Can Servant Leaders Capitalize on People’s Strengths?

From a sporting event standpoint, this is one of my favorites of the year…The Stanley Cup Finals. I think there are many leadership lessons to be learned from watching sports, and the Stanley Cup Finals are no exception.

Hockey is truly a team sport, and I feel one of the greatest lessons it teaches a servant leader is the importance of capitalizing on people’s strengths.

A servant leader cares deeply about their people, and will do anything and everything to help them advance and achieve their God-given potential. This requires a distinct understanding of a person’s passions, skills, values, and strengths to be able to put them into a position to win.

On a hockey team, each individual has distinct roles to play throughout the game. Some players are great scorers, others great playmakers, others are fantastic defensive players, and others physical agitators. Putting people in positions where they can play out their strengths will build their self-esteem, and serves the team in the best way possible.

Building your people’s self-esteem by putting them in positions of strength and passion will set up a powerful cycle of personal growth, willingness to take risks, persistence to get the job done, and in the end will lead to great results.

Sam Walton once said, “Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it is amazing what they can accomplish”.

When you see the Stanley Cup being skated around the ice by the winner of the Stanley Cup Finals, you will be witnessing the team that did the best job of capitalizing on their player’s strengths.

This is just one of many lessons to be learned from hockey. What are some others that you see illustrated in the Stanley Cup Finals?  Keep the discussion going by leaving your comments below.

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 1 Peter 4:10

Mark Deterding believes in being a humble servant leader who is absolutely persistent on driving improvement. He insures clarity of purpose and vision and then creates an environment that will allow for that vision to be effectively carried out. He empowers and develops people to allow them to succeed. For more information about Mark and his programs visit:  http://www.triuneleadershipservices.com

Servant Leaders Know When to Coach Versus Train!

I had the opportunity to conduct a training session for a client this week on Coaching. They are building a culture of servant leadership and would like their leaders to be effective coaches for the people within their sphere of influence.

The participants had a few key revelations throughout the training that will really help them, as they become effective coaches. The main discovery was gaining an understanding of the differences between coaching and training.

Training                                               Coaching

• About the coach                          About the person being coached
• Telling                                         Asking
• Advising                                      Drawing out
• Solving                                        Promoting discovery
• Directing                                     Supporting
• Promoting dependency                Promoting self-reliance

When you as a leader are in the “training” mode you are providing information and knowledge. When in a “coaching” mode, you come with the belief that the person being coached has the knowledge and ability within them, and it is your role to promote discovery and bring out the best of the individual.

It is important to understand that there is an appropriate time for both training and coaching. Proper assessment of the right time for each activity will provide true value for the people you are working with.

Training is appropriate when:

• A person is new in their job or role, and needs information, knowledge, and skills to do their job
• A new, unfamiliar system or process has been introduced into the company or their department

Coaching is appropriate when:

• You have a willing participant who has goals that they want to achieve
• Self-development and self-reliance for the person being coached is the goal

Proper understanding of the situation, and application of either coaching or training will illustrate your connection to your people, and will allow you to add value to them and help them to achieve their God-given potential.

Servant leaders step into the necessary roles to advance the ability and skills of the people that they serve.

Mark Deterding

The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.  Luke 6:40

Mark Deterding believes in being a humble servant leader who is absolutely persistent on driving improvement. He insures clarity of purpose and vision and then creates an environment that will allow for that vision to be effectively carried out. He empowers and develops people to allow them to succeed. For more information about Mark and his programs visit:  http://www.triuneleadershipservices.com

The Value of Coaching to the Servant Leader

An important element of being a servant leader is the value of continuous improvement and self-development. I have observed that most high performing leaders have at least one coach.

Executive coaching is one of my favorite services that I offer at Triune Leadership Services, LLC. As a coach, there is nothing better than assisting leaders in developing their skills, accomplishing their goals, and maximizing their potential.

As a coach I work with high performing leaders who have a passion for individual development and excellence. They want to be the very best they can be for the people that they serve.

Coaching leads to ACTION – action leads to personal and professional IMPACT – this impact can be quantified and maximized! Tangible results can include:

• Learning new skills and competencies
• Behavioral changes
• Personal performance enhancement
• Business performance enhancement

I have observed that leaders hire coaches for a number of reasons:

• To be a better leader
• To make significant changes
• To make better decisions
• To set better goals
• To achieve goals faster
• To get ahead professionally
• To have a collaborative partner
• To get assistance in an expanded or new leadership role
• To make a bigger impact on the world
• To reduce stress

I help people develop in every aspect of influence in their lives, which would include their:

• Mind – Ability to think
• Heart – Ability to feel
• Spirit – Ability to enjoy
• Business – Ability to succeed in business
• Environment – Ability to increase awareness and control surroundings

When leaders commit to their own personal development it not only helps them achieve their potential, but it also sets a great example and model for the people that work for them on the importance of self-development.

