In this episode, we explore the essential elements of effective leadership and continuous personal development. Join us as Laird Sillimon, COO of Christian Life College and a seasoned leader with a rich background in ministry and organizational leadership shares his insights and strategies. Exploring his educational journey and professional experiences, Laird discusses the importance of mentorship, the qualities of potential leaders, and the challenges of keeping pace with a rapidly changing world. Whether you're a new leader or a seasoned executive, this conversation offers valuable lessons on nurturing talent and fostering a culture of growth and innovation within any organization. Tune in for a masterclass in leadership from a truly transformative person.
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Transcript
Now I really have to focus on understanding that this person, you're in the kingdom. You're different from me. Sometimes you may rub me the wrong way, and I may review the wrong way. But somehow, we've got to be able bit of value what we both bring to the table. Welcome to the Christian leader made simple podcast.
I really hope this episode helps you learn and master the skills you need to grow your leadership effectiveness and enjoyment. Be sure to hit this subscribe button to get notified as soon as I post a new session so you don't miss the single episode. I'd also greatly appreciate any reviews like and shares that you can give me. It just helps me extend my reach to more people. So leaders, I know just how frustrating it can feel when you're in the weeds of work or ministry, and life is chaotic.
You're struggling to feel effective, feel and you're just not enjoying leadership as much as you could be. And so to help you after many years of leadership and executive coat teaching. I've developed a framework called the Christian leader blueprint, they'll guide you to find clarity in your life in leadership. It'll help you gain a better rhythm of life. It'll help you see yourself more clearly to leverage your strengths and you'll produce more productive relationships.
It's a step by step guide to leadership transformation. And I have that in 2 formats now. I have a free short guide that you can find on Ryan franklin dot org, and I have a book, the Christian later blueprint. And you can find that in any format, including an odd, wherever you buy your books. I have a few more things on my website that you may be interested in, so just head on over, video to ryan franklin dot org and check it all out.
And now, let's get to our session. I'm excited today because we have a a very special guest on the podcast. He's a good friend of mine. His name is Lair Sal. And Lair is originally from Louisiana, specifically New Orleans, and he's extremely educated.
He's got an engineering degree from Howard University in Washington Dc. He has an associate's degree in music, and he has an Mba in University with a concentration leadership from Grand Canyon University. Lair has just... He's dedicated his entire life to service in the kingdom of God, he currently serves at Christian Life Center in Stockton California as the vice president of operations in chief Operations officer as well as a faculty member at Christian Life College. He's an Or ordained minister in the Upc where he teaches preach, leads, does music.
He does all sorts of things. He's a jack of all trade and master of many, but he does it all over the country, and he's done it all over the world. I know him well because we worked together right here at the Pinnacle of Alexandria where he served as the music minister for a number of years. So Lair, Welcome to the Christian later made simple podcast. Thank you for having me.
It's an honor be here and excited to... I'm excited to be with you and just to have an conversation about leadership. Yeah. You know, I've been looking forward to this, because when we get together, we laugh a lot, and I would imagine that we're probably gonna laugh a little bit here. Yeah.
I think you would. I I think we probably will. Just curious, I'm try... I I was trying to think, and we did not talk about this pre show, but just trying to think about, when you were here how long you were here at Po, can you can you remind me? Yeah.
Of the year you were hearing. Came to Po, and I think it was August of 20 13 and actually left in August of 20 16. So it was that actually 3 years almost to the date, almost to the date So yeah. I... I...
Has that in that long 20 16? Yeah. It was 20 16. So we have looked at what are we looking at. Many years 8 years ago?
8 years ago. That's crazy. Almost 8 years. 8 years that I've... That I've been missing you.
Except for on the road because we always see each other on the road. Exactly. We seemed to always find each other somewhere and maybe catch a meal or something somewhere. Right. Right.
And that's always good. That's always Absolutely. Absolutely. So Lea, I I know that leadership development and personal growth. Has been a very important part of your life.
And so I've asked you to come on today just to sort of unpack that with you today, and to kick us off with that with with your extensive background in ministry and even school management how has your education and your professional experience sort of shaped your leadership style and your views? I guess, what I would say is all of the education, all of the... Experiences that I've had have taught me more about myself, it helped me to understand how I'm wired and helped me to appreciate the wiring of other people trying to un unlock how, other people are wired because I think that's the fund foundation of being able to influence people and be able to make a difference in the life of someone or or in the any type of thing that you may be trying to achieve. We have to understand your gifts through speak. You're calling your abilities, your abilities and the people that got bless you with to be around or to have influence in their lives.
So I think it's been an understanding journey for me. And and I continue to understand. There's things that I continue to learn about myself and things that I continue to learn about people. And I think 1 of the things that I'm am thankful for is that I am able to. Appreciate the differences between the way I'm wired and the way somebody else is wire.
