Global Leadership Summit 2010 Day 1:Andy Stanley

From the conference notes:

Under the leadership of Andy Stanley, North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, has become one of the largest and most influential churches in the United States.

Founded in 1995, the church has grown to three campuses and a weekly attendance of more than 28,000 people. North Point has also helped to plant more than 20 strategic partner churches across North America.

Stanley is a sought-after speaker and leadership mentor with a special passion for raising up the next generation of leaders. He has authored a number of best-selling books including The Principle of the Path, Visioneering, Next Generation Leader, Communicating for a Change, and the soon to be released, The Grace of God.

From my personal notes:

• It's a myth that great leaders will solve all their problems, and that reoccurring problems means that they lack leadership.
• Problems and tensions in your organization help as a growth engine.
• Every organization has problems that shouldn't be solved.
• We need to start thinking about the differences between solving problems and resolving tensions, and managing tensions.
• Resolving tensions will bring other tensions
• Resolving tensions create barriers to progress.
• "Problems" that reoccur are actually tensions to manage.
• Our role as leaders is to leverage these tensions.
• We need to (1) identify tensions, and (2) create the terminology around this dynamic.
• Key players should understand this twofold need.
• Value needs to be granted to both sides.
• Don't weigh-in to heavily based on personal biases.
• Don't allow strong personalities to win the day.
• Don't think in terms of balance – think in terms of rhythm.
• Don't think in terms of "balance" or "fairness", which technically do not exist.
• Understand the upside of the opposite side.
• Understand the downside of your side.
• Being able to argue both sides is important.
• You need 2 types of people as a leader: (1) passionate people, and (2) mature people.
• Remember that different things are needed over time during the life cycle of the organization.