Catalyst Track: The Unreasonable Leader // Day Two

This track comes from an article written by Craig Groeschel entitled, The Unreasonable Leader.

 

Not long ago I was having a conversation with Jerry Hurley, one of our key staff members. I was asking Jerry if he could pull off something that, although extremely challenging, could potentially make a huge difference in our church. Knowing I was asking a lot, I apologized. “I’m sorry if I’m being unreasonable.”

 

“Don’t apologize!” he said, practically interrupting me. Grinning ear to ear, he said, “I love it when you’re unreasonable. That’s what makes our church great!”

 

Obviously, no one wants to work for a leader who is always unreasonable. But the best leaders know when to push limits, dream bigger dreams, demand more, and pursue results most people believe aren't possible.

 

There’s a time to be an unreasonable leader.

 

Have you tended to take the easy road in your leadership? In this 3-day track, Craig encourages you to think about how big you’re willing to dream, what risks you’re willing to take and what adventures you want to embark on. Over the next few days, Craig will outline four mindset shifts to help transition from a leader who plays it safe, to one who is willing to step out in unreasonable faith.

 

Ready? 

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DAY 2 – Changing Mindset

 

How can you move from a reasonable mindset to leading with unreasonable faith? If you want to change what you do, you have to change how you think. Here are four different mindsets I’m learning to adopt:

 

#1. Think what first. Think how later.

When leading, I try to focus on what we want to accomplish. Too many people jump straight to the how. When the how seems difficult, it makes the what sound unachievable. But when we commit to the what, then we’re more likely to figure out the how. For example, so much of the technology we enjoy today wasn’t even considered possible just five years ago. Commit to the what, and you’re more likely to figure out the how.

 

#2. Embrace limitations as a blessing.

Most people can quickly figure out all the reasons something can't be done. This usually starts with some version of this statement: "We can't do it because we don't have_______ (fill-in-the-blank). I'm training myself never to say, "We can't because we don't…" but instead to say, "We can because we don't…." The most innovative ideas are born out of constraints. When people don't have what they think they need to do what they want to do, they get creative. In fact, the more resources you have, the more difficult it is to innovate.

 

CHALLENGE:

 

Think of a recent idea you've had to improve what you're leading. Then answer:

 

1. Describe the "what" of the idea
2. What resources do you have available that you can creatively use to accomplish the “what?”

 

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