And I we really do want... If you can understand that, then you can you you choose you can extract the value. From the differences as opposed to magnifying things that are that are different and making them negatives because no nothing ever happens positively when you when you do that. And I think there's a lot of value when you when you are different, and you can... Celebrate those differences.
Yeah. And you... I I would assume your your education first and then secondly, just your experience and the environment that you've been in. You've been in on... I I guess both coast of the nation at a at a Cl and and then also at Po in your in your, you know, management of the music department here for those those few years there, all of that is sort of shaped that world view of of leadership within you, And and I...
Just from experience, I know you, you're very disciplined person. And you are growth oriented it you love to grow, you know, 1 thing about you is you're always looking for opportunities to grow yourself. Personal growth is super important to you. So can you share some effect some effective personal growth strategies, that have worked for you and how you integrate that into your busy schedule. I know you're extremely busy with things going on all over the place.
So How do you how do you integrate personal growth strategies into that busy work schedule. But, I'm a researcher to to put it in a in a little nutshell. I like. Yeah. Researching.
I enjoy... I listened to podcasts. I look at videos. I research things online, I'm always trying to... If I...
If I'm interested in a subject if I'm interested in a concept or a topic, I go after it, I just try to. Read as much material view as much material as I can on that on that topic because I'd I I know that you can use those tools to stretch yourself. You know, I think there's some stats out there about, you know, how... If you were to spend a hour a day looking at, videos on 1 particular thing you can... Yeah.
I don't know what the number is, but you can become an expert at that kind of a thing. By just investing in the in the time to expose yourself to it. I also like to put myself in the same room as other people that have expertise in certain areas. And so I like rubbing shoulders with people that I can glean from and learn different things from, especially if it's, an area, that that that whether my understanding of my knowledge may be weak or have a interest or a passion toward that thing I like being in those type of environments. That's 1 of the things that I like best about being at Po because it...
I, you know, I know how I'm wired. I'm... Like you say, I'm try to be a disciplined person. I don't know if I am all the time, but... Oh, you're.
You're you're very disciplined player. And I'm also, A pursue of excellence, You know? And so my time even, you know, in Alexandria was was sold my goodness it was such a powerful experience for me being exposed to the way we did things there and it's stretching being a lot, and I got exposed to, some I'm always researching, always reading and putting myself in a place where I can glean more information. So that's kind of my personal growth strategy, you know, aside from going to school, put myself in a program where I can find things like, a, you know, a degree program or certificate program, you know, those are the things I do on a person. And Yeah.
You you mentioned an hour a day of of studying or watching videos or whatever. How does that look for your your life day to day, and I know every day is probably a little bit different. But in a week's time, you, you know, what does that look like for you and... For me. Right.
I'm speaking. Yeah. Okay. I didn't need to catch you up. The reason I was anxious to answer because, you know, I'm a I'm a I'm a kind of a Gym at.
I go to the gym all the time. Right? So after my workouts, I usually spend about 45 minutes to an hour on the treadmill, just walking in and we burning the calories and things. And while I'm on that treadmill. I'm either reading or I need that, you know, looking at some sort of a informational video or listen to a podcast.
And that's 1 of the ways I write can consistently get in my hunger and my passion to learn new things. So that's what it looks like for me. And As I've from that, you know, from studying, sometimes, you know, in my regular devotion time. With god, you know, if sometimes it gets from tended because something to pop out at me that I wasn't planning and they go down rapid trail or anything like that, but it'll something to pop out and I feel like god kinda pro needed it to, hey, you need it. They'll go into this little bit more.
And sure enough. Almost every time that happens, you know, some situation in life will occur where that information in that knowledge was the preparing information that I needed in order to add dress or help someone else or in order to deal with the situation, but but I spend my time. My my my my cardio time on the treadmill, pouring in to my brain, just see how much I can take and if, you know, when I get. Yeah. So...
Well, I I love the way you... As well that you're you're combining, you know, the productivity of... Getting cardio done and you know, reading or listen to or something, you're doing a couple things at 1 time, and I think that that's AII used to do that quite a bit, and still try to do it to some degree with with with combining, you know, my personal development and the books I'm reading with other things that I'm doing as well that's it's pro it's productive. Now you mentioned being a gem rat, for for those of you in the audience that wanna get layered route up. If you seem if you seem, just just asking, did you gonna working out?
I know you're gonna say. The worst thing you could say to me or... Anybody that required like me is to say man you look like you're getting small. To happen. You lost that you've lost about 20 pounds or Blair, did you quit working out?
Oh, man. Those are fighting words. 0II love doing that to you. Oh, fine. So speaking of books, are there any books or or, you know, maybe theories on leadership or thought leaders that have significantly influenced your approach to leadership and personal development.
