[cover] [101 artwork] [title] Think Bigger: The Call of a ... · [title] Think Bigger: The Call of a Leader [subtitle] Inspirational principles from some of today’s top leaders

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[cover][101 artwork][title] Think Bigger: The Call of a Leader[subtitle] Inspirational principles from some of today’s top leaders[insert SLU logo and www.slulead.com]

PAT WILLIAMSco-founder and senior vice president, Orlando Magic

DR. DANNY AKINpresident, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

BRAD LOMENICKpresident, Catalyst

MARK MILLERvice president of development, Chick-fil-A

LEADERSHIP

Pat WilliamsVice President | Orlando Magic

“The Portrait of a Leader”

Mark MillerVice President of Development | Chick-fil-A

“Great Leaders Serve”

Dr. Danny AkinPresident | Southeasten Baptist Theological Seminary

“The Person God Uses”

Brad LomenickPresident | Catalyst

“It’s Not About You”


Leadership. It’s a word we hear a lot, but what does it mean to you? Do you picture

your loud-spoken classmate, the high power executive, a government

official? While these people are certainly leaders, there is a lot more to

leadership than position. We are all called to lead in one way or another,

and the call of a leader often looks differently than just the intuitive

leadership qualities that instinctively come to mind.

In this book, we have brought together four of today’s most prominent

leaders, from heads of major corporations and organizations to

prominent theologians and community builders, to share their secrets

of leadership and the most important qualities of a leader. Their insights

come together to paint a portrait of the type of person a leader is called

to be. Some of their observations might surprise you; we hope they all

will challenge you.

Join us as you answer the call, developing your character, living with

humility, seeking wisdom and serving others.

LEADERSHIP

A leaderdevelops character.

“The best leaders are people who others

naturally want to follow. They are bold,

tenacious and full of integrity. They

take risks; they embrace change and

they serve others. It is the character of

a leader that defines the extent of his or

her influence.”

Pat Williams

Orlando Magic co-founder and senior vice president

Author of COACH WOODEN’S GREATEST SECRET


The Portrait of a Leader

1) A leader practices integrityJames Hackett, CEO of the Steelcase furniture

company, told an interviewer that great leaders

possess a sense of self-understanding that comes

from integrity. “That’s what people look for and

respect and want to follow,” Hackett said, adding

that his predecessor Bob Pew once told him,

“If you want to lead others, you’ve got to have

their trust, and you can’t have their trust without

integrity.”

Hackett also learned integrity while playing for legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler.

He recalls a story Schembechler told about his dad taking the fireman’s exam. Bo’s father lost the job

to a man who cheated. Young Bo asked, “Why didn’t you tell them the other guy cheated?” His father

replied, “It wasn’t my job to tell them.” Bo asked, “Why didn’t you cheat?” His dad said, “Who wants to

win by cheating?”

Hackett often talks to young people about integrity. “I tell them you almost have to practice for those

moments when your integrity might be tested,” he says. Picture situations where doing right might get

you fired—and no one would know if you did wrong. Practice making the honest choice. Mental practice

conditions you to maintain your integrity in real-life crises. To truly understand yourself, be a leader of

integrity.

2) A leader takes risks.Harold Hamm was born the son of Oklahoma sharecroppers. Growing up poor amid an Oklahoma oil

boom, Hamm saw oilmen pumping enormous wealth out of the ground. The lure of “black gold” fired his

imagination.

Hamm completed high school but couldn’t afford college, so he went into the oil business. “I started by

cleaning oil sludge out of tanker trucks and learning the business from the bottom up,” he recalled. With

borrowed money, he started his own wildcat drilling operation in 1967, sinking risky wells in unproven

geological formations. The risk paid off, producing six million barrels of oil.

He went to college, studied geology and business administration, and continued building his company.

