It's the Cord - Si o No

Our ministry is finally putting up our new sign.  The development of that sign could be the topic of a week's worth of leadership articles.  Nonetheless, the workers today speak Spanish as their first language and for a few predominantly as their only language.

We have a Spanish Mission and my first world mission trip was to Nicaragua some ten years ago - so, I know just enough Spanish to eat, sleep, greet and go to the bathroom.  These guys needed power to drill into the sign footing so they could epoxy rebar for vertical support and this is where the saga began (yesterday afternoon and then again this morning).  First there was no power at the outside outlet.  I helped check all the breakers and asked, "?Seguro....que the cord...extension cord (pointing now)...no esta mallo..?"  I think this means, "Are you sure that the cord is not bad." He answered with a nod and something that reminded me of the tone and comments I make when someone speaks very bad English that I don't understand but I want to seem like I understand.  Three outlets and 6 work hours later (they tried it off and on and then went to other parts of the job), I went to the other end of the 4 extension cords and asked, "Are we sure it isn't the cord?"  A polite shrug of the shoulders told me that I simply was going to have to take charge.  Gestures and my really poor Spanish got a worker to carry the drill to the first cord, the second, and the third until we found the bad cord.  There were laughs and for me a reminder of a few lessons.

First, I can not wait to get to heaven where we will all speak "God" - the one common language of God that apparently can translate all natural languages.  However, until we are able to readily utilize that one language, we simply must learn to communicate well with each other.  Christian Leaders need to remember that though Follower Language is not the language of the more experienced and mature leader - it must be mastered (and remembered!) by all leaders.  If you can not speak intelligently and passionately to your followers, you will lose the right to lead.  Have you ever said, "Why don't they get it?"  If so, then you need to remember when you didn't get it and also remember what my wife says, "If they don't get it, you might want to ask if that is your fault since it is your job to help them get it."  Leaders need to be able to speak fluently with followers not at followers.

Second, leaders need to be able to help problem solve and lead others to solutions.  Leaders need to know when to take the reigns and politely push toward a clear and simple testing and analysis of the situation.  Don't forget though that leaders need to be able to do the analysis, to think clearly, to ponder the options and to act in a well thought out way rather than react in a hasty way.  This principle does not require that every decision or analysis take longer than Creation but rather requires that one ask to be filled with wisdom from His Spirit to find answers.

Since most churches and ministries are far more concerned with what degrees leaders have and how wide their circle of influence spreads, leaders spend most of their time getting Christian Leadership degrees and networking.  Neither seminary nor conferences focus on really practical skills like communicating "with" people and good analysis through prayer.  Which is understandable because communicating "with" and analysis through prayer are not flash skills but rather trades learned while in the trenches, fighting, bleeding and dying alongside those you serve.

Here's the line up for next week, "Succesful Leaders?", "Listen to Me", "Where are my Keys?", "Watch Out Captain, She's Gonna Blow!" and "Got Boots?"  I can't wait.