Chad Stutzman – Page 13 – Character Faith Generosity and Leadership

March 13, 2014

Surprised & Inspired

God has a way of surprising and inspiring us in the most unexpected ways. I am on a weekend retreat for men that run Radical Mentoring Groups. I’ve done three of these groups and love it each time I do a group. I’m meeting up with over 100 other men that are doing these types of groups across the country. We are gathering in Cleveland GA, which is north of Atlanta near the mountains.

When I arrived I discovered that I had some extra time before the retreat started, so I decided to drive up into the mountains and do some sight seeing. I found a park area and decided to do a little hiking. The weather was sunny and near 50 degree’s. For people in GA that’s really cold but for me it was perfect. I was the only one at the park and had the trails to myself.

I decided to do some running and got my heart rate up as I climbed up to an amazing waterfall. I then turned around and headed back another way and found a second waterfall. As I was there I started talking to God and asked him why I was here and had this extra time. Then it hit me hard – God was telling me he loved me! As I stood in the middle of this amazing wooded area I was struck by God’s goodness and was humbled at the gift he gave me of free time to just enjoy his creation and talk with him. The sense of how much he loved me stopped me in my tracks.

I asked him what else he wanted to tell me and I heard some simple things, here they are:

Love your wife and treat her well – You can do better
Mentor and invest more time in the young men you have influence with
Talk to me more often and find time to listen

So that’s the start of this retreat, I can’t wait for the rest of the weekend. I am anticipating that God has something more for me this weekend.

March 1, 2014

How to Build Trust and Influence People

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about trust. Building trust with the people around you is one of the most important things you can do. Building trust raises your level of influence and leads to more productivity and closer relationships. When trust is broken, relationships shatter and it takes time to mend and rebuild that trust.

One of the greatest assets a person can have is the trust of the people around them. That only happens if you work at it and develop it and don’t do things to lose it. This is where character comes into play in leadership. It may sound simple, but to build trust you must be trustworthy.

Building Trust takes intentional work and skill, here are some things you can do to build trust at work, at home, or anywhere you have influence:

• Listen and ask questions in order to understand the other person’s interests, needs and concerns. Even repeating back what they just said.

• Make and meet commitments consistently. Do what you say you will do.

• Identify and communicate shared interests and goals. Find out what dreams and goals the other person has.

• Identify and clearly communicate differences as appropriate. Explain the why behind your decisions.

• Honestly acknowledge when you have made a mistake or hurt someone, clarify intentions, and find a suitable remedy that affirms the value of the relationship. Basically you work to resolve conflict and seek and give forgiveness.

• Use a win-win approach to resolving conflicts or conducting negotiations.

• Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships by spending adequate time with people getting to know them better and allowing them to get to know you better. Taking a risk and being transparent with the other person opens the door to trust.

• Demonstrate honesty, keep commitments and behave in a consistent manner.

• Think about how to clearly communicate thoughts, feelings and rationale so that others understand your personal positions.

• Remain open to others’ ideas and opinions even when they conflict with your own.

Openness and honesty always lend substance and credibility to our character, which leads to greater trust. When trust is present, the relationship is closer and healthier.

It’s important to note that building trust also means telling people the truth even if it hurts. It takes courage to speak the truth to people you care about. That initial hurt often leads to healing and a healthier relationship. Telling someone the truth can also help them grow and avoid making mistakes.

If you need to work at building trust, you must first lay all the cards on the table and admit your past mistakes. Then you need to start the hard work or rebuilding by doing the things mentioned above. Building trust takes time and energy while losing trust can happen instantly. Everything we say and do is either building trust or losing trust.

Lead On

February 12, 2014

Love in Action

I’ve been thinking and studying this idea of love. I have to say that I need to work on this area of my life. I think most people would say they can do a better job of loving others. But for most of us we don’t know what that looks like. I work at a church so what I look to in order to learn and grow is God’s Word. I was reading this today and it really struck me and challenged me. I hope it does the same for you. This is found in Romans 12:9-21 in the New Century Version of the Bible:

9 Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. 11 Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart. 12 Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. 13 Share with God’s people who need help. Bring strangers in need into your homes.

14 Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad. 16 Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are.

17 If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. 18 Do your best to live in peace with everyone. 19 My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: “I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,”[a] says the Lord. 20 But you should do this:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him a drink.
Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head.” Proverbs 25:21–22

21 Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.

Just that first sentence, your love must be real is enough for me today. You can’t fake love.

