Selecting Leaders: People Skills

March 1, 2011 Leave a Comment

When selecting leaders I always look for leaders with good people skills. Here’s the reason. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to the love God and the second greatest commandment is to love people (Matthew 22:37-40). And I just don’t know how we can love people if we don’t have people skills.

Here are some of the questions I ask:

Do they work well with people?

Are they intimidated by people?

Are they awkward around strangers?

Can they speak first to others?

Do they have great communication skills?

Can they walk up to someone they have never met and spark up a conversation?

 

Every leader on my team has to have either natural people skills or the willingness to learn. I am naturally shy. However, I knew when I became a leader that I sacrificed that trait. Over several years, I have learned how to be more outgoing and extroverted for the sake of being a spiritual leader.

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Selecting Leaders: Competency

February 26, 2011 1 Comment

#4 Competency

Competencies are the accumulation of skills, knowledge, experiences, and abilities that make the leader valuable to the team. If you only choose leaders who only have character or leaders who you have a natural connection with then you may end up wasting your time. They have to be able to bring results and contribute to the goals of the team. I always look for people that have great work ethic because God’s mission requires great work ethic. Am I right?

I would always prefer for my leaders to already have strong self discipline and skills. The truth is that everybody has an area where they are gifted. I always make sure we have some sort of a position for every leader on my team. Their gifting needs to match up with the positions or roles that we have available. 

In Exodus 18, Jethro told Moses to “select capable men” to help him. He specified “capable men.” This obviously means there are some that are incapable and excludes those that are incapable.

In verse 22, he says, “That will make your load lighter.” Leaders should make our load lighter.

Also, in II Timothy 2:2 Paul says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

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Decade Recap

February 21, 2011 Leave a Comment

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Slick Rick Ringtone

February 19, 2011 Leave a Comment

At our DECADE event, which was NLC’s 10 year anniversary service, we just HAD to give everyone a gift. We figured a ringtone of our Pastor rapping would be quite appropriate. A couple of years ago when our creative team was shooting a video of Rick, he started rapping during one of the breaks. He thought the cameras were turned off. They weren’t. And thank God for this ringtone. Enjoy

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Big Kimbrow Family News

February 17, 2011 Leave a Comment

OUR EGGO IS PREGO!!!!

We are obviously very excited to have another little one due September 13th. Thanks for all the love and support you all have given us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to adding to the Kimbrow family!

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Decade Pics

February 16, 2011 Leave a Comment

Decade has come and gone. It was pretty amazing to see all of our campuses come together to celebrate New Life Church’s ten year anniversary. Around 13,000 people gathered to worship God in the Verizon Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas and give God the honor He deserves for ten years of awesome ministry through NLC. Enjoy the pics!

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Selecting Leaders: Chemistry

February 15, 2011 Leave a Comment

#3 CHEMISTRY

Not chemistry as in the periodic table. Chemistry as in harmony when working together.

Around our staff team we have a phrase that we use called “Divine Flow.” We use it when describing people that are easy to be around. You probably know what I’m talking about. Those people who don’t take a whole lot of work and energy for you to  to be around. It just clicks. You both “get” each other.

I really do think that running a team should be fun. So I build my team full of leaders who are fun to be around and who energize me. And I don’t apologize for it. Because I think when you work with people you actually like then you will get more things done.

Questions To Ask:

                    • Do I like being around them?
                    • Will I look forward to having meetings with them?
                    • Does it energize me to work with them?
                    • Do they “get” my vision?
                    • Do they trust me?

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Decade Footage: Kris Allen “This Is Home” & Interview

February 14, 2011 Leave a Comment

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Selecting Leaders: Influence

February 13, 2011 Leave a Comment

#2 INFLUENCE

The second quality I look for when selecting leaders is influence. Now we know that influence isn’t enough. But it sure is something. You definitely don’t want to build a team of non-influencers. I would caution you to not build a “cool club” team. That’s why character and influence have to go together. But you want people on your leadership team that can actually lead others and are influential. I think anyone can be taught how to have influence. But for some it just comes more natural. I always look to build my teams with naturally influential people.

Also, some people are made to follow more than lead. So when you put them in leadership positions they will more than likely disappoint themselves and you as the leader.  Some are born to lead. Some are not. If everyone was a leader then we would have chaos. Some prefer to assist or follow.

Questions I ask:

  • Do people want to follow them?
  • Do they speak up in a group?
  • Are they opinionated?
  • Are they solution-oriented?
  • Are they a good communicator?
  • Do people want to be like them?
  • Are they going anywhere in their life?
  • Would they be a good recruiter?

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Selecting Leaders: Character

February 11, 2011 Leave a Comment

#1 CHARACTER

Adolf Hitler. Bill Clinton. Joseph Stalin. Saddam Hussein. Fidel Castro. Osama Bin Laden.

These men had great leadership ability but their character was horribly flawed. Skill and natural ability will only get you so far. What is most important is what a leader is like on the inside.

A great illustration is an iceberg. You can only see 10% of an iceberg. The other 90% is under water.The power of an iceberg comes from the bottom 90% and what you cannot see. Remember the Titanic???

It’s the same with people. Just like the iceberg much of our influence and power come from the qualities that are unseen. People usually only see what is on the outside but what matters most of all is what is on the inside. Jesus prioritized the inside over the outside.  Read John 6:43-45.

When a leader has glaring character flaws or stubbornness against doing the right thing it will come back to haunt you as the leader of that team. Leaders without character lose their influence quickly or influence others in the wrong direction.

I always make sure that my leaders have no major sin issues. Examples: Gossip, lying, addictions, sexual immorality, etc. I Timothy chapter 3 has some great stuff to say about the qualifications of an overseer. I want my leaders to be able to have the confidence in themselves that the Apostle Paul had in I Corinthians 11:1 “Follow me as I follow Christ.” I want to set them up to succeed.

When we are trying to add new leaders to our team we have a application process and an interview process where we ask pointed questions about their character. We also Facebook stalk them. :) Don’t judge me…

Questions To Ask:

  • Are they defensive? Prideful? Lazy?
  • Are they self-disciplined in doing what is right?
  • Are they dependable?
  • Do they tell the truth?

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