Yeah. Actually, when I was in my grad program, I had to do some projects, and I found a book and across a book called start with why. And Mh. Start with why both written by Simon S neck. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about is.
How inspire leaders to to action. And that 1 book helped me understand a lot about being successful at leading, because understanding why you're doing something is the most important thing. It's more important than how you do it or really what it is you're doing. You just understanding why you do it. Thing And then when you can...
When you're able to explain to a person or student or somebody that's that you're trying to impact their lives. To understand the purpose. It's like like understanding you walk with God. If you don't understand why you're walking with God. If you're just going through the motions of just doing and, following along and not really, I have a personal revelation of, you know, why you're living for god.
It doesn't work just doesn't work. And I think leadership doesn't work unless you understand why you're doing what it is you're doing. I mean, have a better understanding of why you can get buy in from people and, you know, people will be more engaged with the pros... And I think we're more successful, you understand the purpose of things. There's lots of great examples and Simon's next both this about how this has done in the corporate world.
And and I also apply it to the to the kingdom because everything like, I've learned you know, through any educational program that I've been a part of or to books that I've read. I try to apply to kingdom and not teach people, that I am able to be influence in their lives. I teach them the same principles as much as possible. And I think that's 1 of the most impactful books. That I've come across.
That's good. And and I agree it was a very impactful book to me as well. That and and the subject of why as well is a phenomenal subject just in leading in general, sure, you know, oftentimes when I'm, coaching someone or I'm or I'm working with someone in the church or whatever, if we will just take the the position of why, like, in other words, stay curious longer, with people. Yes. A lot of times we'll dive deeper into people's lives and and and so there's there's a lot of different ways to spend that line, but but, yeah, I'm I'm glad you mentioned that.
You also... So you just mentioned, go ahead. You had something to add to that. No. I was just gonna say there are other books as well, but those that's 1 of the ones that I've really been able to take and apply to a lot of the leadership principles that I've taught to, like, some of my.
Students and people that I've worked with here in at the college. So... Yeah. Absolutely. So, you you mentioned in that in that answer, you mentioned you you mentioned mentoring, and you have...
I have watched you really embrace mentoring others. I'm sure you've had some significant mentors in your life. But I've seen you, mentor quite a few people at Po. I'm I'm sure that you know, you've carried that along with you in every place that you have been. So let's talk about mentoring and the involvement of others in in our development.
And in your career in ministry and in and in the college that you're in now how important has mentorship been to your to your personal development, both as a mentor, n t. And anne, if you have any stories, any any pivotal stories with that that you'd like to share would love to hear it. Sure. Mentoring was something I I don't know. It always kinda...
Came a little bit. It came sort of natural to me. I always felt like, I wanted to help somebody. And I... Maybe that came from my parents, when I was growing up, my my parents with would help.
And know, if my if my my siblings have friends that ran across hard times or anything like that, my parents would always step in and try to help that were the those, you know, kids to get back on their feet, And so I was raising an environment of helping and assisting and sharing knowledge and things like that. So it was always something that that I was willing to do and had took pleasure and do it. And I always was a person and still am a person that loves to see the lights goes on, go off and somebody's sun. Somebody's head to see them understand something that they didn't understand before to see them buy some information that they didn't know how to apply. Maybe didn't even have information before.
My old... My issue was always as I got older, just try to feel like find the time if I could say it that way to to actually spend with everybody. There were there were lots of people that sometimes would asking me. What I need their mentor. And so, that would be...
Sometimes it was challenging. Sometimes it was easy to do and then sometimes I got to a place where I thought, man. I don't have time. I don't have time. And, but it it would bother me because it was in my heart to do it, but then finally got it this speak to me and you said...
You make the time because that's part the the ministry that I've called you to. So you're not you you don't the side ship. Exactly. And and so, I didn't... It...
At that point, we god spoken to me. I I mean, I'm literally in prayer and God says stop resisting because of time. And a literally, I want you to just make this a priority. I I want you to take the time. No matter how much time it takes you, of course, you have to organize that, you know, but make sure that you do what I'm calling you to do because I need you to do this.
And, And so when he mentioned when he told me that, on a personal level, I stopped fighting with with busy schedules. If somebody had a need. Yeah. And I was available to do it and I could do it. I or III pushed some things aside and make time to to try to minister it to them.
And aside from that, and, I... Right after got spoke at to me probably within the 6 months to a year's time, it was made a profit, come come through at 1 of our conferences or something like that, and he called me out and he talked to me about and just said we got it. Put on his heart about. And share the same thing that God had just spoke to me about it being a part of my calling and god wanted expanded and he saw me speaking on the phone with people, the people and, you know, even even prop the people and and Man... It just impacted me so.
