Start a Revolution / Make a
difference
Building a local organization
GH May 2003
· “We cannot become what we need to be by staying what we are”. A crisis of leadership exists today among our Lebanese communities and organizations. By leadership I do not mean simply having titles but I mean the kind of leadership that inspires individuals to take action and make a difference. Talented leadership is badly needed. We who live out of Lebanon are positioned in a place and given the opportunity to accomplish what people in Lebanon cannot. When we recognize our potential we will discover amazing opportunities to impact the world.
· The building blocks of a successful organization are people and specifically teams. We need to excel at building efficient teams. We must adapt with the changing times. Failure to do so will leave us unequipped and unproductive. A diverse culture required a diverse approach. We cannot make a significant impact based on ignorance and isolation. It must be accomplished with forethought, careful placement of persons and personalities and team work toward a common goal.
· Below are time proven principles for creating the building blocks of an organization that will be built on integrity, character and excellence.
1- LEADERSHIP
· Everything rises and falls on leadership.
· What is Leadership: It is not about titles. It is the title that makes the man but the man makes the title. Leadership is about vision and influence. Leadership is not about money and degrees but about passion and commitment
· Integrity: You cannot impact others without integrity. UCLA Study: Integrity is the quality most needed for success. You must admit your strengths and weaknesses.
· Accountability: Surround yourself with a group of people who commit to being accountable to one another.
· Initiative: A leader is not the boss or manager or owner, but a facilitator and a motivator. Don’t wait for others but take action , you provide the inspiration and motivation.
· Role: Maintain a highly effective team with high performance and spirit, provide a vision, maintain focus, maintain the social health of the team, create a positive change , solve problems, and to provide resources through network.
· Management is doing things right, but leadership is doing the right thing. No management success can compensate for a failure in leadership.
· Responsibility: The price of leadership is responsibility, servant-hood and accountability.
·
Nurture:
Provide respect, encouragement, recognition, and love. Recognize people for
their contributions . A leader is great not because of his power but his
ability to empower others.
2- ATTITUDE
· Our attitude is our most important asset.
· Attitude is our best friend or worst enemy. It will draw people toward you or repels them from you. The number one reason business or organizations lose people is attitude.
· Have a positive orientation. Some people see the glass half full and others see it half empty. A joyless attitude is bad for your health. Pleasure is a vital nutrient.
· Have a sense of humor. Innovation is difficult to find if you have a negative frame of mind.
· Have an investigative orientation. Try new things Team members should be continual learners. Look for role models of flexibility
·
Provide Hope: Hope is the
greatest gift you can give others. It has been said a person can live 40 days
without food, 4 days without water, 4 minutes without air, but only 4 seconds
without hope.
3- MISSION & GOALS
· The Scripture says " A nation with no vision, will perish."
· "It is much worse to have no vision than to have no sight". – Helen keller
· The value of goals- The value of having goals is that it enables you to go beyond the world of imagination into the world of actuality. Goals put feet to your dreams. Goals motivate you to achieve. Goals clarify direction. Goals strengthen your character. Write your goals down and prioritize them.
· Set priorities. It is not how hard you work but how smart you work. Characteristic of a good goal: They should be challenging, specific, attainable, measurable and adaptable. Take health risks, and be flexible.
· Your goals: Don’t settle for just bringing people together but set a goal to make a difference. Have a clear vision that you can articulate and set small measurable goals toward the vision.
· Achieving goals: You must have big goals but you must also have the ability to translate them into smaller, achievable objectives. Pay attention to small details. Some of the greatest accomplishments you make in life may have very small Begin with small successes. Celebrate Victories and progress. Any project is easy to start, but it is finishing that counts. Put your goals on paper. Ask yourself is what we are doing moving us closer or further from our goals.
· Potential: The potential of small beginnings. If a friend offers you a lump sum of $50,000 or 1 penny at the start of the month and then double that amount for 30 days what would you choose. With the second option, you will have $5.12 in 10 days, and $163.84 in 15 days but at the end you will have $5,368,709.12
·
Focus:
A light bulb provide light when it radiated it’s energy in all direction,
but if you focus the energy into one point you can create a laser that can cut
steel.
4- BUIDLING A TEAM
· Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed that is the only thing that ever has.
· Groups can function with a far greater efficiency than individuals. Our standard of living is entirely based on specialization. That fact that you can do what you do in life. We are dependent on farmers, gas stations, mechanics, physicians, etc.
