Leading with Light

Matthew 5:13-16… You know this passage; it is the one where Jesus talks about us being salt and light. I love this scripture because it echoes a truth about God: He uses the unlikely to display His glory.

In this passage Jesus is speaking life to his disciples. We must understand who these men were because they were far from a qualified bunch. Jesus often got frustrated with them for their lack of understanding as they were ordinary men, with nothing major to show for themselves. In fact, in Acts 4:13, we read that Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men. So it is these average men that Jesus is saying are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

I don’t know about you, but I can relate to these guys. Sometimes as a leader I feel very unqualified, very ordinary. I often think if Jesus wanted to use someone to change the world it would not be me!

BUT do you want to know the story of why we are here? Do you want to know why God has given you your leadership gifting?

Here is: We are on a mission from God! Others like the ordinary disciples came before us, others will come after us... But this is our time. Either we are on this mission of continuing his life light through us, through our leadership, or you have no plan and purpose at all! We are ordinary people empowered to change our world...

You and only you may be the only chance that those who you have influence over will have to see the Light that gives life.

Jesus said we are the salt of the earth. Salt brings flavour, it enriches the eating experience! So God is wanting to use us to add flavour to the lives of those we have influence over, to enrich their life experience. We can love unconditionally and serve without agenda. God has placed certain people around you by no accident, and by loving unconditionally and serving without agenda, we can add flavour to their lives.

Jesus also said we are light. He has lit the light in you, and He has placed you on a certain stand (that stand is your family, work, friends…) and HE wants that light in you to shine all around you! Where things are looking dark, you can bring God’s light into others situation through serving, loving and just being present for them. You see, the light is from God, and he is wanting to use us as vessels to shine His light, so that God may be glorified! We can show people a new way of living.

I encourage you, especially as a leader, to be open to him using you. Don’t not cover up His light, or only shine some of the time - God is wanting to use us all the time. Let’s be open to his leading us. Let’s ask him to use us always!
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Don Muller has spent the last 4 years working into corporate and church leadership development and training both locally and internationally. He has a passion for and works towards seeing individuals live out their strengths and calling daily.

The Slob and the Nag

I recently worked with a group of leaders within the retail industry in Johannesburg. I was again reminded of the story of the Slob and the Nag as I worked with them. As always, the model seems to challenge those who hear it.

There was once a psychologist who had a woman come to see him.

“My husband is a slob.” she exclaimed. “He gets home, sits on his lazy boy, drinks his beer and plays with his remote” she continued, visibly frustrated and hurt at the absence of a loving husband.

The psychologist approaches the husband.

“What!” he shouts, “that woman is a nag! she nag’s all the time...” he explains.

The vicious cycle is apparent. The more he slobs the more she nags. The more she nags, the more he slobs. So who must change?

The males usually say the nag and the females say the slob! They eventually settle on the answer that it is in fact both who must change.

My next questions is - ‘who must change first?’

To which we continue our debate on the role of husbands and wives in marriage...

The answer is the nag must change first.

Why?

Because she went to the psychologist in the first place. The nag is the one who is being affected most by the slob nag dynamic between her and her husband. The consequences are therefore greater for her if she does not change. She is affected by the problem.

That is sometimes the upside down nature of leadership. Often there is an issue you face which may be ‘someone else’s fault’. Your logic and your actions are that that person must change. You become the nag and they become the slob. So who must change?

How difficult is it to be the initiator of change in situations where you feel wronged? In those moments you naturally ask yourself why you should change. It simply is not fair.

You change first because you value yourself. You change first because you are affected by the problem and that has consequences for you. You change because no matter what the context you are a leader.

The nag has few choices. Take away the TV. Take away the lazy boy. Have a honest conversation... all of which may yield no results. The trick is to be creative and never stop after one go!

Be creative as you attempt to shift the cycle. But remain positive and keep your eyes on the possibilities. For yourself and for those you impact.

The Art of Connecting

There is an old saying: To lead yourself, use your head; to lead others, use your heart.
What this saying is articulating is the art of connecting, and it is an extremely powerful leadership principal.

John C Maxwell, one of the most respected leadership gurus around today, has recently written a book entitled “Everyone Communicates, Few Connect”. In the book he argues that the most effective leaders have learned to move from mere communication to truly connecting with those they lead.

In order to understand this concept better, it is essential to identify the difference between communicating and connecting. In a recent workshop I was involved with, we were discussing this idea, and we came up with the following comparison:

Communicating:
• Disconnected from the other person’s emotions
• Is a daily activity
• The objective is to get my point of view across, and thus has a win/lose intent
• Involves passing on information, often by just telling the other party
• Often a set way of doing it and is clinical
• Is verbal (what you say)

Connecting:
• Seek to understand others point of view and emotions
• Relate to others where they are at
• Seeks a win/win outcome
• Seeks to build and facilitate trust
• Engage emotionally
• Involve others through care and help
• Is often non verbal (how you say it and your intent)
• Is a conscious choice, shows intent
• Is often dynamic, not a set way of doing it, and thus involves understanding the other party

A major difference between communicating and connecting is that in connecting you are aware of the other person’s point of view and self esteem. Effective leaders know that they first have to touch people’s hearts before they can ask for their trust and commitment. You can’t move people to action unless you first move them with emotion; the heart comes before the head!