And I knew that what I was doing it wasn't just... It wasn't a hobby. It was just something that god had really placed inside of me. And I've had people you know, that Mentored way back when they were in high school that keep in touch with me to this day. They'll come only up until never realized the pack, that you had on my life.
And in fact, yeah that just this week, just this week a couple of days ago, a young man pack reached out to me. He saw me on linkedin. And he says, he says, layered, I don't know if you remember me, but you were my resident assistant at howard a university, on my floor, he says, and he says, oh, he said, I just wanna thank you for being that that type of type of person that you were, you know, to me at that time, and it just blew my mind. I hadn't talked to this kid since that he's not a kid. Obviously these a few years to make couple years maybe younger than I am.
And and it just out of the clear blue, you know, and I'm talking about howard you university That's like it yesterday, way back in my past. And And so we re we reconnected and exchanged numbers from, you know, through Linkedin and and I have to go to on a trip to that area. In a few months and we're planning on reconnecting and getting together again. So that was pretty powerful to me. You know, you don't realize the impact that you're having on people's lives, but God has put that inside of in.
You know, it's just something that... I'll never stop doing it. I'll just never stop doing it, put and I noticed layered just in the few years that you worked here. There it was like different, different, you're very much a relational person. But, you know, depending on the individual and the opportunities you had, And opportunities they gave you.
It it was it was sort of like in my observation, you took every opportunity that was given to you. In other words, you know, some people you spend a lot of time with and mentor deeply. And others you connected with and mentor is as as you had that opportunity as the Lord gave you the opportunity as they gave you the opportunity, I think of a guy that we just spoke of just before in in the pre show just before we hit record that, you know, you spent a ton of time with and and you know, you use the gym even to, you know, really pour into the guy's life, you guys would go to the gym regularly, regularly, and that would put you in 1 another's lives, but at the same time, you were des cycling and and you know, talking about god and prayer and various things of life. It was more than just the gym. You used that as a tool to get into his life in a major way.
Yeah. And, you know, the the truth of the matter is God has really allowed me to use the gem. As the mission field. So, you know, because, most of my full time jobs after my engineering career, most of my full time jobs, they're all been ministry. So it's all ministry, you know, from Christian life center on the East Coast to Christian life center here on the West Coast, krishna my college Po.
So you're working with people that are walking in with God on a typical on a regular basis, And so when I go to the gym, that's my encounter with un church people. And, of course, that person you're talking about wasn't, you know, I'm, I met them at church. But there are so many people that god has allowed me to it to at my church. I mean, at the gym that have been you know, had the come to church. And, 1 of them so...
I, I had a friend surprise when you just a few weeks ago that I worked out with, Actually, I hadn't worked out with him. I just was just somebody Met at the gym, say hi... Saying hi to every day and kinda, you could tell when somebody being friendly and You... And they can tell when you're being friendly back. And and then so he shows up at church.
And he just... It was just blew my mind because God can work through those types of environments, and that's my mission field. And III pray for those guys. I pray for my the people that I say hi to every day and and pray for opportunities to be able to connect with them and they invite the church and some many have come. So I'm thankful for that.
Yeah. So I wanna talk to you about developing how you develop others. But before we get to that, at... As in your role as Coo of Christian Life College. What are some of the key qualities that you look for and potential leaders within your organization?
I'm sure that you deal with a lot of leaders within that organization. So what do you look for? What qualities? Well, when we are looking for people to join our our organization. Of course, we're looking for expertise.
We're looking for people that that are good at what they do. But when you're working with other people, it's important, that people are able to relate to each other and that they're able to adapt to different cultures. You know, so the culture here is different from the culture that was at Po, so forth and so on. So we look for people who are adaptive in their leadership style different But we're also look for people particularly me 1 of my 1 of my, strong points of is is effective communication. Just being able to be able to communicate with others, being able to assess and see the viewpoint of someone else.
And that's you. Also she'll being it. Yeah. Being able to get the job done without feeling like you're... You know, and and for that person to be able to get their job done without me feeling like I'm pushing the rope.
You know. So I look at people's ability to communicate. I look at their ability to to to adapt or to understand the the viewpoint of someone else because you know, I've been in dysfunctional environments before. I've been... In fact, I've been a contributor to this dysfunction before, because I haven't always been the way I am, You know, I...
And I... Yeah. I I understand and and in fact, Grew up a little bit in some some some sense where, you know, I was I was around people. That had influence my life, that felt, like, if it didn't come out of their stack, it wasn't smoke, you know? So I...
When I started my journey through high school and college and things like. I I had a little bit of that envy. And so I had to I had to come to some myself. So when I realized looking in the mirror, you know, what God had to show me about myself and I was van. Am I really like that?
