[Kid Inspiration]

I have given myself a challenge for the next 26 days – post the complete A-Z of Ministry to Children.

Q… quit, queen, Qantas, quacksalver…

Q is for Question – Your kids have questions. Lots of them probably. They will ask the most random question at the most random times. I know that when I am with one of our KDG’s (Kids Discipleship Groups – small groups), and talking I can see certain kids brains veering wildly out of control on a tangent which inevitably leads to a question like “If God is my Father, then is Jesus my brother?”.

I talked in E is for Encouragement about this topic a little. Whatever happens, you do want to encourage questions because they show thought and intiative both things that kids have control over.

So I want to talk about the questions you ask as a leader and follower.

Asking questions shows:

1. That you are eager to learn
2. You care about other peoples worlds
3. You want to improve
4. You are aware of what is going on around you
5. That you are interested
6. You don’t think you have all the answers
7. You want to involve others in the answers

As a leader you need to ask the most questions in the room. There is so much that goes unsaid in a team, assumptions, traditions, the way that we do things that are never articulated. Even if you feel like everyone in the room has heard it all before, say it!

Beginner stand-up comedians will work on new jokes until they have a solid ‘five minutes‘ of material they know is funny. They may keep using those jokes for years and years as they develop. Jerry Seinfeld in the movie/documentary comedian restarts his stand-up career after TV by writing all new material, and it is painful to watch at times as he goes through the growing pains.

Say what you have to say as a leader and then say it again. It will make your whole team laser focussed and avoid all the questions you don’t want to hear.

The questions you hear reveal your weaknesses, and the questions you ask reveal your heart.

I have given myself a challenge for the next 26 days – post the complete A-Z of Ministry to Children.

P… Passion, people, pimples, palladiumizing…

P is for Paradigm – Here’s what you need, a shift in your paradigms. I hear you protest – “But I just had my paradigms rotated last month”, “these paradigms were meant to be good for at least 3,000 miles”.

I love the old school. But only when it is truly recognised as old school.

In fact if you are still rockin’ old school like it’s new school then you are not old school at all you are instead a roadblock to the purpose of God.

…

A little strong Dave?

- Tell that to Peter and his paradigm shifting food experience which paved the way for the salvation of Gentiles (Acts 10:9-23)

- Tell that to the children of Israel who walked the desert for a few years longer than they had to because they couldn’t quite get their heads around this God who provided for them everything they needed.

- Tell that to your senior Pastor when you suddenly become a pain in the butt, dragging your inability to change around like a wet blanket when a change in direction calls for all leaders to stand up and say, “Ah, we’re going this way… let’s go!”

Some of the questions, some of the methods, some of the answers that were relevant in your old paradigm are completely irrelevant now.

Deal with it, or get out of the way for someone who can.

P.S. Working with children and young people takes the MOST flexible leadership in the Church. Hope it’s you

I have given myself a challenge for the next 26 days – post the complete A-Z of Ministry to Children.

D… Doctrine, dynamic, Donald Duck, delusion, darts…

D is for Delegate – I have seen it over and over in our team and in myself. You find yourself with a new volunteer who has a lot of potential to carry great responsibility. But after a few weeks they have faded into the background and either settled or possibly disappeared. Not every leader is going to hop on your ‘bus’, but I find to often brilliant leaders are sitting in the back row when they could be helping you navigate!

The missing ingredient is often authority. You have been great in delegating responsibility, but like a lot of leaders cling onto the authority either because you like to ‘be the boss’ or you don’t trust anyone to ‘do it’ as good as you!

Hey – it used to be that you weren’t as good as you are now and the only reason you are where you are today is because someone took a chance on you.

Heres a simple little procedure to help someone reach their maximum potential:

1. Give them a simple task (very time specific) and follow up on it extremely diligently knowing that in the future you won’t have to be so thorough
2. Thank the person in a big way and ask if there is any way they think we (the team) could do it better.
3. Repeat a few times adding in the important ingredient - authority.
4. If they rise to the challenge they become a leader – simple as that.

