Morning Minute 12/21/24:
“A Tale of Two Scared Teenagers!”
The teenage boy was understandably upset!
His friends ridiculed him because his fiance was pregnant. Some said that he was the father. Others claimed the child could not be his, because he was not the kind of guy to be so careless. Either way, the boy was in a tough spot.
The teenage girl was also perplexed. She and the boy had grown up together. They had agreed to get married. Now, she was pregnant, but not by the boy. Her friends and neighbors in this small town were gossiping behind her back. She was in a tough spot.
To make matters worse, the boy would be taking a very long trip soon. His only transportation was a donkey. The trip would take a week to get there and a week to return. As if this wasn’t bad enough, there would be no place inside to stay at night. And, it would be in December…very cold!
This teenage girl, Mary, had been visited by an angel, Gabriel. He told her that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was a virgin, saving herself for her future husband. When she agreed to this miracle she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She had not yet told Joseph, her fiancé, about this divine arrangement. Thus, he assumed she was pregnant by another man.
Soon thereafter, Joseph was visited by the same angel. Gabriel explained how Mary had been chosen by God to have His child. And, that she had become pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, being a devout and responsible young man, understood and agreed to marry her, and to raise the child as his own. So, they were quickly married.
Several months later, they were required to travel 95 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. So, Joseph and Mary set off on the week long journey. They had to spend the nights outdoors, beside the road, with no shelter. Because Mary was near the end of her pregnancy, she rode the donkey while Joseph walked.
Finally, they reached Bethlehem hoping to stay inside at an inn. However, the only shelter Joseph could find was a barn filled with animals. That evening, Mary gave birth to her baby. No hospital, no clinic, no doctor, no nurse, no midwife, and, no medication. After what could only be described as a difficult and painful delivery, Jesus was born. That was how the Son of God, our Savior, came into the world. Not in a palace or a castle, but in a barn that they shared with the animals.
Now, imagine yourself in the place of either Mary, or Joseph. Ponder their situation and the ridicule they received prior to their marriage. Imagine the difficulty of travelling for a week on a donkey, 9 months pregnant. Or, caring for your wife in that situation. Then understand the courage of these 2 teenagers. Mary and Joseph were called by God to have His Son, Jesus, in a barn. And, to raise His Son in very difficult circumstances.
We can all be thankful that both Mary, and Joseph, said “Yes.”
Knowing what you now know, would you have said “Yes?”
“A Tale of Two Scared, & Brave, Teenagers!”
That is today’s Morning Minute.
Morning Minute 12/17/24:
“How To Identify A Prospective Leader!”
Have you ever heard the claim: “That person is a “born leader?’” Is that really a thing?
First, let’s define the difference between a leader and a manager. The leader is aspirational, one who shares the vision of what success looks like. The leader installs the processes required to achieve that success. Managers organize the efforts of team members to achieve the leader’s goals. They enforce the processes set by the leader. Today’s message is about identifying and creating effective leaders.
That so called “born leader” has a background of being responsible for themselves and others. They motivate and teach others how to succeed. They set the example by their commitment to continuous improvement. That is why asking about someone’s work history will show if they are lifelong learners, or just temporary successes.
Leaders possess great habits and strong commitments to both personal and team discipline. Discipline is doing what you don’t want to do, because it is the right thing to do. And, not doing what you want to do, because it is the wrong thing to do. Great habits include respecting both themselves and others, utilizing teamwork to achieve goals, and a sincere commitment to excellence. Leaders display these attributes showing that they must “Be the change they are trying to create!” Their personal and professional behavior sets the standard for team members to follow.
Superior communication skills allow leaders to share their vision for both what their goals are, and how they want the team to achieve them. Plus, they have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. That includes their ability to pivot to take advantage of opportunities and to adjust processes when better methods become available. Leaders require team members to commit to continuous improvement.
We all make mistakes. Leaders must own their mistakes and the consequences of those mistakes. They are also responsible for the mistakes of team members. Plus, they must make the hard decisions to limit the damage done. This allows the team to move past these errors and continue their efforts to achieve their common goals.
In searching for a leader internally or from the outside, discover the background, training, and history of potential candidates. Ask questions that require them to share their commitments to continuous improvement and discipline. Seek examples of their responsibility and adaptability. Ask open ended questions designed to uncover how they handled mistakes and took responsibility and corrective actions. Also, listen to how they communicate with you, to determine how they will communicate with others.
There are no “born leaders!” However, there are people committed to excellence, to teamwork, and to continuous improvement. They display the personal and professional habits of effective leaders. Thus, ask the right questions both to promote from within and to attract and onboard the best people.
Email me at lab@larryonlearning to request my 8 specific, probing interview questions.
“How To Identify A Prospective Leader!”
That is today’s Morning Minute.
