Danielle Strickland’s 2018 Global Leadership Summit Talk
Wall Street Rule for the #MeToo Era
A Greater Story with Sam Collier
008 Danielle Strickland: For Better Together
Month: February 2020
Leading Great Meetings
Patrick Lencioni explains the need to intentionally plan for great meetings.
Why Leaders Need to Live Small Even While Dreaming Big
In a culture that tells leaders to “dream big,” it’s important to remember that your greatest impact often comes when you “live small.”
It’s leadership from the heart, and it usually involves impact at a one-on-one level.
Living small means having a cadence to your leadership that allows you to respond to opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life. It’s leadership from the heart, and it usually involves impact at a one-on-one level.
- It’s having the sensitivity to notice when a teammate’s shoulders are sagging, and then taking the time to listen.
- It’s coming across a motorist having car trouble and when everyone else is angrily honking their horns, it’s pulling over and offering to help.
- It’s suddenly remembering an old friend from years ago, and rather than dismissing the memory, it’s picking up your phone and giving them a call—just to connect.
It’s these, and a thousand more moments that define what it means for a leader to live small.
Which is not to suggest that a leader should not dream big, embrace, as Jim Collins would say, “Big Hairy Audacious Goals, and strive to accomplish great things.
But along the way, leaders must always be aware that their greatest impact takes place in the “in between” moments of life.
Several years ago I was part of a team organizing a large leadership conference in Canada. The event was some 18 months in the planning, and exceeded every attendance and financial expectation.
…your legacy might well have more to do with your “live small” moments than it will with your “dream big” accomplishments.
During the event, I found myself dashing through the lobby of the venue on my way to fulfill some important task. As I raced along, a conference guest approached me and asked me if he could speak with me. He recognized me as an event organizer, and I could see that he seemed a bit emotional.
My first instinct was to simply say that, truthfully, I was busy at the moment. But fortunately, I managed to catch my breath, to pause and to listen to what he had to say. In essence, he simply needed to share with someone that, during this conference, he had made a life-altering decision. I needed only to listen with care and understanding.
I genuinely don’t remember anything else about that conference. As big a deal as the event was, my lasting memory is of this “living small” moment. It’s of a moment when I had the remarkable opportunity to deposit a small amount of compassion, which might have had a significant impact.
As a leader, how do you live small, even as you dream big?
1. Slow down
Very little of lasting impact happens when you are living at Lightning speed.
2. Move around
You can’t impact a life sitting alone at your desk.
3. Be inquisitive
Dreaming big often requires talking. Living small requires listening.
As a leader you have been trained to shoot for the stars, to grab the brass ring and to change the world.
And you should.
Just remember, your legacy might well have more to do with your “live small” moments than it will with your “dream big” accomplishments.
Entering the Danger
Patrick Lencioni says leaders should intentionally walk into uncomfortable situations.
Free School For Orphans Has Ripple Effect On the Next Generation
Founded by Ihor Bula and Liliya Valihun, Hebron Academy, located in Lviv, Ukraine, is a unique school created to provide free education, mentorship, personal development, life skills, internships in IT and employment for orphans and children from low-income families in their community. Ihor and Liliya’s primary goal is to help these kids find their place in society and to know God.
As attendees and volunteers with The Global Leadership Summit (GLS), Ihor and Liliya were approached by the local steering committee in Ukraine about featuring their story during the 2019 GLS to inspire others to bring transformation to their own communities. We’re so grateful they agreed!
Ihor and Liliya are an incredible example of godly leadership in action. We can all learn from and be inspired by their positive influence on the lives of hundreds of orphans and children in need in Ukraine:
The ripple effect of transformation is inspiring. As these kids become equipped, connected, and discover God’s love for them, they in turn provide that same hope for those that come after them, becoming mentors and support for students like themselves.
“I was just trying to fill the void inside me, but then I understood that only God can fill that void. If it wasn’t for Hebron, I don’t know where I would be now.”
“I discovered that God has a plan for everyone,” said one of the students.
“I found God, church and family,” said another.
“I was just trying to fill the void inside me, but then I understood that only God can fill that void. If it wasn’t for Hebron, I don’t know where I would be now.”
“Giving them this chance is a blessing—to influence and to change their lives for the better,” says Liliya Valihun, CEO, Hebron. “When you’re doing good, you don’t have to worry about the risks, because God takes care of everything.”
To those who support and pray for The Global Leadership Summit, thank you! You are a part of these stories too.
Attendees at the 2019 GLS in Lviv, Ukraine
Navigating Mixed Motives
Patrick Lencioni discusses how leaders with mixed motives can take the first step toward becoming servant leaders.
Why Inclusive Leadership is Healthy
Dr. Krish Kandiah lays out the case for inclusive leadership and why it is healthy for both the leader and the organization.
Diversity Starts with You
Branding expert Bozoma Saint John suggests diversity initiatives should start with a hard internal look.
