Month: November 2020

How to Set Your Financial Finish Line Based on Faith, not Fear

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Abby Jungles - Articles, Character, Leading Yourself, Resource Allocation

The woman hand is putting a coin in a glass bottle and a pile of coins on a brown wooden table,Investment business, retirement, finance and saving money for future concept.

In partnership with the National Christian Foundation (NCF), the Global Leadership Network is presenting a four-part article series to highlight strategic ways to maximize your financial stewardship and increase your joy in giving. In Part 2 , we will explore the topic of setting a financial finish line.

Many Americans, particularly as they get older, have a fear of not having enough money to last throughout their lifetime. This fear can be one of the greatest obstacles to experiencing the joy of giving generously.

Sometimes the fear exists even when it is not at all based on the financial facts.

This is where setting a “financial finish line” can help. At NCF, we encourage givers to set a finish line for their income and wealth accumulation…a cap on their income or lifestyle at a pre-determined point. This is important to do in advance, because as your wealth increases, so do the endless ways to spend, save or invest it (Psalm 62:10b)–and the finish line gets pushed further and further back.

Ask yourself these questions so you can base your plan on faith, not fear.

1. Why have I been entrusted with these resources?

This is a highly personal question that goes straight to the heart of the matter: what is the purpose of my wealth? You may want to think about the resources God has entrusted to your care and how you can leverage them for his purposes. God has allowed you to acquire, use, manage and dispose of this wealth. It’s up to you to steward it as he directs

2.How much is enough for my family and me?

After you’ve acquired and preserved wealth, how should it be used? Setting a financial finish line is essential to answering this question. Let’s look at an example from one of our co-founders, Larry Burkett.

God has allowed you to acquire, use, manage and dispose of this wealth. It’s up to you to steward it as he directs

During his life, Larry was a noted author and Christian financial expert. He set a modest standard of living and gave away the rest. For example, one year before he passed away, his book sales were so strong that he was able to give away $800,000–an amount other people, regardless of their net worth, might have chosen to pocket for personal use or save for future security. “Larry knew what it meant to stop at the finish line each year,” recalls Terry Parker, a close personal friend of Larry’s and fellow NCF co-founder. “And he never lacked for anything.”

It’s helpful to remember that determining how much is enough to live on is not so much a formula as it is a guard against excess accumulation. Although the target may change over time, depending on your circumstances, the process of trying to determine how much is enough is still helpful. The end result is recognizing that an estimated amount, or range, is enough.

3.How much should I give to the next steward?

Don’t forget to consider who the next steward is, and if that person is prepared. Most parents and grandparents give very little thought to this question. The typical plan is to divide an estate equally among heirs, pass on as much as possible at the lowest possible tax cost and never discuss those plans before death.
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But this approach overlooks crucial factors to planning God’s way, such as instilling a good work ethic and preparing children to manage wealth with grace and generosity. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon says that both wisdom and inheritance are good things we pass on to our children. But only one of them is guaranteed to protect the one who possesses it (Ecclesiastes 7:11-12). In other words, consider passing on your values before you consider passing on your estate.

4.Should I give now or later?

Once you’ve determined how much is enough for you and your heirs, the rest of your estate

is free for giving. Why wait? By giving now instead of waiting until after death, you enjoy lower taxes today and have the benefit of seeing and experiencing the impact of your giving during your life.

Start with this generous end in mind

Setting a financial finish line is one of the most important keys to a fostering a generous family. Ron Blue, Founding Director of Kingdom Advisors and the third of NCF’s co-founders, says, “When I ask the question, ‘How much is enough?’ most people immediately start to think about how much money they need to live on, or to save or to achieve their long-term goals.

These considerations are important, but I challenge givers to look at the question another way: How much is enough to give? Instead of trying to figure out how much you can give out of whatever’s left over, flip-flop your perspective. Start by asking yourself how generous you want to be…and you just might discover the answer to true wealth.”

Have you thought about your financial finish line? Contact your local NCF office for help.

This post originally appeared on the National Christian Foundation website, ncfgiving.com . To learn more about their creative solutions and explore giving strategies, contact Joe Pringle and the Chicago team by visiting their website or reaching out at chicago@ncfgiving.com.

