I seriously get a little giddy when I discover leadership development opportunities that really have some teeth to them.

Leadership gets talked about a lot these days… and sometimes I’m afraid that that’s all we do – we talk about leadership.

But what about learning it and living it?

I’m a firm believer that while leadership is sometimes innate and sometimes it’s a spiritual gift, leadership can also be learned.   But to learn leadership you’ve got to study it fiercely and live it passionately.

That’s why I’m excited about Backstage Leadership.  Greg Darley and his team have put together an awesome program that blends the learning of and living out of leadership.  If you’re ready for a focused next step in your leadership development, let me encourage you to check it out.

Here’s some more info:

Backstage Leadership gets you behind the scenes with today’s top influencers

Our vision is to create intimate environments for exponential growth.  We believe this happens best in smaller environments. By adding small group coaching, networking and accountability to amazing speakers, you get a recipe for huge leadership growth.

Each month you get to ask amazing leaders like Chuck Colson and Dan Cathy any question you want.  But the learning process does not end there. Unlike other learning opportunities that stop at information, we help you get to application.  Each month, our coaches help all participants find ways to apply what they are learning and then hold them accountable.

Apply HERE for the next class which begins in September 2010.  (Best rate ends Aug 1.)

What leadership environments are most actively challenging and developing your leadership growth?

I remember very vividly the first time I served under a floundering leader.  I was a pompous 20-something that was actively reading everything by John Maxwell that I could get my hands on, so I thought I had leadership all figured out (in spite of the fact that I really wasn’t leading anything.)

My arrogance and attitude of superiority caused me to think things like:

“I could do this so much better than them.”

“Don’t they understand how frustrated everyone is?”

“Why aren’t they doing anything?”

I learned a lot about leadership during that season.  I really did.

Since I’ve now experienced my own seasons of floundering, I have so much more compassion and grace for that leader.

If you’re following a floundering leader, here are a few things I would caution you to consider:

• You have no idea what that leader is facing. You may think you do, but I guarantee that you don’t.  Give them grace.  They need it.
• Pray, watch, observe and journal what you see. Don’t talk to others about it – that just turns into backbiting and gossip.  Study what that leader is doing and how they are doing it and make some notes that you’ll want to read when you find yourself floundering sometime down the road.  (Because if you are leading, you WILL flounder at some point.)
• Engage that leader in conversation. Don’t give them an earful of everything you think they are doing wrong – they probably know everything you’ll tell them.  Tell that leader that you are praying for them.  Ask if there is anything that you can do to help them or support them.

If you’re the flounder-er, here’s my advice to you:

• Don’t deny it. Floundering is one of the seasons and passages of leadership.  Don’t try to convince yourself it’s not happening.
• Humble yourself. Everyone knows and sees that you’re floundering, no matter how hard you’re trying to cover it up.
• Be honest with your team and find ways that they can help you pick up some of the things that are weighing you down.  I bet they would be honored to help you.
• Talk openly with whomever you are accountable to. You need to set some purposeful time to share with them what has you floundering and work together to create a plan to pull you out of this season.  It’s detrimental to everyone, especially yourself, to stay in this space.

Have you ever observed a flounder-er or found yourself floundering?  What did you observe?

This week flew by!

Fortunately it was a very good one.  Here are some things on my mind today:

• An important project that I’ve been working on (which happened to be one of my thorns), is officially complete today!  Holy cow, that’s a wonderful feeling.  I’m not sure how to adequately celebrate it.
• It’s been a roller coaster week for all things Cultivate Her.  Some good news, some bad news, some big dreaming and then a great event this past Wednesday with our guest speaker Tami Heim.  We’re dreaming and scheming some amazing stuff for all things women in leadership, so stay tuned.
• Our Cross Point missions teams are back home this week.  Our team in the Dominican Republic came back Tuesday and our Honduras team gets back tomorrow.  So proud of each of these teams for serving so big!  You can check out highlights from the Honduras trip HERE.
• Almost finished with Steven Furtick’s new book Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible.  This one is making me think and pray BIG!  It doesn’t release until Sept 21st, but you can pre-order by clicking the title.
• Gotta finish up my talk for The NINES this weekend.  Are you registered to attend?  It’s FREE!  Our entire staff is going to attend this year.
• Can’t believe July is almost over.
• I’m working on some big planning and leadership development stuff for our team for this fall.  I’m getting so excited – love people development stuff – LOVE IT!
• My thumb which I smashed during flood week is growing back really funky.  Kind of afraid it’s going to stay that way. 
• Going to the beach for a few days the end of next week with my sis.  Can’t wait!
• Walking with Ash in 30 minutes!  Love that sweet little Audrey Beth but she has messed up our weekly run/walk time.  Excited to get back to it!
• Hoping to see Inception this weekend.  Everyone is raving about it.  Have you seen it?

