Unfortunately, it happens to many leaders. They make bad decisions that affect many, many people. Now what? Consider these 3 questions:

1. How should an organization act/move when a Lead Pastor, CEO, or etc … make a career-ending decision(s) that now have caught up to them?
2. How do you lead through scandal?
3. Do you want to be right in a court room OR in the court of public opinion?

Watch this video by BNET … it is a good video on how to lead & navigate through a scandal. Well worth the watch!

Bryan

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Working with interns can be a joy. It can also cause some frustration as well. Here are 4 thoughts on helping your interns and you.

1. Give them a little rope – but not too much. Plan to meaningful meet with your intern at least once per week. What you don’t want to do is hand them a project and then just walk away. This happened to me one summer working for a PR firm in San Diego. I did all this work … entering data & etc … all to find out they never used my brainless work after all. At least I received college credit.
2. Don’t expect them to think like an “owner.” Don’t assume they come to your organization with your same level of ideas and passion. They likely won’t. Instead, as you meet with them … solicit their ideas and enable them to offer solution(s) AFTER they have had a chance to critically think about it.
3. Take them serious. A great way to get zero work out of an intern … is to not take them serious. Let them know they are valued. Make them a better leader after their 2 to 3 month stint with you.
4. Help them solve the problem … not the world. Many interns have huge hearts and passions. They want to charge hell with a water pistol. That’s good. However, as you lead your interns teach them the value of finding solutions to problems not the world. Help them focus on the little pieces that make up the whole.

QUESTION:  Are you working with interns? What solid tips do you suggest for working with them?

Bryan

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Delegation Matrix - Bryan Miles - May 2012

The other day, I was trying to help a young guy in my mentoring group … to understand & think through time management. This is what I came up with.

Time management, is a lot of things. But, one thing for sure, that I know is time management, is the ability to DELEGATE. I’ve written a ton about delegation. So, in an effort to consolidate my one-on-one time with my mentee … here’s my two cents on delegation coupled with my “Delegation Matrix.” I hope you find it useful.

Quadrant 1 -  KEEP the things you love & only you can do them.

Quadrant 2 -  DELEGATE the things you love but you know that others can do. This is easily, the place/quadrant that you should lead, coach, and develop … primarily because you love what you are giving them, and likely there is passion in this set of actions/efforts/results expected.

Quadrant 3 -  DELEGATE the stuff you hate that you know that you think you should be doing or find yourself doing. These are the things that you procrastinate on … that others may like doing. If you hate stuff that you know you should do … it will show up later. This is typically areas like bookkeeping, legal work, detail junk, project management, proof-reading & etc.

Quadrant 4 -  DELEGATE the stuff you hate & others can do. This is a no-brainier. You’re the King of Wasting Time if you do stuff in this quadrant.

 One reminder, when you delegate … delegate the results not the tasks.

QUESTION: how are you doing with your delegation? What quadrant is getting most of your time?

Bryan

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This book – The 4-Hour Workweek, by Tim Ferriss … has helped out MAG in soooooo many ways! Tim Ferriss wrote this book and suggested a few overseas Virtual Assistant firms to consider. Since then, so many people have been dissatisfied with the caliber of their “overseas” virtual assistant … which usually originates out of India or the Philippines. Crazy stories have poured into us … about the simplest of tasks not getting done, or a belief/spiritual barrier that caused an issue, or working 12 hours behind their assistant … the crazy/sad list goes on.

Thanks Tim!

We say “thanks” because all of our MAG Virtual Executive Assistants are based in the United States & college-educated. Even some of our new competitors (now based in the US) copy what we say about our quality EAs! We say thanks because the need/awareness has increased … and we have answered here in the States!

Still in the dark about how or what a Virtual Executive Assistant is? Read this MAG EA Case Study for more info! Or, watch our MAG EA Demo Video – it’s short, sweet, & to the point!

Ready for an EA for you or your church? Need your EA to work with just you or collaborate with multiple leaders?

NOTE: If you need 39 hours in a day, consider yourself a “workaholic,” or are reading this post at 7:17 PM when you should be home … contact us or give us a ring! We’d love to chat with you.

Bryan

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I believe strongly in the Church Planting Movement and believe that church planting is one of the best ways to open up more seats for the Gospel.

Church Planters are faced with a unique set of challenges – mobile ministry, fundraising, creating ownership amongst their volunteers, creating momentum for survival, self-propelled leadership and building something from nothing. That’s why, every time I have a chance to meet with, coach or provide resources to church planters, I do. They are our spiritual entrepreneurs!

