6 Ways Leaders Can Build Trust

Today's blog is by Dr. Jeremy Statton. I saw his post on Michael Hyatt's blog and decided to share his wisdom with you. Great read! I encourage you to start following Dr. Statton via blog or twitter!

6 Ways Leaders Can Build Trust

We have all had a boss that we did not respect. No matter how intelligent or charismatic, you knew that placing blind faith in him or her would be a mistake. You were always watching your back waiting for the sucker punch to come.
A lack of trust allows fear to become a primary motivation with your team members. They will fear your opinions. They will fear your decisions and evaluations. They will fear failure. They will fear you.
Once fear creeps in, your team members will become paralyzed.
Trust is something that has to be earned. It is something we are all told to give away slowly and to take back quickly.

Here are six ways that a leader can instill respect and trust in his team:

• Expose yourself. Open yourself to others. Not in a dangerous way where people can take advantage of you, but rather in a way that demonstrates honesty and humility. Your team needs to know that you are just like them. Be willing to admit your own failures. If you put up a wall around yourself, your team will too.
• Take the hit. When undesirable outcomes happen, we are all quick to point the finger. If your team members see that you are willing to take the blame for the good of the team, even if its not directly your fault, then they will start to let go and trust you. As leader of a team you need to accept the responsibility for both the good and the bad.
• Build your team members up. This is the opposite of taking the hit. Whenever it is appropriate make sure you praise your team members in front of their peers and superiors. Be sure to applaud their efforts and results. Never try to take sole credit for something good that the team did.
• Get rid of the leash. Allow for freedom to explore new ideas and to be creative. If people feel that you are micro-managing them, they will stop trusting you. Make room for failure and more importantly the opportunity to learn from failure.
• Accept confrontation. Fighting is not good, but neither is false agreement. When there is a difference of opinion, promote discussion. Explore solutions with the intent to solve problems. If disagreement never occurs, then your team is afraid of telling you the truth.
• Find the value in each person. We all have weaknesses, but we also have strengths. Everyone brings something different to the table. Find what is unique in each individual and use that unique strength for the good of the team.

With trust a team can work together. Individuals will accept roles. Leaders will be respected. Teams can be productive.

Oceanside God Talks

   I'm back from my mini vacation to the ocean. I loved each minute of it. I think I could live by the ocean. The smells, the sounds and the view soothe my soul like none other. During the last few minutes of the drive, Jen ( the driver) rolled the windows down and the salty, tangy smell of the ocean filled the vehicle. I took a deep breath and released all the frustrations.
   Each morning at 7am, I awoke before everyone else and  grab my Publix blueberry yogurt, bottled water, Bible and JesusCulture, a book by Banning Liebscher. I would head out to the balcony which overlooked the gorgeous water and spend some time in the Word.  Staring out over the roaring waves while the sun would peek up over the horizon, I would sit thoughtless in awe of how He breathed this massive space into being.
   There on the deserted sands, I would watch as God showed off His might through the crashing waves and think of how truly small I am in comparsion. Yet, He favors me over the might of the ocean. He favors me over infinite sands. He favors me over the seemly endless waters. He values me above all of His artfully, masterfully, grand creations.

    Psalms chapter 8: 3-4 comes to mind:

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?"

 He is mindful of me in my small pitiful state with so many flaws. In spite of all of my shortcomings, He favors me. As I sat looking over the waters, my heart was full of humbled awe that He would care and be mindful of me in my low state.  He looks beyond my past, my problems, my flaws and stumblings, and sees who I can become in Him. I stand humbled by His mercy and grace.

Psalms 93: 4

" Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty. "

Random

Okay, I normally don't post such things on this blog but I just can't help it this one time.

One of the blogs I follow posted this picture yesterday,... Being an avid book lover & collector, PLUS having an overly romantic heart this was utterly perfect.

As my bestie, JMash says, "Le sigh...."

I Heart my Church

   For the last few weeks, the FPB creative team has been working on our new website (Stay tuned for the launch date!) and we were talking about certain things we wanted to be represented on the new site. One of these was a " I Heart my Church" page. On this page, we will have video & comments from FPB members on why they love their church. I can't wait to hear & see all the love pouring out for FPB.
 I really do belong to a fantastic church and I wanted to list my reasons for why "I heart my Church."
 So here you go, a few reasons why I love my church:

• FPB is one of the most friendly churches I have ever been to and I've been to several. When you walk in the opened door you are greeted with a friendly smile and a welcoming attitude. I feel that sour, mean, gossip-spreading, rude, obnoxious people cannot God-filled. It's impossible to behave in that manner if Christ is truly in you. Note: if you act in the above listed manner, check yourself. The spirit living in you is NOT of God.
• Our student ministry, Element is doing a great job leading & discipling students into a mature walk with God. Honestly, I've been to churches where the Student Ministry was all most being the most edgy, current student group. Lights, creative art demonstartions, and concerts led the students rather than the Word and prayer. Don't get me wrong! I am all for lights, creative art and concerts for students! I love that! But if you aren't digging down into the Truth and showing the students how to do the same, then you are just raising a generation that is more concerned with the outside of the cup rather than the inside. Read Matthew 23:26.
• I belong to one the most giving churches. If a need arises, whether it be international, national, community, or an individual, FPB reaches that need. I have seen FPB hallways full of clothes and shoes for the homeless, ziplock bags of various medicial items for Haiti, Christmas presents for a needy family, and food for a sick family. This church reaches out to lift others up in any possible way. That's what being a Godly person is all about. Recognizing the need of others and reaching it in whatever manner possible.