The people within your sphere of influence deserve the very best. What are you doing from a developmental standpoint to be the best, and fully recognize your God-given potential?

Mark Deterding

A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisors.  Proverbs 24:5-6

Mark Deterding works with leaders to help them develop core servant leadership capabilities that allow them to lead at a higher level and enables them to achieve their God-given potential.  He does this through clear communication, empowering and developing people to allow them to succeed. He values relationships as well as results, and works to embody his values in all decisions and actions.  For more information visit:  http://www.triuneleadershipservices.com/

 

Servant Leaders Attract Talented Team Members!

Servant leaders attract great people to their team. I have been observing a high growth company with a compelling purpose and leaders who have a heart for service and the greater good for the people that work for them. It is not a surprise to me how they are attracting some of the greatest talent available. People want to be on their team!

Who wouldn’t want to be part of a team, and mentored by leaders with a significant track record of success, and who are totally focused on insuring growth and development for their team members.

One of the key leaders of this organization recently shared his expectations for his senior team with me. At their annual performance review this is what he told his leaders…“I want you to make this the best year of each of your people’s life, personally, professionally, and spiritually.” How would you like to have a boss like that?

This leader is a true servant leader. He totally models this request for his people, as he is absolutely passionate about their development in all aspects of their lives. He has clearly articulated his team’s purpose, values, and vision. He challenges his team with lofty goals, yet puts them in control of how to get it done. And they do a lot of celebrating great performance and milestones met along the way!

He also promotes and provides opportunity for giving back to the community, as well as leads a Bible Study in their workplace for people who are interested. He truly cares about the well being of his people. It is no wonder he has a long list of applicants for any job opening in his area of responsibility.

As a leader, when you focus on the greater good for your employees you are naturally going to attract the top talent available. Top talent leads to organizational success!

Mark Deterding

Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.
1 Chronicles 12:22

Maple Syrup Update: We had a great season of maple syrup production! It was really fun and a true team effort was required as the extended cool spring weather led to a significant run of sap. We produced around 20 gallons of syrup, which we bottled in 12 and 16 ounce bottles. If anyone has an interest in some MN Maple Ridge, LLC Pure Maple Syrup let me know. I can be contacted at Mark@Triuneleadershipservices.com.

Mark Deterding  works with leaders to help them develop core servant leadership capabilities that allow them to lead at a higher level and enables them to achieve their God-given potential.  He does this through clear communication, empowering and developing people to allow them to succeed. He values relationships as well as results, and works to embody his values in all decisions and actions.  For more information visit:  http://www.triuneleadershipservices.com/

Todd Gongwer on Servant Leadership!

What a treat! I had the opportunity last week to spend a day and a half with Todd Gongwer, the author of the outstanding book, “Lead for God’s Sake”, as he came to Alexandria to speak to our Leadership Roundtable Groups, and Unity Foundation Luncheon.

A senior leader gave me “Lead for God’s Sake” after some training I did for him and his leadership team in Omaha, NE last fall. He indicated it was the best book that he had ever read, and felt I should read it, as it was right in line with the training I had just delivered on servant leadership.

I started reading the book on the plane ride home and literally could not put it down until I finished it. It is certainly one of the best leadership books I have read as well. Since that time, I have given out over 100 books to clients, family, and friends. Some of those people that received books from me have done the same thing, and I know of upwards of 1600 books being purchased and shared from this network of leaders here in Alexandria, MN. (Never underestimate the possible impact of sharing a book with someone!)

After having the opportunity to get to know Todd, I am that much more impressed with the book and its message. Todd is a humble servant leader who is delivering on his purpose and calling from God, and sharing his heart for leadership.

I would like to share a sampling of key points that we learned from Todd as he spoke to our Leadership Roundtable group in Alexandria.

• Leadership is influence, and as leaders we influence from our actions, which include our words, attitudes, and behaviors.
• A leader’s actions are derived from their character, which is the heart (their pump and filter) of their leadership.
• Leadership is about both formal and informal influence. Informal influence makes everyone a leader; it is not just about a position of authority.
• Leadership is central to our call. That is why Jesus spent so much time teaching how to influence.
• Character influences character and shapes culture!

Todd also shared the four key qualities at the core of the heart of a servant leader:

• Competent
• Caring
• Compassionate
• Committed

Speaking of commitment, let’s commit to bringing Jesus into the center of everything we do as leaders, both formally and informally, and “Lead for God’s Sake”. Will you follow your call to be a servant leader?

Mark

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45

Mark Deterding believes in being a humble servant leader who is absolutely persistent on driving improvement. He insures clarity of purpose and vision and then creates an environment that will allow for that vision to be effectively carried out. He empowers and develops people to allow them to succeed. For more information about Mark and his programs visit:  http://www.triuneleadershipservices.com

 

 

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