Leading Change in Vietnam

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Rosey LaVine - Asia, Because of the GLS, Education, Family, Stories, Youth

In August 2020, The Global Leadership Summit was broadcast LIVE to an online audience and at micro-gatherings across North America. The Summit was then translated into 60+ languages and contextualized for another 123 countries and hundreds of locations worldwide. One of those locations includes Hanoi, Vietnam where 300+ men and women gathered for fresh leadership insights and encouragement from a mix of speakers chosen from our GLS19 and GLS20 world-class faculty. With no Covid-19 cases reported in Vietnam since September, they were also excited for the opportunity to gather in person after a difficult year.

Here are just a few stories from some of the attendees inspired to lead change within their sphere of influence in Vietnam!

I was inspired with a vision for orphans.

It must’ve been God’s idea to have me attend The Global Leadership Summit. I am supporting some orphan children—They were abandoned by their parents or their parents were sent to prison. They are very different from other children because they have suffered from great grief and loss.

During the Summit, Dr. Krish Kandiah inspired me to go on a bigger mission for these children, which is not only to help the children with basic living needs but to help transform their lives by opening my heart and being more visionary about what could be. – Tran Thi Minh Hang, GLS attendee, Vietnam

I realized I have influence!

Growing up, my family provided me with the best resources. I was doing well. But things changed completely when I slipped into the trap of drugs. I wasn’t myself and drugs took away my self-esteem. I was in deep pain and miserable. My family business went down, and my family life hit rock bottom too. When things were about to collapse completely and my family was about to leave me, God stepped in and embraced my pain and guilt. I quit my addiction. And now I am able to be a good father to my four children.

Today, I’m devoted to spread God’s love to those who have gone through similar experiences. A group of us started a school out of our church. I realized I have influence! During The Global Leadership Summit, Danielle Strickland’s talk on leading transformational change really made an impact on me. Thanks to Danielle, I now understand there must be change in order to have future growth. Change is not easy, but Danielle helped me see how I can move forward to serve those He put in my care. – Dang Ngoc Truong, GLS Attendee, Vietnam

I’m reflecting on forgiveness.

At 70 years old, I was excited to take part in The Global Leadership Summit this year! Being God’s follower, I find my life more cheerful and meaningful. My age is not an obstacle on my path of learning! No matter how old we are, we still can learn and develop. And we can learn from anyone!

I’ve been to the Summit many times. This year, I realized that the bitter fruit on my “tree of life” is lack of forgiveness. So, I am going to spend time reflecting on this and I will surely try my best to fix it because this has been a hinderance in my life. – Dao Van Tam, GLS attendee, Vietnam

Thank you for supporting The Global Leadership Summit as it is brought around the world. When you give above and beyond your Summit registration cost or at any time throughout the year, you make it possible for leaders like Dao, Dang and Tran to take part in the Summit in their country.

Watch this fun video of highlights from the GLS in Hanoi!

Learn more about how to be involved with the ministry of the Global Leadership Network at theglsn.org/Give

5 Ways You Can Pace for Performance and Peace

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Abby Jungles - Articles, Leading Yourself, Replenishment, Wellness

Woman working on a laptop at home while children distract her from her task.

The demands of our work and life seem to require we work more and faster and better.

We see how fast others are running. We see the goals we’ve set or have been set for us. And we set our pace to keep up, or better yet, to win.

Add to this the reality that we can work anywhere, anytime.

Even in long lines at Disney World with the family. (No, I’m not proud of this.)

We can maximize every moment, checking a quick email, responding to the current need. It can all feel so urgent and important.

But what is the price of our pace?

We fall easily into the belief that working more and faster is the key to productivity. But studies (and our bodies and souls, if we will listen) tell us something different. Late nights, long days, vacation times not taken (and working during vacations) and productivity valued over rest—it all takes a toll on us and what we bring to the world.

“Companies are suffering from tremendous productivity problems because people are stressed out and not recovering from the workday,” says Josh Bersin, principal and founder of Bersin by Deloitte.

Add to this a global pandemic, and the implications for our mental and physical health are significant.

According to a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted in mid-July 2020, 53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.