You know, do I really not regard the opinions or the the of the value that someone else brings to the table that may be different for myself. So I had to learn how to adapt my my way of communicating, and I had to learn how to listen to other people I have to learn how to understand. Like I said earlier, I'm wired different from the next person and their wiring is different. It doesn't mean their wiring is wrong. It means their wired differently.
So I have to figure out a way as a leader to be able to communicate with that person and be able to work with that person valued what they bring to the table. So when I'm looking for people, when we are looking for people. We're looking for people that are able to, not just be good at what they do, but be able to come communicate effectively and be able to adapt to working with other people that are different from them. And, you know, I I really like people that are very self motivated and, you know, they're they're go get and I love working with people with that have a lot of new ideas and through the years Yes. I've learned not to feel threatened by people that have, you know, other ideas.
And my ideas are not always the best ideas. So as a leader I'm looking for those kinds of people as well. Yeah. It sounds like the the the very thing that you are... That you pride yourself in and being adaptable and and having effective communication is the very thing that you that you value the qualities that you value and you're looking for leaders.
And I would say that, you know, communication is probably the number 1, the number 1 thing. If you can communicate through... If you can communicate through an issue, you know, or or, you know, provide truth, but do it with grace. If you can communicate well, it's amazing what you can accomplish in in an order amazing how you can adapt if you can communicate well, Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah the the the important thing to me is being able to see in your own self. That there is an another point of view. I think part of the problem that we're facing in our world today in the society I we're headed today is that there seems to be an end intolerance some other ideas, you know, Yeah particularly in that you, if you look at the political, environment that we live in today, You know, there's a shutting down of other ideas. Somehow, we're mop into that kind of society And but I think that stems from the same type with this function that we're talking about, you know, being into of someone else's way of doing things or their understanding of things, Especially in the in the kingdom of god, I think we have to number 1 understand that, you know, we are we are people of light precious faith. Right?
So, you know, I'm not working with people on a regular basis that are un church. I'm working it with people that have been born again you know, and and we're in the kingdom together, So Yeah. Now I really have to focus on understanding that this person, you're in the kingdom. Your different from me. Sometimes you may rob me the wrong way, and I may rob you the wrong way.
But somehow we've got to be able of value what we both bring to. Table and still love each in in such a way that we can still be brothers and sisters in the kingdom and do something great, you know, that's what Yeah. That's what I would So before we continue on with the podcast, this episode is brought to you by Christian leader, community coaching. Are you a leader who is overwhelmed by the complexity of trying to figure out how to grow your team. I wanna introduce to you our Christian leader community coaching, christian program.
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Yeah. Absolutely. I I would say that that's sort of a a grace. In communication, grace in my mind is being able to walk walk into a situation, you know, where you and not disagree for instance, and I'm giving you enough grace that I will slow down and understand your perspective. Absolutely.
I may still disagree with you. I may... You know, if I'm the leader, I may still go a different path. But at least I've slowing down and I've heard you and understand you. Right.
And that's grace in my opinion, and that's effective communication. In in a needed environment for leadership in an organization, especially in a church, Absolutely. And it also shows the other person that you have value for them. You have value what they... What they're thinking and whether or not you use.
The idea or not, it still allows them to to to know and recognize well he at least p values. What I thought about this so what my opinion is and and you may take it, may, may not, you know, But, you know, it... I think expressing and letting people know that you you you you value them is a part of that whole process too. And I think that's what you... I that's the I'm taking what you're saying You you have brace for them, You know, and they received that as value.
Yeah. They see that as as value. They see that as love as, you know, care for them they they take that in as an as an accepting sort of a thing, and we... And we need that in these environments. Absolutely.
So this may... That may play into this question, But what are some of the biggest challenges that you face when when, attempting to develop leaders and and how do you address their challenges. I am of of, You know thinks things I say people, people develop at different rates. Right? So Mh.
We're we're all at different levels in terms of understanding and knowledge And that that that that means out. I'm probably deficient at things that you're very efficient at and, you know, vice versa we could look at it that way. So many times people that you're trying to lead their products of the environments that they've come from. And so the environments that they've come from, may or may not be, what you consider to be functional, you may consider to be something else or something something different. And then I goes with trying to adapt and understand culture and and being able to, you know, fit into an organization, where that you can contribute and and and offer value.
So I think that to me can be very challenging because mindset people sometimes can be, set in different ways based on what they've been exposed to. Limit beliefs for instance. Absolutely. You know. And so I think sometimes the challenge is, a, you know, can you take a look at this way?
Yeah stephen can learn it this way? Or what do you think of this way of doing things? It maybe be a little bit different than what you've done? And I think that's the same thing we face as leaders when we actually delegate things other other people. You know, sometimes they're going to do something a little bit different than the way we would do it and were looking over the shoulder and you're you're gonna try to give people an opportunity to people blow your mind by doing it a different way and it was not your way.
