What’s Your Standard?
October 01, 2010
We all have standards. Standards for the way we work, the way we dress, the way we communicate, the way we interact, the way we get things done, the way we lead, etc.
So here’s a few thoughts on setting your standards:
1. A higher Standard. As leaders, we are called to a higher standard. And as followers of Christ, an even higher standard. Set your standards so high that it may seem impossible to reach them.
2. God demands and expects excellence from us. It drives me crazy when I see something done without excellence but with the excuse of “well its okay because our intentions are good.” Nope. Not good enough. Our God deserves our very best. Always. We should never use our faith as an excuse for being average. Our faith should drive us to be excellent in all things.
3. Average is not good enough. Average is easy. But it’s a constant battle to be great. It’s hard, or otherwise everyone would be great.
4. Learn from the best. Comparing yourself to others just like you won’t challenge you or make you improve. Compare yourself to the best. Both inside and outside your industry. Learn from others who are better.
5. Expect to be excellent. Can you say that you or your team are “the best in the world at what you do?” If the answer is no, then why not?
6. Set the tone. If you want your team to reach for the highest level and strive for excellence, you first have to set the example. I hear this from leaders all the time…. “well, my team is just not committed to making things great.” The question is are YOU committed to making things great and setting the tone and standard for your team. It has to begin with you.
7. Reality is real. If you can’t achieve greatness and the standard you have set, then figure out why. Maybe you just don’t have the team to pull it off. Or operationally it’s just not possible. Understand your reality, make adjustments, and then execute. Don’t get stuck in the blame game. Make adjustments and keep striving.
Posted by Brad Lomenick at 04:48 AM • Permalink
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3 Comments »
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Those are very intuitive leadership techniques, and I think many good leadership techniques are intuitive. However, from a Christian paradigm, much about a leader’s standards do not seem intuitive or they may even appear counter-intuitive. I believe #2 on your list is important; however, if a leader makes “excellence” his or her goal, then this leader may or may not fail according to a secular paradigm; however, their leadership will not be very Christlike. A Christian’s desire for excellence should derive from his or her desire to reflect God’s glory (his or her desire to radiate God’s excellence). Good leadership techniques do not commend one to God. A good leader who seeks his or her own fame is working against God. But, as Paul says, whatever a Christian does, he is to do to the glory of God.
Perhaps you mean to imply the above in standard #1. I apologize is that is the case.
Sorry if this seems brash. This is not solely in reaction to this post. It is in reaction to a preponderance of Christian leadership writings that, I feel, do not do a good job integrating the “Christian” with the “leadership.”
Comment by Peter Almon – Oct 01, 2010 @ 05:53 AM
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I agree with the first comment. I think as Christian leaders our highest standard is obedience to God. My standard is to be obedient to every thing that God calls me to do and to be an example of leadership to those whom I lead. Any other criteria eventually leads to false ideas of success and failure.
Comment by Sheldon Clowdus – Oct 01, 2010 @ 06:27 AM
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I also agree that setting measurable standards for success and failure is a dangerous line to flirt with, especially within the realm of church leadership. However, the Word suggests that we do all things as if unto the Lord. It suggests that we work as if our master was there watching even if he or she is not there looking over our shoulder. It suggests that we live (especially as leaders) above reproach.
These Scriptural references/metaphors, I believe, suggest that we do strive for the same level of excellence as God Himself would set for the standard for Himself. It is not easy, but we need palpable, comprehensive techniques to help us explain to newer or younger believers what being a disciple of Christ looks like. We cannot simply say “be obedient to what God calls you to do,” and expect a baby Christ follower to interpret, understand, and execute God’s will every time, can we? I believe people can learn quickly; I myself experience God’s grace in using the weak things of this world to shame the strong, using and guiding me in His work.
However, metrics for success and failure, I believe, can be tools for God’s glory if used wisely.
Comment by Jeff Campbell – Oct 05, 2010 @ 04:42 PM
I use to agree with the first two comments from Peter and Sheldon, but then saw way to many Christian leaders doing way below excellent in their ministry and living on the, “well God knows I doing if for him and he will work in whatever I give.” Sadly that just isn’t true. God does deserve our best and anything less is idolatry to our own self indulgent lazy lifestyles. What a sad commentary on the Church when we use the excuse not to be excellent in our ministry or career or, well, you name it, by saying, “a pursuit of excellence is not being Christ-like.” The fact is, if you are a Christian being excellent in your pursuit of anything should be the very essence of Christ-like-ness and hence the standard of living. If you are doing things “as unto the Lord” then excellence and Christianity are inseparable.
By: keithcarpenter on December 8, 2010
at 3:28 pm