One new resource I’m excited about is a collaborative eBook that assembles wisdom from experts across the ministry spectrum. This eBook, What Every Church Planter Should Know has 25 quick-to-read essays specifically for Church Planters with advice on everything from the practical to the spiritual.

I was invited to be one of the experts. You can get your own FREE copy/download here.

Of, if you want it for your Kindle … buy it here at Amazon.com

Bryan

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I love this quote. I’m unsure of who said it … “Some people dream of success … others stay awake to achieve it.”

Do YOU believe that?

If yes, then what?

When people ask me how we created MAG and why … they sit there in awe when I tell them the full story. Basically, we left great jobs to start MAG. So far, it has paid off. Not because it is easy … just the opposite. It is tough, day in & day out focus. Here’s what I have learned about setting goals … regardless of endeavor.

1. What are my definable goal(s) in my life?
2. What specifically am I trying to accomplish?
3. What are the incremental steps I need to take? Write them down.
4. Am I more passionate than anyone else about what I am going to do?

You’ll notice that none of my questions above … have anything about my “exit strategy.” It’s because we were 100%+ convinced this would work. It was “all in” and “2 feet in” in our heads. No exit strategy. It wasn’t a reckless thought … it was a commitment to see something through.

QUESTIONS: what about YOU? What are you striving for? Are you specific about your goals? Have you actually written down your steps to success?

Make it happen! The world needs people like you … fully committed to an end … coupled with passion!

Bryan

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Today, right now. You, yes you … reading this post.

How do you see your God today? Is he GREAT?! Or, just great. The God of the Universe, who made everything your eyes can take in … how do you see him today?

GREAT or great?

Today, on Friday … just a question for you … leading into your weekend … How Great is Your God?

Here’s an old-school hymn for you to ponder … how great your God truly is!

Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed;

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze;

And when I think that God his son not sparing,
Sent him to die – I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

My God is great! He is capable of everything! Have a great weekend!

Bryan

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Successful leaders that want to work well with virtual EAs (Executive Assistants) … do one thing very well.

They delegate results … not tasks.

Look deeper …

• They delegate the expected outcome.
• They delegate the results expected of them.
• They delegate the “win” behind the task.
• They delegate the “why” for the work at hand.

Great leaders understand that virtual EAs are not task-masters … but rather, goal-executers. There is a HUGE difference.

Great leaders let their Team be adults. Great leaders set people up for success and are clear as to what the expected results should be. Sure, everyone needs to do tasks … but, great leaders help their Team understand that tasks lead to results.

QUESTION: What about you? When you work with your Team … are you delegating tasks or are you delegating results?

Bryan

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I’ve done my fair share of consulting for churches.

I have had great experiences … and terrible experiences too. I’ve worked with some really amazing people. I’ve also worked for some jerks as well.

Churches have a tendency to get knee-deep with consultants when they are about to spend a bunch on money on something … and that is wise/prudent. However, I’d suggest you also work with church consultants when there is no major purchase on the horizon as well. An outside perspective, for your church, should always be welcomed. Never feared.

Below are my suggested ideas … to work with church consultants.

1. Objectively KNOW what you are buying. Don’t buy a consultant’s time if you just like that person. Don’t have subjective and whimsical ideas in your head about what you think the consultant can do for you. Also … look at 2 or 3 consultants from an objective viewpoint/criterion before you sign a Contract with them. Here’s a post I did a while back on how churches buy things.
2. Don’t hire unemployed consultants. Unemployed consultants are unemployed for a reason. WHY would you seek their counsel for your church? If you just want to help your buddy … just give him the cash in love … versus making him do some “consulting” work that is going to suck and possibly adversely affect your church. Ask yourself … does this person have a track-record in their consulting?
3. When you hire a consultant … give them permission to challenge you. When you do pull the trigger … let them be the consultant. This is not your chance, as the church leader, to show the consultant how smart or awesome you are. Be open, transparent, and mirror your working relationship with the consultant so your staff can see it.
4. Pay your consultant a fair wage. Stop trying to screw consultants by having them make less per hour or per engagement. If you don’t like their price, don’t hire them. But, don’t let price be your only objective reason for hiring a consultant. See number 1 above. Bottom line, your pay, should demonstrate that you have skin-in-the-game equal to the level of the engagement AND its potential impact.
5. Finally, make sure your consultant plans to follow back up with you at intervals that are agreed upon tied to your Contract. A good consultant will hold you accountable to your decided actions, next steps, & goals.

COMMENTS? Have war stories to share? Good or bad? I’d love to hear about them.

Bryan

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