· You cannot know the power of team support until you experience it. It can transform lives and countries. People can achieve what they tried in vain to achieve alone.
· Two are better than one, they have a good return Eccl 4:9
· I can do what you cannot do. You can do what I cannot do. Together we can do great things.- Mother Teresa
· Top down management does not work, it has to be a group approach where everyone contributes. Each person must have a role and must use his/her potential.
· Team concept: You have probably seen geese flying in V formation. It is more than an art form , it is team efficiency. The V formation reduce wind drag allowing them to fly much further than if flying individually. The point goose takes the majority of the resistance, and as it tires the geese rotate. This allows them to fly longer and further.
· Elements of success: Clear goal, common cause, shared leadership responsibility, decisions by consensus, flexibility, evaluation, mutual support, responsibility determined by skill, communication and personal satisfaction
· A team is as healthy as the members who make up the team. It is very important to choose members (especially leaders) wisely. Individual responsibility is a must.
· Teams: A group who joins to accomplish together what individuals cannot accomplish individually. They are about relationships and communication. They have their own identity and are dynamic organism who grow and evolve.
· Team work is the ability to work together toward a common goal.
· A fired up team is hard to stop.
· From the book 7 habits: 1- Be proactive. 2- Begin with the end in mind. 3- Put first thing first. 4- Think win win, 5- Seek first to understand then be understood. 6- Synergy-creative cooperation 7- Sharpen the saw (education and practice).
5- CONFLICT RESOLUTION / Problems solving
· Problems give meaning to life. They are opportunity for growth.
· Teams will have conflicts, your group is not an exception. I t is not a matter of if but when.
· Each team has to learn to deal with failure and conflict. The key is having intelligent failure , learn from problems. Many teams self destruct before addressing their mission.
· Common problems or reasons organizations fail: Poor or lack of communication, personality traits or conflicts and loss of motivation. lack of vision, lack of goals, lack of commitment , change of priority and finally lack finance
· Solving problems. Two things needed: the right attitude and the right action plan. Use what, how , where, why and when. What is the problem, what are the causes, what are possible solutions, what are we going to do about it. A problem well identified is half solved. Focus on problems solving not winning an argument. Focus on the solution not the problem. Find common ground. Recognize and accept differences in people. Adapt to change. Just like life changes so do groups and teams. Everyone faces problems especially successful people. Money does not solve problems. Time , thought, and positive attitude can.
· Listening: A very important part of solving problems. It shows respect, builds relationships, solves problems, increases knowledge, builds loyalty and generates ideas
· Learn to deal with difficult people. Learn the 1/3 RULE:
Three groups can be identified in any team or corporation. 1/3 are initiators
and agent of change. Another 1/3 just go with the flow and the last 1/3 are
terrorists. They resist change, bicker, complain and drag. This last 1/3
consists of persons who hear about your goals or group, do not like it and make
it their responsibility to discourage you.
6- RUNNING SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS:
· Things that are fun, are things that get done. Make your meetings and projects fun.
· Create a positive and fun environment. After the meeting plan a happy hour with drink or food. Take turns hosting the meetings, see who can make them more fun and more productive.
· Set and agenda. Know what you want to accomplish. Stick to the agenda. Preview what you plan to accomplish, conduct the meeting, then review, summarize the meeting .
· Keep the meeting to one hour. Have a time keeper. Do not let people manipulate the time. Any discussions requiring more time need to be done later and reported at the next meeting. Anything that requires more time can be delegated to a committee.
· Do not have a meeting for the sake of meetings. Have a goal and an objective. Most things should be accomplished before or after the meeting.
· Watch out for the different personality types. Some people like to take over the meeting, some want to be the center of attention, some want to be passive aggressive and some are shy and need you to motivate them.
· Distinguish between complaining and suggestions. Some people complain for the sake of complaining. This should not be allowed, if they do not like something they should come up with a better solution.
· Always, always end a meeting with a summary of what was discussed and who will do what by when.
7- FUNDRAISING
· Learn the art of fundraising. Buy a book or go to the library and see what resources are available.
· Know the Lebanese people? What would they give money to?
· Learn to answer the question “What is in it for me?”
· Raffles are the best fundraisers.
·
Network with the WLCU finance
committee.
8- DUPLICATION
· Commit yourself to develop leaders not followers.
· Many leaders do not want to share their tasks, so when a leader leaves the ministry dies.
· Pass on the torch. One of your goals should be to build new and future leaders.