Leadership Tips & Training Gearing Up for Leadership

When I married my husband, he drove a Volkswagen Rabbit with no air conditioner and no automatic transmission. As you can tell, I didn't marry him for his car! That first winter together we made plans to go snow skiing in New Mexico. On the day we were to leave, he became very ill with a stomach virus and we were unable to leave with our travel group. As my husband recovered, we decided we would like to try to go to New Mexico in the Volkswagen Rabbit. He said, "We can go, but you are going to have to drive, since I am still very weak." That was fine, but I had one problem: I did not know how to drive a 5-speed!   He said, "No problem. I will teach you how."   He gave me a one-hour lesson, and then I drove all the way from Fort Worth, TX to New Mexico. I remember how awkward it was to change from one gear to another. Sometimes the car would die and other times it would literally jump like a real rabbit, when I didn't get the clutch in quite right. I looked forward to the long stretches of highway where I would not have to change gears. 

Leading a First Place class is similar to driving a 5-speed. You must change gears from neutral to first, from first to second, from second to third, and the result will be leading smoothly in fourth gear. Let's take a look at the different gears of leadership:

Neutral gear in leadership is a positive attitude.  The first thing I learned, as I drove my Rabbit, was to always start in neutral. Neutral is when you take the stick shift and wiggle it from side to side, making sure it is not in any gear. So, neutral is really not a gear, but it is the position you must start in before going to first gear. A leader must possess a positive position before going forward to lead. A positive leader breeds positive members. There is a marketing concept called positioning, and a book on my shelf titled, Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind, by Al Ries and Jack Trout. The subtitle reads: "How to be seen and heard in the overcrowded marketplace." A First Place leader is not trying to sell anything, but a leader's goal is to be a positive influence in the lives of their members.   When I first started driving the Rabbit, I often got lost in what gear I was suppose to be in and would often stop and go back to neutral. As a leader, I have found myself overly stressed and questioning my calling. That is when I have learned to wiggle my way to neutral and readjust my attitude. It is amazing how a positive attitude allows me to go smoothly into the next gear.

First Gear in leadership is prayer.  Never attempt to lead without spending quality time in prayer. Proverbs 16:3 tells us to "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed." When I would move the Rabbit into first gear, I could hear the power of the engine ignite. Prayer ignites the power of God in the leader's life.    Ephesians 6:18 encourages us to "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." As I begin a new session, I pray that God would bring the specific individuals to my class that He desires. I ask the Lord to send potential leaders my way, and to provide insight into the needs of those I will lead. I ask God to give me a passion for His Word and for First Place. I pray about everything! I urge you to do the same and stand back and see God do His thing!

Second Gear provides a leader the time to probe the needs of those she/he will lead. The very first session in the Leader Guide provides lesson plans for each week. The second session is when the leader begins to take ownership of their First Place class. This is accomplished by personalizing the lesson plans to suit the needs and interests of your members. Take a survey of members interests, goals, and needs. Probe the member's through a list of questions:

• What is your greatest need physically?
• What are your goals for this session, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically?
• Do you work outside the home?
• Are you single or are you married with children?
• How often do you eat out in one week?

The answers to these questions will give you insight into the needs of your members. You will still cover the most important concepts and Wellness Worksheets, but now you will pick and choose from the Wellness Worksheets in the Member Guide and from the Bible study book. I was teaching a class on a Sunday afternoon and ever time I tried to cover recipe conversion, I got a "deer in the headlights" look. I finally asked, "How many of you cook most of the time?" Virtually no one raised their hand. I had not probed my members beforehand, and so I was teaching something that was of little use to them. I then switched gears! We began to discuss ways to make wise choices while eating out, rather than how to lighten recipes. Don't skip the probing gear and risk losing the interest of your members.  

Third Gear is the all important planning gear.  The Group Starter Kit provides many tools to help leaders plan their session. The Leader Guide provides a blank Session Overview (page 82) that may be photocopied.   After you have probed the members concerning their needs, you can then use this form to plan the entire session's weekly topics and assignments. This is the general plan. There is also the Weekly Lesson Plan Form (page 81) for planning the specifics of each week's lesson. You will find that members like to know what to expect from week to week, so giving a copy of your Session Overview to the members will help to meet that need. It also provides structure for those who need it. Gather information from First Place materials, newsletters, website and other reputable health and fitness books and websites. I have often heard it said that if you plan for nothing, that is what you get - nothing! Planning provides a framework from which to lead. One caution: don't get so tied to your plan that you forget to allow the Holy Spirit to lead. There have been times when I have planned a special presentation only to be greeted by a grieving member. I changed gears and we had a prayer time rather than the planned wellness spotlight. Plan, but be prepared to be flexible.

Fourth Gear is finally reached when the leader encourages member participation. The best part of my 5-speed driving lesson was fourth gear. Finally, I could relax and allow the car to travel smoothly at a constant speed. Leadership runs smoothly when you involve others. Get others involved by asking them to assist you with weighing in the members or listening to them recite their memory verse. Ask members if they have an expertise in any area of health or fitness. Encourage them to share their expertise during the wellness spotlight one week. Have members sign up to bring a healthy snack to class each week. My grandmother always said, "Many hands make for light work." Participation by class members will lighten your leadership load and allow you smooth travel through your session. 

I am so glad my red Honda has automatic transmission and I don't have to worry about changing gears! However, as a leader, I must be aware of what gear I am in and how to get to the next one. If I do have a leader lapse, I just go back to neutral, wiggle my way into a positive position, and get back into gear!

Lead on!

Nancy Taylor
Leadership Training Director
ntaylor@firstplace.org


Nancy Taylor is the First Place Leadership Training Director and joined the First Place staff in 1997. Nancy teaches leadership principles to First Place Leaders throughout the country and at Houston's First Baptist Church where she coordinates all the First Place groups. Nancy also speaks at First Place workshops, rallies, retreats, and conferences, where she delights her audiences with humor and encourages them with boldness. She writes a monthly article, which includes helpful tips for leaders, for the First Place E-newsletter, and was a contributing writer to the Today is the First Day devotional book. Nancy is the resident First Place Bible Concordance because of her love for Scripture memory.