(There is a lot more to it than this but you get the idea… simple right?)

Final thoughts from Jim Wideman and his blog series Delegate or die:

Delegation is not an option for those who want to succeed in ministry. But to succeed you must take inventory of where you are. Start small and go from there. I try to recruit my team one worker at a time. Ask yourself and your volunteers, “What do I need to do differently?” What volunteers do you see potential in? Commit to coach volunteers and let them learn by doing. What are you waiting on? Delegate or Die!

Control makes change exciting. Uncontrolled change is unpredictable.

Here’s the thing: We only like change when WE are the one making the change. When we are in control.

I even hate it when I read about a fellow blogger who I may know only from reading their work or sharing comments is changing roles or perhaps Churches. What is that all about?

It’s because I have zero control over the situation.

As a leader you are setting the direction and keeping the team going forward — so when you change something, it’s exciting. In those times (Andy Stanley talks about that moment you realise you the most powerful person in the room), that it is wise to think about the last time your leader changed something and how you felt — maybe out of the loop, or disorientated or even a little worried about the future.

Communicating change means:

1. Communicating the WHY behind the WHAT
2. Taking time to answer the little questions
3. Reinforce the vision
4. Empathise with your team, don’t dismiss it as an easy decision (even if it was for you… remember: you’re in control)
5. Talk about what a blessing the ‘old way’ was to bring them this far
6. Choose your battles — attitude and heart need to fought for, not the colour of the carpet (that will be a much easier change 6 months later)

Wondering about the post title? Just an example of something that should change often

Life is too short to entertain bad leadership.

I have been reminded today of just how blessed I am to be in a Church leadership environment that has no room for red tape or bureaucracy. Our mission and vision is too important, our time too short to waste time and effort.

I prefer to think of leadership as a positive attribute — that is… bad leadership is not leadership at all it is simply… not leadership.

I am not talking about fresh faced eager leaders making mistakes, but leaders who have given up learning, growing and living in faith, not seeing the potential around them and therefore slowly quenching those they lead.

Watching the excellent Exit Interviews DVD which can be found at the reThink Group store (although seriously majorly pricey), I watched four ministry veterans (= code for Old Fart – Thanks Jim) talk about some of the times in ministry they had to really watch their hearts as they dealt with leadership decisions and attitude that we can probably all relate to.

You cannot control others opinions and attitudes but you CAN control your reaction, AND your heart. Sticks and stones will break your bones AND names will seriously hurt you. Do NOT develop a wounded spirit, do NOT let hurt develop into bitterness, we all have the wonderful opportunity to get offended in ministry — that is an opportunity you never want to take. Whatever you have had to face, someone has faced worse, don’t throw a pity party, you’ll probably be the only one there.

More than any time in history the impact of the individual can be felt all across society and culture! Be part of something that excites and terrifies you every morning with it’s quivering, bone-melting potential!

I am pretty much completely mind-numbingly staggered with what is possible in my Church community – I hope you can say that too… you deserve it.

There are a number of phrases you don’t want to hear as a leader. I heard one of them last weekend.

“My friend put in a new leaders application and she hasn’t heard anything”.

Ouch.

If there is one thing you want to get right is making a process of becoming one of our team easy. One of your goals as a leader is too eliminate these utterances through a process known as communication — Don’t say much, but say it often!

Some other deadly sentences include, but are not limited to:

“No I didn’t get into a service this weekend, I just served”

“But this has been happening for ages”

“I didn’t have my team leaders phone number”

“My tee-shirt is in the wash”

“There was a team meeting this week?”

“Yes there was a lot of blood, but it didn’t look too serious” (okay, that one has never happened to me)

Are there any phrases you don’t like to hear as a leader?

I am excited!

And not just because it’s Fri and a full weekend in Church is ahead of me with loads of opportunities to be a blessing.

Not just because I’m sitting here at home on my computer looking out at a beautiful afternoon listening to my son play Wii Fit.

But because there are new things on the horizon.

