Month: October 2017

If the Church is the Solution, the Summit Exists to Strengthen Church Leadership

Posted on October 25, 2017 by - Because of the GLS, Calling, Church & Faith-Based, Government, Latin America, Prison, Stories

You’ve heard about the news in Colombia — guerrilla warfare, drug lords with too much power and rampant injustice. But leaders like Camilo Bedoya, director for the GLS in Colombia, believe in a new day and a grander vision for their country. It’s a vision motivated by the idea that neutralizing evil will not change a nation, but activating the Church will.

As the church leaves the building, Camilo believes the nation will be transformed.

Drug lords to revival: an opportunity for peace

Camilo and others like him are utilizing the tools of The Global Leadership Summit to activate the Church, and take advantage of a window of opportunity during their government’s current peace process. “There are doors of opportunity being opened that we need to take advantage of,” says Camilo. “Twenty years ago, there were prophesies spoken about revival in the country and how God would use a land that was known by drug lords to export the Gospel to other nations.”

“In Colombians, and in people all around Central America and South America, God has raised something in leaders, and the timing is right,” says Camilo. “The Summit is bringing insightful, intelligent people into the scene. I believe this is a key element for a transformation to take place. It’s a window of opportunity. The resources that are invested in the Summit can change a whole nation!”

Change is already taking place for youth and in prison systems

One of Camilo’s first key takeaways from the GLS was that in order to see real change occur, we need to realize that the Church has the solution. By activating the Church, and connecting key church leaders together, we bring that solution to the nation. “It’s been interesting, because it’s like a very natural and organic network where people are now speaking up about their city, and having a heart towards their city, and even towards the nation,” says Camilo. “They are taking a stand, and moving things forward. Through the GLS, they now have tools to do it, and that’s what’s beautiful.”

Two major transformations Camilo has witnessed as the GLS inspires church leaders to GO out of their buildings:

  1. Homeless youth now go to college“In a small town close to Bogota, there were some homeless youth in a government program. So our church started training all those kids who were orphans, some of them who didn’t expect (or even desire) to live. We were not just sending them a Bible, but our church’s youth went for two years to help them envision a God who cares. And just by being with them, the youth in the government program started to bloom. The stories were amazing.”Now some of them are going to college, because the government has those programs in place, but without a dream or a desire, why would they go? Now we’re seeing them really moving forward.”
  2. Crime rate is reduced in Colombia’s prison system
    “In the prison system, it was the same situation. We decided not just to go, but to engage. We work with another program that was started by a general in the country. Doors opened, and after two years of doing the program in the prison system, the crime rate reduced.In these past weeks, a church member who is highly influential in the country is now open to taking the GLS into the country’s prison system.“As people see the GLS, they realize how they can be an influence, and witness the changes in the community,” says Camilo. “It’s really exciting.”

Vision: Expand the GLS to serve remote leaders

When a vision has the potential to change a nation, leaders like Camilo are motivated to expand the reach of the GLS even further. “The grander vision for the year 2020 is to have the GLS in six major cities, and from there spread throughout the country,” says Camilo. “I believe you need key people, but you also need the tools, and the money that will help move things forward. I believe that the GLS has some of the greatest tools.

“When you look at underdeveloped countries, you see big cities that are crowded and sometimes you find resources in those cities, but there is a huge difference when you go to villages and other places. The format of the Summit allows it to be placed anywhere, as long as the resources are there to support it.

“In the rural areas, we have pastors sometimes leaving at three in the morning, and swimming through ponds and lakes to get to the Summit. They pack a bag with their Bible and another set of clothes, so that on the other side, they can change. They are the first ones to arrive. Once they arrive, they are ready and willing to receive. Only God can say what will happen with all these people, but we must provide the resources. Sometimes we think we are the ones making an effort in the city, but they are the ones who are really doing amazing things, but we must make resources available to them.

“I believe that the Summit can create the connectivity for all of us to work in a kingdom mindset.”

Thank you from Colombia

I would like to thank each one of the donors who has made the GLS possible. In Colombia, I’m witnessing a country that is flourishing and going through a transition. It makes a difference when a leader is impacted and transformed. I, myself, am a part of a process, and I’m also seeing other leaders become part of a process of transformation. It makes a difference in many areas—one of them is when someone believes in you, and encourages you to move forward. I believe the GLS is helping others move forward by believing in them. I see God moving. And I believe we need to learn to see more of where God is showing up or moving, because he is everywhere. I believe there are nations right now, not just Colombia, that desperately need what the GLS is providing. If leaders are exposed to this level of training or this level of influence, then they can step up and be a solution to the issues in our countries. Investing in the GLS is key right now. I want to thank each one of you for making this possible for the world, and for my country. Thank you.—Camilo Bedoya, GLS leader, Colombia

3 Paradigm-Shifting Principles Changing the Leadership Culture of Ukraine

Posted on October 23, 2017 by - Eastern Europe, Europe, Stories

Yaroslav Pyzh, president of Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary and national coordinator for The Global Leadership Summit in Ukraine, loves his country, and ultimately desires to see more people discover Jesus across the nation. He believes that through godly leadership, and raising up leaders who are willing to get their hands dirty, hearts can be transformed, and Ukraine will be changed for the better.

