Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

Everyone has rough days. As Christians we are assured we can call on God to strengthen us so we can continue to serve with gladness.

When You Want to Call It Quits

Luke 5 gives us three points to reflect upon and to help us discover the life-saving power of Jesus as we serve and lead.

Return to your original call – Luke 5:10

Run to the Lord – Pray and give it over to God

Move forward in faith – Luke 5:5

The new Mustard Seed devotion booklet Praise and Patience includes some great meditations that remind us to praise God and exercise patience when times get rough.

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

Spelling and Capitalization of Internet Terms

The confusing Internet world can leave us baffled even when we are not connected. When using written communication referring to the web remember these easy tips.

• email – lowercase except at the beginning of a sentence
• Cellphone or smartphone – one word
• home page – two words
• internet - lowercase except at the beginning of a sentence
• login, logon, logoff – one word when used as an adjective, but two words in verb form
  For example: I will log in to my login account.
• online – one word
• password – one word
• PowerPoint presentation
• username – one word
• website, webmaster, webservant, webcast, web-page, the web, web address – lower case except at the beginning of a sentence.
• World Wide Web
• the web, website, webmaster, web page – lower case except at the beginning of a sentence
• eNews – The LWML electronic newsletter begins with a lowercase e followed by a capital N.
• eQuarterly – The electronic version of the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly begins with a lowercase e followed by a capital Q.  The electronic version is not italicized.

Recommended fonts include Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Times New Roman and Georgia.  Other fonts may not convert to PDF documents correctly.

Additional information regarding spelling and capitalization can be found in the LWML Style Book here.

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

Volunteers make necessary and important contributions to any group. Their compensation comes from fulfillment of individual goals and motivational needs. Recognition is important in their continued motivation to serve.

Here are some suggestions to recognize and honor your volunteers:

• Make a phone call expressing your thanks.
• Write a personal note.
• Include their accomplishments in a newsletter.
• Reward them with a meaningful gift.
• Host an appreciation event to honor volunteers.
• Invite them to dinner.
• Thank them in person.
• Send out an email expressing your appreciation.
• Post photos of your volunteers on a church bulletin board or website.

The LWML resource Volunteers in Christ’s Ministry includes more information on honoring volunteers.

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

Practice Self-Care

Body — Take a walk or reach for a glass of water rather than that extra cup of coffee or soft drink.

Mind — Make a phone call to an old friend just to connect or spend time in appreciation of God’s wonderful creation.

Soul — Meditate on a Psalm and apply to your life or make of list your blessings and thank God for them.

Let us know the results.  What did you try this week and how were you blessed?

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

Video Conferencing

Jeremy Barlow, Director of Digital Marketing at BoardEffect gives these basic tips for running a video conference smoothly. 

• Always test audio equipment and the virtual meeting space at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting.

• Check the lighting for problems with shadows or reflections from windows.

• Ask participants to mute their line, rather than put it on hold to avoid hold music from being played during the meeting.

• Plan a detailed agenda and keep the video conference moving by interspersing long and short agenda items.

• Keep the meeting interesting.

• Refrain from checking email or multi-tasking during the conference.

• If using a video option, dress to keep a professional appearance.

• Be aware that others can hear and see what you say and do, including unintentional utterances.

The main concerns around video conferencing are related to learning new technical skills and the loss of comradery among members. One LWML district encouraged their members to gather together in small groups to join the video conference. This fostered personal interaction and allowed the most computer savvy individuals to facilitate the technology needs.

Video conferences, like in-person meetings, will always include a few glitches. As leaders, we need to be organized, keep our sense of humor, and model forgiveness when things do not go perfectly. 

Share with us what has made your experience with video conferencing successful.

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

The average person speaks at a rate of about 250 words per minute but we can form thoughts at about 2000 words per minute. How can we keep our audience engaged?  A slide presentation to accompany an oral dialogue can help to keep the day dreamers to a minimum. Below are some tips to keep in mind when preparing a slide presentation.

Effective Decision Making

Preparing a slide presentation? Here are some tips to make it more effective.

• Consider using only one message per slide.  Your audience will have the opportunity to absorb the concept and it prevents the slide from being a distraction.

• Refrain from using slides that repeat the words of your speech. Visual aids should complement the words you are speaking. 

• Be aware of your stage presence. Stand to the left of your screen. A person’s tendency after reading a screen is to return their eyes to the left.

• As with any presentation, stand up straight, keep your arms to your sides except for intentional gestures, look out into your audience and smile.

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

Does your group sometimes have problems making an effective decision? Below are tips to encourage all members to become involved in the decision-making process. 

Effective Decision Making

Two extremes can create situations where less than ideal decisions are made.

1. Groups that blindly agree with all suggestions of their leader

2. Groups where a dominant member shuts down all discussion

Both extremes can lead to unsuitable outcomes. Below are several ways to encourage discussion and wise decision making:

• Begin with prayer.

• Ask questions rather than giving opinions when acting as the chairman.

• Divide into sub-groups to work on alternatives and then reconvene.

• Brainstorm three alternatives before making choices.

• Intentionally request input from quiet members.

• Explore assumptions before making decisions.

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed (Prov. 15:29).

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

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