I’m excited to see new projects coming, to see new initiatives and new seasons.

It gives me a hope for the future.

I’ll bet that it’s the same for you.

And if you and I feel the same then why should it be any different for those we lead.

So next year for your teams and leaders, even if they are staying in the same role and serving with the same kids give them fresh vision that gives the expectation of a new season ahead. Because it IS a new season. In my experience God elevates and promotes in a moment and you can’t plan for it, but you can prepare!

Prepare your people.

It’s what leaders do.

And when opportunity arises, in the fullness of time… there will be people around you ready to rebuild the wall. (So we built the wall…for the people had a mind to work. Neh 4:6)

It may be that Settlers of Catan is the best game of all time, but I appreciated this post from Trevin Wax about low expectations.

Last summer, my parents introduced me and my wife to a European board game called The Settlers of Catan. This award-winning game has become wildly popular, especially among college students.

But Settlers is hard to play. The game is expensive. The rules are complicated. Each game requires more than an hour.

To do well, you must master the art of trade, strategic planning, anticipation of loss, and clever surprise. The game is difficult, but people can’t get enough of it.

Read On!

So last week I started this post in my drafts folder all about how I thought we were starting to see some real traction in the social media/internet world with relation to the non-geeks starting to use technology tools to communicate. But then Sat night happened… I cut back on the amount of blogs I read dramatically. I have done this once before, but didn’t touch the Children’s Ministry ones because I kinda felt I wanted to keep up with all of them… those days are over.

I made some tough (well not really compared to fighting in world war 1), decisions and just stopped following about half the CM blogs I used to (I follow them in Google Reader).

Having blogged for many moons now I have seen the landscape change and shift; in obvious ways like the rise of twitter, and in watching blogging grow, plateau and maintain.

But blogging still seems to be the way that great leaders can communicate, converse and contribute to a wider conversation – and spreading it through twitter.

So I wonder if the little niche of ministry to Children has reached its peak with blogging contributors and time will soon present a much more mainstream option?

The bottom line is that we should have FAR more people involved in contributing! Too many leaders doubt their experience and feel like they have nothing to say. Everyone has something to contribute.

Leader: Don’t waste your experience. Grow your influence.

You are already giving out to your team, just make that content go further, find a way to share! Believe me, as you give you will receive, pressed down, shaken together… you know the rest.

I am heavily indebted to Rags and his post – How Leaders Should Spend Their Time

And by indebted I mean I am simply ripping him off and reposting it.

I am going to talk to our team about this and do a little bit of self-checking in this area… becuase owing to the current season I am getting a lot of ‘doing’ done. (Ha… doing done, I crack me up)

The leader should spend their time:

• 1/3 Reflecting – The leader do the necessary reflection, thinking, reading, learning and planning

• 1/3 Doing – The leader do the laborious work of doing after planning

• 1/3 Developing – The leader spends time training and developing others

Anyway, have a look at your life and evaluate your balance!

The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated. – William James

This is an excerpt from When “Thanks” Isn’t Enough – 3 Steps to Gratitude that Empowers from the blog of Keith Ferrazzi.

…His favorite version of the Power Thank You was inspired by Heidi Wall, the co-founder of the Flash Forward Institute here in LA. It has three steps:

1. Thank the person for something specific that he or she did for you. (It can also be something the person refrained from doing that would have hurt you.)
2. Acknowledge the effort it took for the person to help you by saying something like: “I know you didn’t have to do _______” or “I know you went out of your way to do_______.”
3. Tell the person the difference that his or her act personally made to you.

Mark writes, “If a person performs an extraordinary act of kindness or assistance and all you say is ‘thanks,’ you create a mirror neuron receptor gap because emotionally you’re not giving back as much as you received. Saying ‘thanks’ is better than nothing, but it’s not good enough” (emphasis mine).

Read On

You can lead without a position. In fact position can take you away from leadership as responsibility grows.

