Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

The Influence of a Leader

Leaders are people that others depend on to get things done.  As a leader, we influence those around us by how we handle ourselves for the purpose of building meaningful and positive relationships. Leaders:

• Purposefully seek out someone and acknowledge their accomplishment.
• Take responsibility, seeing that the task at hand is completed.
• Acknowledge when a mistake is made and do their best to correct it.
• Are receptive to learning from those they lead.
• Remain steadfast in the midst of unpredictable circumstances.
• Consider the unique talents in the people around them and how they can best be utilized.
• Are resilient and continue to move forward as a righteous leader.

For the righteous fails seven times and rises again (Proverbs 24:16a).

God's Blessings,
Leadership Development Committee

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Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

Stepping out of our Comfort Zone

As leaders, it is easy to put ourselves in a box and default to our comfort zone. God has a plan for each of us to continue to move forward in carrying out His plan. Try these ideas to facilitate your personal growth and give you the courage to step out of that comfort zone.

• Take a step in faith by doing what God’s nudging you towards. He has a plan for you.
• Study your past successes. What happened? Who were you with? Why were you doing the activity? What was your planning process?
• Clarify what is important. Prioritize things that need to be done first before moving on to future ideals.
• Let go of the pressure to prove yourself. Be true to yourself, to others, and to God.
• Are you living in accordance with what you believe? What can you do tomorrow to better live for Jesus?

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God's Blessings,
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

Dealing with Lengthy Speakers

Many of us have experienced long winded speakers who, in their enthusiasm for their topic, lose track of time. A leader’s task is to keep meetings on schedule. Bev England, LWML Media and Marketing Specialist, gives these tips for encouraging a speaker to wrap up their presentation.

Be preventative:

• Include the allotted time for their presentation in all communications with your speakers, from the first request for their services to the final confirmation before the event.
• Introduce all speakers to your appointed time keeper and explain how the time keeper will motion to them when their time is up. One method is for the timekeeper to hold up a green sign when there is one minute left and a red sign when their allotted time is up.

If a speaker runs over their allotted time this protocol will usually encourage them to conclude their presentation.

1. The president stands up at her podium or at the place she is sitting.
2. The president moves to stand beside the speaker.
3. The president puts their hand on the speaker’s shoulder.
4. If all else fails, the president can lean into the speaker’s microphone and kindly thank them for an interesting presentation, but states she must move on with the meeting agenda.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another (Colossians 3:12-13a).

God's Blessings,
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

The Elusive Leadership Skill of Completion

It is easy to start a project, but much more difficult to finish it. Effective leaders make an intentional effort to complete projects.

One way to assure the task is completed is to a schedule completion date. Make it a habit to schedule the next step of your task. The key is to set a time or date. When will you follow up, follow through, and finish?

• When you delegate, schedule a time to meet, answer questions, assess progress, and discuss next steps.
• When you lead a meeting, conclude the meeting by reviewing who will do what, by when, and who will monitor the progress and report back to you.
• When you challenge people to change a behavior, check on their progress frequently, then acknowledge and celebrate each small step in their success.

Finishing each task may not seem like a big deal, but when you have a scheduled time to complete each phase, the achievement can be dramatic.

So now, finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have (2 Corinthians 8:11).

God's Blessings,
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.

Singing Christ is Our Leader

Are you planning a leadership retreat or visioning workshop?  Keep Christ as the focus with these musical selections:

Hymns from the Lutheran Service Book

• #662 — Onward Christian Soldiers
• #687 — Send, O Lord Your Holy Spirit
• #688 — “Come Follow Me” the Savior Spake
• #707 — Oh that the Lord Would Guide My Ways
• #711 — Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
• #715 — Jesus Savior Pilot Me
• #718 — Jesus Lead Thou On
• # 721 — Lead Me, Guide Me
• #722 — Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me

Praise and Worship Songs

• God will make A Way — Don Moen
• Hymn of Thy Holy Spirit — Pat Barrett
• I Will Follow — Chris Tomlin
• Lead Me to the Cross — Hillsong United
• Shine Jesus Shine — Graham Kendrick
• Thy Word, is a lamp unto my Feet — Michael Smith
• Your Grace Is Enough — Chris Tomlin

Remember to follow Christian Copywrite Licensing International (CCLI) regulations. Help is available at https://us.ccli.com/.

God's Blessings,
Leadership Development Committee

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence. Let’s try something new!

Let’s Do Something Exciting

Progressive dinners are a fun way to socialize with our Sisters in Christ. Plan a meal where participants eat a different course hosted and prepared by different people in their homes. Add a section of a Bible study (divided into four parts) to be held at each stop for a fun and inspirational LWML event.

The first part of the Bible study would be at the home that is serving the appetizers.

Then consider soup and/or salad with the second part of the Bible study.

The third home serves the main course along with the third part of the Bible study.

The final section of the Bible study wraps up at the home that serves dessert.

For more creative ideas, check out the Creative LWML Events article on the LWML Leadership Development webpage.

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

LWML 2017–2019 Leadership Development Committee Members
Deb Vinkemeier
Cheryl Killham
Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Debbie Larson, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Tips for Leading with Confidence

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence. Congratulations, you have just been chosen to lead a board or committee! You may be asking yourself, “Where do I begin?”

Planning a Meeting

As you begin to think about your first gathering you may want a refresher on basic protocol. Meetings 101 on the LWML Leadership Development webpage is a wonderful resource to help with meeting preparation and to keep the meeting flowing smoothly. Here is a sample of the Leader’s Checklist from Meetings 101.

• Begin by asking God’s direction through personal devotion and prayer.

• Organize yourself before you arrive at the meeting by making a meeting outline. 

• Upon arrival at the meeting place, and at least 30 minutes before the meeting starts, complete the following steps:

  • Check that the area is set up appropriately.

  • Make sure that all the equipment requested is in place.

  • See that those in attendance will feel comfortable and welcome in the setting.

  • Greet the speaker, verify the topic, and confirm the time allocated to the speaker.

  • Check with those assisting, ensuring that all details are covered and to encourage those who are faithfully giving of their time and talents.

  • Welcome those arriving with enthusiasm and a warm smile.

God's Blessings,

Susan Brunkow, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

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