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The Top 10 Most Desired Leadership Behaviors

January 4, 2017 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

Someone wrote me recently, “I found this an interesting top 10 list. I wonder how I do on #2…I’m high on analysis side.”

The Top 10 Most Desired Leadership Behaviors

In case the link stops working sometime, here is the list:

  1. Sets clear strategic direction.
  2. Knows when to stop analyzing an issue and make a decision.
  3. Follows through on actions, promises, and assignments.
  4. Has the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively perform job duties.
  5. Demonstrates high ethical standards.
  6. Lives, leads, manages, and works with integrity.
  7. Accepts responsibility for own actions.
  8. Leverages the strengths of each team member.
  9. Treats others with dignity.
  10. Creates a working environment that motivates high individual performance.

I found the list very interesting also. In fact, I think I will use it in my coaching of others.

#2 Knows when to stop analyzing an issue and makes a decision. You may have heard the term paralysis of analysis. Some leaders are paralyzed by a decision and continually seek more information. I think those gifted as analytical leaders can overcome this tendency with wisdom gained over time in making decisions. Those of us who are gifted in the area of analysis tend to start out over-analyzing. But over time, especially in the context of deadlines, we can be like the spider in zero gravity mentioned in the article and adapt and learn to speed up the decision-making process.

One of the things that I have learned is that most things work out better than I ever expect them to work out. I never feel adequately prepared for a conference. I always wish I had more time to prepare my talks. I think there are more facts to research that would add value to my presentations or better graphics or better powerpoint themes. But I have learned that I generally am prepared enough and that my facts are good enough and that people are blessed and that my desired outcome is achieved.

If we focus on outcomes and not on process those of us in the analytical world can better let go of process and lean into the outcome. After all it’s the outcome that we’re after and the process just needs to be good enough to deliver the outcome that we want. It’s helpful for me to clearly identify the outcome and decide if what I have is good enough to get the outcome I’ve identified. If so, then doing more is wasted effort because I’ve already got enough to achieve the outcome I need.

I also appreciated the number one desired attribute: #1 Sets clear strategic direction.  I have been working hard in my leadership to develop it. Andy Stanley says it this way: the role of a leader is to provide islands of clarity in the sea of confusion. He says that the role of a leader is not to provide certainty. Only God knows with certainty. But a leader can say with clarity this is what we will do. Out of all the possible things that might deliver the outcome we want, this.is.what.we.will.do. Then he measures the progress towards outcome and humbly makes mid-course corrections and if necessary he pivots and does a completely different process to deliver the outcome. A good leader does not pretend know with certainty, but he leads with clarity.

Which of these ten would most improve your leadership over the next 12 months?

Filed Under: Leadership, Uncategorized

Living an adventure

December 30, 2016 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

What an adventure Kay and I are living!

This year we both celebrated 65 years of life, 40 years of fulltime ministry with Cru and in a few days, we will celebrate 45 years of life together in marriage. Who would have thought that high school sweethearts from a (then) small town on the edge of Dallas would be on their sixth passport filled with amazing ministry engagements, would have friends and ministry in over a hundred countries (we haven’t visited that many but we’ve made friends and enabled ministry through conferences and communications) and would have a powerful team of ministry partners who have enabled it all!

And we are not ready to retire, but feel that God is blessing and leveraging our gifts, skills and experiences in additional opportunities.

As Kay and I move around the world helping advance the good news through trainings or leadership conferences or even personal evangelism opportunities, I am reminded of what the angels said on that first Christmas, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Everywhere the good news goes, there is great joy. As people realize that this good news is for them, joy settles and often erupts.

This is why Kay and I train church planters to connect with the lost and to plant churches that multiply. This is why we develop training curriculum. This is why we develop digital technology tools to expand the scope and engage more people in the Great Commission.

Kay and I are honored to be a part of this with a team of ministry partners. Undergirding with prayer is important. I invite you to pray for every village, every neighborhood, and every high-rise apartment. Click on the Shine link and watch the Shine video while praying. In 2017, we want to train and plant and engage even more so that the good news which brings great joy will come so that no place is left behind.

Filed Under: Ministry, Prayer Letters, Uncategorized

Kermet Seabourn’s Home Going Celebration: A Life Well Lived

June 14, 2014 by Keith Seabourn 7 Comments

My Dad, Kermet Seabourn, passed away on May 16, 2014. His funeral service was May 20. I spoke at his funeral service on May 20 to honor my dad. Later, I also spoke at the graveside service (see my message here).

 

KermetSeabourn_300x450Today’s service is a celebration of my Dad’s life, a life well lived.