You know, and then, you know, you... The we all grove from the all growth. But I think, you know, just the fact that there's always a different fundamental and ground 0 for everybody, you know, and Imp comment with with ideas. They come in with the way they do things and and the different challenges, whether it's good or bad. And yeah, they may have come from a good background in or good Yeah.
Functional So knowing that knowing that that's your biggest 1 of your biggest challenge, and I would agree with you wholeheartedly. That's probably 1 of my biggest challenges is knowing that they they come from different backgrounds different, different walks of life. How do you address that? How do you approach people that have those different views and sometimes limiting views, sometimes greater views, but how do you approach that? I I think part of it is seeking to understand, you know, seeking to understand where they've come from what they've been exposed to and but and and if you've been involved curious, asking what you mentioned.
Yeah. Exactly. You know, asking why, you know, we because something dictating people. Yeah. The same is true like say, for instance, working with difficult people.
You know, 1 that a challenge is working with a we're a person that we perceive to be difficult would be understanding what that what what's causing that difficulty what's behind. There's always a you have to peel the onion that. Right? You have to you have to un unmute it. You have to figure out what is it that's causing this issue.
And and then you may find out that there's some... There's some devastation in their lives. Well there's some pain in their lives that. And maybe god wants to use you to help heal that pain, and so your approach has to be different than than from a standpoint or a vantage point of frustration. It has to be more of a advantage of helping them heal and maybe in showing the love that you have to show in the and expressing that helps them.
To develop those concepts that embrace the more healthy concepts and to abandon some of them more harmful. Comp that may be unproductive, you know, and things like that. So Yeah. I think it's it's important to, remember that you're not leading people unless you're influencing them. You know?
So, you know, it's not it's not... It it's not to anyone's advantage to just resist. What you're what you're experiencing. We have we have to seek to understand it in order to be able to break it down you know, let it yeah become something value for us as we... Absolutely.
Yeah. So lair, you know that we live in a ever changing bass paced world. Even even faster pace sometimes over over where you're at in California? Yes. So.
How do you make sure that your team's skills and their capabilities sort of keep and pace with the demands of this fast paced world and. And what is development of the leaders look like in other words, in your job and your ministry? Well, we we have a lot of a lot of processes over here at the college So, part of what we do is try to keep up with the changing environment that we would have amended. I'll go from from the professional side of things. We we have professional development processes in place.
So if we wanna keep up, if there's different ideas, different concepts that'll be introduced to the this higher education sector, we send people to different venues in order to get the knowledge or to be exposed to the knowledge and and then, differences is maybe a seminar or conference or or a convention sometimes that means going to conventions, you know, which... Since we've been accredited in 20 19, we've had to do a lot of brand new practices that were unfamiliar to us. So in order to get that understanding in order to get that knowledge, we've had to go and visit. So the... Different environments where we would be exposed to how do you do this?
How do you how that requires Resources that requires Yes. You know, expensive trips or, you know, things of that nature. But what I'm hearing you say is that your that your organization, values growth enough that there... That you're willing to spend the dollars that are necessary to invest in in the individuals that you wanna develop. Yeah.
That... We we're we're we are willing to do that, but not only that, you know, to people within the organization that have different areas of expertise. In areas that we need to grow in and stretch, you know, professional development doesn't always look like us sending someone out it also Yeah. Looks like someone like yourself. If we were still at po together, you would...
We'd, you know, it maybe you would do a a seminar and talk about a certain topic or maybe I would do a seminar and talk about a certain topic that I may have the... Expertise and. Sometimes that means send people away, but also sometimes it means just us having a in house conversation about Yeah. You know, how we need to grow in a a particular area and it works both ways, you know, which is softer on the budget, and Absolutely. And actually, sometimes even more effective.
Absolutely. You know, because somebody Yeah. I know going away or having someone else come in. Sometimes it can be... It could be to your advantage because we're often oftentimes saying the same things to other.
As a leadership team and sometimes it just feels different or feels better when it comes to from somebody on the outside. But it's not... That's not always... Case. You know, Sometimes it's just a matter of man.
You know, I love the way you explained that. It could be a person on your team. That's that's when you're are learning to are you the piece of eye that to bring to the tape. You know, And I I... We were learning to do that in a amount of different different fingers in a lot of different ways.
So there's some intentional with developing leaders. You don't you don't just hope that they develop or they... Don't just hope that they rub shoulders with the right people. You have some some intentional steps that you take to... You to move leaders to growth in their personal life.
Absolutely. I mean, we have faculty here. We have to staff here. Sometimes we need to learn how to be better better faculty, how to teach better. How how to interact with students better.
How to work with each other in the different departments. How do we do that together? How do I appreciate your needs as a department? Based from, you know, from the perspective of my department. Sometimes departments are dependent upon each other to, you know, we have to be able to understand those kinds of and sometimes we have to be taught how to be more conscious of the needs of others.