Remarkable Leadership by Kevin Eikenberry presents a number of qualities that remarkable leaders must have. They…

• Learn continually
• Champion change
• Communicate powerfully
• Build relationships
• Develop others
• Focus on customers
• Influence with impact
• Act innovatively
• Value collaboration and teamwork
• Solve problems and make decisions
• Take responsibility and have accountability
• Manage projects and processes successfully
• Set goals and support goal achievement

To be a great leader play up your  strengths and work on your weaknesses.

Earn the right to the position. You will probably be given a position before you have earnt it (even if you think you deserve it).

A while ago my boss Pastor Brian talked with Age Group and Service Pastors about leadership and consistency.

Here are some notes from that session, which was EXCELLENT and REALLY helpful, so much so that I just wrote those two words in All-Caps!

#1 Ebbs and Flows

In everything there are ebbs and flows so you should never get too moved by what you see seasonally and day to day. As a Church we do our biggest comparisons from year to year. We do not let ourselves get too fazed by the ebbs and flows but rather look at the trends.

#2 Dry Seasons

When you are facing a season where it is dryer so to speak, your response and body language is very important. Your responsibility as a leader is to look upbeat and full of life all the time as it affects those around you. Your body language tells a big story.

In Jelena Dokic’s recent game at the Australian Open the commentators where saying that she gave too much away to her opponent in her body language. She looked defeated by the way she held herself and her opponent could tell.

People follow consistency. No one wants to be a part of something that is heavy or a drag. By all means be realistic, but speak life too. It’s a great key to taking something forward.

#3 & 4 Ask Yourself the Hard Questions and Avoid Excuses

Leadership is about being able to turn something around, throw fresh vision and lead it forward. Excuses just justify something in our own mind. Take the challenge and be more determined to make it better next time. Life is about learning! Don’t lose your confidence because that has no reward and will not help anyone, but rather ask yourself what about my leadership do I have to change? Be accountable to people around you that you look up too or are your peers and ask them what you can work on or change. Ask ‘What can I do about ME?’ not about what I DO.

Everyone here has strengths but we tend to have blind spots where our weaknesses are. Some of us are too soft, too strong, too quiet, too moved, too compassionate etc. You need to have people that will show you these and challenge you.

You also need to have a Godly wisdom. You don’t want to challenge someone who needs an arm around them or put an arm around someone who needs a challenge!

#5 Up Turn Every Stone

Good leaders are a step ahead of the trends. You ask the questions before there asked. You lead from the front foot, not the back.

What stone have you left unturned? What else could you do or try to grow your service from the inside? It doesn’t work to just put a great preacher up the front. It’s what is happening in the engine rooms – that’s YOU! Talk to the key people in your service, your spouse, your peers and ask ‘what are we not doing that we could be doing that could give us a boost and take us forward’. How can we build our volunteers and get people to Church on time?

Always be looking for something new, a new way, a new initiative. You never arrive in leadership.

#6 Learn From Each Other

In a competitive environment you keep things to yourself to help better only your area of responsibilities. But in a team environment we want to help each other along. Share your wins, knowledge and great ideas with each other. Don’t hold onto it, pass it on and also remember just because something didn’t work for someone else doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

Who is doing what they are doing really well? If I was you I would harass them and find out what they are doing and how!

#7 Consistency is Critical

We always want to be open to changing and adjusting the way we do things but constant change is never the answer. Change for the sake of change doesn’t change or grow anything. Sometimes all that lots of change will do is just build disloyalty and unfamiliarity in your teams. Our Church, big picture and long term has always been very consistent and not promoted lots of change. The best seasons are often found in the midst of lots of plodding and not always just after change. It’s often after consistency that you see the change.

#8 Set Yourself Obtainable Goals

Small obtainable goals are a key to growth. Take small steps and hold that ground then take another small step instead of big unobtainable steps. Ps Brian’s goal back in the early days of Hillsong Church was to grow 10 people every month. A small obtainable goal, but if each month you hold onto that and then take a another little step forward, over a year that is great growth.