A few years ago, he became convinced that the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota and Montana

was saturated with oil. His company, Continental Resources, invented many environmentally friendly

technologies for finding oil and extracting it from the shale. Drilling in the Bakken was another risky

Harold Hamm wildcat operation—but it paid off. Today, many oil companies drill in the Bakken, which has

Great leaders posses unique character qualities. They are confident, yet humble. Not afraid to speak up, but great listeners. Able to create focus and cast vision, yet flexibly change direction when necessary.

Sometimes these delicate balances are best understood in practice, by observing men and women who have led by example in their own lives. In this portrait of a leader, we look at six key character qualities leaders must develop and those who inspire us to do so.

proved to be the richest oilfield in the lower forty-eight states. Starting with one truck and the

willingness take bold risks, Harold Hamm created an $8 billion energy empire—and single-handedly

helped secure America’s energy future.

3) A leader listens.When I was a minor league baseball executive in the 1960s, I had to go to Philadelphia Phillies owner

Bob Carpenter and tell him that an individual in his organization was hurting his business. My stomach

was in knots as I entered Mr. Carpenter’s office and laid it all out. He listened, then said, “Why am I

always the last to know?”

All too often, leaders are in the dark about major problems in their organizations. That’s why leaders

must be good listeners. They must not only hear people out—they must draw people out. Your followers

are reluctant to bring you bad news. Make sure they know they can bring you any information, good or

bad, and you won’t “kill the messenger.”

Great leaders don’t wait for news—they seek it out. General George Patton said that leaders should

always talk to the soldiers. The troops, he said, “know more about the war than anybody. Make them tell

you all of their gripes. Make sure they know we are doing everything we can to help them.” At least half

of a healthy communication process is listening. When there’s bad news in your organization, make sure

you’re not the last to know.

4) A leader embraces change.Around the globe, the pace of change is accelerating. Leaders who cannot adapt to change will be

steamrolled by it. As Robert Safian observes in Fast Company, the smartphone market was dominated

by three companies in 2007: Nokia, Research in Motion, and Motorola. Within five years, the smartphone

industry had been upended, leaving Apple and Samsung in command.

Across the leadership landscape, old ways of doing things are being radically redefined. Automobiles,

Safian notes, have become “rolling, talking, cloud-connected media hubs. In an age where Twitter

and other social-media tools play key roles in recasting the political map in the Mideast . . . there is no

question that we are in a new world.”

Leaders who do not force change run the risk of becoming irrelevant. When crises come, don’t panic—

innovate! Become an agent of change. Don’t merely navigate change—make change happen. That’s the

essence of great leadership.

5) A leader perseveres.On September 23, 1779, American naval officer John Paul Jones commanded the warship Le Bonhomme

Richard off the northeast coast of England. There he encountered a British merchant convoy escorted by

the royal warship Serapis. The British ship attacked the Richard, pounding the American ship with forty-

four guns roaring.


Though the Richard‘s hull was riddled with holes, Jones sent his ship straight into the enemy fire, colliding

with Serapis. He ordered his men to lash the Richard‘s bowsprit to the British ship’s mizzenmast. Both

ships continued blazing away at point-blank range. The British commander, Richard Pearson, demanded

Jones’ surrender.

Jones later recalled, “I answered him in the most determined negative.” His exact words are unknown,

but these defiant words are attributed to him: “I have not yet begun to fight!” Minutes later, one of the

American shots found its mark, touching off an explosion aboard the Serapis. As a result, the British

commander Pearson surrendered to John Paul Jones. Though Le Bonhomme Richard sank minutes later,

Jones and his crew seized the Serapis as their prize. The story of John Paul Jones entered history as a

great example of the mighty power of bold leadership.

6) A leader maintains character.Bill Lear (1902-1978) was an inventor and businessman, best known for founding the Lear Jet

Corporation. Soon after he introduced the Lear business jet in 1963, two Lear jets crashed. Investigators

couldn’t discover the cause. Lear ordered the grounding of the other fifty-five planes that had been

sold—a move that cost him many prospective buyers. But Lear was committed to doing the right thing

at any cost. Not willing to risk the life of a test pilot, he flew one of his own Lear Jets, simulating the

conditions under which the planes had crashed. He nearly met the fate of the previous pilots—but he

succeeded in isolating and correcting the design flaw. He made the correction in all fifty-five planes at his

own expense.