Find some joy in your weekend and tell us about it!

I did it again.

One of my greatest repeated leadership failures.

I failed to L I S T E N.

Oh, I hear words.  I read emails.  I have conversations.

But sometimes I just don’t listen.

I don’t pick up on attitude.

I don’t read eyes.

I don’t notice lack of enthusiasm.

I don’t observe signs of stress.

Oftentimes in my haste, I miss the subtleties that are really the mark of good listening.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

James 1:19

And if I’m not listening, I really can’t lead.

If I’m not listening, I’m not aware of what the team needs.

If I’m not listening, I race to task and solutions and miss feelings and emotions.

If I’m not listening, I convey that I don’t value what the team is telling me (however silently they might be saying it.)

The first duty of love is to listen. Paul Tillich

How well are you listening to your team?

I get the question all the time “are you hiring?”  So I’m excited to say that we are!  Here are the details for our current opening.

Cross Point Church

announces the search for

Campus Pastor for Cross Point Dickson

We’re excited to extend the search for the Campus Pastor position at our Dickson, TN campus.  Cross Point Dickson launched in January 2008 and was the first venture into multi-site ministry for our church.  Cross Point Dickson has grown strong and steady for 2 1/2 years and we’re excited to find the leader who will help us take this campus to it’s next season of growth and impact.

Preferred candidates will have experience leading in a church of 500+ in regular attendance and preferably experience in a multi-site church model.

Any interested individuals should submit a resume, social media contact, website/blog info (if applicable) and cover letter to Cross Point Executive Director, Jenni Catron at jenni@crosspoint.tv.  (That’s me )

I look forward to hearing from you.  And please feel free to pass the word along to anyone you know who may be interested.

One of the greatest monsters that I wrestle with in my leadership is being confident in the calling and gifting God has for me.  I battle the usual suspects of insecurity, fear and playing the comparison game.

Last month at our Cultivate Her event in Nashville, I shared the story of Deborah and the confidence she displayed in her calling.  Deborah is one of my favorite leaders from scripture and I’m continuing to unpack layers of her leadership that fascinate me.

If you need a refresher on the story, hop over to Judges chapters 4 & 5.

Here are some key things I find in this story:

• Deborah is Judge of Israel during a time when Israel is being cruelly oppressed by the Canaanites
• We know she’s married and that she holds court under a palm trim on a hill (sounds like a nice office)
• She gets a command from God for Barak to rally 10,000 men and face the Canaanite army
• Barak refuses to go unless Deborah goes with him
• You never see Deborah waiver; she continually reminds Barak that God promised he would give Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, into his hands.
• Chapter 5 is their victory song

I wish the writer of Judges had been a bit more descriptive about the relational and emotional dynamics going on behind the scenes in this story.  The writer tells us what happens and the decisions that Deborah makes, but doesn’t give us a ton of insight into how she felt or what she was processing through each decision.

It’s at this point that I start trying to place myself in the story.  How would I have felt?  What would I have been afraid of?

Here’s what I observe to be the keys to Deborah’s confidence:

1) She had EARNED INFLUENCE.

Deborah was a prophetess and judge of Israel at a time when it was highly unusual for a woman to serve in such positions of leadership.  It makes me think she must have had some significant influence to have been appointed to these positions to begin in.  She also must have displayed consistency of character, love for people, sound judgment, etc in her role as Judge.  Barak and the 10,000 leaders were willing to follow her lead and trusted what she said was God’s command.

2)  She displayed INCREDIBLE STRENGTH

I can’t imagine living in the times that she lived in.  Israel was weak, defenseless and far from God.  I suspect moral was low and hope was barely a flicker.  But Deborah had hope and a vision from God and out of this she summoned the strength to still the voices of doubt and timidity, and as one author describes, “called the people to battle, leading them out of idolatry and restoring their dignity as God’s chosen ones”.

3)  She showed CONSISTENT HUMILITY.

It seems like it would have been easy in her shoes to try to take the credit.  God gave her the command, so she could have easily told Barak, “God told me and you to lead the army”, but she didn’t.  She told Barak that God had called him to lead the army.  At that point, she probably had no idea what her role would be.  She was turning the power and the potential glory over to him.

I also love that in Judges 5:7, Deborah doesn’t refer to herself as judge, prophetess or leader.  She describes herself as “a mother in Israel.”  She didn’t need to prove herself or remind others of her positional power.

