Family Fun!

Big Christmas Race of 2010!

HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO RE-GIFT?

Have you ever opened a present and thought to yourself..."RE-GIFT"?  We have all received a gift or two that has forced us to consider the art of re-gifting it to someone else in "need"!

As I think about this wonderful time of gift giving I cannot help but to think of James 1:17 that says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..."  (James 1:17).

God the Father, through his Son Jesus, has given us the best gift of ALL.  A gift that we would never consider "re-gifting", a good gift, a perfect gift, the gift of SALVATION!

Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Praise be to God for sending us HIS one and only SON!  The good and perfect gift!  The one who saves us from our sins and offers us the gift of LIFE!

Merry CHRISTmas!

ASK YOURSELF WHY, NOT HOW?

COMMUNICATION AND MOTIVATION

The power of words are often used as a source of motivation.  Motivational speakers, coaches, leaders, and mentors, all use the art of communication to motivate others.  Words spoken at the right time...by the right person...have the ability to inspire others in a meaningful way!

However, we cannot always rely on others to motivate us.  We need to be able to use communication to motivate our self.  One of the best ways to accomplish this is to ask yourself "WHY" instead of "HOW"!  For example, the answer to the question "HOW" decreases motivation, whereas the answer to the question "WHY" increases motivation.

Let's say you want to lose 15 pounds!  If you ask yourself, "HOW am I going to lose 15 pounds?" you may feel overwhelmed or stressed out about the pressure of reaching your goal.  Asking yourself "HOW" makes you focus on all the obstacles...i.e. how can I fit my workouts into my schedule, how can I eat health, how am I going to make time, etc...Focusing on the obstacles of HOW becomes decreasingly less motivating!

Instead of asking yourself how, try asking yourself, "WHY"!  When you ask yourself WHY, your answers become very motivational.  WHY do I want to lose 15 pounds will lead to answers such as...I will be healthier, I will feel better, I will have more self-confidence, etc...Focusing on the benefits of WHY becomes increasingly more motivating!

For more information regarding this concept I recommend the following two books:

         

     

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

Often times conflict arises when people do not reach the expectations of others.  Unmet expectations are often the source of the conflict we experience in our lives.  For example, people expect others to behave a certain way (expectation line) and when they don't meet these expectations (performance line) conflict typically occurs.

Much of the conflict that takes place between people could be eliminated if expectations were clearly communicated with one another.  Here are a  few ways to help communicate expectations:

• Communicate your expectations early on in the relationship
• Communicate your expectations often
• Communicate your expectations with clarity (make sure everyone is on the same page)
• Communicate your rationale behind your expectations

ARE YOU LISTENING?

Below are five distinctly different ways people naturally listen, called listening approaches.  Read through the following descriptions to determine your listen style:

-From the book:  Engagement is Not Enough by Keith E. Ayers pg. 132

#1:  Appreciative Listening:  Listening to appreciate what you're hearing to enjoy the experience and be entertained.

#2:  Empathic Listening:  Tuning into the feeling content of what the person is saying, showing that you care.

#3:  Comprehensive Listening:  Listening to understand the overall message, not necessarily the specific details.

#4:  Discerning Listening:  Listening to get all the facts and details and make sure you don't miss anything.

#5:  Evaluative Listening:  Listening in order to evaluate what is being said and make a decision.

MORE MOTIVATION, PLEASE!

One of the most important functions of a leader is their ability to motivate others! 

Here are five tips to help motivate those around you:

PURPOSE:  People are more motivated when they have a "sense of purpose".  People need to feel like they are important!

PREFERENCE:  People are more motivated when they have a "say".

PERFORMANCE:  People are more motivated when they perform well.  Successful performance is a great motivator!

PRAISE:  People are more motivated when they are appreciated, acknowledged, or recognized.

PROGRESS:  People are more motivated when they experience progress.

Profile of a Teacher: Elusive, Educated, Engaging, or Expert

TO SEE A LARGER IMAGE CLICK HERE: http://db.tt/bMuHPs7

RED:  Elusive Teacher (Low/Low)
Low concern for both subject matter and connecting with students.


GREEN:  Educated Teacher (High/Low)
High concern for subject matter and low concern for connecting with students.


YELLOW:  Engaging Teacher (Low/High)
Low concern for subject matter and high concern for connecting with students.


BLUE:  Expert Teacher (High/High)
High concern for both subject matter and connecting with students.


Expert teachers have an amazing ability to connect with students and still deliver high levels of instruction!

The Heart of a Leader: Holland Reynolds

The Heart of a Leader!  The video below shows high school cross country runner Holland Reynolds.  Her unwillingness to quit is an amazing example of the heart of a leader!  Leaders are determined, passionate, focused, and remain committed even when things get tough.  This amazing young lady is wonderful example of leadership!  Enjoy the video!