The surprising key to navigating in this very complex world is PACE.

What if in slowing down, pacing ourselves and honoring the pace of others, we actually find energy for creativity, for productivity and for peace?

What if a global slowdown is an invitation to rest?

In his three years of public work, Jesus fully accomplished his mission on earth. In a sea of endless needs and demands, he frequently made space for rest and retreat. And he did this not just for himself. He did it for his people.

When the disciples returned from a long work assignment on the road (preaching and healing and doing all the disciple stuff), they came to Jesus to report what they’d seen and done. So many people are coming and going that they haven’t even had a chance to eat. Rather than looking at all those people with all their needs and putting the disciples right back to work, Jesus says these amazing words: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31, NIV)

Pace allows us to be present to our purpose and to people.

Success does not require ransoming our souls.

What if, in the economy of energy, there is enough? Enough time and enough energy to do the things that need to be done.

And what if, in the rest and the slowing and the pacing, something greater emerges? Something like productivity and peace together?

In my work as a spiritual director and guide, I’m privileged to walk alongside leaders as they develop practices that generate energy, creativity, productivity and peace. Finding the right pace and integrating these practices requires a series of intentional choices. The benefits are seen, not immediately, but over time.

Here are five transformative practices you can use to pace yourself for performance and peace:

1. Practice your “no” and focus your “yes.”

Revisit and refine your vision and goals, for yourself, for your team and for your family. Give your “yes” to the things that most honor your vision. Give your “no” to the invitations and opportunities that compromise your pace.

2. Develop shared language for capacity and pace.

Check in with yourselves and others, using a scale to help communicate daily a sense of energy and well-being. For example, “one” is a low energy, feeling depleted day. “Five” is a full tank, high energy day. Set expectations and priorities for the day accordingly and look for ways to recharge as needed.

3. Make rest normative.

Sleep, naps, sabbaths, sabbaticals, vacations, walks, short breaks—they all make a difference. In the high-productivity culture of Japan, managers are now encouraging employees to go for a hirune—which literally translates as “lunchtime sleep.” Companies like Google, Ben and Jerry’s and Nike are now encouraging and creating spaces for workplace napping.

4. Care for the soul and body through practices like prayer, meditation, play and exercise.

A few moments of prayerful silence, a short walk outside alone, taking a quick break to do something just for fun—even little breaks like this can make a big difference.

5. Listen to and accept your limits and the limits of those you lead.

It takes great courage to acknowledge the need for help and for rest. Make it normative for you and others to access mental health resources as needed.

Let’s start now. 

Take a moment now to listen. Literally. Right now.

Stop and rest. Sit back in your chair. Turn off your phone and computer. Take a few deep breaths and listen to your body and to your soul.

Where do you feel stress?
Is your mind clear or distracted?
Do you feel energized or drained?

Now (feeling brave?) invite those you lead and influence to do the same.

What adjustments do you need to make for sustainability and productivity over time for you, for your team, for your family?

What one practice will you put in place to pace yourself today?

Ep 082: The Emotionally Safe Leader, Lysa TerKeurst & Jason Jaggard

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Abby Jungles - Change Management, Conflict Management, Leading Others, Podcasts

SUMMARY:

“Leadership is hard, and you will get hurt,” says author Lysa TerKeurst. While forgiveness is more commonly addressed in a counselor’s office than a corporate boardroom, Lysa TerKeurst cites evidence that a leader’s ability to forgive is a game-changer for organizational culture. In this episode, Lysa sits down for a vulnerable conversation with elite executive coach, Jason Jaggard, challenging you to work toward forgiveness and create emotionally safe workplaces where innovation can flourish.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

One of the biggest barriers to innovation is fear—and one of the biggest anecdotes to fear is forgiveness.

If you have created a culture where grace doesn’t freely flow, your team’s response to your shortcomings will boomerang back on you.
Leadership is hard and you will get hurt.
Leadership means people love you until they don’t.
You deserve to stop suffering because of what other people have done to you.
Signs of bitterness in the workplace: sarcasm, the curse of the comeback, pre-meditated resentments, jumping to worst-case scenarios and more.