Love is all about doing and taking action. It’s about how we think about ourselves, others and God. The best way we can worship God is by loving others well.

February 5, 2014

What Grace Does

I’ve been thinking about grace lately. What does it mean to give someone grace? If your a follower of Christ, you’ve heard of God’s grace. Grace is giving someone something that they don’t deserve.

When the grace of God shapes our relationships, we respond to the sin and weakness of others with grace. So here are some questions to consider:

Do you hold people to a higher standard than you hold yourself?
Do you fail to overlook minor offenses?
Do you spend more time catching people doing wrong than doing right?
Are you better at criticizing than encouraging?
Do people feel accepted and loved by you or criticized and judged?
How do you tend to respond to the weaknesses, sins, and failures of those around you?

A grace mindset enables us to serve others out of a heart of compassion, gentleness, patience, kindness and love. The closer we get to people the more these attitudes are needed because the closer we get the more we experience their weaknesses and sins.

When grace is shaping our relationships it means we are ready, willing and able to forgive. Forgiveness starts with a transaction between God and us. It’s talking to him about the offense and entrusting that person and the offense to God. That prepares us for the interaction with the person that hurt us. On our own it is very difficult to truly forgive and let go of the hurt.

Grace also enables us to humbly ask for forgiveness as well. The truth is that we all hurt others from time to time and need to take responsibility for those actions or words. When we ask for forgiveness, we are admitting our responsibility for sin against others, without justification, excuse or blame. Being able to say something like this brings great healing: “I was wrong for saying __________. Please forgive me. I am sorry for the pain I caused you.”

Grace enables us to make peace
Grace enables us to speak the truth
Grace enables us to serve others
Grace enables us to grant forgiveness
Grace enables us to learn to say no
Grace enables us to recognize, develop and use the gifts and abilities God gave us.

Ask God to help you have more grace in your life, it can transform all your relationships and change your circumstances.

January 2, 2014May 30, 2016

The Six Core Competencies of an Effective Leader

There are many competencies that are needed to be effective and just having these 6 does not mean you don’t have or need others. I have identified 17 that I try to work on and develop in myself. However, these six are the ones that I have identified as critical for leaders to have for long-lasting, high level leadership success.

The best leaders are people that work on developing themselves. This takes self-awareness to know what skills they need to work on to go to a new level of leadership. It’s similar in marriage or parenting, taking responsibility for yourself and working on your own issues and building on your strengths leads to better relationships.

I am a campus pastor for a church that currently has five campuses. I have been with this church for over thirteen years and previous to that I was a manager in the business of banking and accounting for 15 years. These competencies are important for mid-level to executive level leaders. I have tried to define each in practical ways so that you can evaluate yourself on how you are doing with that particular competency.

Here they are:

Accountability

Defines objectives and strategies to meet customer/member requirements and organizational goals and objectives.
Manages performance to achieve expected results.
Keeps informed of performance through face-to-face meetings, written communications, analytical reports, and performance measures.
Keeps supervisor informed of progress, issues, and potential problems.
Maintains a cost/effective balance of controls and risk-taking to ensure effective and efficient operation within budget.
Identifies and addresses areas of weakness that may affect organizational performance.
Freely shares information with team members and superiors
Takes full responsibility for results.

Building Trust

Communicates an understanding of the other person’s interests, needs and concerns.
Makes and meets commitments that contribute to addressing the other person’s interests, needs, and concerns.
Takes time to get to know people and genuinely cares about them.
Identifies and communicates shared interests and goals.
Identifies and communicates differences as appropriate.
Addresses perceived harm to the other person by fully acknowledging any harm done, clarifying intentions, and finding a suitable remedy that affirms the value of the relationship.
Is quick to admit mistakes and errors.
Asks for and gives forgiveness.
Uses a win-win approach to resolving conflicts or conducting negotiations.
Develops, maintains, and strengthens partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
Demonstrates honesty, keeps commitments and behaves in a consistent manner.
Shares thoughts, feelings, and rationale so that others understand personal positions.
Remains open to others’ ideas and opinions even when they conflict with their own.

