloggers/pastors that I enjoy reading (and following on Twitter) is Tim Stevens. He is the executive pastor at Granger Community Church and his writings always give me something to think about. I'm passing along two posts that reflect on a decade of change in the church. I think you'll enjoy them, too. A Decade of Change, Part One A Decade of Change, Part Two
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The mistake many leaders make is to delegate responsibility without giving the proper authority needed for the recipient to develop and grow. The word for this is discretion. For younger leaders to learn how to lead, they'll need the discretion to make decisions. By making decisions, they're learning to how exercise discernment and what it means to live with the consequences. By drawing the boundaries too tightly, we are actually encouraging them to follow instructions rather than create and implement ideas. Rather than develop leaders, it may actually result in developing one of the following: hack, n. ... 2. a professional who renounces or surrenders individual independence, integrity, belief, etc. in return for money or other reward in the performance of a task normally thought of as involving a strong personal commitment: a political hack. drudge, n. 1. a person who does menial, distasteful, dull, or hard work. 2. a…
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