Other departments or the needs of students versus the needs of the faculty and vice versa. So we're very intentional about bringing you know, everyone up to another level as much as we can, and as often as we can. Yeah. So do you have a just curious because this is a very difficult question. Do you have a method of, like, measuring the success of?
Of leadership development within your organization. How do you how do you do that? My my I Not those of this. You know, when a department when I find myself. Observing a department that may be struggling.
And Yeah. We expose them to some of the tools we've been talking about. And that department gets better. Mh. To me, that's a win.
That's a win for everybody. We we all can say, you know, this is working. What we're doing is working. The the methods that we're using, they're they're working. When things go from bad to good, that's a positive change.
That's that's that's a indicator. It's a metric if you will. It's a data point where we, and, of course, we're full of data points where I apologize. Right? So we're always measuring things.
We're always now analyzing things and you look at the results and and the results help you to make informed decisions about how to proceed you know, so we're always thinking about the cycle of continuous improvement. And so we we have discussions. About what the data shows or what the results are showing. So if I'm if I'm measuring a person, they're they're out but a air productivity or their department's output in their department's productivity and it's going up, then I'm I'm very very happy. And that...
That's gonna be a... That's... That's a reflection on, not just the person, but their leadership ability to to take their department from Happy maybe struggling or maybe media purchase something that's great. We've had to we've had to create a lot of new departments, like I said since accreditation. There's things that we've never paid attention to that we had we had to get pay attention to had to create a market ed create an assessment.
It's had to create an institutional research department. So these things are started from the ground up 1 had to be built up. And so I remember when we first started some of these departments, how arrange it was for us to, you know, try to see, you know, what is this apartment? That what is this department supposed to do? Yeah.
How is it supposed to function and, you know, what's supposed to be the outcomes? And, you know, the few years back we thought madness is not work this is not working. And then as as the years have progressed and we've been exposed to tools of of, of learning and professional development and we not look at these departments and they're shining and they're running, like, smooth run machines, and we've learned how to work with each other and give the other departments what they need and and so the college is growing at a at a rate that, you know, we... It kind of blows our mind, you know, so it's a it's a very... It's a very...
It's a it's a process. It really is a buzz. It's all the tools that you expose them to when you present to them, and they take them, they internalize them. They incorporate their they implement them. And and this works with any leader on...
Under any circumstance really in any in any type of environment, you know, being exposed to tools, learning tools and and and being able to implement that grasp it and and implement it, you become a a better version of yourself. The probably becomes a better better version of it itself, and and whatever organization you're part of, it becomes better because you become. But, you know, But the challenge is too for individuals to embrace the change process because change could die, you know, if the culture is, well, we've always done it this way. So we're not gonna change this. So if you think like that, then you're never gonna stretch yourself and and those kind of things can totally interrupt the change process and you can...
So you can never you'll never reach your full potential because if you you reject everything we. Everything that's different than your own ideas are different than the way you've done things. And I try my best as a leader to to be an example of being willing Yeah. To expose myself to things and be able to change as I need to change. So that my my effective effective activity, it would be on my effectiveness.
Yeah. Would be bad. You're improved a more improved portion of. Myself and and that makes me better for the college that makes the college. Right.
So I'm hearing a a lot of different things. I mean, you said a lot of really good things right there. You know, I'm hearing adaptability. I'm hearing example. I'm hearing, 1 of the biggest things I'm hearing is throughout then the few minutes there that you were talking is process and intentional.
Absolutely. And that's the key. You know, there's a lot of different methods. I've I've got my method at the Christian leader blueprint of of leadership development, and and I think it's a really solid method by the way. But there's a lot of methods out there for leadership development.
But I think the key is, Is are you intentional? Are you being intentional with creating a process of leadership development and growth? Are you making it part of your culture. And it sounds like that that's what you guys are that's that's really how you're succeeding part and continuing to to provide a process for your leaders to be able to be able to develop, Absolutely. As you're looking forward, as you're looking to what's to come.
What what new leadership development goals do you have for yourself for your for your teams at the caller? What are you working towards? In other words? You know, I think every organization is different. So, you know, every organization has a culture, and so there's gonna be different those in whatever situation that you may be at.
But mh. For us and for for this college, I think I I would say that the 3 c's communication, communication, communication. I think culture can always defeat effective and positive change. If communication is dysfunctional. And and that means some of what you said earlier being more curious finding out the wise, what what's going on here, any it both ways finding out the good things finding out the bad things.
Effective, communication requires listening. And Yeah. It requires understanding. Many times before even trying to offer a solution, we need to let we need to listen and before speaking or before even sending a message. And in addition to that, simply you'd be becoming, another goal would be just become better at every single thing that you're doing as an organization as a as a team as a as a as a as a department become better.
