What does it mean to be a leader in Christian Publishing and why God will not let you secceed otherwise. Clear advice from the Word.

1. Be a Leader
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Leadership in Christian Publishing
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

2. The Publisher as a Leader
What Leaders Do
You are here because God wants you to be leaders
in His business of Christian publishing
Leaders influence...
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• Attitudes
• Actions
• Change
• Vision
The difference between managing and leading
people (both are important)
• Managing: directing the actions of others
to achieve a specific result (deals with
performance, goals, results, delegation,
decisions, etc.)
• Leading: influencing actions and attitudes
towards a common vision or goal (deals
with vision, focus, values, change, etc.)
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

3. How Leaders Lead
The Three Levels of Leadership
Leadership is exercised through
• authority
• power
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• influence
We generally learn about
and experience leadership
slowly, leading first through
authority, then through
power, and finally (and
hopefully) through
influence.
A great temptation: to substitute power for love
“Often the Christian leaders do not know how to build healthy, close
relations with people, so they prefer the power over them.” (Henry Nouwen)
?? At what level do I most often exercise leadership?
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

4. How Leaders Lead
A Model of Spiritual Leadership
Psalm 78:72 (KJV) So he fed them according to the integrity
of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
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“When it comes
to leadership, no
matter how good
of a leader you
are, your best is
never enough.”
(Lorne Sanny, The
Navigators)
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

5. The Tools of Spiritual Leadership
Moses And Others
Exodus 18:17-23 (NIV) Moses’ father-in-law [Jethro] replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people
who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen
now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.
You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and
laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people
– men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands,
hundreds, fifties and tens. Let them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult
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case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share
it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go
home satisfied.”
Even for Moses, who was one of history’s greatest leaders, his best was not enough. Even
Moses needed the help of additional tools of spiritual leadership.
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

6. The Tools of Spiritual Leadership
The First Tool of Spiritual Leadership: Prayer
“You must be the people’s representative before God
and bring their disputes to him”
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•Mediating prayer – Be the people’s representative before God
•Intercessory prayer – Bring their disputes to Him
“If God has called you to lead a work,
He has also called you to intercede for
that work.” (unknown)
Pray or perish!
?? How much do I pray and intercede for
my publishing company and staff? What
can I do to be a more faithful spiritual
leader through prayer?
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

7. The Tools of Spiritual Leadership
The Second Tool of Spiritual Leadership: Instruction
“Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties
they are to perform.”
•Teaching by clear instruction – teach them the decrees and laws
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•Your personal example – show them
• Of Character – the way to live
• Of Competence – the duties they are to perform
(Henry Ford was able to do every job in his manufacturing plant)
“…the man Moses was very
meek, above all the men that
were upon the face of the earth.”
(Nu: 12:3, ASV)
Teach or tire!
?? What kind of example of godly
character am I? Do I demonstrate
by my example as much as I teach
with my words?
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

8. The Tools of Spiritual Leadership
The Third Tool of Spiritual Leadership: Delegation
“Select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who
hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties
and tens. Let them serve as judges for the people at all times.”
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•Select wisely who you will delegate to – select capable men
“If you wanna
•Give them authority for their job – appoint them as officials
get the work
done – do it
yourself!”
•Empower them to do their job – let them serve
•Clearly define their roles and expectations – have them bring every difficult
case to you; the simple cases they
can decide themselves
Delegate or die!
?? Do I select staff for their character as
much as their competency? Do I give
others the authority and power to do their
job?
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

9. The Publisher as a Leader
Some Other Practical Tips For Leaders
1. Tirelessly repeat the basics whenever and wherever you can
• Mission - what we do
• Vision - where we are going
• Values - how we relate
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• Strategic directions or commitments - what is most important
2. Maintain a clear focus
• What we do and what we don’t do
• Focus guides people’s attention
• Mission
• Publishing categories and lines
3. Do not keep the distance
• Ruin the world stereotypes
(boss – employee, client – service provider)
• Build close relations
• Fear not of being used or manipulated
• Share your faith and doubt, hope and despair, joy and grief,
courage and fear
• Influence others through your transparency,
vulnerability and honesty
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

10. The Publisher as a Leader
Some Other Practical Tips For Leaders
4. Know yourself and act accordingly
• Know your personality type
• Know your spiritual gifts
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• Know your relational style
• Know your strengths and weaknesses
5. View yourself as a coach first
• A coach is the best all-around analogy of a leader
• Coaches define expectations, evaluate performance,
encourage and give vision, and develop skills
• Concerned about all spheres of life
6. Never underestimate the power of food and fun in the workplace
• To feed the body, encourage the spirit and improve fellowship
• The fuzzy line between work and play (creative work should
be a fun)
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

11. The Publisher as a Leader
Some Other Practical Tips For Leaders
7. Lead like a steward entrusted with someone else’s property
• Entrusted with people, finances, your mission, skilled authors,
spiritual messages, etc.
• A steward must feel comfortable with risk (Matthew 25:14-30).
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8. Take time to meditate
• Schedule regular time away from the office to think, read and pray.
• Develop the spiritual discipline of retreat and solitude.
9. Be a servant: Regular appointments with your direct reports are your most
important commitments to them.
• Meet individually regularly every week or month with each person who
reports directly to you.
• At these meetings discuss:
• Problems they are encountering as they do their job
• Encouragement or correction in how they are performing
• Agree on priorities for the future
• Is there anything I can do to help you?
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

12. The Publisher as a Leader
Some Other Practical Tips For Leaders
10. Other Insider’s Tips:
• Never compromise your leadership in publishing with other leadership
positions God put you in (family is No.1 of them)
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• Failure is usually a better teacher than success. Occasionally share
your own failures with others.
• Keep your word. Create a fool-proof system to remind you of commitments
you make, and then keep them.
• Listen more than you talk.
• Once in awhile ask your employees, “How are you really doing?”
“The main task for future leaders is to be God’s people, who
passionately desire to stay in God’s presence, to listen His voice,
to contemplate His beauty, to touch the embodied God’s Word
and to receive in full the endless blessing from God”
– Henry Nouwen
Bangalore, October 8, 2012

13. Questions?..
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Thank
you!
Bangalore, October 8, 2012