Ministry Leaders Update 12-21-07

Leader’s Page: Blind Spots (Notes from John Maxwell) - Part 3

One last Blind Spot – A Lack of Character

Character is what God can always see, but may be hidden by us and, for a time, hidden to others.
Character protects our talent. “Character doesn’t make us a leader. Character protects us as a leader”

Many people with talent make it into the limelight, but the ones who have neglected to develop strong character rarely stay there long. The absence of strong character eventually topples talent. Why? Because people cannot climb beyond the limitations of their character.
• Talented people may feel superior and expect special privileges. Character helps them to know better.
• Talented people are praised for what others see them build. Character builds what’s inside them.
• Talented people have the potential to be difference makers. Character makes a difference for them.
• Talented people are often a gift to the world. Character protects that gift.

A story of Mahatma Gandhi:

In his book American Scandal, Pat Williams tells about Gandhi’s trip to England to speak to Parliament. The British government had opposed Indian independence and Gandhi, one of its most vocal proponents, had often been threatened, arrested, and jailed as a result. Gandhi spoke eloquently and passionately for nearly two hours, then received a standing ovation. After the speech, a reporter asked Gandhi’s assistant how the Indian leader had been able to deliver such a speech without any notes.

“You don’t understand Gandhi,” Desai responded. “You see, what he thinks is what he feels. What he feels is what he says. What he says is what he does. What Gandhi feels, what he thinks, what he says, and what he does are all the same. He does not need notes.”

Character is the sum total of all our everyday choices.

How do we remove the blind spot?

1. Assume That You Have a Blind Spot. If you don’t assume that you have a blind spot, that is your blind spot!
2. Ask Those Who Know You Best to Identify Your Blind Spot. If you’re married, your spouse probably has a pretty good clue!
3. Openly Discuss Your Blind Spots with Your Inner Circle. Give permission to others who care about you and whom you trust to speak truthfully into your life.
4. Assume Your Blind Spots Cannot Be Removed By You. By definition, a blind spot is: “An area in the lives of people in which they continually do not see themselves or their situation realistically”.
5. Develop, Empower and Value the People Who Point Out and Help Cover Your “Blind Spots”.

May we all see more clearly as we move into the New Year!

Dan Bickel
Wisconsin District Superintendent

Weekly Leader's Update 12-11-2007

Blind Spots (Notes from John Maxwell) – Part 2

Two more “Blind Spots” that can trip us up:


One “Blind Spot” are the subtle ways we can Devalue People.

• Leaders who value their people give them their best effort
o Leaders who devalue their people give them their least effort
• Leaders who value their people serve their people
o Leaders who devalue their people want to be served by their people
• Leaders who value their people empower them
o Leaders who devalue their people control them
• Leaders who value their people motivate them
o Leaders who devalue their people manipulate them.

Another “Blind Spot” is our EGO.

Kirk Hanson, university professor and executive director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, says that the Achilles’ heel of leaders can be found when they:

• Believe they know it all
• Believe they are in charge
• Believe the rules don’t apply to them
• Believe they can never fail
• Believe they did it all by themselves
• Believe they are better than the “little people” in the organization
• Believe they ARE the organization

“Pride is concerned about Who’s right. Humility is concerned about What’s right.” Ezra Taft Benton

In a leader, pride is costly and destructive. Here is what pride potentially does:

• Instead of taking responsibility, we blame others.
• Instead of being objective, we live in denial.
• Instead of being open-minded and receptive, we are closed-minded or defensive.
• Instead of flexibility we are rigid.
• Instead of team spirit, we end up with low morale.
• Instead of loyalty, we experience a high turnover rate among volunteers or paid staff.
• Instead of being connected, we find ourselves out of touch with the people we’re trying to reach. (Pride causes us to think it ‘s all about us when really it’s all about them.)

Got any beams that need to be inspected?


---Dan Bickel, Wisconsin District Superintendent