When you’ve been wronged, you see the other person as the sinner and yourself as the saint. In reality, you are both called to be servants.
The most crucial part of forgiveness is for us to recognize how much we need it.
We think resentment gives us a pass and protects us. In reality, resentment imprisons us.
You can tell someone is in pain by how much they present themselves as wronged in their stories.
Grief is dreaming in reverse. When we dream, we envision something that’s going to happen in the future. When we grieve, we dream about the way things used to be or the way we wanted them to be.

Memories of the past can become triggers that cripple you in the present.
When it’s hysterical, it’s historical.
When faced with a painful memory:
- Collect the dots–identify the memories that are causing you pain
- Connect the dots–look for the connection between the memories
- Correct the dots–try to find a new path to a better story

Ask yourself, “What is the pervasive shame-filled lie that I keep telling myself?”
Figure out, “What is the new script that will combat that lie?”
When you walk into a room, don’t let your script define the interaction.
The very best time to forgive is before you were ever offended. The next best time is now.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

In this podcast,Lysa identified four signsof bitterness and unforgiveness on a team. Which one(s) do you see operating on your team?

- Sarcasm
- The curse of the comeback
- Pre-meditated resentments
- Jumping to worst-case scenarios

When those kinds of behaviors exist, howdoesit affect your team culture?

Based on the process Lysa went throughto identifythe pains in her life, what is a painful shame-filled lie that might be affecting your interactions in the workplace?

How can you write a new script to combat that lie?

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Forbes article: Forgiveness as a Business Tool

Forbes article: Forgiveness: The Secret to Innovation

Inc.com article: Forgiveness: A Key Tool for Business Success

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered

Table Stakes

Forgiving When You Can’t Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories and Create A Life That’s Beautiful Again

The GLS in Prison Wouldn’t Be Possible Without Volunteers Like These

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Rosey LaVine - Because of the GLS, Leading Organizations, North America, Prison, Stories

The growth of The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) in U.S. corrections facilities started in 2014 when the Global Leadership Network (GLN) formed a partnership with Prison Fellowship. As kindred spirits in the belief that everyone has influence, a partnership was formed to bring the GLS to incarcerated men and women as well as corrections staff. By 2015, the GLS was hosted in 11 corrections facilities. And by 2020, the GLS has grown to provide access to leadership development to more than 9,000 incarcerated men and women across the country. (In addition to facilities in the U.S., the GLS is hosted in a number of corrections facilities internationally each year as well.)

In 2021, the GLN hopes to bring the GLS into 100+ facilities in the U.S.

In 2021, the GLN hopes to bring the GLS into 100+ facilities in the U.S. as we lean into the expertise and support from corrections staff, wardens, chaplains, churches and organizations involved in prison ministry as well as several passionate volunteers and donors.

Two of the passionate leaders we want to highlight include Shelith Hansbro, who works for the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC); and Derek Swierczek, who is one of our lead volunteers in Illinois helping to onboard and support our prison sites across the state. With their help, and the help of a few other key volunteers, the GLN was able to bring the GLS into 10 new facilities in Illinois in 2020, despite the overwhelming obstacles a global health pandemic presented us with this year.

: Shelith Hansbro

: Derek Swierczek

In an interview with Shelith and Derek, we learned about the impact they’ve witnessed as a result of bringing the GLS to prison, and why they believe it is worth the investment of time see this ministry grow, not just to bring the GLS to more prisons in Illinois, but all across the U.S. as well.

A high school math teacher during the day, Derek Swierczek got into prison ministry by way of volunteering at his local church. He had his world rocked when he visited Angola State Penitentiary in 2017 and saw the impact that leadership development can have on a prison culture. “The impact is evident. If Angola State Penitentiary can change from one of the worst prisons in the world to a place where I felt safe and comfortable walking around the yard alone, talking with men, then any prison can change if given the right tools and opportunity.”

…any prison can change if given the right tools and opportunity.

Through a friend and fellow volunteer, Gordon Murphy, Derek met Dale DeNeal, pastor at Second Church in Danville, and learned about their prison ministry at Danville Correctional, one of the first locations to host the GLS in prison. “Through these connections, there was significant interest within IDOC and among various wardens who had attended the GLS to bring the GLS to more facilities,” said Derek. “Ultimately, shouldn’t the goal of any prison be to equip their offenders with the skills necessary to prevent recidivism? Why not do it right now so the culture while they’re still there can also be positively impacted?”