There are three leadership principles he learned at the GLS he believes are key, paradigm-shifting ways to begin emerging out of Ukraine’s post-communist culture: giving back, measuring the success of your followers and being held accountable. While they may seem like simple leadership concepts, Yaroslav tells us they have been eye opening for leaders in the Ukraine.

 

  1. Leadership is giving back

“One of the heritages we have from the former Soviet Union is the whole idea of leadership and what it looks like,” says Yaroslav. “According to that world view, leadership takes advantage of others. I think this is probably the most difficult thing we struggle with right now. And we will be struggling with this for the next generation or so. If you take that perspective, it’s very challenging because people don’t trust you. They have learned everyone is using them or abusing them. When you try to motivate them, or inspire them, they are always looking for some ulterior motive that you might have.

“The Summit taught us that leadership is about servanthood and giving back. Leaders have to give something. This is opposite to our thinking. But through GLS, we discovered that leadership is about what you give back.”

  1. Leadership is measured by the success of your followers

“How do you measure your effectiveness as a leader?” asks Yaroslav. “Quite often in our case, people measure their effectiveness by their own achievements. But what we hear at the GLS, and what we try to practice now, is never measure your leadership capabilities by your own achievements.

“You always measure your leadership success by the success of your followers—this is something that is very different for our culture. When you are thinking about leadership and what you gain from it, you don’t really think about your followers and what they gain. That’s a very challenging thing for us, and is shifting our thinking as we begin adding value to people through our leadership.

“Leaders and those who participate in Summit have to remember that it’s not numbers that inspire us, or personal achievements, but what we find in the hearts and values of people. The whole of leadership is about people.”

  1. Leadership is being held accountable

“The third one is very difficult for me personally, and I’ve seen it be difficult for other people too,” says Yaroslav. “It’s being held accountable. Accountable not only for the success of your followers, but also the mistakes of your followers.”

“In our case, our culture is very distrusting. One of the things we deal with the most is the fear. What if I make mistakes? Quite often people are afraid to do things, and so they don’t do them. They are afraid to feel this shame and guilt that come from making mistakes. It is a very big part of our culture. So the GLS is challenging us in this way.”

My grander vision for Ukraine

“My grander vision is difficult to achieve, but a very simple idea,” says Yaroslav. “I would like to see every local church grow through baptisms and discipleship.

“Right now our local churches are declining in numbers tremendously. But the local church is the hope of the world. That’s really true and that’s what I believe. So everything I do as the president of the seminary, and through GLS, and all the other conferences for leadership development, is always geared toward one thing—To enable and help every single local church grow through baptism and discipleship. That is the whole idea, the premise of everything that I would like to see happen in the future.

“God is good to us, and our vision is clear. When people follow a vision, not just follow you personally, but actually follow that vision, and you provide them with tools needed for it, our churches will grow.

“When we started GLS three years ago, we started with 400 people in our location. Last year we had about 1,000 in one location and we had another location that was 300. We had a couple more locations in Ukraine, so we experienced a tremendous growth because people are hungry for these things. Even at the seminary. This year we will have over 500 students. These things are working!”

Thank you for supporting the GLS in Ukraine

“I really appreciate all the help that the GLS provides in Ukraine, and for helping us start the GLS here. My personal thankfulness is for people who invested in Ukraine and our GLS because God is using that tool to touch so many hearts and a new generation of leaders who will form what will happen in our churches and our society. In the midst of all the trouble we’re going through, true leadership is what we really need. Without a true leader, and without a true vision, we don’t really have a future, so thank you for investing in our future and our leadership development in Ukraine.”—Yaroslav Pyzh, GLS leader, Ukraine

5 Tips to Spark Creativity in Others

Posted on October 23, 2017 by - Articles, Change Management, Collaboration, Complex Thinking, Culture, Leading Others, Supervising People

A few months back, I met with my team to kick off a big project, my next book. I started by asking everyone to share their ideas and saying we’d run with the best ones. 

We had a concept at that point but not much else. So what I needed were ideas—lots of them. Practical ideas, crazy ideas, ideas that we knew were a sure bet, ideas that were way out on a limb.