It was no accident that my Dad was born in Dallas, Texas on February 27th, 1930 and lived in Mesquite until May 16, 2014. It was part of God’s divine plan since before the creation of the world. In Acts 17:24-27 it says, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth, He from one man made every nation of men; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”

Then in the 139th Psalm, verse 16 we find these words, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before there was yet one of them.”

In my Dad’s case, this was 30,759 days. And 24,279 of those days were spent married to my Mother, over 65 years. My Dad used those days well. We are all gathered together here today because he touched us in some way.

Today, we celebrate my Dad’s life and his celebration in heaven. For my sister Karen and me, our Dad was always our hero! Big and strong, but quiet and gentle. Safe. Reliable. Consistent. Dependable. Responsible. Not necessarily the fastest, but the one who would be there all the way to the end, when it counted.

Karen and I, and our spouses David and Kay, are so blessed to have had Kermet Seabourn for our Father and Father-in-Law.

One thing I learned from my Dad was straightforward responsibility. You keep your word. You say what you mean and you do what you say. Be responsible for your actions.

When I was about 10 years old, my cousin Steve Holcomb and I were plinking with our pellet rifles. Somehow, I’m not sure how it started; we began shooting at neighbor Jess Parker’s chickens. I was the better shot, and I nailed a hen in the head. It was all fun and games until that hen fell over. Steve returned to his home in east Dallas. Several hours later my Dad somehow learned about it and I was sent down to settle accounts with Mr. Parker. I remember it to this day. A man is responsible for his actions. My Dad taught me that. Even when it was embarrassing to him, you make things right, even when you’ve done something silly.

During my time in the Boy Scouts, my Dad helped lead Troop 108. He served as Scoutmaster for several years. During this time, a number of boys, including myself, reached the rank of Eagle Scout. Troop 108 produced the largest number of Eagle Scouts in Circle 10 Council during this time. My Dad and the other leaders created an environment that instilled a desire to succeed, that developed young boys into Eagles. My Dad created a wooden board with the name of every Scout under each rank. At each Court of Honor, Scouts would move their name to their new rank. The Eagle rank grew longer and longer. Today, this is called gamification and this board is called a leader board. My Dad didn’t know about these incentives, but he knew how to inspire young men to excel and to strive to reach for goals and to endure difficult camping environments and to push themselves on long hikes and to reach for high ranks and he succeeded exceedingly well. Many from Troop 108 are grateful.

During one of our Boy Scout activities, we were hiking in the Kiamichi Mountains in Oklahoma. I was 13 or so at the time. My backpack was filled with my share of the camping gear for our troop. It seemed to grow heavier as the miles dragged on and I was lagging behind. My dad dropped back to hike alongside me. He put his hand under my pack and lifted the weight a little. Notice what he did not do. He did not take my pack away. It was still mine to carry. Carrying my share of the load was still my responsibility. But my dad lightened the weight for a while. He helped with the load but left the responsibility squarely on my shoulders. My Dad knew how to grow Boy Scouts into men.

And there are many snippets of memories. Here are a few of them.

Whistling. He was always whistling. When he was outside working, you could locate him by listening for the whistle.

The smell of sawdust. He loved working with wood. He passed that love to me. He loved building things. He loved working with other men to create places for people to enjoy, whether a room or a church building or a set of cabinets.

Yes’s and No’s always MUST have a sir or ma’am attached. A “yes” without a “sir” would get a questioning look accompanied by silence. And a “yeah” was a death wish to whatever you might hope to ask him for.

Older people MUST be greeted by Mr. or Mrs. Never call an older person by their firstname. Never. Ever. You would have a discussion with Dad if you used an older person’s firstname.

“It’s not fair” never worked in the Kermet Seabourn household. Karen and I learned to obey rules that other families didn’t have even when we felt it was so unfair. Now, neither of us would trade that upbringing for anything in the world. We learned responsibility and dependability.

I want to let you in on a little secret, now that our Dad is gone. Daddy had the ability to play like he was mad sometimes when he was just trying to get to you. And he was very good at it. Karen and I would have our friends ask us, “Is he really mad or not?” Sometimes even we couldn’t tell. He had a couple of tells that we would watch for. A little twinkle in his eyes and the corners of his mouth would twitch a little when he was pulling our leg. And he was good! But then there were the times I would search his face for the give-away signs, hoping and hoping, but there would be nothing there. And then Karen or I would know, “Uh-oh. I’m in for it this time.” Fortunately, it was mostly Karen that got into trouble!

Apart from our Dad, Karen and I were very blessed to grow up with a rich set of family relationships. Until we were about 10 years old, Karen and I had 9 grandparents and great-grandparents living within 10 miles of our home. We saw them regularly. We had many aunts and uncles and great-aunts and great-uncles. And two of our great-aunts are here in this service today: my Mom’s Aunt Frankie and Aunt Bess!