Yes, FPB may have flaws and problems. We're working on them. As our Pastor likes to say, "This is a church full of humans. We're created flawed."  We all mess up but hopefully, it's the Jesus in us that strives to correct the mess and move onwards and upwards.  FPB is a wonderful church full of wonderful people. I am blessed to call the First Pentecostals of Benton my home church.  I heart my church.

My Thoughts Thursday

SO grateful it's finally Thursday! I feel like I can see the light at the end of the work week tunnel. This week has been insanely busy, which isn't always a bad thing. It just makes for a whole lot of crazy drama. Whew!

Anyway, back to my Thursday thoughts. The following is a few things that have been on my mind this week.

 And here we go, ...

• The Beach: One week from today I will be driving to meet my dear LA. Friends for our Annual Girl's Trip. I am so ready for sun, sand and surf. I've already started mentally packing my book bag. There really is no better place to study the Word than beach lit by a quiet sunrise. Love it!


• Friends: I am truly thankful for my LA. Girls. These girls have been my friends for years. We've laughed, cried, giggled, shopped, shared and prayed together. These girls have shouldered many a burden and prayed many a prayer with me. They’ve shown me the right path more often than I'd like to admit. They've been there for me even when I may have been distant. I appreciate them and value them so very much. If you don't have a group of friends or even A friend like my LA. Friends, you need to find one. You will definitely need one.


• Nagging vs. Burden: This topic has been on my mind lately. We have to make sure we recognize the difference between nagging someone to reach God and having a burden for someone to reach God. The burden makes the difference. When you have a burden, it's about the individual's soul and eternity location. When you nag at a person, it's about you and getting your way. One way is altruistic, the other selfish. Which are you?


• Graduation night: For many high school teens, tonight and tomorrow night marks the ending of a phase. Six years ago I graduated high school... that seems like a lifetime ago. To the graduates of 2011, I say pursue those God dreams in your life and don't be surprised when the dreams begin to change. Dream change can be very healthy. It's apart of life. It's apart of growing up. It's apart of becoming who God designed you to be.

To quote Steven Tyler, “Dream on,..."

 

  

Bring 'em back

I've decided to start wearing more hats.

 I blame Kate Middleton and the Brits for this reborn obsession.

Who cares if no one else in Arkansas is wearing them!

Attach some netting and a feather to that straw farmer's hat and hit the town!

( Hat Therapy)

(Hat Therapy)



TED Commandments

If you are a speaker or plan on speaking in the future you need to have personal guidelines for yourself and your speech. My personal pet peeve is speakers who ramble about the same topic for nearly an hour.If you have guidelines for yourself you will be more memorable and you will keep from boring your audience.
   In his article, " Ten Tips from Lincoln on Writing a Kick-ass Speech" Leo Babauta tells us to keep it short. "If you can deliver a two-minute speech, instead of a 30-minute droner, your audience will actually listen, and will love you for your brevity."
All ten of the points he makes are fantastic! Being a huge Abe Lincoln fan, I am in complete agreement of each of them. Especially the last one, End Strong. "Lincoln ended the Gettysburg Address with the line “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” And that line went down in history. End with a line people will remember, that contains the message you want them to remember, because, aside from the opening, it’s the most important line."

TED organization is known for having some of the most inspiring, creative, passionate speakers on the planet. Before a new member speaks for the first time, the organization will send the new member a stone slate with the following TED commandments inscribed on it. Each "commandment" is incredible. I challenge you to apply these at your next speaking engagement!

The TED Commandments:

1. Thou Shalt Not Simply Trot Out thy Usual Shtick
2. Thou Shalt Dream a Great Dream, or Show Forth a Wondrous New Thing, Or Share Something Thou Hast Never Shared Before
3. Thou Shalt Reveal thy Curiosity and Thy Passion
4. Thou Shalt Tell a Story
5. Thou Shalt Freely Comment on the Utterances of Other Speakers for the Skae of Blessed Connection and Exquisite Controversy
6. Thou Shalt Not Flaunt thine Ego. Be Thou Vulnerable. Speak of thy Failure as well as thy Success.
7. Thou Shalt Not Sell from the Stage: Neither thy Company, thy Goods, thy Writings, nor thy Desparate need for Funding; Lest Thou be Cast Aside into Outer Darkness.
8. Thou Shalt Remember all the while: Laughter is Good.
9. Thou Shalt Not Read thy Speech.
10. Thou Shalt Not Steal the Time of Them that Follow Thee