Developing/Coaching Others

Clarifies responsibilities, authority, and expectations.
Provides timely guidance and feedback to help staff accomplish a task or solve a problem.
Provides guidance in how to strengthen knowledge and skills to improve personal and organizational performance.
Provides new assignments and experiences to develop the employee’s capability.
Communicates clearly & effectively and develops subordinates.
Conducts performance appraisal and feedback on a regular basis.
Provides helpful, behaviorally specific feedback to others.
Works with employee behavior problems.
Shares information, advice, and suggestions to help others to be more successful.
Gives people assignments that will help develop their abilities.
Regularly meets with employees/leaders to review their development progress.
Recognizes and reinforces people’s developmental efforts and improvements.
Expresses confidence in others’ ability to be successful.
Helps others learn new systems, processes, or programs.
Collaboratively works with direct reports to set meaningful performance objectives and then holds them accountable.

Emotional Intelligence

Demonstrates an ability to control and filter emotions in a constructive way.
Exhibits consideration of the feelings of others when/before taking action.
Demonstrates recognition of the various psychological and emotional needs of people.
Expresses feelings clearly and directly.
Understands ones own fears and unhealthy emotions
Is willing to get help when needed.
Exhibits humility and persistence.
Balances feelings with reason, logic, and reality.
Demonstrates an appreciation of the differences in how others feel about things.

Establishing Focus/Setting Direction

Acts to align own campus/department goals with the strategic direction of the organization.
Ensures that people in the campus/department understand how their work relates to the organization’s mission.
Ensures that everyone understands and identifies with the overall mission and values.
Ensures that the campus/department develops goals and a plan to help fulfill the organization’s mission.
Uses effective techniques to define outcomes and expectations.
Clearly identifies the target and then sets objectives to focus on.
Sets goals for self, campus/department and expects the same from all direct reports.
Reviews those goals and objectives in regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports.

Interpersonal Skills

Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of different situations.
Relates well with others.
Maintains confidentiality.
Is likeable and approachable.
Communicates in a clear way.
Demonstrates consistency and fairness.
Anticipates and resolves confrontations, disagreements, and complaints in a win-win way.
Is tactful, compassionate and sensitive, and treats others with respect
Provides timely and honest feedback in a constructive and non-threatening way.
Listens with the intent of trying to understand before being understood.

Lead On

December 27, 2013

Leadership Lids

LEADERSHIP LIDS

Every leader has lids on his life. The issue is never whether you have lids. The issue is what you are going to do about them.

Lids that limited us:

Fear
Impatience
Denial
Impulsiveness
Deceit
Jealousy
Anger

Most of these have to do with character. If you are more concerned about keeping up appearances than cleaning up your character these lids can limit you.

Lids that did not limit us:

Family
Leaders
Background
Youthfulness
Inexperience

What lids exist in your life?

What character flaws do you have?

What is your attitude toward those lids?

Are you taking responsibility for lifting them?

Are you willing to allow someone else help you lift them

December 21, 2013December 21, 2013

Three Things Great Leaders Do

For the past 15 years I have been focused on growing myself and others in faith, character and leadership. Those three areas of my life are guiding lights for how I approach life. I have made a lot of mistakes over those years, yet I keep coming back to those three things.

As I reflect on leadership here are three things I believe we must be committed to in order to lead well. Whether you are a parent, spouse, employee, employer, student, teacher, athlete, coach, artist, musician, or just a friend, you are a leader. If you have influence with anyone else then you are a leader.

Leading is not easy, because in order to lead you need to have influence. In order to have influence you need to have a vision of where you want to go or the way you want things to be. If you want to increase your influence and leadership in this next year then these are some things you will need to do:

Leadership means you are willing to get uncomfortable – In order to grow you have to get out of your comfortable surroundings and stretch yourself. When was the last time you did something that made you sweat? Where you felt you were out of your element and in new air. It is in those moments that we grow, stretch and discover new ground in our leadership. It’s where we can learn from mistakes and expand our perspective.
Leadership also means you should be dissatisfied with where things are at – As a leader you need to be pushing for improvement, a better way, greater things. You should be dissatisfied about how the world is, how people are treated. Don’t get me wrong you also need to be content with what you have and be thankful for the many blessings you have in your life. But you also need a passion to see things better than they are today.
Leadership is also about disruption – A leader should never be satisfied with the status quo. You don’t change things just to change them you change things to improve and get to a higher, better place. It starts with leading yourself and disrupting your habits and negative patterns. It’s saying no some good things in order to get the best things. It pushing for what is right and best for the world around you.

The best leaders do all of this with humility and persistence.

So what are you doing to get uncomfortable? What are you dissatisfied about? What do you need to disrupt in your life or the lives of those you lead? That is how Jesus leads us. When he wants us to grow he brings discomfort, dissatisfaction and disruption. Jesus is the greatest leader ever, so let’s follow his example. If you don’t believe me just read about him in the Bible. Lead On.

