Posted by
RedHispanic on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 4:31:24 PM
** Welcome Broken Stained Glass readers. Thanks for letting me borrow J.R. for a bit. I would enjoy hearing your comments, especially if you currently attend Calvary Church. **
Some time ago, I had the opportunity to do an email interview with one of my pastors when I was living in Colorado Springs, CO, who now serves as Pastor at Calvary Church Souderton, PA. J.R. Briggs previously served as Pastor at Pierced Chapel, a Woodmen Valley Chapel community. J.R. also blogs at Broken Stained Glass.
I found JR’s responses to my questions most compelling and revealing of what is true leadership, and what is not. J.R. started his interview answers with some thoughts that set the tone for what he considers true leadership—a striving for humility and an awareness of our [human] brokenness before God. Enjoy.
JR: I have to admit, I am humbled and surprised. My first response was, 'Why would Josue want to interview me in the first place?" So, I am honored for you to believe that there are some leadership lessons to learn from me. Hopefully you aren't disappointed and you can walk away with some sort of nuggets of wisdom.
JS: How would you describe your "Leadership Philosophy"?
JR: For me, to be a leader is “to be a culture changer." Whether it’s the CEO of a multi million dollar company or a stay at home mom, a leader changes the current culture to a different one - whether it’s the entire company or just the room they walked into. Therefore, a good leader changes the culture to a better culture and a bad leader changes the culture to a worse one. Therefore, my leadership philosophy is, 'How do I change the current culture I am in right now for the better?'
JS: Is there a leadership and/or management "model" you use or have taken lessons from?
JR: No models--I'm not sure leadership is that structured, honestly—but I do look to people to be those models - they are no longer theoretical, but living, breathing leadership 'models.'
JS: What 2 or 3 sources have most strongly influenced your Leadership Philosophy (Particular parts of Scripture, Books, experiences, events, other Leaders)?
JR: (a) Scripture: the Gospels. As I read through the gospels I'm amazed at home counter-cultural and counter-intuitive Jesus mode of leadership really was and still is.
(b) Resources: I read about three books a week on average. So a leader has to be a reader. But, I also try to get my hands on as many leadership resources (from as many diverse sources as possible) as I can: articles, website, books, biographies, podcasts, interviews, etc.
(c) Other leaders: Yes, Jim Collins, in a recent leadership conference I attended, said that leaders have to be intentional about creating a 'personal board of directors.' who are those people, he asked, who influence your life and you give them permission to shape you -- even if they may not even know who you are?
JS: Do you believe your Leadership Philosophy has changed much over the years you have served in leadership roles? If yes, how so, and why? If not, why?
JR: I am not sure the philosophy has changed, but the expression of that philosophy has had to change. What works in one organization may not work in another - and that's okay. What isn't okay is a leader who isn't willing to adapt to his new environment. That could be the downfall of that leader.
JS: Could you list the top 3 to 5 Leadership lessons in regards to facing, and leading through times of change or transformation?
JR: Currently I have been asked to be a change agent at the new church I serving at in an area of the country where change is hard and you often hear comments like, 'We've never really done it that way before.' So, it’s made for some hard decisions, (at times) upset people and a lot of explaining and soul searching at times. But here's what I have learned:
(a) You cannot over-communicate in the midst of change as a leader.
You cannot. I try to over communicate so that people are saying, "Yes, I know, you’ve said that a million times already..." rather than hear people say, "We have no idea what's happening...we feel out of the loop on what's going on..." Communicate over and over again AND look for several different avenues in order to communicate the change.
(b) I've found myself praying this prayer a lot lately and it’s a good one to remember: "Lord, give me thick skin and a soft heart." I need to grow in letting criticism and the comments of the naysayers roll off my back but I also need to make sure it doesn't harden my heart either. You always want a soft heart as a leader.
(c) Listen to people. Assure people that you will listen to them, BUT also assure them that it does NOT mean you are going to do everything (or anything!) they suggest. People just want to know that they are listened to, whether or not their ideas come to fruition. Being accessible as a leader is important.
(d) In transition, be patient. We need to make sure that we don't jump to conclusions immediately. Sometimes we need to let the dust settle. …I find that if I learn the culture a little bit, listen to what's happening, step back a bit it helps me make better decisions in the future.
(e) Don't waste a lot of your time and energy on trying to convert the critics to your side. Let your life speak, as Parker Palmer says, and in doing so, that will either win people or repel them from your vision. I don't always see people being repelled as a bad thing either. Just don't spend all your time running after people in order to 'convert' them to your side.
JS: How are changes outside of your ministry affecting the Church you lead, and your ability to continue moving towards a vision and effective execution of His mission?
JR: I am always studying culture (media, the way people think & learn, the movies that are out, etc). If leadership cannot be relevant to their situation, nobody wants to follow someone like that. So, especially as I try to lead people to God, I need to make sure I'm communicating that God wants to meet people where they are at. Some of my greatest teaching preparation each week is reading SPIN magazine and watching Sports Center. Constantly exegeting the Bible as well as exegeting the culture is an important aspect of my job in leadership as a pastor.
The interesting thing about this statement by JR is that I find his sermons to be ‘intellectually’ challenging, and with a strong Biblical foundation and core. The key lesson here is that a leader can learn to adapt the message to make it relevant to the audience, without abandoning the core values and or deviating from the mission. This is the key to being a good communicator, and a valuable tool in a leader’s belt.
JS: What have you observed are the key things "followers" want or need from a leader?
JR: …I think followers want information. The 'tell me what's going on' mindset of wanting to be in the loop is important. I think followers need hands on training. 'Let's do it together' is a great phrase that leaders (including myself) need to learn in the process. And I think followers need a safe place to fail - where if they try and they make mistakes, it’s okay to do so—a safety net, if you will.
JS: Any final advice or tips to a leader-apprentice?
JR: What makes a great leader is one who has an insatiable curiosity. Be curious about everything. It may drive some people nuts, but you'll learn. So, learn to ask good questions. Care about the little things that no one else might care about...but it makes a difference. Be curious.
And serve.
The buzz word these days is 'servant leadership' even in secular business realms. So, is it better to be a leader who serves or a servant who leads? The answer to that question is of utmost importance. (I won't tell you the answer...you wrestle with it yourself. and if you want to know the answer, email me back, tell me your thoughts and then I'll tell you what I think...)
But don't ever tell people that you are a leader. That will reveal insecurity. Simply be a servant. If you really are a leader, people will recognize that in you and they will tell you.
Thinking about JR’s challenge, I see the role of leadership as just great responsibility—the person most accountable for success or failure of others. A leader who serves may simply be a leader attempting to appear as a servant, but yet sees himself above others, while a servant that leads is a team player who sees himself as equally important to everyone else on the team within his leadership role--the one with the larger burden to carry even.
The key to being a servant, of course, is character. I would rather have evident character than a fancy title. If I have character, and display the qualities of Christ--the ultimate servant--then other will follow, regardless of titles or position.