www.KBwomen.com

● Our Personal Message
● What's Happening?
● Upcoming Events
● Feature Article:  Mind Your Management... Style
● Community Section

Happy Spring! It's probably time for some Spring cleaning - in our homes, businesses and in our lives! In fact, at our Olympia networking meeting last week, we discussed stripping away anything in our lives that is not God-ordained. Let's simplify and allow only the God ideas to remain! Don't miss this Thursday's KBWomen Radio guest, Co-Pastor Wendy Treat from Christian Faith Center, Seattle. Listen live at 9:30am Pacific, or listen to the archived show later. We pray that the rest of March is blessed for each of you!

Krista Dunk & Tammy Redmon Co-Founders

Thank you for reading today. Do you know someone else who would enjoy reading this? Please feel free to forward this e-zine to anyone who'd be interested.  ~ Tammy & Krista

"Builder" Groups:  If you are a business owner who needs other business owners to strategize with, help you set goals, brainstorm ideas, and solve problems, we have an upcoming group for you. This group will meet via webinar and conference call, so you can call in and participate from anywhere. Starting soon... Click here to get more info.

   You Are Invited

This Thursday, March 26th, 9:30-10:15am - Listen to KBWomen Radio's live broadcast with special guest Wendy Treat, Co-Pastor at Christian Faith Center!  Web: blogtalkradio.com/KBWomen or by phone at 347-202-0747.

Friday, March 27th, 4:00-8pm - Total Networking Event at Qwest Field Event Center. $44 Register Today

     Mind Your Management... Style   by Krista Dunk

Are you a manager or ministry team leader? If so, I'm sure you desire to develop yourself into the best leader you can be. Managing volunteers, employees or any type of team can be challenging, yet rewarding at the same time. I'd like to share some encouragement and ideas for avoiding some of the common management/leader pitfalls:

1. Feedback is your friend, not your foe. Leaders who are seeking to empower and build up their teams seek continual feedback along the way. When we stop asking for input from our teams, we want to check our self image, personal trust factor and even our level of security in those we have around us. Far too often when we stop asking, it is one of those areas that are compromised and it takes a good self reflection to get to the root cause. Let's embrace feedback during our leadership development process.

2. If you ask for team feedback, be ready and open to hear whatever they bring. When you open the "feedback door", get ready for the good, the bad and the ugly! You'll probably get some pleasant surprises and some not-so-pleasant. Sometimes the truth hurts, but also keep in mind that not every negative comment will be completely valid. If you receive critiques and complaints, consider the source, but also take an honest look at that opinion to see if you can still learn something from it. Also, seek out seasoned mentors to give you feedback from a different perspective! Most people would love to open up with their opinions and ideas if asked, and will offer beneficial suggestions with good intentions.

3. If you ask your team for ideas & input, actually want to use it!  Many years ago, I remember working for a supervisor who would ask our section's employees for ideas and input. The problem was, this manager had already decided what was going to happen. Asking us for input was merely a formality to make us think we were involved in some sort of process! Creative, problem-solving people who have ideas and opinions usually want to help by offering information and suggestions. Environments where sharing and contribution is not supported will eventually drive these folks away, thus weakening a team. I know business owners who've received some of their greatest ideas from their employees/team. Ask, and you shall receive! As a Christian leader, then take those ideas to prayer.

4. Strong leaders put people around them that have greater talent and skill sets than they do.  Self- confident managers will be thankful for excellent team members, rather than being threatened by their skill. Build up the leadership abilities of those you manage, along with utilizing their strengths. The more skill-sets available, the more options you have. Fellowship of the strong is a good thing!

5. Coordinate and lead, instead of micro-managing. Nothing is worse than seeing a team or office full of skilled, talented people being micro-managed.... except maybe BEING one of those people under the thumb of someone over-controlling! If you are a skilled manager, thoughtfully discerning who to hire, chances are you have quality people who work or serve with you. Be careful not to oppress someone's anointing. Be a friend to the destiny of your team members and help them flourish. Help them be all they were created to be. You will earn their respect, gratitude, loyalty, and admiration.

Jesus gives us the ultimate example of what a leader should be. Characteristics like being servant-hearted, honest, bold, prayerful, inspiring, interactive, discerning the hearts of those he leads, feeding the sheep, relationship building, and making decisions motivated by love and selflessness. To this, we can aspire.

"Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" - 2 Chronicles 1:10

Volume 11, 3-09

About Us     BLOG     Press    Events    FAQs    Sponsors   KBWomen Radio   Our Member Links    Free *BLING* e-Zine    Contact Us