December 13, 2013

Keys to Excellence

My first job was pumping gas, servicing cars and repairing tires at a local gas station. That’s were I learned how to make change without a cash register and how to fix a flat tire. My second job was at a local meat packing company. I was the clean up guy and had to dismantle and clean all the machines they used to process meat. That is where I learned how to have a system and follow a process in cleaning the plant. I also learned how to work alone and to not cut corners. I learned that people were counting on me to do my job so that they can do their job when they showed up in the morning.

My next job was at a local cheese manufacturing and retail business. I learned a lot working there, things like retail sales strategies, inventory control and customer service. I learned how to cut cheese samples and set up displays. I even got into some construction by helping to remodel an apartment for one of the children of the owner. During that time I got to interact with subcontractors and did work like drywall, floor tile, and general construction. I learned about working hard and doing it right the first time.

Soon after that I went to college and then started my career in banking. I started as an internal auditor for a Savings & Loan in Wooster Ohio. That was my first exposure to corporate America. I learned to pay attention to detail as I had to audit every area of the company and make sure everything added up. I also learned how to set goals and work on projects and be a team player. I learned how to manage my time and finish what I started. I also learned how to cut costs and work within a budget. I learned how to show respect to my boss and follow direction.

My next job was at a local community bank as a loan officer. I was in my early 20’s and this was my first job where I got to directly interact with customers. I learned a lot about finances, balance sheets, financial statements and tax returns. I learned about risk and how to manage that. I learned how to read people and their character. I learned about customer service and how to win over potential new customers. I learned how to serve customers and make them want to continue to do business with us. I was promoted quickly to a branch manager and did all kinds of lending. I continued to learn about management, customer service, lending, community service and economic development. I developed a passion for developing leadership skills in myself and others.

After 12 years in the banking industry I transitioned into the accounting world with a regional accounting firm. They created a new department for me to run which focused on enhancing profits and adding value to their clients. I did a lot of training in customer service, leadership, management and strategic planning. I learned how to interact with business owners and CEO’s. I learned how to win friends and influence people. I learned how to lead groups of business people and do public speaking and presentations. I got even more involved in community organizations and public relations. I learned about marketing and sales and what it takes to run a business.

Then I took all that I had had learned in all of those jobs and went to work at a local church. Those experiences have helped to shape me into the leader I am today. The things I learned in the workplace have helped me to lead the local church and continue to influence people and impact our community. Here are some of the things I believe are vital to leading with excellence no matter where you are:

Value excellence and don’t settle for average
Pay attention to details and finish what you start
Remain committed to what really matters, keep first things first.
Display integrity and sound ethics because people are always watching
Show genuine respect for the people around you
Go the second mile, take the initiative if something needs to be done, don’t wait to be told.
Be clear when you communicate
Listen and then listen some more
Be consistent, show up and do your job well
Never stop improving or growing
Be flexible and open to new ideas and other ways to get things done.
Empower the people around you and mentor and coach them
Always give 100%

Leadership is all about influence and we are either gaining or declining in our influence. There are a lot of things that are out of our control, but the way in which you work and lead is within your control. So no matter where you are working, what are you learning and how are you growing.

December 9, 2013December 9, 2013

Unexpected Words From God

Last week I attended a Night of Worship at the Dover campus of NewPointe Community Church. I am a pastor at one of the other campuses, so it was nice for me to just be a regular guy attending and worshiping. I have to admit I went to see if I could get some ideas on how to make our worship event better the following week. As I got there and walked in I connected with a few people I know, but was pretty anonymous and slipped into a seat about a third of the way up. As the music started I sang, prayed and even raised my hands throughout the evening. I was also critiquing some of what was happening, making note of things I would do differently and things that I liked.

Then God did something unexpected. I don’t remember the exact time during the service or what song we were singing, but I heard God say “Don’t Eat!” I have to admit I was a little startled and confused. I asked God if that was from Him and if I heard him right. I heard it again “Don’t Eat!” That same morning in the church service I sat in on at my campus our senior pastor had mentioned the idea of Fasting as a spiritual discipline. I have fasted before with other people and by myself. I have given up TV, sports, coffee, food, meat and movies. Yet this time was different because God was telling me not to eat.

