“Leadership Courage” by David Cottrell and Eric Harvey

The following excerpt from the book “Leadership Courage” by David Cottrell and Eric Harvey has been passed along by Jackie Marcum. It'll make you want to go buy the book and read it. It's now on my reading list. Enjoy...

A common requirement of leaders at all levels is having the courage to make tough decisions and take difficult actions. Courage is frequently discussed in meetings, rated in performance appraisals, and listened for in promotion interviews. Almost all would agree that it’s an important element of successful leadership. Yet, becoming a courageous leader involves a lot more than talking, rating, and correctly answering interview questions. The dictionary definition of courage is “the state or quality of mind and spirit that enables one to face danger or fear with confidence and resolution; bravery; valor.” But what does all that mean in the business world? How can it be measured and quantified?

Perhaps the best way to understand courage is to define its opposite state. Some would say the antithesis of courage is “cowardliness” … avoiding (or succumbing to) pressure, difficulty, and danger. Others would say “fear” … being afraid to do the right thing when the going gets tough. Certainly, both of those answers are logical and appropriate. But there’s another description of the opposite of courage – one not as commonly thought of, although equally valid. That description is “conformity” … letting things be the way they have always been because of the high price associated with changing them.

As a leader, you need courage to do what needs to be done … to do what you know is the right thing. There will always be those who tell you you’re wrong – even when you’re thoroughly convinced that you’re right. There will always be some tempting you to take an easier and less resistant path. And, there will always be those who – either unintentionally or purposefully – create obstacles that will challenge your mettle. Even the very best leaders must regularly pass the courage test. Courage is about having the guts, nerve, and heart to do things that foster and support progress. And that begins with the realization that:
1) improvement won’t be found on the path of least resistance known as conformity, and
2) status quo is the archenemy of progress.
When you think about it, “doing things the way we’ve always done them” requires no leadership at all. What is there to lead to? How can others follow someone who’s not going anywhere? That’s why “leadership” and “courage” must be viewed as synonymous concepts.

To become a courageous leader, you must have an undeniable, indisputable, unwavering commitment to be the best you can be. The true measure of your leadership is the ability to look in the mirror and know that you had the courage to do what you felt was the right thing to do. The people you lead are counting on you. Don’t let them down.

For every person in every organization, there comes a moment when he or she must have the courage to step forward and meet the needs of the time. Regardless of whether your moment is now or sometime in the future, you must be ready.

Jack's Baby Dedication

Yesterday we celebrated God's gift of life by having Jack dedicated at church. It was a fantastic morning for Rochelle and I, along with Cori, Megan, Emily, Mema, Grandpa and Grandma Tregellas, and members of our Life Group at FNC. A special gift came from a great friend. Jimmy Rifenberg wrote and sang a song for the special day which can be seen and heard on Rochelle's blog http://rochellefouts.blogspot.com (I know, I know, but I couldn't figure out how to get it to my blog). Jimmy is truly gifted of God as you'll be able to tell once you view the video.

Our pastor and friend John Donnerberg challenged us as parents to raise Jack up in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord and then charged our family, friends, and church to assist us with his nurture. It is great to be a part of a wonderful church family, and to have the support of our family.

To be given the gift of parenthood is an awesome blessing and responsibility. My faith and reliance upon God grows everyday as I watch 3 beautiful daughters take their individual places among their peers. Now it is time to raise Jack to take his place and help lead others as well. My daily prayer is that God would enable me to be the husband Rochelle needs each day and the father Cori, Megan, Emily, and Jack need during each phase of their life journey as well. As parents, may you share a similar prayer.

Lead Strong, your family needs you (and so does mine).

Shawn

Choosing the "BEST" Pathway for Your Life

Where has the time gone?? Jack is 10 weeks old as of yesterday and I don't think I've even thought about this blog during that time. But here I am.

Last night at church during our prayer service I was reading through the Psalms and came across a verse that must have meant something to me at one time or another because it was highlighted in my Bible. As I re-read it the verse came back alive for me all over again. Psalm 32:8 says, "I (the Lord) will lead you down life's BEST pathway. I will guide you and watch out for you." Wow! What a powerful verse of scripture. If you're anything like me you've tried to force a lot of things into place at one time or another during your life. Or maybe, like me, you have chosen some things that you just knew we're ordained of God somehow. But I am so glad that when we are in relationship with God, and that is the key - a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ-that He wants to lead us down the BEST pathway for our life. Not just any pathway, or an easy fix pathway, or a well paying pathway, but the BEST possible pathway imaginable for our lives. That's totally amazing to think about!

But I think that goes farther than just us when we strive to be leaders. Remember, Leadership = Relationships + Influence. Just as I am in relationship with God and He leads me down the best pathway for my life, as I am in relationship with others I also need to help influence them to choose the best pathway for their lives. That's an incredible responsibility and privilege.

Who in your life today could use a little godly influence to help them choose the best pathway for their life? Build those relationships every day and influence them. In so doing your leadership equation comes to life and grows exponentially.

Lead Strong,

Shawn

Leadership 1 Corinthians 10:31 Way

Amarillo College is offering a 9 month Ethical Leadership Institute bringing together some of the best local authorities on the subject in the Texas Panhandle. This morning we invited 3 respected leaders in our community to come and speak as a panel on Ethics in Leadership. The 3 were comprised of a sheriff, an attorney, and a professor. Without fail each referenced their faith in helping to form their ethics and the sheriff told the class of 31 that at each staff meeting he tries to influence his department to practice ethical leadership by practicing 1 Corinthians 10:31: "...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." How amazing and bold that a sheriff would not only believe and practice this Biblical principle, but that he would encourage his department to do the same. Leadership really is that simple, that profound, and that powerful. Simply, do what is right and do what is right all the time.