As Dave Kraft concluded in Leaders Who Last, it took Bill Lear “two years to rebuild the business. . . . He

lost money and risked his own life, but he never compromised his character.” What risks would you take,

what price would you pay, to maintain your character? Character is not something we are born with; it’s

something we develop. Anyone who wants to lead must first work on who they are — becoming the type

of person others want to follow.

“Be more concerned with your character than your

reputation, because your character is what you really

are, while your reputation is merely what others think

you are.”

— Coach John Wooden

A leaderseeks wisdom.

“Leadership is often tested through

difficult circumstances and challenging

opportunities. This is why great leaders

understand their own shortcomings

and pursue wisdom in their leadership

journeys.”

Dr. Danny Akin

President

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary


The Person God Uses

1) Count it as joy when trials come.Trials will come in all of our lives – they are an

inevitable part of being human. We can choose

to get discouraged, entitled and angry at God,

or seek out His purpose in them. James makes it

clear that God allows trials to test our faith, pro-

duce endurance, and make us perfect and com-

plete. The trials we face are God’s way of getting

us ready for game day, like a spiritual workout.

Leaders demonstrate maturity when they embrace

trials with determination and a desire to grow.

2) Ask God for wisdom.Throughout the Bible, from Solomon to Jesus, we

see leaders seeking godly wisdom for their lives.

Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective, and then act accordingly. Wisdom sees things as

God sees things and takes the appropriate action. A godly leader sees more, further, and before others

see. They wisely see what battles are worth losing and what hills are worth fighting on. They factor truth

& timing into godly decision-making. James commands us to ask in faith for wisdom, without doubt that

God will provide.

3) Rest in what they have.Great leaders keep things in proper perspective. They lead with a sense of eternity, not underestimating

the importance of our work here but also understanding that even our greatest accomplishments fade.

They lead with an eternal purpose and do not get discouraged at small setbacks.

4) Understand that God may test our faith but never tempts us to sin.Godly leaders know there is a difference between trials and temptations. What God sends as a trial, Sa-

tan will try to use as a temptation. These leaders understand the difference and recognize each situation

as it arises. Where they maturely embrace trials, they resist their own evil desires to avoid being enticed

by temptation.

5) Understand that God gives only good gifts.James makes it clear that every good gift comes from God. He wants to bless those He loves, and He

never changes in His goodness. Godly leaders show gratitude, not entitlement, for the success in their

lives and don’t blame God when trials come.

Leadership is ultimately about influence

– for good or for bad. That’s why it is so

important to not just pursue leadership,

but godly leadership. Godly leaders care

as much about their testimony as their

territory, they constantly pursue wisdom

as they grow and develop to become more

like Christ. Ultimately they want to be a

person that God can use.

In the book of James, a book full of

practical truth, we see eight principles that

define wise, mature leaders. When times

get challenging, leaders do not feel they

have to be perfect but instead seek the

one who is. Godly leaders:

6) Listen well.James tells us to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Godly leaders know the difference

between the wrath of God and the wrath of man, and control their tempers. Even when pressed or

stressed, they do not lose control and give into sin’s power, but instead follow the path of wisdom.

7) Know that actions speak louder than words.People do not follow worthy causes; they follow leaders who pursue worthy causes. James commands

us to be doers and not just hearers. Great godly leaders “look into the law of liberty” and follow it. These

leaders understand that liberty is not the lack of obligations but the freedom to do the things they ought

to do. Leadership is established by a lifetime of leadership, as people see leadership in action.

8) Help the less fortunate.Immature leaders only pursue or surround themselves with people who can further their agenda. They

practice self-focused leadership, seeking their own advancement. Godly leaders, on the other hand,

use their positions as a platform to help those less fortunate. Loving people who cannot do anything to

further your agenda shows true character and confidence. Treat everyone as they are the most important

person in the world because in that moment, they are.