In essence, it is all about the people. In my experience working in a corporate, the most effective leaders were those who really showed a genuine interest in who I was, my dreams and goals, and whose real intent was for me to truly succeed in the organisation. They were leaders that I had a connection with. As a result, I found myself going the extra mile, being positive about my work and the organisation, had a level of trust and felt appreciated. When leaders connect with those they lead, everyone succeeds.

This also reminded me of the way Jesus led. Jesus communicated some of the most powerful words in history, but he was also the master of connecting. He spent time teaching and investing into his twelve disciples. He dedicated His life for others and he displayed unconditional love even to the point of death so that others may live. His selfless devotion and love causes a connection that produces a response.

I’m convinced that those who connect take their relationships, their work and their lives to another level. I encourage you seek to connect and make a difference!
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Don Muller has spent the last 4 years working into corporate and church leadership development and training both locally and internationally. He has a passion for and works towards seeing individuals live out their strengths and calling daily.

Seen vs Unseen

Imagine you were buying a car. I tend to look at the exterior, the shiny body, the seats and the feel I get when I sit inside. All that I see. But what really counts? Isn’t it more the nuts and bolts that exist deep within the engine, state of the clutch or condition of the cam-belt?

The unseen becomes seen. That’s the point! The state of those unseen elements eventually become seen. When that clutch stops working or that cam-belt snaps all that exterior stuff is useless.

You could come over to my place and see my nice neat home and have dinner with my wife and I. We could have a laugh and enjoy great conversation and possibly the picture you leave with is one of a healthy successful marriage. But what really counts? The condition of my heart toward her and hers toward me. That stuff that exists deep down in our lives will become seen, it will present itself!

Given this, does it not make sense to work rather with the unseen? It’s almost obvious, but in many ways we tend to avoid it. Why?

I’ve always been fascinated by the story of the Israelites who were rescued from slavery in Egypt and called to the ‘promised land’. A heap of them end up dying after 40 years of wandering in the desert, never actually getting there. They got used to their routine in the desert. They were provided for each day and protected from the elements. It was safe. The promised land was unseen and they almost seemed to think that getting there was impossible. After the 12 spies returned their fears were reinforced - how would they get there with such giants of men and strong cities to overcome? It was illogical. It involved risk. It was unknown.

To deal with the matters of my heart at times feels incredibly risky and the unknown keeps me covering up and pretending that everything is ok. I try and make sure that everything is seen to be ok... and the unseen continues to fester.

The Israelites eventually changed direction under Joshua’s leadership. Interesting that he was one of the twelve spies who came back and said this is possible! Why - because he knew that nothing he saw was greater than his God! Which makes me think - could my fear of the unseen be because of my lack of trust in God to work into those areas?

We have a God who loves us unconditionally. He sends his Son to die for our sins and make us righteous. Because of his death we have direct access to our God much like a son or daughter has to their father no matter who he is. God restored us to him. That’s what He is about. Restoration. Which means then, that if it means that we have to deal with the unseen in order to restore that God is in fact in it.

We are not alone.

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Travis Gale has spent the last 5 years running his own development business in South Africa’s corporate world and is currently involved in various long term partnerships with clients across a number of industries. Furthermore he has travelled to conferences internationally hunting down latest trends and insights. Having cycled around the world and survived a tsunami, his passion for crossing borders often lends itself to an interesting blend of stories and insight. He sees himself as a ‘change catalyst’ and displays strength in facilitating insight into the right spaces. Find out more at www.appletreelive.com

Powerfully Unique

I was doing a workshop last week, and met a lady who through the exercise we were doing discovered that she had a very strong gift of helping others reach their potential.

What a great gift to have! Many leaders strive to be effective in this area, and would be thrilled to learn they have this skill.

Interestingly, she did not feel this way! She sat back in her chair, crossed her arms and shook her head. She did not believe it. In her mind there is no way she could have this skill. When I challenged her on this she told me she knew someone who was extremely gifted in this area, and she was nothing like them!

How often do we do this as leaders? God has placed unique gifting and talents inside of us to make a difference in peoples' lives, but so often we doubt and discard them because we compare with others.

This reminded me of the story of David. The Bible tells us that David was a man after God's own heart.

He was a shepherd boy.

But, he was also a giant killer!

We know the story. David hears about Goliath and wants to kill him for coming against the army of the Living God. We read in 1 Samuel 17 v 33-40:

33 Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."

34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

David knew who God was and who God had made him to be... Powerfully unique! There was the temptation for David to conform to how other warriors had fought powerful enemies, to try copy their tactics and use their weapons. But he responded differently, he was true to himself and used what God had put in his hand.

