Weekly Leader's Update 11-21-2007

Teddy’s Leadership Ideals

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt,
was president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He is well known for leading the “Rough Riders” in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, for reviving the Panama Canal project, and brokering peace in the Russo-Japanese War, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

It is not so well known that he faithfully taught Sunday School during his years at Harvard, and attended church regularly throughout his lifetime. Almost everyone knows, however, that he was an effective leader.

The following are nine leadership ideals modeled in the life of Teddy Roosevelt.

1. Watch the Future. As assistant secretary of the navy, Teddy saw the Spanish-American War coming and prepared our nation’s Navy for it.
2. Dream Great Dreams. As president he saw the need for the Panama Canal and, even though others had failed to complete it, he dreamed that it was possible.
3. Push for high standards. While a member of the civil service commission, he created higher ethical standards for hiring and performance.
4. Do the right thing at
whatever the cost.
Roosevelt felt some enacted laws were not proper, but still chose to enforce them even though it put his administration under severe
criticism.
5. Get the facts. While serving as president of New York City’s Police Commission, he often
went out late at night to see for himself what the police were doing.
6. Move quickly with advice. In his early days in the Navy Department, Roosevelt took the advice of a high officer to have the gunboat Annapolis outfitted with three sails (rigs). As soon as the officer walked out of Roosevelt’s office, he moved forward on the project.
7. Take care of your people. A newspaper reporter, Jacob Riis, reported how the poor people on New York’s East Side lived. Roosevelt was moved by Riis’ report and wrote him, “I have read your book and I have come to help.”
8. Organize well. Rooseveltrealized that little could be accomplished without organized effort, and that in any organization it was necessary to sink minor differences and agree upon common goals.
9. Be your own person.
Teddy listened to leaders who
were against him, but in the end always took his own course of action. Which of these leadership ideals are you practicing?

Follow the Signs!

Signs point us in the right direction.

Signs point us in the right direction, warn us of impending danger, and offer helpful information. Here are a few leadership signs that



you should watch for as you lead your church or ministry.

Three Signs You’re Failing
1, You are not adapting to change.
2. You are difficult to work with.
3. You are not creating teams.

Three Signs You’re Making Friendships
1. When people talk to you, you listen.
2. When you need help, you ask for it.
3. When you do things for others, you don’t expect anything in return.

Three Signs You’re Losing Credibility
1. You are left out of meetings.
2. You ask people to talk and they say,” Not now,”
3. You find that people tune you out.

Three Signs You’re a Visionary
1. You are aggressive but don’t take unnecessary chances.
2. When faced with two equal choices, you take the bolder one.
3. You choose a plan and stay with it.

Three Signs You’re Not Decisive
1. You hesitate to take a stand on tough issues.
2. You put off difficult decisions.
3. You keep searching for more information.

Three Signs You’re Vision is Clear.
1. You can write your vision on the back of your business card.
2. You can share your vision during a one minute elevator ride.
3. You can write your vision in twenty-five words or less.

Three Signs You’re a Leader
1. You generate heat, and take the heat.
2. You focus on the big picture, and let others
work out the details.
3. You do the right thing, and let others do things right.

Three Signs You’re Burned Out
1. You have lost your vision.
2. You hate getting up to go to work.
3. You always want to sleep.

Three Signs You’re a Team-Builder
1. You prefer to see others succeed.
2. You like to see other people receive applause.
3. You are not needed anymore.

Three Signs You’re an Authentic Leader
1. You share stories about your successes and
failures.
2. You do what is right, even if it costs you.
3. You staff against your weaknesses.

Many times we drive right by signs without even seeing them. Which of these signs grabbed your attention? What direction are these signs
pointing you in?

---Dan Bickel, Wisconsin District Superintendent