Holland Reynolds, collapsed just feet away from the finish line at the state cross country championship. She finished the race by crawling past the finish line, securing the state championship for her team.

WHO HAS PACKED YOUR PARACHUTE?

For the most part our society, our workplace, or our schools are places where people are only concerned about one thing:  SELF!  Think for a moment, if someone handed you a group photo of a recent trip you went on, what would be the first thing you do with this picture?  Well, if you are like me, you would try and find YOURSELF!  You see, by nature we are very selfish people.

Leaders cannot afford to be selfish. Instead, leaders are people who place the needs of others before their own.  Leaders are people who are capable of showing care and appreciation to those around them. Leaders are people who desire to serve others unconditionally.

There is a great story of Charles Plumb who was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam.  After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile.  Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands.  He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison.  He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

One of the main lessons Plumb learned was the importance of recognizing others.  He realized that he is forever grateful towards the young man who packed his parachute. (read more: http://www.charlieplumb.com/book-insights.htm)

As leaders, I believe it is important for us to think of the people in our life who have "packed our parachute"!  Many of us would not be where we are today, without the help and support of our very own "parachute packers".

Sometimes in the daily challenges of life we miss what is really important.  Oftentimes, we fail to say thank you, or give a compliment, or do something nice for someone for no reason at all.  As you go through this day or week, I encourage you to appreciate and recognize people who have packed your parachute!

ENTHUSIASM MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Non-effective leaders fail to enthuse or excite the people they lead!  I mean could you imagine a leader who was apathetic, uninterested, or half-hearted?  Leaders must be enthusiastic!  Just like the quote says in the picture, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

One of the foundational aspects of leadership is this:  as a leader your ability to motivate others is directly related to your own level of motivation!  It's a simple concept, people who follow will only be as excited as the one who is leading.  "Only a motivated leader motivates others." (How to Motivate Others).

Here is a great reminder from the book, How to Motivate Others:
"Before you criticize others for lack of motivation ask yourself if your own enthusiasm for and the commitment to the task in hand is sincere, visible, and tangible.  Have you expressed it in deeds as well as words?  Are you setting a good example?  For motivation is caught, not taught."

Here is a perfect youtube video that teaches us that motivation is caught not taught: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk
(Watch the entire video and see how this one man, who was completely enthusiastic and sold out to his cause, created an environment where everyone else became equally excited!

PUTTING OUT FIRES OR FANNING THE FLAMES?

Words are Powerful!  They can be used to encourage, inspire, comfort, or motivate people.  However, people often use words to destroy, humiliate, frustrate, or tear someone down. 

For example, "When we make a mistake we are recognized 100 percent of the time, when we do something great, we are not recognized 99 percent of the time." (The Carrot Principle by Tom Rath).

As leaders we have a great opportunity to be intentionally present in the lives of those around us.  We have the power to exert a strong influence in the lives of others.  The question becomes, "Are we putting out fires or fanning the flames?"

Everyone has a special gift, talent, or ability.  It is our job as leaders to FAN THE FLAME, to encourage, inspire, comfort, and motivate people to follow their dreams.

I encourage you today to use your words to fan someones flame, instead of putting our their fire!

ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET, GO!

A common term used in the sport of track & field is PR or PB which stand for Personal Record or Personal Best.  Track athletes are always striving to improve their PR or PB.  It's what drives them and compels them to workout day in and day out! 

Track athletes are actually kind of "weird" in regards to setting a PR.  For most, if not all track athletes winning the race is not enough.  The ultimate goal for a track athlete is to set a Personal Best.  Being a former collegiate track athlete myself, I know firsthand the importance of setting a new PR every time I stepped onto the track.

Have you ever thought about your Personal Best in life?  You see many of us go through life and we judge our success in terms of the "other people" in the race.  We simply do not strive to be our Best Self, instead we are satisfied with just being better than the next person.  Thinking this way is much like the track athlete who wants to just win the race, but doesn't care about improving his/her time!

Successful people are never satisfied with their present level, instead they are constantly challenging themselves to become better and better.  What is your absolute standard of excellence that you judge yourself by?

ARE YOU A LEADER?

LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT
Do you consider yourself a leader?   YES or NO
(If you answered YES, please continue.)

Leaders or people who consider themselves to be a leader, should be able to answer the following questions:

• Who do you lead?
• What do you lead?
• How do you lead?

Being a leader is more than just "calling" yourself a leader.  Being a leader is knowing who you lead (people), what you lead (passion), and how you lead (principles).

ARE YOU HOT?

"At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water comes steam. And steam can power a locomotive."

So, it's about the power of one degree, or that tiny bit of extra effort that can make all the difference in our lives.  The concept of boiling water is very similar to "Going the 2nd Mile"!  The idea is that just a little bit of extra effort or service can go along ways!  It's about raising your awareness and understanding that one extra bit of effort, one additional bit of action, can totally change your results.

