GLS18 Session Notes–Craig Groeschel–Becoming a Leader People Love To Follow

When a leader gets better, everyone gets better.

• Leadership is influence. Everybody has influence.
• You do not need a title to be a leader, leadership is always about trust and influence.
• As leaders, we can make excuses or we can make a difference, but we cannot make both.

So how do we become leaders that people love to follow?

Forbes article: Employers and employees were asked the same question, “What do employees need from a boss to become a better leader?”

The bosses said 2 things…

1. Better at finances
2. Better at technology

Employees said 2 things…

1. Leadership: Where are you taking me?
2. Emotional Intelligence: How are you treating me?

As a leader, there is a big difference between being respected and being popular. You may be popular if you are respected, but you will never be respected if you are only popular.

3 Things You Feel Under a Good Leader

1. You feel valued
2. You feel inspired
3. You feel empowered

3 Ways to Create an Environment Where People Feel Those Things

• We need a heart to care
  • You will never be a leader that others love to follow if you aren’t a leader who truly loves people.
  • Use these four words often: “I Notice” & “You Matter”

Story of Gold Star Friday. Every Friday, Craig gives members of his team little “gold stars” to let them know they are appreciated.

• • Appreciate people more than you should and then double it.
  • Some leaders will make you think that they are really important.
  • But the best leaders will make you know that you are important.

• We need a passion to inspire
  • There is a difference between inspiration and motivation. Motivation is pushing people do something they don’t want to do. Inspiration is pulling out of them what is already there.
  • Employees who describe themselves as inspired are twice as productive.
  • Humility inspires. Pride discourages.
  • Follow-through inspires. Be a leader who consistently does what you say you’re going to do.
  • Centred Leaders: The presence of a centred leader inspires. A centred leader is secure, stable, confident, guided by values, driven by purpose and obsessed with vision.
  • Passion transforms a job into a calling. When passion meets inspiration, an obsession is born.

• We need a willingness to empower
  • The best leaders unleash higher performance through empowerment, not command and control.
  • You can have control, or you can have growth. But you cannot have both.
  • Delegate authority, not tasks. We need to give people ownership. Let your people soar. Give them freedom, and allow them to fail
  • Decision making: As leaders, we need to be delegating more decisions. Use phrases like “I trust you,” “You decide on this one,” “I trust your judgment.
  • The best way to find out if you trust someone is to trust them.
  • If you don’t trust your team, you’re either too controlling or you have the wrong people, either way the problem is yours to solve.

Jesus demonstrates all of these things.

• Jesus had a heart to care.
• Jesus had a passion to inspire.
• Jesus had a willingness to empower.
• And one more…

• We need to have courage
  • We need the courage to be real, transparent, vulnerable, humble, integrous and honest.
  • We need to step into the role we are given and lead with passion and integrity.
  • As leaders, we feel pressure to be perfect, strong and right. People aren’t looking for that. People would rather follow someone who is real than someone who is right.
  • We’re going to do the best we can. And when we get it wrong, we’re going to say, “I’m sorry.”
  • The stakes are very high. It’s time for leaders to stand up.

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