Megan with kids from Maria’s Church

Megan with baby from La Chureca

Me preaching at La Chureca

Me playing with one of the children

Jana and I serving the meal at Maria’s Church

Family at a soccer game

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Effective and cohesive leadership teams are vital to successful organizations.

Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare.” —The Five Dysfuncutions of a Team; Lencioni, 2002

Doug McKinley, Psy.D.

I facilitated a coaching session with a leader who had a newly developed awareness of this potential conflict. This leader faced a dissonance that if she acted on her belief, she would likely damage an effective working alliance with a key stakeholder in the organization. She was up against a conflict in her own values.

Effective leaders know that change is inevitable and being comfortable is only an illusion afforded to those who are not on a growth trajectory. If you have a deep conviction about something, such as faith in a way of doing business or interpersonal conduct, it is not enough to just believe in it. You need to live out those beliefs. Faith without guts is like a golfer who stays on the driving range instead of taking on the golf course.

When I defended my dissertation in the spring of 1989, I sadly reported that there was no significant correlation between what people said they believed and what they actually did. Is it possible that my dissertation findings are one of the reasons why Jim Collins, in his book Good to Great, reported finding very few GREAT companies and even fewer level 5 (great) leaders in two decades of research?

The differentiating quality behind every great leader is that they have the guts to act on their beliefs.

Ask yourself this question. As a leader in your field, family, or flock are you willing to do what you say you believe even if it is unpopular or unwanted by people that matter to you?

If you want to be a difference maker, consider having the guts to act on your faith!

Doug McKinley, Psy.D.

This mishap reminds me of one of the most important qualities of a great leader: vision.

The irony of vision is that when you share it, most likely it will be forgotten, misunderstood, or misused. Sage leaders tell us that vision leaks. The average adult’s attention span is twenty minutes. If a leader wants his vision to hold, he needs to refill his team with the vision message often. Like my leaky glass, your vision will leak without consistent attention being paid to it.

Vision is powerful, yet requires unlimited refills to keep it current. Make sure your vision is being understood in the manner you intended.

“A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.” Ralph Lauren

Doug McKinley, Psy.D

1. Patience: The current is dependent on having water.  The old saying “you can’t control the wind, but you can adjust the sail” is also true of rivers.  Leaders depend on opportunities and openings to present themselves and are prepared for when they happen.
2. Momentum: Despite the obstacles a river faces, the current moves onward toward a destination and sweeps all things lighter than the water or not secured to the ground with it.
3. Leverage: the power of the current is in direct proportion to the slope of the terrain the river flowed through. For leaders slope is built upon leadership talent, knowledge, and skill.  The more experienced the leader the more likely a current will be moving in their life.

My thought for today:

What am I doing to build my leadership platform so it functions like a river bed?  Are you preparing for your time when work flows through your way and are you able to create a current of activity that is magnetic and powerful?

“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt – it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”

~Hal Boyle

WOW, what an amazing experience to witness nine parents/siblings make their own leap of faith to honor and accept their new normal life without their loved one physically present.

I learned a lot over those three days with the Gold Star families.  One leadership lesson came to me when I was in the plane with Joe, my assigned tandem jumper.  I asked him how many times he had jumped. His response startled and calmed me:  over 4,000 times.  As I waited my turn to take my own leap of faith it was extremely comforting to know that Joe had done this so many times he has lost count.  Can you relate? A tandem jumper literally has your back.  They are strapped to your back and take the jump with you so you can experience it as they do.

Leaders with vast experience give people the ability to take risks simply because they have been there, done that!  As a leader, your years of experience are essential in helping younger followers build their own courage.  The impact of your appropriate confidence on your followers is priceless.

Leaders instill confidence in others by assuring them and taking the dive with them early on in their training to ensure they land well!

Leaders, take the leap of faith challenge:

1. Share your stories of where you have been to those who are following you
2. Don’t just tell them, show them by having their back

- Dr. Doug McKinley