This concept is explained in a short book by Sam Parker and Mac Anderson called "212 The Extra Degree".

I encourage you today to be that "extra degree"!

LEADERSHIP MODEL based on a Servant Heart and Sensitive Spirit

Enjoy the following Leadership Model:



Character: Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do…

Definition:  Character is the sum of the choices you make during the course of a lifetime.

Quote:  We choose our character.  In fact, we create it every time we make choices. – John Maxwell

Successful leadership programs have a solid foundation of students with strong character.  Student leaders are faced with a multitude of decisions and choices everyday that test the quality of their character.

For example, their character is on display when they handle money, count votes, compete on a team, attend events, and how they spend their free time.  Student leaders live in a “fishbowl” and everything they say and do are on display for students, staff, administrators, and parents to see.  Thus, it is essential to have students in leadership that have good, strong character!

To ensure the integrity of student leadership on campus, student leaders must be willing to do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do.  Student leaders face the same peer-pressures that all youth deal with, maybe even more in some cases.  However, student leaders must understand the importance of being a person of good character.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who is someone you know that consistently does the right thing because it’s the right thing to do? 
2. Discuss a few different ways to take the initiative when facing peer-pressure to do something wrong.
3. Why do you think character is an important aspect of student leadership?  Explain.
4. What do you think others say about your character?
5. What are three ways you think you could improve your character?

Scaffolding Model of Teaching: supports student initiative!

This model was presented during a staff development training at my school.  I think this model is a great visual reminder of how to structure an effective leadership program.

#1 - At the beginning of the year or during your summer training days the advisor is in charge of MODELING and EXPLAINING. 

#2 - Hopefully after a few months or by mid-year the advisor is able to delegate some responsiblity to student leaders; creating a SHARED experience.

#3 - The ulimate goal is to develop student leaders to the point where much, if not all, the responsibility falls on them and the advisor can truly serve in their role of ADVISOR!  (Second year leadership students and elected officers should be close to this stage at the beginning of their senior year.)

Roger Hart's Ladder of Young People's Participation

Full description of this ladder:  http://www.freechild.org/ladder.htm.

Initiative and Sir Isaac Newton

Initiative is a quality that separates ordinary students from extraordinary.  Most students are content with the way things are and therefore unwilling to initiate change.  However, student leaders understand and accept the fact that it requires energy to take the lead or initiative. 

Sir Isaac Newton is famous for his research on movement.  He came up with the conclusion that an object at rest will not move until a force acts upon it.  Using this example the authors of the book, “The Inspiring Leader” wrote:

“This same principle seems to apply to humans taking the initiative.  It takes a lot of energy to get things started.  Everyone knows that it is much easier to coast than to start.  In order for people to take the initiative, they need to have enough energy in terms of both time and motivation to take on something new, and they need to be willing to expend that energy.  Leaders who take the initiative believe that they are responsible for getting things started.”


Go the 2nd Mile,
Stephen Amundson
www.facebook.com/stephenamundson7

Initiative, Follow-Through, and Enthusiasm

The majority of this blog will be based on the following concept map:  

Leadership Curriculum:  http://db.tt/xZWT8Cy 


Enjoy and thanks for visiting this blog!

LEADERSHIP: TAKING THE INITIATIVE

Typically, student leaders do not take the initiative because of three reasons:

#1:  Student leaders might be involved in a program that does not support, inspire, encourage, allow, or reward initiative.  Thus, student leaders do not have the freedom to take the initiative.  Instead, they have to sit back and wait to be given instructions or directions.

#2:  Student leaders sometimes lack confidence in their abilities, skills, and or knowledge and will tend to sit back and watch others take the lead. 

#3:  Student leaders are highly driven individuals who strive to be perfect.  It is difficult sometimes for student leaders to step out and take the initiative out of fear that they may “mess it up” or “do something wrong”.

Ways to overcome these barriers that student leaders face:

#1:  Make sure that your program provides opportunities and encourages student leaders to take the initiative.  To be a leader is to also be an initiator.  A huge part of student leadership is teaching our students to think and act for themselves. 

#2:  Make sure to equip and empower everyone of your student leaders so that they feel confident in their role or position within their leadership program.  Have older students mentor, train, and work with the younger students in your program.  Take time to make sure each student is learning and understanding what is expected of them and create an environment that supports taking risk.

#3:  Make sure that student leaders know that “messing up” or “doing something wrong” is part of leadership development.  Part of our job as educators is to provide learning experiences that help develop young leaders.  I would much rather see a student take the initiative and “mess up”, than see a bunch of student leaders sit and do nothing at all.

“Taking the Initiative” Quotes:

- Success comes to the person who does today what you were thinking about doing tomorrow. – unknown

- Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing. -Adolphe Monod


Go the 2nd Mile,
Stephen Amundson
www.facebook.com/stephenamundson7