Slowly claw your way ahead rather than sit there helplessly and going backwards. Everyone just has to grow a little each month remembering small obtainable goals. Also be specific when believing where you are going to get those people from. Eg one New person, one New Christian, one Recommitment, one Family member etc.

#9 Avoid Striving For Numbers

People do notice striving. If you’re not seeing the break through you are hoping for, striving won’t see it either. People respond to passionate, earnest, inspirational leadership not striving, number focused leadership.

It important you have faith in your capacity in those times that are hard and don’t panic!

#10 Don’t be Looking for the Next Opportunity

It doesn’t matter where you find yourself in Church life, you can always find an excuse OR you can understand that you can use what is in your hand to make the Church go forward.

The Children’s ministry is a big asset to the Church. Lots of Children bring their parents to Church and not the other way round.

You can guarantee you won’t be giving your best if your heart is somewhere else. You can be doing all the right things and dotting all your i’s, but ultimately you are less effective and not fulfilling your potential if your heart is somewhere else. You have a much better chance at doing well at what you’re doing now if your whole heart is in it. You have a much better chance at getting where you want to ultimately by doing well in what you have now. ITS GOT TO HAVE YOUR HEART! If you passionate about your area it will be flowing out of you. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Speak it, think it, live it, have it in your heart. You will not do what you’re doing well if you’re just being ‘faithful’. Sometimes life is about dying to things.

Following up on my last post about the ‘So You Think You Can… Lead Kids’ promo here at Church.

The website (hillsongkids.com/leadkids) is actually just a small part of the whole deal. More of a way to get more information and to put out some vision.

The big part of this is leaders simply inviting friends to be a part of the ministry.

Anyway, here’s how I put together the page.

[IMAGE] Kathryn Macdowall worked her photoshop magic on an image for the promo.

[MUSIC] Got a great member of our team Paul Stokes to put together the jingle and add in ‘Lead Kids’ in his home studio (You’re the man Paul!)

[VIDEO] Simply recorded the video on my own really cheap video camera at home and edited in iMovie (comes with every Mac). I turned it black and white because it looked classier/artier keeping it colour which looked like a cheap video recorder. Popped in the image and jingle at the beginning. Maybe about an hour from start to finish for editing. Uploaded to Vimeo with a free account… looks classier than Youtube.

[FORM] Free webform from Google Docs… this is a BRILLIANT tool. Puts all data input into a spreadsheet in Google Docs. If you look around online, similar tools can run pretty expensive! The form mirrors the invitation we gave out to all leaders. The Google option is not ideal, but the price is!

[WEBSITE] Simply created a new page on our site and had one of our web boys create a redirect (ie. hillsongkids.com/leadkids points to that page… watch your browser when you click on the link… it changes). This took a little bit of technical expertise on my part but nothing too fancy.

So there you have it, hope it gave you some ideas.

Its great for your wired young people, they can email the link, twitter it and connect with their friends in the same way they always do.

We just started a bit of a leadership promo here at church for the kids department.

We are calling it ‘So You Think You Can… Lead Kids’. Encouraging all of our leaders to invite one other person to lead our awesome kids – Kind of a ‘Double Your Impact’ month.

Check out the page here: hillsongkids.com/leadkids

Now I did this site pretty much myself using free tools online and put them on our site. And the video was edited with iMovie, but comment below if you would like to know the process of the deal and with enough interest I can lay it all down for ya!

Great little article I stumbled over while researching on leadership.

Why I Believe in the Next Generation By Marty Cauley

I believe in the next generation for five reasons: ingenuity empowers them; injustice enrages them; challenges enthrall them; culture equips them; and hope inspires them. The future they face is not as bright as the one they should have inherited; but I know that they will rise to the challenge!

Love his thoughts on young people in leadership.

P.S. As far as the site goes… design matters. The site ain’t the prettiest at the ball… and there was no RSS feed. A great example of great content being hamstrung by design and old school ways (4 years ago) of distributing it. — Jus’ saying.

(Maybe some of the next generation Marty is talking about should get their hands on the site).