March 8, 2010
Leadership Tools
Hugh Ballou
LEADERSHIP TOOLS...
...Is divided into four sections:
- Foundations
- Relationships
- Systems
- Balance
In my leadership work, I have group skills and strategies into the four areas above. First, Foundations give the leader the clarity to know how to lead the team because the final result in clear; second, build and maintain effective relationship to assist in getting to the vision; next, develop effective systems allowing each team member to excel and to work together efficiently; and finally, create balance in work, in life, and between work in life.
This month’s edition of Monday Morning Email’s “Leadership Tools” is an interview with a lay leader talking about the importance of empowering leaders in the pew.
I chose to interview Marty Muscatello, member at the church I attend and the church my wife serves as Minister of Music. In my work with leaders building effective teams, I discover that many church leaders do not fully understand how to involve laity in leadership roles.
The following interview is summarized below. If you would like to listen to the interview or download it for future listening click HERE.
Marty Muscatello is President and CEO of CCS, Inc. a specialized industrial computer and software company in Christiansburg, Virginia and is chair of the Church Council at Blacksburg United Methodist Church.
I asked Marty to comment on church leadership from the perspective of lay leaders. Here are excerpts from this interview:
FOUNDATIONS
Ballou: Marty I want to ask you questions relating to my four areas of leaders. The first area is foundations.
I have been on a church staff for many years, and it was very important for my to understand the skill set who are volunteers in the church, how to use those skills and how to motivate people to want to use those skills. As you respond to these questions you are talking to people who plan and lead worship, pastors and music directors.
In this area of foundations (values, vision, mission, and goals), what do you need from church leaders in that area? What is important for you to be able to step forward as a lay leader and take part?
Muscatello: In any organization, whether it is business related or church related, having clear vision and clear goals are obviously very, very important. Having that come from the leadership of the church it is important that that set of goals be set collectively and cooperatively as opposed to one or two individuals that simply the direction. That doesn’t go so well if you don’t get any buy-in. On the other hand if you are constantly trying to get buy-in from everyone and don’t focus on what those goals and strategies are going to be you won’t get anywhere. Church leaders, just like business leaders, must learn when to push and when not to push. The bottom line is that you are pushing forward driving to a common goal that is agreed upon that you can get people motivated and excited around and motivated towards.
Tired of conflict on your church committee?
Tired of committees not functioning?
Tired of doing it all?
Check out this program:
"Transform Your Church Committees Into High Performance Teams in Just 21 Days!
RELATIONSHIPS
Ballou: Sometimes church leaders assume that people are not interested when, in fact, they are just not motivated.
That leads me to the second area, relationships. If often make the point that leadership, especially ministry, boils down to relationships – creating and maintaining effective relationships with those whom you lead. You are a strong leader in your company and in the community, but in terms of the church, as lay leader, you want to be able to respond. What about relationship makes it possible to respond more effectively?Muscatello: We each certainly appreciate and like being around certain individuals. Sometimes those individually are like us or have similar interests, so it is very easy for us to migrate toward those individuals and enjoy each other’s company almost to a point where it is too comfortable. I think in church leadership one of things that is extremely important is to enjoy and to develop relationships with those that are not exactly like you or people that you would not have a normal tendency to the drawn toward. But it can’t be fake. It can’t be a situation where you are working with a person not like you and you try to fake it – that’s no good either. In church, leadership, it has to become a true love of people – all people. Learn to appreciate them for who they are. Some church leaders do that extremely well and some never get over that, As you said, and I agree very much, that relationships are so important and I’m afraid that some church leaders have a very difficult time getting beyond that.
Ballou: So I hear you say to not only respect what someone does, but also who they are.
Extra Bonus for Our Readers - An Online Community for Singers!
Be a part of this special community - we currently have 515 members from over 70 countries in the community. Join today and help us go over 1,000 members.
Hear the weekly Mini Master Classes for conductors and singers co-sponsored by Creator Magazine's Creator Leadership Network. Learn about special choral events everywhere. Post photos, recordings, and announcements about your music events. Someone around the world may know someone in your community to invite to sing with you or to attend your events.
Enjoy connecting today - it Free!