Godly leadership is not just focused on outcome; it is

focused on becoming the person God meant for you to

be and helping others realize their God-given potential in

the process. Godly leaders consider both the ends and the

means and pursue wisdom in all they do. Where others look at earthly

qualifications, these are the people God chooses to use.


A leader know it'snot about them.

“Being selfless is biblical. It’s Jesus

focused, Jesus centered and Jesus

honoring. And it’s a lifestyle. You can’t

just turn the selfless button on and off.

You have to embrace it fully. ”

Brad Lomenick

President

Catalyst

1) Be Selfless. Being selfless is biblical. It’s Jesus

focused, Jesus centered and Jesus

honoring. And it’s a lifestyle. You can’t just

turn the selfless button on and off. You

have to embrace it fully.

2) Fight against pride constantly.

Pride is a killer. It’s a collaboration killer.

It will corrupt a team. And it will corrupt

your own leadership growth. It is deadly

when given the chance to flourish. Many

times, pride is induced not by leaders,

but more by those around them who feel a burden to make their leader so elevated that they end up

furthering the problem instead of helping squelch it.

3) Be generous. This is a great way to combat your tendency to think that you own it, and everything is about you.

Especially with money or possessions. When you sense in your life a strong pull towards hoarding, just

intentionally be more generous than normal.

4) Honest friends. A crucial component in fighting the “You” paradigm. Surround yourself with friends who will be brutally

honest, and will tell you when you are being selfish and too “you” focused. Us is way better than me or

you.

5) Ego Leak about others.If your ego has a hard time being contained, then let it leak about others. Puff others up, and make a big

deal about others around you. Let your ego leak toward those around you.

So what does a leader who is NOT all about him or herself look like? They are:

1. Ready to take the fall.

2. Willing to sacrifice.

3. Always informed enough to make the tough decisions.

4. Constantly learning.

It’s Not About You

I am always bothered by the person who

continually just talks about themselves. The person

who thinks that the world literally

revolves around them. The person who constantly

is only worried about how things will affect them

personally. They pretend to be interested in others,

but really are only concerned with furthering their

career or pushing their agenda

or making a bigger deal about themselves.

It’s not about you. Really. It’s not.

So here are a few thoughts on combating the

“You” paradigm:


5. In touch with reality.

6. Able to plan for the future while leading in the present and honoring the past.

7. Quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. (Yikes!)

8. Humble and hungry.

9. Never satisfied, but always content.

10. A great follower who understands how to be led.

11. Wise and discerning.

12. 100 percent trustworthy.

13. Willing to risk when it’s needed, and not afraid to create change.

14. Constantly encouraging. (Yikes #2!)

15. Casting vision on a regular basis and creating a picture of the end goal.

16. Responsible. Your yes is yes and your no is no.

17. Anticipates what needs to get done.

18. Always hustling.

As leaders, it’s easy to think it’s about us when others

are looking to us to lead. Resisting pride, ego, and

selfishness is a natural and constant fight. When you are

tempted to make it all about you, remember to practice

these principles. Not only will you feel your focus shift,

but ironically, you will gain even more respect from those around you.

A leaderserves.

“Being a servant leader acknowledges

the different roles, responsibilities and

strengths of people. It is not about who’s

in charge. It is about who is best suited

for which roles. It is about helping people

accomplish things beyond what they

previously thought possible. Servant

leaders have a genuine respect for those

they lead.”

Mark Miller

Vice President of DevelopmentChick-fil-A


Great Leaders Serve

Great leaders…serve?

Isn’t leadership about taking charge?

Being in control? What does it look like

to practice servant leadership?

I know this idea is counterintuitive and

countercultural. It always has been. To

some, the idea that a leader should

serve seems outlandish. But, think about

electricity – energy flowing through

wires to light our homes and power our

appliances seemed far-fetched just over

100 years ago. Today, it is electricity that

has modernized our world.

