| | | | Information and Resources for Your Business and Life | | | | Inspiration, Tools & Tips! AUGUST 2021 | | | | The Informal LeaderWorking Selfishly and Possibly Antagonistically?
Your informal leader may appear to be more influential than you are as the primary leader in your organization, church, or department. Because they are in a leadership role, you assume they are “good to go.” That’s a phrase my chiefs used to use when I was in the Navy. Another thing they used to say to me is, “LT, when you assume, you make an “a--” out of “u” and “me.” Don’t bank on the fact that your informal leader will always support you, no matter what the initiative or process improvement change may be. I have seen many times when the informal leader was an enormous problem because the formal leader was not paying attention. Problems can arise because the informal leader is able to sabotage and/or undermine your efforts, both unintentionally and sometimes intentionally. Many times, you don’t even know it. | | | |  September
| | | | | | | | | | Welcome back. Did you get the chance to give some additional thoughts to the idea of the informal leader? Again, I ask, were you able to identify anyone in your organization/church? If you are the owner, continue to look for the traits within your organization as we talk about them in more detail. If you are the informal leader, take a moment to evaluate what you are bringing to the table. This month, we will explore the idea that you are the informal leader. Remember, you want to be an asset, not
| | | | a liability. I hope to encourage and empower you.
As I do every month, thanks to everyone who reached out. I get more and more excited as I see what God is doing with and in my business. It is an honor and a pleasure to give you tips and help you learn from my successes and failures. Please stay subscribed to receive more information, success stories, tips, freebies and much more.
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If you are an informal leader, you may as well be a good one. You can take the opportunity to really stand out as a strong informal leader and bring vibrance to the workplace. You probably did not set out to be a leader; it just happened. There is an age-old debate over whether leaders are born or made. How you got there is not the topic for today. Identifying some key skills and attributes you can develop is. You can grow as an informal leader, no matter what kind of personality you have naturally.
1. Engage and interact with everyone. When building relationships in the organization, don’t stop with your functional group, those in your age group, those in your division/department, or the people who listen to the same bands or watch the same TV shows. Interact with everyone. Informal leaders aren’t focused on only managing and socializing up or down; they know everyone contributes in various ways.
2. Get to know both the informal and the formal ticks of your organization. The informal structure is the one you learn by becoming a trusted part of the culture, so people from all different teams and levels in the organization feel comfortable sharing information with you around the water cooler. Being aware of your organization’s policies and deadlines is one thing, but it’s more helpful to understand the nuances of the organization and the people who run it. Anything you learn isn’t ammunition—it’s info you can use to smooth the path to a successful outcome.
3. Lead toward a shared goal. Genuine leaders actually help their teams, and others, get where they’re going. It’s not fun to work with a team that consistently fails or never produces results they can be proud of. Don’t be the leader that uses every opportunity to joke with your co-workers constantly. The rest of the team will take their cues from you and show little task focus. Instead, use your relationship-building skills to help focus and direct the group to achieve its goal.
4. Remain humble. The human ego is tempted to take every success or sign of validation as proof of genius. Success can make some people into self-satisfied jerks. That’s why it’s important to remember that successful informal leaders keep their focus on the work that needs to be done, not as a reflection of their own prowess. Whatever success, you did not do it on your own. Remember the goal of the team. Then you are less likely to engage in petty politics or chase praise and recognition. Keep in mind you are gaining from what you are learning and from the relationships you are building. You are helping the company and your colleagues, and that makes for a more fun and engaged workplace. You may not become the best informal leader there ever was. Perhaps you can become better than you thought possible, if you just put forth the effort.
Assess your leadership style. There are several links in the freebies this month. If you take the assessments, you may find out some great things about yourself that your co-workers already know. | | | | 
Business Application While becoming a good informal leader will take time, following a certain set of steps will help you achieve greater success. Since you are working in someone else’s organization, you must work within the guidelines of the company to develop your skills and collaborate with others. If your end goal is to help the company, you will have many opportunities to improve as an informal | | 
Ministry Application
The qualities for leadership in the church are the same as they are in a secular organization. Every church has a slightly different leadership model and terms for describing those leaders. However, the basic characteristics of a church leader should be the same. However, the qualifications are not. It is important that you understand the difference. READ MORE ... | | 
Personal Application
Whether you wanted it or not, you are it. How you will handle this responsibility is entirely up to you. Do you want to be the person who helps accomplish goals, plans for success, and is strategic in how do you deal with problems? Do you want to be the person who only looks out for yourself, gets what you can get, and has no regard for others? Use the questions that are in
| | | | | | | | Pamela Russell Ministry Information Prayer Line Name: “At God’s Door” Number: 951-981-7721, no passcode is needed. Time: 5:30- 6:00 a.m. EST, but you can log on earlier. Days: Sun-Sat, including holidays
If you want to be a part of prayer, but its a bit too early for you. Please listen and be blessed. The recordings can be found here.
Additional Information: Online information about the prayer line Prayer Requests: Submit them here. Current Devotional we are using: “Teach My Hands to War”. Access the entire year.
Please come and share with us.
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FREEBIES
Here are this month’s free business and ministry tools:
The freebies given for the last two months are still available. I have also added some links to evaluate your leadership style: | | | | FEATURED COMPANY/CLIENT REVIEW | | You can be featured whether you have been my client or not. If I understand your business and I believe you can help my readers, please reach out to me using my contact information at the bottom of this page. I would love to promote your services.
| | | | | | If you have done work with me, please submit a review, it would help me greatly.
