Author: Craig

leaders create opportunities

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In the last few months I have been captivated by this leadership idea:  leaders create opportunities.  I observe this practice in every significant arena of leadership whether it be at home, on sports teams, at work, in church, in government, or in neighbourhoods.  Leaders create opportunities for the people in their sphere of influence.  

I have observed a parent putting down money and time in order to understand what a child needs in order to learn well.  I have celebrated Jan Miko, principle, for creating an opportunity for children at Brock Elementary to sing at the opening of the new Olympic Curling Centre here in Riley Park when 4 weeks before Brock did not have a choir.  I have observed a youth hockey coach going way beyond the call of duty for his players to play on the GM Place ice and to meet Trevor Linden.  And last night I watched a pastor, Corneliu Ardelean, enjoy the fruit of all his labours to create opportunities for at least 20 other people to lead in a worship service.

Great leaders create opportunities for people to excel, to grow, to advance, to meet other leaders, to serve meaningfully, to succeed, to share the joy of life, to risk, to fail, to stretch…  What… to fail?  That’s right.  Even to fail.  Leaders create opportunities that encourage their followers to try and even to fail…but also, then to learn from those failures.

Leaders create opportunities for people to grow.  I have a built in matrix for considering the people I lead (and myself.)

Head:  What do they need to know?

Heart:  What do they need to build character and to fuel passion for God?

Hands:  What skills do they need to master?

Home:  What relationships do they need to nurture?

Horizons:  What dreams and visions are they aiming at?

Jesus was a brilliant leader.  As an exploration of leadership I suggest that you read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in order to observe how Jesus created opportunities for the people he served.

Here are some more questions for reflection:

1.  Who created opportunities for me in my journey in life so far?

2.  What was at stake for these leaders when they created the opportunities for me?

3.  When have I not fully appreciated the opportunities in front of me?

4.  For whom am I creating opportunities?

5.  What needs to change in me in order for me to create new and extraordinary opportunities for the people in my sphere of influence?

6.  What strategic alliances can I make that will create opportunities for the people I lead?

heard at Cityview this past weekend

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I really appreciate the leadership that Lalpi gives to the congregation at Cityview for our worship of the Triune God.  Yesterday the service was a tight weave that created a picture and an experience of the extraordinary grace of Jesus.  I was so blessed by how Dan and Lalpi presented East to West by Casting Crowns.  A stillness descended on the congregation as we contemplated Jesus’ forgiveness!  Thanks Lalpi and thanks Dan.  If you want to reflect again on Jesus’ forgiveness of our sin you can watch the video below.

high school graduation and SHIFT

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Growing up for some of us is like driving an automatic:  we shifted gears almost without thinking.  And for others of us growing up has been like learning to drive a standard:  we shift, jolt, restart, look for the sweet spot, and try again;  every transition requires us to think, stop try.  Nothing feels automatic.  

 High school graduation is a major marker in the journey of growing up.  Today I was privileged to be a part of graduation interviews at Tupper High School.  I’m so impressed with the students I met and deeply appreciative of the variety of strengths they have landed on and are seeking to develop in the next years.  Some of them are shifting well almost on automatic, and others are in the midst of learning to shift.

I have been thinking during the day about the kinds of shifts that are needed and one hopes are well on the way by graduation.  Here’s a short list of shifts that I believe high school graduation signals are in order.  What do you think, are these expectations realistic?

1.  From dependence to independence to interdependence.

2.  From working on my weaknesses to living in my strengths.

3.  From trusting that others will solve problems for me to seeking solutions with others.

4.  From simply absorbing the values of others in order to please them to sorting out what really matters to me.

5.  From living for myself as an end to living for something greater than me.

6.  From fear of challenges to facing challenges.

7.  From the inertia of the familiar to the exhilaration of learning something new.  And from depending on others to do this for me to taking the initiative to sharpen my growing edges.

8.  From intoxication with power to the just application of power.

9.  From having others pay the bills to paying the bills myself.

10.  ……….hey what shift do you believe high school graduation signals?

help me prepare a new sermon series

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I am preparing for a new series on relationships and I have two questions for my research.  Please help!

1.  What are the top friendship killers?  What sabotages a friendship?

2.  When times were tough for you personally, what did friends do that really made a difference in your life?

the drift, 2009

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Attention local artists and friends of art:  The Drift Society has announced the next dates for the 2009 Arts on Main St. adventure!  Saturday October 3 and Sunday October 4.  Discover more details and how to be involved in the latest newsletter.  Last year I really enjoyed the venues and the art on Main St.  We turned it into a family outing and had a wonderful time.