4)  She was FAITHFULLY OBEDIENT.

Deborah drew her confidence from her relationship with God.  God gave her the directive for the battle with Sisera and she didn’t lose sight of this even in the heat of it.  Judges 4:14 says “Then Deobrah said to Barak, ‘Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand.  Has not the Lord gone out before you?’” After the battle was finished she and Barak sang a victory song in which they repeatedly thank God.

Deborah’s story is such a key reminder to me of God’s faithfulness through our obedience.  I’m sure she didn’t sign up for all that her leadership would demand, but her confidence was in God’s power, not her own.  She was pursuing His glory, not hers and as a result the people she led experienced freedom for 40 years.  That’s remarkable influence!

What challenges do you face in being confident in your calling as a leader?

According to the L.A. Times, Eclipse opened with first week sales of $175.3 million making it the most successful first week sales for any movie so far this year.

And yes, I too am a sucker for the Twilight Saga.

I have been challenged on many occasions by my more rational friends (usually of the male gender I might add) to explain my fascination with vampires, werewolves and far-fetched story lines…

So here’s what I’ve got for you…

Everyone needs an Edward.

(And guys, before you choose to check out, hang in here.  I think I have a nugget for you too.)

Everyone needs an Edward because…

Everyone needs a fierce defender. Someone who loves you that ridiculously and protects you with the fiercest love and devotion.

Everyone needs someone who understands our fragility. Someone who understands how fragile you are and cares for you with the ultimate gentleness.

Everyone needs someone who believes in them.  Someone who believes in the good you are and are yet to become.

Everyone needs someone who watches out for our heart. Someone who cares for and protects your soul.

One of my favorite John Maxwell leadership laws is The Law of the Inner Circle.  John explains the importance of having a team of people around us who play different roles in our life: Intercessor, Listener, Encourager, Creator, Discerner, Giver, Defender, Implementer, Celebrator, Resourcer, Sponsor, Thinker, Networker, Mentor & Protege.  (I’ve talked about this before here.)

We long for teammates who complete us, who complement our gifts and champion us to be our best.

So maybe, just maybe that’s what all we raving Twilight fans are connecting with.

Maybe

Go Team Edward!

We just announced our special guest speaker for our July Cultivate Her event here in Nashville!

Hop on over to the Cultivate Her blog to get the scoop!

I remember the first time I attended Catalyst. It was Catalyst’s 2nd year. I’d heard crazy good things about the first year and I was hungry to soak myself in an environment that would feed the leadership development monster that was growing inside of me.

Over the last 10 years, Catalyst has become a staple in my leadership development. I DON’T MISS IT! And you shouldn’t either. If you’ve never attended, this is your year! I promise. You’ll thank me!

Hear from leadership authorities including Andy Stanley, Seth Godin, TD Jakes, Craig Groeschel, Francis Chan, Beth Moore, Perry Noble, and Christine Caine, along with several innovative thinkers and practitioners like best-selling author Daniel Pink, charity: water founder Scott Harrison, Gabe Lyons, First Response Team founder Tad Agoglia, and Rani Hong, winner of the United Nations Human Rights Award.

Plus, Catalyst Labs will feature innovative thought leaders like Michael Hyatt, Pete Wilson, Mark Batterson, Anne Jackson, John Ortberg, Mike Foster, Jud Wilhite, Reggie Joiner, Jamie Tworkowski, Alan Hirsch, Gayle Haggard, Chris Hodges, Jon Acuff, Tim Elmore, Charles Lee, Chris Seay, Chris and Phileena Heuertz, and others.

Best Rates on Catalyst tickets end this Thursday, June 24th, so register now. Call 888.334.6569 to speak to a Catalyst Concierge, or register online at www.catalystconference.com. You can use Rate Code FOB for an additional discount off your ticket price. Catalyst will sell out, so make sure and register early!

Who’s “in”?

I’m really excited to announce the newest member of the Cross Point team!

Stephen Brewster officially begins today as our Creative Arts Pastor serving all four of our campuses.  Stephen (aka Brewster), his wife Jackie and their four fabulous kids – Isaiah, Ashlyn, Grace & Hope – have relocated to Nashville from Mobile, AL where Stephen was Sr. Director of Marketing at Integrity Music.

Stephen has a massive heart to help creatives reach their God-given potential and is equally passionate about seeing “the church embrace culture and began to take the lead in creating”.

He’ll be directly leading our central creative arts staff: Matt Singleton, Jarrod Morris, Miranda Telford and Matt Warren and he’ll be providing creative vision and direction to our creative staff and volunteers at all campuses.

Join me in giving the Brewsters a great big welcome!!