Warning: this thought contains numerous analogies.  

Some things are so obvious that we become blind to them.  Consider these famous sayings.  You can’t see the forest for the trees.  It is as plain as the nose on your face.  If it had been a snake, it would have bitten you.  We use quips like these to make a point that something is so obvious and yet, for some reason, we just don’t get it.

All of us would agree that a brick wall can’t hear you no matter how loud you yell at it.  Still, can you imagine convincing yourself that, if you yell louder, it may just respond?  You may not convince yourself of that, but you may have convinced yourself that you need to work longer hours in order to be effective.  It just isn’t true.  Your most effective work takes place when you are at your peak of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual clarity.

Let me challenge you to reevaluate how you approach the idea of a good day’s work.  The value of a good day’s work is not found in the amount of time you put into it.  It is found in accomplishing the goals and tasks for that day.  Some people have become convinced that it is necessary to work longer hours in order to be more successful.  In doing so, they quickly discover lack in many other areas of life.  Let me put it to you in another illustration.  Just because you decide to drive longer hours doesn’t mean you will get more miles to the gallon.  Eventually, your tank will run out of gas.  Take time to keep your tank full!

God has personally given us His example.  During creation, God tells us that, on the seventh day He rested.  Later, He gives us some healthy mandates to keep.  One of them is to take a Sabbath rest.  Even Christ demonstrated this principle.  Jesus knew the value of a good day’s work.  He knew when it was time to call it a day.  In Mark 11:11, we see Jesus go into the temple but then He leaves, calling it a day because it was late.

Good leadership understands the value of a day.  An effective leader knows when to stop for the day and refill the tank.  This seems as obvious as yelling at a brick wall, yet, there are many people who are proverbially losing their voices because they don’t see the obvious. So clear your throat, put your focus on accomplishing your goals during the peak of your energies, and know when to call it a day!

The post A Brick Wall Can’t Hear You No Matter How Loud You Yell first appeared on Intentional Leadership » Podcast Feed.

The post A Brick Wall Can’t Hear You No Matter How Loud You Yell first appeared on Intentional Leadership » Podcast Feed.

Last time here on Intentional Leadership, we discussed how worry can rob you of every leadership skill you have ever developed.  We explored that planning is a powerful tool which empowers you to overcome worry and continue to make successful progress.

Today we are considering a second option to negate worry: delegation.  It is proven throughout all of history that the greatest leaders known to man were also remarkable delegators.  Deep down on the inside of every true leader is a desire to delegate.  There is a desire to more effectively get the job done by tapping into the skills, talents, and abilities of those on our team.  However, many leaders are derailed somewhere along the path between desiring effective delegation skills and developing delegation skills.

More often than not, the main reason leaders fail at delegating is because of fear.  (Fear just happens to be the twin brother of worry.)  They fear that somehow they will lose control or the task will not be accomplished as they desire.

Yet, it remains that learning to delegate and then effectively delegating will alleviate worry and other workload pressures.  So, stop worrying and start delegating.  Begin with smaller tasks.  Present a clear picture of the end result you desire to see accomplished.  Place the task into the hands of the team member who has the ability and skill to accomplish it.

Soon, you will be amazed at how much your productive delegating relieves, not only much of your workload pressures, but a significant percentage of your worrying.

Rev. Gary R. Linn

The post Why Worry When You Can Delegate? first appeared on Intentional Leadership » Podcast Feed.

The post Why Worry When You Can Delegate? first appeared on Intentional Leadership » Podcast Feed.

Here is one thing I know about being a leader.   Worry will never empower you.  Worry can rob you of every leadership skill you have ever developed.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m so thankful that I worried over that”?  Even the mention of that statement seems absurd.  So, why does worry become such a slippery slope for so many leaders?  The fact remains that, many times, it is the worry which creates the real challenge.  It is worry that builds the mountain which becomes your biggest obstacle.  Simply put, you cannot be more than a winner, more than a victor, or more than an overcomer if you allow yourself to worry.

So, what are your options?  One simple, yet profound option to negate worry is PLANNING!  Planning is a tool every successful leader demonstrates.  You plan your meetings, you plan for growth, you plan budgets, you plan and plan.  In many ways, you can even plan for unexpected circumstances.

Have you ever considered that what appeared to be the most tragic day in Christ’s life on earth was planned?  Twenty-nine of the sixty major prophesies were fulfilled on the day of Christ’s crucifixion.  It was a plan of which Christ, Himself, was acutely aware and predicted sixteen times during His earthly ministry.

