Mac Lake offers a good working agenda for the next time you meet with a direct report or someone you're mentoring: Personal - I like to start my one on ones by asking about the individual and how they are doing personally.  I may ask about their family, spiritual health or a circumstance I know they are going through personally.  But this is my opportunity to connect with them and also to care for their soul. Priorities - I have each of my direct reports write up to five goals each semester.  So when we meet one on one (usually every two weeks) we talk about those priority goals and how things are going.  This allows me to hear about progress or challenges they’re facing and gives me the opportunity to coach them on their top priorities. Problems - I always  like to ask, are there any problems you are…

Regarding how Christ-followers tend to behave around non-believers, one helpful analogy is to explore the difference between a travel agent and a tour guide. A travel agent is a paid expert who sits behind a desk and dispenses information.  They know all the right information (or can find it) about where to go, how to get there, what to do when you get there, and so on.  They might even have posters of exotic destinations on their office wall, even though they themselves have never been there. But you don't expect your travel agent to go with you to Tahiti or even Tacoma. A tour guide, on the other hand, is a person that walks the path with you.  They wear the same gear.  You listen to them because they have been there before.  A tour guide can lead you around because she is familiar with the landscape. Some Christ-followers…

Earlier this year I made a conscious decision to do things that would stretch me mentally.  I've worked into my book reading rotation books that are scientific in nature.  A recent book focused on how the brain works.  Fortunately it was written for people like me -- people who last took a biology class over 20 years ago.  At least I think it was over 20 years ago; it could have been 25! Another book, yet to be finished, is entitled, "Do Polar Bears Get Lonely?"  It's a collection of articles from New Scientist magazine.  Readers submit questions and other readers answer them.  The editors then select which ones make it into the magazine and then the book.  It's a bit quirky, which is good. One other thing we recently started as a family is putting together jigsaw puzzles.  We finished our first one today and have already bought two…

As we look forward to 2010, let me share with you some reminders from Mac Lake about the importance of planning ahead. God is a planner. Psalm 33:11, But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. God shares his plan with us. Amos 3:7, Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets God expects us to plan. While Scripture does not come right out and say, “Thou shalt plan” there are plenty of Scriptures encouraging us to plan wisely.  Proverbs 20:18, Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. Planning is beneficial. Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. The Holy Spirit guides us in planning. When we practice Spirit lead planning it allows God to display His wisdom through our leadership.  1 Chronicles 28:12…

One simple question can help keep leaders on track: "What do we want to accomplish?"  Before you enter a board meeting, staff meeting, or have coffee with a potential leader ... ask that question.  You'll be amazed at how much focus that one question can bring to your upcoming opportunity.