Shelith Hansbro, who has held various leadership roles in the IDOC over the years, including acting assistant warden of programs at Taylorville Correctional Center, sees the lives of the incarcerated differently than most. “I have been blessed to see the good in people regardless of their criminogenic path,” said Shelith. “I am blessed to engage men and women as they make strides to positively transform their lives and strive to do their best to achieve success.”

The GLS Creates a Ripple Effect

“I remember my first GLS experience,” said Shelith. “It’s an experience I will never forget. It was during a time when I felt overwhelmed, unsupported and somewhat isolated. I attended my first event in Springfield, Illinois. Everyone was so warm and friendly. Fellow conference goers were enlightening and willing to share with such transparency that I felt welcome and blessed to be there.”

I am blessed to engage men and women as they make strides to positively transform their lives and strive to do their best to achieve success.

After Shelith’s first GLS experience, she didn’t hesitate to share the event to more people, including the facility where she worked. “I wanted everyone to experience what I felt,” said Shelith. “I shared it with my friends and colleagues and decided if I had the opportunity to host the GLS, I would.”

Shelith indeed discussed bringing the GLS to Taylorville Correctional Center and they all agreed that it was worth it to host. “I made contact with Gordon Murphy and Chuck Brewer, two incredible GLN volunteers who serve prisons and wardens in Illinois, and the rest is history,” said Shelith. “During our conversations, I mentioned we needed a screen and they immediately helped us acquire one! On the first day of the Summit, Chuck and Gordon visited our site to make sure everything was going fine. They are genuine, caring and kind individuals who have enriched my life and helped me do the same for others!”

At the first GLS event at Taylorville in August 2019, they had more than 130 men participate!

Like Shelith, Derek’s positive experience in being a part of bringing the GLS to prison is similar. He first volunteered at the prison site in Danville, and then later had the opportunity to help bring the GLS to the prison he had been volunteering. Then in 2019, Sheridan Correctional hosted their very first GLS. “Seeing a group of offenders be so appreciative of the opportunity to engage in a world class leadership opportunity softens my heart!” said Derek. “Many of them truly usually feel forgotten. Many want to be a better person, especially when they get released and go back to their families and communities. So, seeing men who feel very little worth and value get excited to have volunteers come to simply digest all the leadership lessons with them is so exciting and rewarding!”

…seeing men who feel very little worth and value get excited to have volunteers come to simply digest all the leadership lessons with them is so exciting and rewarding!

“Our criminal justice system often focuses on the ‘penalization’ of the incarcerated versus the ‘correctional’ side of the rehabilitative process,” said Derek. “How are the convicted supposed to reenter society and be productive members of their communities if they’re not learning the necessary skills? The incarcerated are yearning for opportunities to learn skills that will serve them both inside their current facility and outside when/if they get released. The GLS truly brings men and women inside prisons hope.”

The GLS Can Transform Prison Culture

Both Derek and Shelith emphasized the impact that the GLS can have on prison culture, and why the value for the incarcerated and the staff is so worth the time and effort to invest in leadership development and provide much needed hope. “The sustained leadership development via the GLS is worth all the effort!” exclaimed Derek. “A safer environment for both staff and offenders is a win for all, and our society. After seeing men visibly and audibly appreciative of Warden Gomez for bringing the GLS to Sheridan in 2019, after looking at him as someone who was against them, was pretty awesome to witness! This kind of event can change the culture of prison, just like it did in Angola and Danville.”

A safer environment for both staff and offenders is a win for all, and our society.

“Employees and the incarcerated share the same environment,” continued Shelith. “We must intentionally work to create and maintain safe, secure living environments—this is more likely to happen when we all feel included, valued and supported, and the GLS creates a platform for this to happen.”