What I didn’t want was to pitch and defend my ideas. I wanted to hear the best and most innovative concepts from every team member.

My team tossed out dozens of suggestions. By the end of the day, we had come up with a fantastic outline for the book, one that I was excited to write. 

Saying “The best idea wins”—and meaning it—is a great way to encourage creativity in your organization. But that’s just the start. Here are a few other strategies that allow good ideas to flourish. Let’s look at five principles for cultivating creativity anywhere. 

  1. Develop a creative culture. 

You can’t have creativity if you don’t have a creative culture. And you won’t have a creative culture unless you, the leader, first embrace it. Show that you value this trait by letting the best idea, rather than your idea, win. Acknowledge and reward creativity every day.

Next, surround yourself with creative people. You need team members who can regularly bring unique ideas to the table. This doesn’t mean you hire only artistic people. Creativity comes in many forms, and you’re better off hiring team members with different ways of expressing innovation. Some people possess abstract creativity: Hand them a piece of paper, and they can invent something amazing from nothing. Others think in more concrete ways. They may not excel at envisioning something new, but you can count on them to make existing ideas better. A strong team has representatives from both creative camps.

Once you have the right people, continue to provide an environment that rewards their creative output, acknowledges their contributions and gives them a vision that inspires them to break new ground. They’ll respond positively, and you’re likely to see amazing results. 

  1. Eliminate negativity.

Two things crush innovation faster than anything else: negative talk and negative attitudes.

Negative talk includes statements such as “I’m not a creative person,” “That’s not how we do things here,” “Be practical,” “It’s never been/can’t be done,” “That’s too much work,” “We can’t afford to make a mistake” and “We don’t have the time/money/people.”

Start removing these and other negative comments with your own words. When you’re positive and encouraging, your people will follow your lead.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll never hear anything negative—it’s going to happen. And when it does, you simply redirect the person toward a positive thought by saying something such as, “We do face challenges, but our goal is to find the opportunities within those challenges. How can we use this situation to develop something positive?” 

The words may vary, but by addressing the negative talk and pivoting toward a positive outlook, you can completely revamp your organization’s vocabulary and culture.

Battling negative attitudes begins with you, too. Let your enthusiasm be apparent to everyone, and you’ll see positivity spread throughout the ranks. Sometimes difficult situations such as a budget shortfall or a failed venture can bring people down.

Acknowledge that and then challenge your pessimistic employees to list possible positive outcomes along with innovative strategies they could use to make them happen. You might even have them write out the list and post it in their work areas as a reminder.

If someone’s gloomy outlook persists despite your best efforts to improve it, you might have to send the employee packing. One sourpuss can bring down an entire team. 

  1. Embrace the need for questions. 

Comfortable people make statements. Creative people ask questions. Questions open the door for new ideas, new perspectives and new possibilities. The more your team members can ask and answer questions about the work they’re doing, the more likely you are to see creative results.

A quick word of caution, though: Creative people can be abstract and far-reaching, and you might find their questions and conversations veer too sharply from the mission at hand. These innovators need someone to help maintain the organization’s vision, and that often means redirecting their questions back to the big-picture goal. As a leader, don’t be afraid to harness their minds and channel their energy toward achieving our vision. 

  1. Don’t ranch sacred cows.

That’s a funnier way of saying, “Don’t cling to the status quo.” Instead embrace an openness to innovation, even before it’s necessary. There’s a shelf life on many ideas, so before a practice becomes stale or obsolete, you might need to tear down what’s working in order to build something better in its place.

Be prepared for mistakes along the way. Failure will come with innovation, so it’s best to brace for it in advance. As Dilbert comic creator Scott Adams says, “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

  1. Keep the toolbox full.

This final principle is the simplest: Give your people the tools necessary to do their best work. You don’t want designers working on 10-year-old computers. Filmmakers shouldn’t shoot in standard definition. Cutting-edge technicians can’t rely on obsolete manuals. Do what it takes for people to have the best tools for their jobs. Put them in position to win.

Ready to light the spark in your workplace? Make sure you are embracing a creative mindset, displaying a can-do attitude and creating an atmosphere that encourages employees to ask questions and share their thoughts—even off-the-wall ones. Insist on letting the best idea win, and then close your mouth and open your mind to the suggestions that pour forth.

You’ll be astonished at how the ideas start to flow and keep gushing day after

day.

This article originally appeared on the website Success.com.

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Posted on October 21, 2017 by - Calling, Leading Yourself, Wisdoms

A strength is an activity that before you’re doing it you look forward to doing it; while you’re doing it, time goes by quickly and you can concentrate; after you’ve done it, it seems to fulfill a need of yours.