Lead Strong,

Shawn

Life with a newborn!!

On September 9th, 2009 at 6:18 PM (18:18 military time; notice all the 9's in this?) life as Rochelle and I know it all changed. Hmm, life as Rochelle and I as well as Cori, Megan, Emily, and everyone in our daily sphere of relationships changed as we know it. Even Coal Miner, our dog, life changed. Jackson Cooper changed our world's forever, and non of us would have it any other way. And with Jack's entrance into our world and our lives new responsibilities immediately entered our world as well, responsibilities that I take very seriously as a new (old) father.

As I have watched 3 beautiful daughters develop into reflections of God and impact their worlds, now I have a tremendous opportunity to help Jack develop into a reflection of God to his world. My timeless advice to the girls "don't grow up to be stupid" has worked so far and I hope to pass that same advice on to their little brother. But more importantly I hope to pass on to Jack to "love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength" as well. As I hope that I helped the girls to understand what it is to be a daughter of God and what to look for in a real man, now I hope to teach Jack what a real man is, versus what society has made men out to be.

It has always been a goal as a father to not only teach but to model the way. Not that I am finished with Cori, Megan, and Emily by any means. But now I have another opportunity to improve as I do the same for Jack. As a student of leadership, I am convinced that the greatest lab for leadership development is in our own homes. And while Jack is not a specimen to be experimented on, he is my son with whom to pass on my values, believes, and passions as he develops his own.

Ok Jack, I'm ready if you are. With your mom and sisters by my side we welcome you into as non-normal a family as you'll find, but a family that welcomes God's gift of new life into it with as much joy and love as anyone can imagine.

Lead Strong...

Shawn

Pregnancy Sympathy Pains (Pangs)?

Ok, Rochelle is a bundle of energy! She is due in less than 2 weeks and she has been a crazed Energizer Bunny for a month or more now! It is sickening I tell you! Me on the other hand? I don't have an ounce of energy, and the meager amount I do have lately seems to dissipate faster than I can replenish it with the pot of espresso I'm downing every morning, ugh! (Yes, espresso, that regular java stuff has no effect any more!).

I'm taking my vitamins, eating well, exercising, sleeping, you know, living right. Hmmm, I wonder if I could start taking Rochelle's prenatal vitamins? They seem to be doing phenomenal things for her. I don't remember all this going on with my 3 daughters, is this normal? Of course I wasn't 44 with them either, but I have always been the energetic one, up at 5:30 AM ready to charge into the day. Now I drag out of bed ready to down a pot of coffee.

I'm chalking it all up to sympathy pains or pangs, lol. The fatigue, leg cramps, back aches (that's all me, not Rochelle) will surely go away once Jack gets here, right? Please tell me it's so! I'm not complaining mind you, I simply don't have the energy to complain. I'm just sharing my journey, you know, that whole misery loves company thing. I just hope I have enough energy to be awake when Jack does get here.

If any of you have some energy boosts please let me know. I not only need it now but I know I'm going to need it in a couple weeks!

Lead strong, whether fatigued or not.
Shawn

Practicing the Leadership Equation

Our pastor asked me to fill the pulpit next Sunday (August 16 at First Nazarene Church - Amarillo. If you're not doing anything that morning come join us, I could use the moral support) and Rochelle and the girls asked me if I knew what I was going to preach on? I told them "of course I did." Not believing me that asked for Scripture texts, a short snippet, etc. Not ever being the one to share my sermon too early (hey, if I did they wouldn't come, lol) I respectfully declined to share anything with them. So, not believing I had given it any thought they pressed me further so I told them I was preaching on the power of relationships. "Big surprise" they all said! But isn't that a good thing? They know me and they know my life message. Leadership=Relationships+Influence. I am glad they weren't surprised and that they know me that well. But since then it has ramped up to where I am having to put into practice my life philosophy of leadership (did I tell you it is Leadership=Relationships+Influence? Just checking).

At Amarillo College Dr. Matney has asked me to help facilitate a project that seems to have come to an impasse. It's had really good people involved until now and the project has been asked for by area business and industry, so the need is there. From all appearances it has become a people issue... you guessed it, relationships. Not that the relationships are bad, but when you get several strong willed personalities together sometimes personalities can overshadow the task at hand. I enjoy working with all the people at the table and I love facilitating projects, so of course I am ramped up about the task! More exciting to me is practicing and proving (at least to myself) that the philosophy of Leadership=Relationships+Influence really works.

Everybody has their own unique personalities and qualities, and seeing them lived out in relationships is exhilarating and a little intimidating at times. But out of these relationships come great opportunities for growth, productivity, collaboration, and new friendships. Appreciating our differences, building on our commonalities, and using our strengths to overcome our weaknesses allows for incredible things to happen.

I'm looking forward to the task at hand. Take every opportunity to engage in relationships. Yes they can be intimidating (you can use whatever adjective you want), but the rewards are so much greater. Prove the equation wrong if you can, but I firmly believe that true leadership at all levels and in all situations stems from relationships and the influence you bring to those relationships. Of course, you can't remove yourself from relationships and you have to choose the kind of influence you want to bring to those relationships as well.

Leadership=Relationships+Influence...

Lead Strong,
Shawn