The Power of Partnership to Multiply Impact

“It excites me to engage with organizations like the Global Leadership Network to provide resources for the incarcerated and our corrections staff,” said Shelith. “To work with families to reestablish their bonds with their loved ones and to hear those stories of success when they return home is why I do what I do. There are leaders in every segment of our population. They come from all ethnicity groups and cultures and their influence is felt by many. The GLS nurtures those leaders by giving them the confidence, support and the tools to positively impact the lives of others.”

“I am so encouraged by the volunteers who give of their time, resources and donations to make the GLS possible in prison,” Shelith continued. “This work is not for the faint of heart. I have felt supported, uplifted and validated during times of uncertainty and isolation. I am so happy to be a part of the vision to provide leadership opportunities to individuals who can positively impact others. And it starts with empowering them to be their best selves.”

Derek offers advice to other leaders who may be considering bringing the GLS to their local corrections facilities. “The key is having a chaplain or warden who believes in the potential of the GLS and is willing to do what it takes to make it happen. Considering there are so many tech components to streaming the GLS, simply pulling it off in any of IL’s antiquated technology facilities is definitely an ‘Only God!’ accomplishment! Critical volunteers like Gordon Murphy and Chuck Brewer, who have been involved in prison ministry in Illinois for a long time, were instrumental in connecting with us in figuring out that we might have 10 new facilities interested in hosting. This visionary process laid the groundwork to what happened in August of 2020 and what is going to happen in October and November with the Summit Replays, even despite Covid-19!”

To work with families to reestablish their bonds with their loved ones and to hear those stories of success when they return home is why I do what I do.

It is such an honor for the Global Leadership Network to partner with such incredible volunteers like Shelith, Derek, Gordon and Chuck. To serve the incarcerated, reminding them of their value and providing opportunities for them to gain a new purpose for their lives is truly an honor. In 2020, we are just getting started toward a goal to reach hundreds of thousands more people through the GLS, but with incredible partners like these, anything is possible!

Sponsor Spotlight: Events to Help You Thrive Financially in Your Leadership

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Abby Jungles - Leading Others, News & Updates

Video Call Chatting Communication Concept

As a proud sponsor of the Global Leadership Network, Thrivent is offering two upcoming events to our audience to help you thrive financially in your leadership.

Thrivent believes money is a tool, not a goal. Driven by a higher purpose at their core, they are committed to providing financial advice, investments, insurance, banking, and generosity programs to help people make the most of all they’ve been given.

High Achiever Land with Lindsay Boccardo

Nov. 11 @ 6:00pm (CST) | Nov. 19 @ 11:00am (CST)

Learn how to connect and empower your peers (even when you can’t be in the same office), how to set boundaries that work, and how to get out of the endless “doing more” cycle that leads to burnout. This interactive webinar will help growing leaders create and manage realistic expectations with insights from nationally recognized generational expert, Lindsay Boccardo.

For nearly a decade, Lindsay has been coaching, researching and developing programs for growing leaders. She loves working with young talent and the organizations that employ them. Lindsay is the creator of “Unleash My Career,” and has trained hundreds of talented leaders on the process of designing a career they love. By providing education and training through one-on-one programs, group coaching and keynotes, Lindsay empowers young employees to develop themselves into the top talent in their organization.

Sign up for November 11 >> | Sign up for November 19 >>

Be Bold. Dream Big. Bless Others. with Stephanie Jones

Dec. 8 @ 1:00pm (CST) | Dec. 16 @ 6:00pm (CST)

Learn to live generously, give to yourself and community, and goal set for good! Author and speaker Stephanie Jones will discuss themes of her books, The Giving Challenge and The Gratitude Challenge, in this exclusive webinar.

Stephanie Jones is a philanthropist, TEDx speaker, coach, podcaster, and author of the award-winning and best-selling book, The Giving Challenge and The Gratitude Challenge. Since graduating from Taylor University, Stephanie has lived a crazy life from a private investigator to a professional organizer, a police officer, and a senior manager at a Fortune 100 company. She is passionate about living out the big dreams God has laid on her heart and challenges others to do the same. Stephanie lives in northwest Indiana with her husband, of 18 years, Mike, an Indiana State Trooper.

Sign up for December 8 >> | Sign up for December 16 >>

*No products will be sold. Lindsay Boccardo and Stephanie Jones are not affiliated with or endorsed by Thrivent. The views expressed in this presentation by Lindsay and Stephanie are their own and not necessarily those of Thrivent or its affiliates. The material presented has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable and is current.