Please click here. You will find a list of business review sites. Click the name of the site where you want to leave a review. You can place your review on one or as many as you like. Each review will help me so much, so I am thanking you in advance. If you want to leave a review for a site that is not listed, please contact me and let me know which site. | | | | Perhaps the hardest part about informal leadership is realizing you got there by recognizing the opportunities and the needs. You looked for gaps and overlaps in order to do your job better. You listen for gears grinding and brakes squealing and you acted. I can’t promise that informal leadership will necessarily get you your next promotion, or that it will automatically put you on a path to a management position with formal authority. But I’m certain you’ll be better for it, and so will everyone you work with. If you have questions or need any assistance, email us. You can also call us @ 904-830-0737. You can also set up a free consultation. | | | | | | "It is the solemn obligation of a leader to always to be a leader. Even when, perhaps especially when, you don’t feel like being a leader. ” - Bill Owens | | | | MORE From Business Development
leader. There are steps you can use along the way. First use all the steps given in the main article for this month. Next, add these steps to them: 1. Be credible Being credible causes people to find you worth listening to. You can also improve your reputation by being accurate, being authentic, showcasing your problem-solving skills and building trust within your workplace relationships. Incorporating these traits into your daily activities can ultimately help improve whether others can trust you.
2. Assess your strengths Evaluate your strengths as an informal leader. Make a list of these strengths and choose a few you want to improve on. For example, you can work on setting goals, taking responsibility, or building your relationships. Assessing your strengths and focusing on a few at a time allows you to improve your reputation as an informal leader without becoming overwhelmed.
3. Give and receive help If you’re always willing to help a colleague, they’re apt to want to help you in return. Reach out to your colleagues to see if they need help. Doing this can create a more collaborative environment, can help increase productivity and help you gain their favor.
4. Ask for ideas and opinions One way to show humility is to seek advice and ideas from others. You can also ask for feedback regarding your own ideas. This shows you don’t believe you’re above anyone else. Asking for feedback and asking good questions can make everyone feel involved, while also showing that you care.
5. Credit your colleagues Instead of recognizing every success as your own, give credit where it’s due. Sell every team success as a team success rather than one you accomplished on your own. This shows respect for your colleagues and helps them appreciate you.
6. Stay focused Consider what you want to accomplish within the next year and the next five years. Knowing your short- and long-term goals can help you stay focused as you work your way toward becoming an informal leader.
7. Continue learning As an informal leader, it’s important to continue your personal development. Continue to learn new things each day, whether it’s from your colleagues, supervisor or your experience in the workplace. Continuing to learn ensures your personal and professional development. | | | | MORE From Ministry Development Though the pastor/servant leader understands the difference, you should pray and search the Bible for this information, first. As you pray and study, ask yourself these questions: 1. Am I committed to the mission of the church? Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (New Living Translation)
2. Do I show Godly character in every area of my life? Exodus 18:21a As for all these other duties you have taken on, choose competent leaders who fear God, love truth, despise dishonesty, and won’t take bribes. (The Voice)
3. Am I able to communicate effectively? Ephesians 4:29 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. (Amplified Bible)
4. Do I have a teachable heart? Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, I will walk and live in Your truth; Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder]. (Amplified Bible)
5. Am I flexible? Ephesians 4:2-4 With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience. 3 Be faithful to guard the sweet harmony of the Holy Spirit among you in the bonds of peace, 4 being one body and one spirit, as you were all called into the same glorious hope of divine destiny. (The Passion Translation)
6. Am I team-oriented? Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (New Living Translation)
7. Do I lead by example? Titus 2:7 Titus, you have to set a good example for everyone. Go out of your way to do what is right, speak the truth with the weight and authority that come from an honest and pure life. (The Voice)
8. Am I accountable and reliable? Proverbs 12:22 Live in the truth and keep your promises, and the Lord will keep delighting in you, but he detests a liar. (The Passion Translation)
9. Am I using my influence in a healthy manner? 1 Peter 5:3 Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation). (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
10. Do I want to serve or be served? Matthew 20:26 This is the Kingdom’s logic: whoever wants to become great must first make himself a servant; (The Voice)
Churches need a lot of help, and it is a natural to want to pitch in. However, take the time to assess, question, and determine if you are the right person for the job. | | | | MORE From Personal Development
the ministerial area to help you evaluate your motives. You don’t have to be a “churchy” person to use them. Though your motives may be pure, if you stop and embrace this role, you may find that you have some other emotions to deal with. It does not matter if you say it out loud and own this role, or quietly ponder it to yourself. Maybe you don't want to be an informal leader. I will try to put your mind at ease. Let's address some mental roadblocks:- You might wonder if you are adequate.
What if you make a mistake? Will you still be a leader? Failure is what the strongest, most intelligent, and most confident leaders are concerned with. Being afraid to fail can cause you not to succeed. Don’t lower your expectations, that will destroy your imagination. - You might feel you are all alone.
They picked you because of who you are, not because they don’t want to work with you. If you are a good informal leader, you will keep interacting with everyone. And they will keep interacting with you. Even the ones who do not necessarily want you to be the one.
- You don’t want to be criticized.
It’s too late. Someone is always evaluating you. By the way, its how you became the informal leader. You cannot focus on what your team members think about you, even though they collectively put you in this role. You have to keep being who you are. | | CALL (OR) EMAIL 904.830.0737 | help@drpamrussell.com
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