That's 1 of my personal goals. 1 of the things I said to myself at the beginning of this year. Anything that I do, anything the Lord allows me to do I wanna learn... I wanna be intentional about being better at. Including communication because communication is 1 of my...
On of my pet passions. I... I'm very passionate about trying to get people to communicate more effectively. So we don't give the enemy room to operate. So I think when...
And we learn how to communicate better. We shut down the enemy enemy's space. We kinda give and as little straight as possible. So aside from that, you know, my personal goals would be in my leadership development goal would be through to teach more effective communication and, you know, for everyone to take their jobs in their calling or to a level of excellence that continue... They have changed to streamline your processes.
Yes. It exactly of in a continual process of improvement and Yeah continually assess what we're doing and you know, is it working? It's not working, what needs to change, and let's implement that change and let's measure it again. Let's look at it again, you know, and not be afraid of criticisms. And and because I think iron sharpen iron.
The bible says it that way, You know, and a lot of times, a lot of times the way we're wired, can either reject that or embrace that. You know? So... Yeah. I I've learned to try to the...
At least the best of my ability. To be a person that can embrace constructive criticism. Again, I haven't always been that way. I have not always been that 1. And, you know, and that's a it's a it's a it's a growth process.
It's it is a dying It's a growth process. It's a dying out process. If you're gonna be an effective leader, we've got to learn that that's a part of the process. And sometimes, it's uncomfortable. And but it makes you bad.
And when you're better, you can become a better contributor. You can become a very valuable piece of the puzzle a valuable tool, and whatever organization you're part of whatever ministry that you're a part of. You know, I think that's very Yeah. So true layered, and I don't know about you, but I wanna get better. Actually, I do know about you.
I know you wanna get better as well. I sure do. It's a it's in your blood, which is why we're having this conversation today. It's been such a good conversation. I do have 1 final question that I wanna ask you before we wrap up sort of a fun question.
What song? You're music guy, what song best represents your journey? Or your philosophy and leadership. Okay. I've never asked that question before, but I thought it'd be a good question for you.
Well. I I thought about this. This there's a old song that I learned when I was a kid. My mother was a part of required at saying the song. And when I learned this song, you know, to answer your question, this song seems to be the answer to that question.
It was... It's called climbing up the mount. Do you remember that song? You heard that? I remember that song.
You hear the lyrics to the song. Climbing up the mountain, trying to reach the top, almost finished my battle, gone halfway and I just can't stop. Or at the end of the mountain, there is faith and trust. I can see Jesus standing there to meet us. I thank god, I'm reaching.
For the top. I'm reaching for and I'm reaching... Like, you're reaching for everything. You're reaching for it, but we're always climbing in that mountain we're always trying to reach the top. There's always a ways to go sometimes.
Until we get there. Right? Now, how I don't think we get there till we reach... Eternity. Right.
But Right. Right. We're always striving. And I think that that song represents my journey, you know, just try and constantly, you know, going from 1 level to the next, trying to reach the top. You when you get halfway there, you're still not there.
You have to continue to climb. You know, it's always more to do. There's always another, you know, another thing to add to your tube chest. And so that song represents my journey climbing up the mountain. 1 of these days we'll where top.
Very appropriate for leadership, But I I'd love me to sing it right now Larry. If you... I mean no Take. And I I missed... I miss hearing your voice layered on a regular basis.
Oh my goodness. Here buddy. Come often. Yeah. I'll see.
You you do come quite often, but not not often enough for me. So... We're the surprise and show show up and we'll go to lunch. It pass absolutely minute. I'll stay in climb up the mountain for you.
Alright. I would love that. My goodness. You could actually look it up on Youtube. It's on there.
It's written by a lady she was a gospel artist. Her name was Maddie Moss Clark. She wrote that song and some burial on a sister mickey knows that song. So ask her she saying. It's a it's a good representation of the journey of leadership.
So we'll let this and play it. Sir? Anyway. Well Larry, this has been a tremendous conversation, and thank you so much for your time today and allowing us to to sort of see the, inside of your leadership role... Your leadership world and all the things that you do there.
If people wanna connect with you some way, maybe on social media. Do you have Instagram account or Linkedin or... Absolutely. Yeah. I'm on Linkedin, and I'm also at...
Instagram at lair g settlement. So just look me up and send me a direct message, and I'll be happy to on answer any question that anybody would have from me. And so... And and I just to say thank you, it's been an honor to be a part of this with you and I appreciate the invitation. It's been a blast.
Yeah. Thank you so much, and I'll put put the links to your Instagram account. In the show notes. So this concludes our show today. My name is Ryan Franklin.
Thank you so much for joining us on the Christian leader made simple podcast.
Copyright © 2024 Ryan Franklin. All rights reserved.
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