What has God put in your hands as a leader that is powerfully unique? Are you trusting in who God has made you to be, or are you comparing to others?

Are you disqualifying yourself because of a comparison you are making with another persons giftings?

The word tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are powerfully unique. Imagine if we had to believe in and celebrate that uniqueness and lead others out of who God has made us to be?

May you gain great excitement and courage as you look at what you have in your hands and know that you can accomplish great things.

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Don Muller has spent the last 4 years working into corporate and church leadership development and training both locally and internationally. He has a passion for and works towards seeing individuals live out their strengths and calling daily.

Social Media: React or Engage?

I think the social media revolution is intriguing, and to be honest I find myself getting pretty addicted! But what I find so interesting is that we can follow the trends and thought patterns of so many interesting people.

However, the other day I read a thought on Twitter that kind of knocked me …

I was shocked ...

Offended ...

This pretty well known South African personality had written a tweet that to me as a Christ follower was offensive!

My initial reaction was to take a stand!

Write some strong words back to him!

Or even hit him with a more powerful blow… “UNFOLLOW” him on Twitter!

Religious anger was rising up within me.

But …

I felt challenged. Is this how we as Christ followers should react to such situations? Should I get offended and counter react with harsh words, or should I engage and learn.
You see, as Christ followers and leaders we often hold truths and tools to help others follow a better way. But all too often we see others following a way that we know is destructive, or is offensive to our way, and instead of engaging we attack or withdraw.

In thinking about this I was reminded of a story, of someone who always showed a better way…

“Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by. When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?” Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.” Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham!”” (Luke 19:1-10)

Here was an offensive man, and you know what is fascinating, he was DESPERATE to see Jesus!

I wonder how many of those we find offensive are actually desperate for truth, to be shown a better way.

Jesus is inspiring here. He is truth, and he engages with Zaccaeus. He makes His truth and love personal. He does not judge or rebuke, he engages in an extremely warm and loving act.

When we get offended by those we are called to love and lead, how are we going to act?

Are we going to get indignant and grumpy?

Or are we going to engage?

I’m going to read my Bible in my one hand and my Twitter account in the other, because they need to meet!

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Don Muller has spent the last 4 years working into corporate and church leadership development and training both locally and internationally. He has a passion for and works towards seeing individuals live out their strengths and calling daily.

Consider Yourself Rebellious?

I am currently preparing a teaching on the book of Hebrews. The author of this book is unknown, but what we do know is that is was a letter written to a group of Jewish converts to Christianity. These new Christians were fully aware of the persecution that was imminent due to their decision. Leaving Judaism meant leaving traditions which their entire society was built around, laws, synagogue commitments, prayer commitments, dietary requirements etc... They hadn’t just left a belief system, they had changed their way of life. They were persecuted.

They were rebels...

Hebrews tells us that they would endure anything from public humiliation, public beatings, jail time and confiscation of all their possessions. The temptation was to return to their old ways, to their religion (Judaism) to avoid being persecuted.

The author encourages them to continue to be confident and hold unswervingly onto their hope. He takes 13 chapters to do that in what was a committed attempt underpinned by a deep desire to keep these readers from doing a 180 degree turn. One of his points, in particular, interested me.

The author makes mention (Hebrews 3) of the time that the Israelites spent in the desert. If you remember they were enslaved by the Egyptians. Moses was the hero who went in and did the extraction! Having left Egypt their destination was a land of milk and honey promised to them by God, aptly named the promised land. To get there they had to cross the desert, know as the Sinai today and into modern day Israel. 40 years later, Moses and his entire generation who left Egypt died in the desert, having simply wandered around in circles never to enter into the promised land. Their desert life was routine. God provided food and water daily, as well as a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day to protect them. They had food, water and shelter. They were comfortable and protected. At one point Moses sends 12 spies to find out what getting into the promised land actually meant. 10 came back saying impossible! The tribes they would have to overcome were made up of monstrous men.

The desert - safe, comfortable, routine and predictable.

Journey to promised land - unknown, risky, adventurous, challenging.

They chose the former. The author of Hebrews refers to a passage of scripture found in psalm 95 where he states the Lord who refers to this time in the desert as the time of the rebellion!

They were rebels...

Two different perspectives! Society labeled the converted Jews as rebellious for leaving the traditions and comforts of Judaism and living a life of risk and potential persecution.

God frustratingly labeled the Israelites who stuck to comfort, tradition and religious mindsets rebellious. Maybe that’s why it is aptly called the Christian faith?

Consider yourself rebellious?

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Travis Gale has spent the last 5 years running his own development business in South Africa’s corporate world and is currently involved in various long term partnerships with clients across a number of industries. Furthermore he has travelled to conferences internationally hunting down latest trends and insights. Having cycled around the world and survived a tsunami, his passion for crossing borders often lends itself to an interesting blend of stories and insight. He sees himself as a ‘change catalyst’ and displays strength in facilitating insight into the right spaces. Find out more at www.appletreelive.com