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And this reminder, check out my Management Buckets website with dozens of resources and downloadable worksheets for your staff meetings. 

I Was the Problem

‘In my twenties, I was determined to change the world,’ says this week’s author. ‘In my thirties, I tried to reform the church.  In my early forties, I discovered I was the problem. That was a most difficult day.’

So begins Jeff Iorg’s very transparent first chapter.  As pastor, denominational leader and now seminary president, Iorg understands the trenches. He also understands the God of the trenches.  He confesses to the sin of ‘coasting.’

‘For me, my pastorate had become like swimming laps. I was stroking along, doing well, staying in shape, keeping things moving, and making steady progress.’ But then: ‘answering God’s call to this new position was like being tossed overboard into the ocean. No more gliding along! Once again, I would be swimming for my spiritual life.’

What’s unique about this book on character qualities? ‘God wants you to work hard and to study how to improve your skills so you work more effectively. Other books, other very important books, will help you do that.  Most schools, seminaries and seminars focus on these skills. Many of them are helpful. But this book is not about how to do leadership. It is about how to be a leader.’

So…after setting the spiritual foundation in chapter one (worth-the-price-of-the-book), he zeroes in on his Top-9 list of character qualities that define great leaders. It’s the perfect book for a silent day-of-prayer retreat or a 10-week group study with emerging leaders and managers.  I love the fact that his nine character qualities are preceded by verbs.  It’s all about being—and involves action. Here’s the list:
   • Maintaining Integrity
   • Finding Security
   • Maintaining Purity
   • Learning Humility
   • Developing Servanthood
   • Gaining Wisdom
   • Practicing Discipline
   • Showing Courage
   • Sustaining Passion

To order this week’s book from Amazon, click on this title: The Character of Leadership: Nine Qualities That Define Great Leaders, by Jeff Iorg.

Your Weekly Staff Meeting Questions:
1) ‘Showing Courage’ is one of the author’s Top-9 character qualities that define great leaders.  He says that ‘showing courage begins with confronting immobilizing fear.’  Jeff Iorg reminds us that the Bible lists more than 600 references related to fear. All of the Bible’s ‘spiritual hall of fame’ leaders had something in common: they were afraid of something.  What do you fear?
2) The author doesn’t suggest that his Top-9 list is the final word on character. What leadership character qualities would make your Top-9 list?

Don’t Be Deluded – Insights from Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Nonprofit

One of the big ideas in the Donor Bucket, Chapter 11, in Mastering the Management Buckets, is that fundraising is hard, but transformation is harder. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’  Spiritually-based development professionals know that it’s not about the checkbook, it’s about the heart.

For example, at the historic convocation described in 1 Chronicles 28 and 29, King David gave a fundraising pitch to the nation of Israel as he presented the temple blueprints (the To-Do List) to Solomon. Look how he begins his spiel:

‘And you, Solomon my son, get to know well your father’s God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he’ll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he’ll leave you for good. Look sharp now! God has chosen you to build his holy house. Be brave, determined! And do it!’ (1 Chron. 28:9-10, The Message)

It’s as if David is saying, ‘Solomon, if your motive is your own glory or your own fun, or a charitable deduction for playing golf or bidding on that luxury vacation—don’t be deluded. God will not be mocked!’ God sees through every motive. CEO David had created an extraordinary plan, clearly given to him by God (note that!), and had coalesced people and resources so that Solomon could launch this building program. Be sure to read David’s encouraging words later in that same chapter.

For more resources, visit the Donor Bucket page of my website.

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CLA TeleSeminar With John Pearson on March 27, 2009.  Join other nonprofit leaders, board members and pastors for a one-hour TeleSeminar on Friday, March 27, at 9 a.m. PST, hosted by Christian Leadership Alliance, on ‘Six Best Practices for More Effective Boards.’ I’ll present six very practical tools you can use (and download) to improve your board governance practices and speed up board meetings. Visit CLA for registration details.”