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Ready to Find Your Next Star Performer? Samuel and the Importance of Clear Communication 1 Samuel (10:3–12:25) DR. J. ROBERT CLINTON did a formal study of Christian leaders and discovered that, without exception, all of them possessed word gifts: teaching, prophecy, evangelism, preaching, words of knowledge or wisdom, exhortation, etc. More than anything else, they used their gifts of communication to lead their people. Peter Drucker, the father of American management, believes that 60 percent of all management problems result from faulty communication. Having a message doesn’t matter if leaders don’t communicate clearly and motivate others. It is amazing how...
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Ready to Find Your Next Star Performer? Can you imagine if your company had a reputation for being a great place to work and you had a pipeline of qualified candidates waiting for an opening at your company and you rarely had an opening because your employee retention was 100%? It is always easier for a company to attract and retain top talent when it has a reputation for being a great place to work but did you know that a great onboarding program can increase employee retention? In today’s labor-tight market, employee retention is more important than ever. There...
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Ready to Find Your Next Star Performer? Momentum Is a Leader’s Best Friend 1 Kings 2:1–4:24 IT TAKES a leader to create momentum. Followers catch it. And managers are able to continue it once it has begun. But creating it requires someone who can motivate others, not one who needs to be motivated. Harry Truman once said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” For leaders, that statement should be changed to read, “If you can’t make some heat, get out of the kitchen.” All leaders face the challenge of creating change in an organization. Just...
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Ready to Find Your Next Star Performer? When to Lead Is As Important As What to Do and Where to Go Esther 4:6–17 WHEN THE RIGHT leader and the right moment come together, incredible things happen. Winston Churchill described it like this: “There comes a special moment in everyone’s life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission—a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment he finds greatness. It is his finest hour.” Reading a situation and knowing what to do are not enough to make...
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(Proverbs 27:1–21) Leaders understand that people represent an organization’s most appreciable asset. No resource is more valuable than people. Therefore, people skills represent a leader’s most important attribute. Wise leaders practice the Law of Addition: Leaders add value to an organization by serving their people. This text presents some fundamentals on relationships. It teaches that if people are esteemed, relationships are redeemed. Leaders can learn at least the following principles from this chapter: 1. Don’t brag (vv. 1, 2)—Leaders understand how little they get from self-promotion. 2. Don’t envy (v. 4)—Leaders sabotage themselves if their motive is to keep up...
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Ready to Find Your Next Star Performer? Josiah: Outward Reform Begins with Inward Renewal 2 Kings 22:10–23:25 YOUNG KING Josiah is a classic example of the Law of the Picture. His leadership led to national reform in Israel, and he teaches us something today about how change occurs: Outward reform begins with inward renewal. In 2 Kings 22–23 we read of Josiah’s wholehearted devotion to God and his desire to lead the people well. He became king of Israel at the tender age of eight, if you can imagine that. His own spiritual passion began to influence the nation of...
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Rehoboam Fails to Listen to the Right People 2 Chronicles 10:15 KING REHOBOAM’S dysfunctional leadership split the nation of Israel in two. His hunger for power, unreasonable demands, poor decision making, and lack of compassion for those who worked under him all conspired to doom his leadership. But probably the root of his problem can be found in 2 Chronicles 10:15: “So the king did not listen to the people.…” Listening is one of the 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Leaders must listen for two reasons: 1. to connect with others, and 2. to learn from others. President Woodrow...
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Ready to Find Your Next Star Performer? 1 Corinthians 12:4–31 Leaders aren't supposed to do all the work of the church, but are to effectively broker the talent on their team. Good teams use every gift and enjoy both unity and diversity. Consider Paul's philosophy of team building: 1. The team possesses a variety of gifts or positions, but pursues the same goal and God (vv. 4–6). 2. Everyone has a contribution to make which benefits the team (v. 7). 3. God is the source of each gift, so He deserves the glory (vv. 8–10). 4. God chooses who has...
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Ready to Find Your Next Star Performer? In my book, A Talent Is Never Enough, I communicate that while talent is important, there are millions of talented people who have ability but never get to use it and never reach their potential because they lack the characteristics that separate successful people from unsuccessful people. Those who neglect to make right choices to release and maximize their talent continually under-perform. These choices may be as simple as being punctual, giving effort, showing patience, or being unselfish. None of these choices require talent but they sure enhance talent. Below is a list...
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Ready to Find Your Next Star Performer? Leaders Are Brokers of Gifts Romans 12:6–8 Paul describes seven spiritual gifts, distributed to different members in the body of Christ. Like any good leader, he recognizes his role as a broker of gifts, talents, and resources. He urges everyone to discover, develop, and distribute his or her gift. Every resource God provides should be in use. Every believer is a steward of the abilities he or she has been given. Every leader is a manager whose goal should be to maximize everyone’s gift. The list of gifts in Romans 12 is not...