So I didn’t eat any food for the next three days. Each day I talked to God and when I asked if I could eat I heard “not yet”. During those three days, I was hungry and even felt some hunger pains. Yet each time I thought about being hungry I immediately connected with God and talked to Him. I felt such an inner peace and strength that seemed to get stronger each day. This three day fast reminded me how much I take food for granted. I don’t have to wonder where or when my next meal will come from. I can eat anytime I want and eat anything I want. Yet I am not all that grateful for what I have.

It’s the same way spiritually. God is with us all the time, we can talk to him anytime and ask for anything. Yet too often we take that for granted and only turn to him when things go wrong or we need something. Those three days of eating reminded me that I need God 24/7. That when I am connected to him the temptations are less powerful, the way I respond to things is much better and I make better decisions.

Psalm 63:1 says “God you are my God. I search for you. I thirst for you like someone in a dry, empty land where there is no water.” When I read that I had to admit that I do not pursue God like I would pursue water if I had none. Am I really hungry for God, desperate to know him more and more?

Jesus said this in Mathew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

When push comes to shove, what is most important to me? What takes priority?

God doesn’t need people to evangelize the earth, do missions projects or give away millions of dollars. He looks for people who will worship him in spirit and truth. Not just on Sunday mornings or whenever our day of rest is. God wants people who will worship him in the way they live. God made us to worship and every day we worship something.

When I hunger and thirst for God and seek him with all my heart, I get a glimpse of how much he loves me. As I grow, I understand a little bit better the depth of that love. God’s love for me never changes, yet as I change and grow, I get a clearer perspective of God, the world around me and the people in it.

That all came as a result of hearing two words from God and then obeying him. What would happen if we would listen to God all the time and really trust him with everything? What would happen if we did what he told us to do? What if we would follow his commands and live our lives fully surrendered to him?

On Thursday morning I woke up and knew I could eat again. The granola with Almond milk tasted better than ever before. I was grateful for the food I had in the house and once again my mind turned to God and his provision and care for me. I had a good day with my wife and got some time to rest and relax.

Then on Saturday something happened that I almost missed. It’s easy to just write things off as weird or a coincidence. I was bored and was flipping through the television, looking to escape into a movie or something entertaining before the Buckeyes came on that evening. We all know that there are lots of unwholesome things on television and I can get drawn into movies or shows that have too much sex, violence and bad language in them them. As I was searching, the smoke detector in the room beside be would beep from time to time. I thought that was odd, but dismissed it because I figured it just needed new batteries. I ended up watching a movie that was not the best choice.

I told my wife afterward about the smoke detector and as I was telling her I realized the smoke detector is hard wired and does not use batteries. It has not beeped since then. Then it hit me, was God warning me, trying to get my attention and help me avoid temptations. Then this verse came to my mind in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

I wish I had that power I felt when I was fasting all the time. If only I had paid closer attention to that warning, I could have fed my mind with something much better. I don’t always turn to God even when he is right in front of me. I guess that is the human side of us, yet God’s love never changes and he sees me as his beloved son even when I miss the way he gives me to escape temptations.

I am excited about what God is doing in me and who he wants me to become. The more I seek him and hunger after him the more he can use me to impact and influence other people. The more I listen and pay attention and then obey what he is telling me the more fruitful my life will become. We are all in process and when we allow God to drive and we trust him amazing things can happen.

December 5, 2013

How to Communicate with Difficult People

We all have people in our lives that are hard to get along with. It may be someone you work with, live beside or even live with. While we cannot change the other person or force them to treat you differently, you can change the way that you respond to them. You see, many times it’s the way we respond to bad behavior that drives even more bad behavior. This is hard to do because we all have emotions and sometimes those emotions can take over and take us down a path that causes more damage.

When we work on ourselves, we can change our attitude, our words and our non-verbal communication. Here is a simple communication rule that may help you make progress in those difficult relationships:

People who are hard to get along with allow their anger, frustration, insecurity and disappointment to drown out most everything good around them. The good news is that they don’t act that way all the time, even though it may seem that way. Eventually they’ll leave the safety of their negative emotions-even it’s only for a moment. They’ll do or say something nice, show concern, or offer to help with something. It is in those moments that you need to recognize their best. Let them know the good you see in them. Show them how much you care and how much they mean to you. When you look for and focus on the good in people, you help them to see what is possible in their lives. You give energy to what is right about them. Your love and attention creates an environment where they can choose to change and respond differently themselves.

It’s in those critical moments when they do something right that we can choose to be positive and re-enforce good behavior or be negative ourselves and destroy any glimmer of hope. Every person has some good in them, even though it may be buried deep inside them.