Share your stories with singers around the world. Learn about events that are designed for singers. Ask questions about musical issues related to singing. Help design the first online community just for singers. Sign up for FREE and help build this community site for singers and choral conductors at The Singer Link
SYSTEMS
Ballou: Marty, have you ever been to a boring, unproductive meeting?
Muscatello: Once or twice.
Ballou: Ha! I think that’s a yes!
Muscatello: Yes, that’s a big yes!
Ballou: I believe that one of the killers of teams and committees is a boring, unproductive meeting. Let’s broaden this from meetings to systems in general. You run church council and committee meetings as well as meetings with your own staff, what advice do you have for leaders in the church for developing effective systems such as effective meetings? Also, what advice would you have for church leaders to be able to utilize people like you to be able to develop systems that are more effective and more engaging?
Muscatello: The first thing that comes to mind is planning and preparing. It’s easy to think that I have this rehearsal tonight or this meeting and think that we only have a hand full of people and know what we want to accomplish, but the reality is that those attending may not know exactly what you want to accomplish. First and foremost, never underestimate the task at hand and be sure that you plan and prepare appropriately. We have all probable found ourselves in a rehearsal or meeting where we don’t feel adequately prepared and we find ourselves rambling and the thing just falls apart on you. Of course, those in attendance are more miserable than you are in the leadership role.
Another bit of advice I would give is, as I have read in your past editions, is that whether you are a pastor or musician, if you don’t have the skill sets or develop those skills sets of leadership then it is really difficult to expand your ministry.
BALANCE
Ballou: Great! My last area of leadership is balance. As a conductor (let me also point out that Marty is also a singer and choir member and understands the musical side of leadership) I am responsible for balance in musical issues such as with a brass ensemble and singers. We have to balance multiple priorities as leader. We have to balance work and personal life. There are a number of factors for a leader to keep in balance. I am not talking about things being equal, however, we must keep balance in life to plan, to rest, to reflect, and to work. How do you advise church leaders to gain balance and how does this relate to lay leaders and delegation?
Muscatello: The can be a very difficult, tough one at times. But, as you said, potentially of all the things we have been talking about today, this might be the most important. We have all seen people who think they have gotten stuck doing too much and it ends up being a situation where they become angry and hostile and frustrated by it all because they put themselves in the middle and no one is helping them accomplish what they are trying to do and it’s miserable for everyone. So balance is extremely important. It’s extremely important for your health. It’s extremely important for you to be able to do what you are trying to accomplish. It’s important whether it’s in your family, your job, or your volunteerism. One thing that definitely comes to mind is the ability to say “no”. You can do it in a way that is positive and understanding. Even though the person you are saying no to is disappointed, you must know what your limitations are and to realize how important that balance is. And when you have said no, you have done it in a thoughtful, prayerful manner and you know that no is the right answer even though the person you are saying no to disagrees with you.
This is an aspect that is very difficult to do. When we look back at time when we have been out of balance. Basically what happens is that we have become totally ineffective and in some cases it can affect our personal health.
Balance is extremely important.
Ballou: Saying no is much harder than it seems.
Here’s the final question. What would you like to say to a church leader as a lay leader on any topic?
Muscatello: One point I think about is listening more to people in the church in a manner that is positive but not losing sight of what a church leader is trying to accomplish. Sometimes listening can be extrememly difficult in the sense where people want to complain or to habitually want to moan and groan about things and don't seem to want to do something about it. And, being able to figure out why they are moaning and groaning and turning that around and putting them in a role in the organization where they can be effective and be happy in that role.
Martin E. (Marty) Muscatello, President & CEO
Marty Muscatello joined CCS in 2003, serving as President until May 2005, when he was named President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Muscatello brings with him 25 years of management experience in manufacturing and software industries. Prior to joining CCS, Mr. Muscatello was General Manager of Rohm and Haas' Optoelectronics division holding full P&L responsibility. Working with divisions in Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, he established the foundational business for the Optoelectronics division in Virginia.
Conclusion
Arrive at your place of comfort utilizing the best of what you can learn from others. Build your foundation, maintain your relationships, utilize effective systems and keep a healthy balance in your life. Begin today. There's not an arrival point. It's simple a journey.
Grace and Peace to you in your duty and delight as a Christian leader.
Hugh Ballou
© 2010 Creator Magazine All Rights Reserved
To download a mp3 of this MME, please click HERE