Our Dad set the bar high. Karen learned what to look for in a future husband by watching her Dad. I learned how to love my wife by watching my Dad. With a 65 year success record, Karen and David and Kay and I are still in junior high school in knowing how marriage works. Watching our Mother and our Dad these last several years has been watching people who have an advanced degree in marriage and in following Jesus. Sitting in a hospital room or in the group home and watching our Mother and Father relate to each other was amazing.

It was amazing to watch the testimony these two had as medical personnel and caregivers interacted with them. I often wondered why the God of the universe would allow my Dad to go through the Alzheimer’s experience. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that one of them is the testimony he and Mother had in the last 8 years.

Wherever their medical journey took them, they won the hearts of physical therapists, medical technicians, rehab specialists, and nurses. They were winsome. Uncomplaining. Positive. Quietly and graciously content. Medical professionals went overboard in helping them. They wanted to check up on my Dad, to provide assistance to him. They found reasons to be around them.

You see, when you spend your life serving others, growing close to Jesus, becoming more like him, you become a magnet. As we grow in life, we either become more bitter or more better. More sour or more sweeter.

So today, we are feeling the pain of separation. We were not designed by God to experience death. We were designed to live forever in a garden called Eden. What we are feeling today is the echo of the separation resulting from choices our forefathers made long ago and the sin that continues to indwell these bodies today. It is a reminder that we are not home yet. We are not living where we were designed to live. But Daddy is. He will never again feel what we are feeling today. And one day, we will never feel it again either, if we make a choice to accept God’s forgiveness as my Dad did long ago.

In Matthew 7, Jesus says:

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit… Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Jesus says that you know healthy trees by the fruit they bear. Even though in his later years my Dad’s body was decaying and his mind was imprisoned by Alzheimer’s disease, his life bore tremendous fruit.

Kermet Seabourn’s life was a life well lived.

Filed Under: Personal, Reflections, Uncategorized

The Gospel IS the Secret Sauce

March 9, 2014 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

Sometimes we think there must be an additional secret sauce for the Christian life. Something that will initiate us into the Deeper Life or the Higher Life.

Sometimes we think the gospel provides our eternal fire insurance but there must be something more — a mystical experience, a discipleship course, a set of disciplines — that will lead us into a life-transforming experience.

The Bible connects our Christian life to the gospel. If you want to grow deeper in your Christian life, Paul says in Colossians 2:6-7, “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Our marriages are expressions of the gospel. In Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Our giving is an expression to the gospel. 2 Corinthians 9:13 says our giving is an expression of our confession of the gospel: “others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

Maturity in following Christ is connecting more and more of my life to the transforming power of the gospel: God loves me so much that he gave his son for me that I might know him eternally.

And God loves you that much too.

Is the gospel transforming your life?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Our new chapter has begun

October 31, 2013 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

Kay and I shook hands with Bekele, Jerry and Grace. We prayed together, we celebrated over lunch, and we began the next chapter in our ministries … together. Kay and I now serve with the Global Church Movements team.

Global Church Movements, like our previous team, is one of the global teams of Cru and is led by Vice President Bekele Shanko. Kay and I have known Bekele for a number of years. Bekele and Shewaye are originally from Ethiopia. They served as national leaders in Ethiopia and then as area leaders for the ministry in Eastern and Southern Africa. Two years ago they moved to the U.S. to create the Global Church Movements team.

Global Church Movements (GCM) offers training in multiplying discipleship to churches, equipping church members to engage in reaching those around them through praying, caring and sharing. This strategy of multiplication is designed to result in new faith communities being planted, new churches starting, and churches multiplying into every rural village, every suburban neighborhood, and every urban high-rise.

What will we be doing? Keith will coach the area GCM leadership in three African areas, coordinate field strategy globally and also integrate digital into field strategies. Kay’s initial focus is to consolidate and organize the training materials that exist in several languages into a common location. Two years of rapid growth, development, and translation have created many documents.

GCMTeamTeam is important to us. We said goodbye to a very special team that journeyed with us for many years. We are now saying hello to a new team. We are excited about the people on our new team. We look forward to this journey together.

Kay and I have not changed our mission. In fact, we feel we are coming full circle. Part of our responsibility is West Africa, where we began 37 years ago. We are very excited to be engaged in a specific field strategy where we can more directly influence the adoption of digital strategies in embracing the amazing opportunities God is giving us today to help everyone know someone who truly follows Jesus.

What questions do you have? Make a comment below or email us. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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