How Our Adopted Child Taught Us to Lead from the Heart
Dr. Krish Kandiah’s talk at The Global Leadership Summit 2019 caused me to stop, turn around and take another look.
Dr. Kandiah is an advocate for fostering and adoption. He’s the founder of Home for Good, a charity seeking to find permanent, loving homes for kids in the UK foster care system.
- What causes people to have such a strong desire to influence and even save lives—especially the life of a child?
- Where does having a heart for a child even come from? How does this “heart transformation” even take place?
One thing’s for sure: as we grow in godliness, we see things through a different lens. So often, it’s easy for us to see right past amazing, simple, beautiful, obvious things that bring goodness to our souls and goodness to others.
This is especially true about having an awareness of children in need. Once we serve a child in need—or for that matter, anyone in need—we see everything differently.
Once we serve a child in need—or for that matter, anyone in need—we see everything differently.
I have an artist friend who once showed me how to look at a beautiful photograph. Now, when I see a picture, I notice things that I would have never noticed had he not made me aware. In the same way, serving others causes us to see everything with a godly perspective.
What does it mean to “lead from our hearts?”
It means your life is in harmony with God. What’s important to Him is important to you.
What burdens Him burdens you.
Children have a special place in Jesus’ heart. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Marty Neumeier is the author of an important book on marketing called ZAG. He says if a company wants to be noticed, it has to do things differently from the norm. He refers to this as “radical differentiation.” It’s looking at things through a different lens.
This kind of thinking not only makes sense in marketing but in life in general.
While most people strive to have a normal life, or they ZIG, a life dedicated to Jesus will cause us to ZAG. This is actually an interesting way to describe the life that Jesus modeled. If you want to be great, be a servant. If you want to be first, be last. In order to be rich, be poor. Do good to those who hate you. It’s a kingdom where leaders are servants, neighbors and enemies are loved and poor widows give away half their money. Is it any wonder why Jesus’ life is such a culture shock?
So how does Dr. Kandiah’s message relate to my world?
My wife, Connie, and I had our world turned upside down when a neighbor asked us to babysit her 13-month-old niece. Beware—having the heart of God can make you susceptible to major life changes! Your circumstances may just be jolted.
Our neighbor brought this 13-month-old little girl to our house just so we could see how beautiful she was. We were absolutely taken by her, but unfortunately, her story was not a beautiful, happy one. She was a “cocaine baby,” addicted to her mother’s habit and abandoned.
A couple of days later that same neighbor came to our house and said, “The little girl is now in the custody of the county and they are looking for someone to babysit her for a few days. Would you guys be interested?”
We had no words at that moment. “Isn’t there a relative who could take her?” we wondered. What in the world do we do when faced with that question? We had many reasons for our lives not to be interrupted. We had two other kids in elementary school. I had a busy career. Our lives were full.
We gathered our two kids together and had a family meeting. Our eight-year-old daughter said, “What would Jesus do?”
That’s not even fair! But we prayed and decided to enter into this seemingly two-week adventure. After all, two weeks is within reason. We had to get certified for emergency foster care.
It all happened so fast. But we welcomed this little girl into our home and into our lives. We immediately contacted our extended family, our church family, neighbors and friends to let them know. It was one of the happiest, best days of our lives.
The journey took us places that we had never ever planned for. Doctor’s visits, court for three years, adoption day in the judge’s chambers, a room addition, her elementary school years, high school, an attempt at college, her marriage and her beautiful two-year-old little boy. That little girl who came to our house at 13 months old is now 33. She is a wonderful wife and mother. Our entire family is so proud of her. She and her husband and our grandson live two miles from us.
How did this happen? Why did it happen to our family?
Having a heart for God caused us to be susceptible to a “life interruption.
Having a heart for God caused us to be susceptible to a “life interruption.” We put our hearts and faith into action. Our life story had to include this little girl. Because of her, we love better, laugh better, sing better, cry better, dance better and live better because we “led from our hearts.” We did it and we are thanking God every day for directing our paths.
Dr. Kandiah’s perspective on “leading from the heart” highlights some very important ways to live your life values.
These are my 7 takeaways from his teaching:
- See the potential in people when others see only problems.
- See hope when others see only Chaos
- See opportunity when others see only obstacles.
- See treasure in people instead of trouble.
- Value dignity and worth in people
- Prejudice is the opposite of hospitality
- Be a “set the table leader,” not a “bang the table leader.”
Thank you, Dr. Kandiah, for reminding us of what is important to Jesus—leading from the heart.
GLS20 Faculty Announced
All around you there are spaces where your leadership is desperately needed. The Global Leadership Summit on Thursday-Friday, August 6-7, 2020 is your opportunity to access a wealth of leadership insights from 15+ world-class faculty ready to equip and inspire you—no matter where you have influence. Register Now to Attend at a Host Site Near You >>
This year’s faculty is ready to share their unique perspectives on leadership to enable you to influence the world around you! Watch the video below to see who will be joining The Global Leadership 2020.
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