Even while in the midst of such horrific pain and persecution, Christ demonstrated planning as He spoke to Mary and John.  The immense strain of which He was experiencing would have weakened Him emotionally and made Him susceptible to an intense ‘panic attack.’  He could have looked at His mother and have been overwhelmed with the urgent concern for her well-being and future provision.  Instead, He plans for her care, right in the midst of the overwhelming suffering which purchased eternal salvation for all of humanity.

The next time you feel overwhelmed, do not give in to the natural desire to worry.  As you come face to face with your next unexpected circumstance, do not worry.  Instead, develop a plan of action to meet the situation.

Rev. Gary R. Linn

The post Why Worry When You Can Plan? first appeared on Intentional Leadership » Podcast Feed.

The post Why Worry When You Can Plan? first appeared on Intentional Leadership » Podcast Feed.

As a leader, you need to have an understanding and overall view of every aspect of your group.  Yes, there are times, situations and circumstances that challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone and possibly work outside of your given talents.  But, those times should usually be the exceptions not the norm.

Do you find it difficult to say “No” to unrealistic requests and unrealistic expectations?

There is a foundational principle that will aid and empower you to say “No” when necessary.  Having a personal purpose statement enables you to know what you should not be doing.  It empowers you to say, “No.”  It also equips you to recognize those situations when you should say “Yes.”

You can see this example lived out through Christ.  Jesus knew His purpose was one of ransoming.  In Mk. 10 He says, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.  As you read through the gospels, you will discover many statements with the theme of ransoming.

So, when situations arose that were totally outside of His purpose, He knew how to appropriately respond.  When the people tried to make Him a political figure, He resisted because it was not His purpose.  In John 3:22-4:3, when a dispute about baptism arose, Jesus simply walked away.  Scripture reveals to us His next encounter, which is one of the most famously illustrative of Him being involved in ransoming as He reaches out to the woman from Samaria.

It is okay to say, “No.”  It is not only alright, it is appropriate to not do it all!  Discerning your proper response to any given situation will be more straightforward when you understand your purpose.

Here are four simple questions to help you clarify your purpose and aid you in developing a personal purpose statement.

What am I good at?

What can I do that no-one else can?

Who are the most important people in my life?

How can this all be used to serve God’s purposes?

Developing your personal purpose statement will empower you to say, “No.”  It will also aid you in recognizing those situations when you should be saying, “Yes.”  Remember, you do not have to do it all.

Rev. Gary R. Linn

The post You Do Not Have To Do It All first appeared on Intentional Leadership » Podcast Feed.

The post You Do Not Have To Do It All first appeared on Intentional Leadership » Podcast Feed.

Often someone who has the ability to carry out the tasks at hand can be overcome with feelings of ‘inability’ to do so. Do you experience that in your leadership? Grasp hold of the marvelous revelation that you no longer have to live in 'inability' because you are 'In Ability!'

The pressures of undesirable circumstances can weigh heavily on a leader. God has given you the authority, knowledge, and wisdom for properly handling circumstances. This is a special edition for Intentional Leadership's podcast which features a sermon by Pastor Gary.

Goals and vision are powerful motivator for every leader. There is great satisfaction in reaching goals and seeing vision fulfilled. Have you ever considered that God wants to do more than help you reach your goals? God wants to "SUPER-SIZE" the ministry He has entrusted into your care.

The insights in this 30 minute challenge from Pastor Gary R. Linn leads you through scriptures in discovering the pattern that God gives more and wants to multiply the work you do.

As a leader, have you ever wondered why those whom you are leading are not developing the characteristics which you desire? Sometimes a long look in a mirror can help. Pastor Gary R. Linn shares a powerful insight into how the Law of Prescriptive Usage impacts leaders and their teams.

This 22 minute insight also helps all believers more fully understand the Biblical principles God has set in place to meet needs.

God has an “infinite understanding” of your situation and “exceedingly abundant power” to give to you a marvelous resolution! Increase your faith in the power of your “LIMITLESS” God through these 7 reasons why there are NO LIMITS to what God can do in and through your life and ministry!

A good leader is one who keeps his or her group moving forward in growth, progress, and vision which place the leader out in front of the group as he or she forges the path ahead. At times, this appears to be a difficult task that places various stresses and heavy responsibilities on the leader. It reminds us of the saying, “to boldly go where no man has gone before.” Here is an idea that will help a good leader continue moving forward.