Just because an idea seems crazy at face value ac-

tually has no bearing on its validity. And servant

leadership is not a new idea. Robert Greenleaf

popularized it in the 1970’s, but Jesus taught it

over 2,000 years ago. It was as counter cultural

then as it is today. Why does this often-overlooked

approach to leadership make sense in today’s

world?

For me, to serve is at the heart of what enables a

leader to become great. Servant leaders apply this

principle at two levels:

First, the issue of motivation – Why do you lead?

Is it for you or for others? The best leaders think of

others first. It is a mark of their character. It is who they are or are becoming. Serving is a core motivation

for the best leaders.

Second is in the strategic principles that guide his or her life and leadership style. In my book The Secret

(written with Ken Blanchard), we break down the five ways leaders SERVE:

• See the Future

• Engage and Develop Others

• Reinvent Continuously

• Values Results and Relationships

• Embody the Values.

It’s not a second-class approach to leading. It’s not like saying if you can’t play in the NFL, there’s always

the Arena League. It’s not the minor league of leadership. Leaders who serve well release tremendous

reserves of potential, creativity and results from those they lead. The question is not “Does it work?” but

“Why does it work?”

Here are a few of the reasons. Servant Leadership…

1) Focuses on OthersThe focus of the servant leader is on others. Specifically, those you desire to lead. Your ever present

question is not what can you do for yourself; rather, it is how can you serve THEM. When decisions are

made, you consider the organization and your people before you weigh the personal consequences.

2) Honors People Being a servant leader acknowledges the different roles, responsibilities and strengths of people. It

is not about who’s in charge. It is about who is best suited for which roles. It is about helping people

accomplish things beyond what they previously thought possible. Servant leaders have a genuine

respect for those they lead.

3) Builds TrustWe trust leaders whose motives are others centered. Their candor, feedback, encouragement and even

their directives feel different when trust is present. When our leaders serve us and the organization, we

trust them more. Trust is also a key ingredient in loyalty and retention.

4) Raises Engagement There is clearly an inspirational component at play when we see others serve on our behalf. It energizes

us as followers. When you and I believe that our leaders are not only for us, when we sincerely believe

they want to serve us, then we want to serve them and the organizations they lead.

5) Reveals the Heart Leadership always reveals the heart of the leader – even if what is revealed is not flattering. When

you and I choose to be a serving leader, people see our heart and they realize that we really are in this

together. Ultimately, it’s the working together that makes servant leadership so powerful.

To serve is a tall order for any leader. It is about why we

lead, how we lead, how we think and how we see our role

in the world. It is a high bar to shoot for every day. To do

anything less creates an inferior form of leadership.


Are you ready to answer

the call of a leader?

Join us at Student Leadership University, a journey that takes students

around the world and deeper into their faith and future as they learn to lead

through life-changing experiences.

A youth program like no other, SLU empowers, enables and equips middle

and high school students to rise to the call of leadership and awaken their

potential as they learn faith, leadership and life principles in unforgettable

destinations. Learn from speakers such as Pat Williams, Dr. Danny Akin,

Brad Lomenick, Mark Miller and many others as we put students in the ulti-

mate classrooms and give them access to world-class training. Whether they

go behind-the-scenes at Sea World, explore our Nation’s Capital, immerse

themselves in history in Europe or walk where Jesus walked in Israel, at SLU,

young people learn to think bigger, ignite their calling, impact their world

and lead like Jesus.

With four progressive, cumulative levels taking place during the summer and

at various times throughout the year, Student Leadership University changes

the way students think, dream, and lead today and for the rest of their lives.

Take the leap and see where the SLU leadership journey could take you!

Learn more at www.slulead.com.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY

7380 Sand Lake Rd., Suite 100

Orlando, FL 32819

www.slulead.com

is a youth program

like no other,

pairing exclusive

travel experiences

with faith-based

leadership training

for students.

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[cover] [101 artwork] [title] Think Bigger: The Call of a ... · [title] Think Bigger: The Call of a Leader [subtitle] Inspirational principles from some of today’s top leaders