The Vital Connection of Pace and Grace

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Abby Jungles - Articles, Decision-Making, Leading Yourself, Productivity

Only leaders of great courage and vision will intentionally consider the next 100 years and beyond.

What kind of leader are you?

Are you an early bird out to catch the worm? Or are you the slow and steady tortoise about to win the race?

Are you a look-before-you-leap leader or a haste-makes-waste leader?

Do you believe in nothing-ventured-nothing-gained action or in a more cautious better-safe-than-sorry approach?

Our contradictory proverbs reveal the dilemma most leaders face–is it better to go fast or to go slow? Should we be that Silicon Valley style rapid-response decisive leader that acts fast and breaks things? Or should we be a more deliberative leader who is not afraid to take time to weigh up all the options and plot the surest route to success?

The truth is we need both sorts of leaders.

I am extremely grateful for the decisive leadership skills of a lifeguard who dived right in to rescue my foster son before he even realised he was drowning. But I am also extremely grateful for the deliberative leadership skills of the teacher who subsequently taught him–eventually—to swim. We need both the immediate action-taker and the long-term strategist. We need those who are impulsive and those who are reflective.

The best sort of leaders are those who can do both.

We need leaders who know how and when to speed-lead, and how and when to press the pause button. We need leaders who have learned when to act on gut instinct and when to be more consultative and considered.

Chesley Sullenberger had been trained in the school of ‘better safe than sorry’ and it served him well for 29 successful years. But when the passenger plane he was flying had both engines taken out by a bird strike, he was somehow able to switch to a fast-acting decisive leadership style employing a technique never before managed, to successfully land on the Hudson river and save the lives of everyone on board.

The best thing you can do for our pace of leadership is to recognise your natural bent, and work on improving your unnatural bent.

In an emergency you don’t have time to gather focus groups or record staff meetings. The ability to quick think is critical.

But while agility and adaptability are great in a crisis, long-term success generally demands other skills: an ability and willingness to consult and reflect and weigh options and risks and collaborate. The decision not to rush might be the best decision you ever make.

Apple is known for its innovation and in particular the transformation it brought to the music industry through the iPod. But Apple did not invent the digital music player. The iPod changed the world not because it was the first to market, but because Apple bided its time, only releasing its iconic product when hard drive technology became available to carry a useful amount of music.

Whatever your pace of leadership is–it is not wrong. There are tremendous advantages in both the fast, decisive pace and the slow, deliberative pace. However sometimes the former can get stuck in headless chicken or steamroller mode, while the latter can find themselves locked into analysis paralysis or bureaucratic brain-freeze.

The best thing you can do for our pace of leadership is to recognise your natural bent, and work on improving your unnatural bent.

If you are a speed leader, take time to slow down occasionally. If your ‘go’ tends to be slow, use your deliberative skills to work out when you can afford to move up a gear. Probably the best way to do this is to actively seek out colleagues who naturally work at a very different pace to our own. Although this may bring its own challenges, it can helpfully broaden our perspective and protect us from getting stuck at one pace.

Sometimes our pace of leadership is determined by our personal preference. Sometimes it is determined by those around us or above us, by market forces or by things beyond our control.

In a global pandemic, there is a case for fast adaptation and more instinctive decision-making. And at the same time, the pandemic may have also forced a period of reflection and taking stock.

For leaders there is a vital connection between grace and pace.

Whatever our pace is, was, could be or should be, a self-awareness and appreciation of those in a very different part of the pace spectrum might improve not only the quality of our decisions, but the quality of our working relationships.

For leaders there is a vital connection between grace and pace. We appreciate grace from others when our own pace causes tension with those around us. We should be ready to offer that same grace to those whose pace we may find difficult.

These are also challenging times for those we lead. We need leaders who will neither exhaust us with an unsustainable pace nor leave us drowning as they dither.

So, let’s get the pace right in our leadership for everyone’s sake.

And let’s season it with a generous helping of grace, so that we can all find the speed to succeed.

Introducing the BRAND NEW Global Leadership Network

Month: November 2020