Growing Leaders,

I would like to thank you all on behalf of the Fayette County Schools for providing such a wonderful presenter to WHS and SCHS during our Red Ribbon week. I was able to observe and witness Tim Elmore at WHS - I came in late and was able to view the movie clip of the Titanic before and during the crash into the iceberg. It was an excellent clip and Tim was able to relate it to one's character . . . . what you see on the outside is not nearly as important as what is on the inside of the individual. One's character should be "wide and deep" just like the base of the iceberg so it can buffer one from making unwise decisions in life.

Tim related this analogy extremely well to the Junior Class at WHS. He did something that I have not seen in my 28 years at the high school level. He allowed a full class of Juniors, in the WHS auditorium, to discuss with their peers what this meant to them. I was impressed with Tim' courage - it was a risk - but he handled it well because he was able to get them back under control and discuss their issues/comments/concerns.

Also, Tim's book on Habitutes is an excellent read. I am excited thinking that we can use his books with our athletic teams as well as potentially other areas in our curriculum. Once again, thanks and I appreciate each one of you and all that you do for our kids, our teachers, and our parents in Fayette County.

Sincerely,

Sam Sweat

Circle Christian School Newsletter

The following is a screen shot from the monthly Circle Christian School newsletter. Circle Christian School is a private school in Orlando, Florida. They serve over 1200 students and use Habitudes as leadership curriculum.

Two Extraordinary Schools

I'm in Tuscaloosa for four days on the campus of the University of Alabama. I arrived on Saturday for the Crimson Tide's homecoming weekend, and got to go down on the field before their big football game against the University of South Carolina. I was like a kid in a candy store.

Why do I get to do this? It's all part of a training experience they've chosen to do on many levels. Last night, I spoke to a group of freshman athletes from all sports, male and female. They are discussing our Habitudes For Athletes this year to grow in their leadership capacity.

Today, I will speak to staff and facilitators who will be using Habitudes in a variety of contexts, from first year students to student government officers. Tonight, I will speak to a group of students who'll attend a "Habitudes Experience" this afternoon. Tomorrow, I will train student leaders in some of the advanced Habitudes, and finally, tomorrow night I will address parents about their students, who are part of Generation iY. All of this will be exhausting, but exhilarating. I love the fact that staff at the University of Alabama embrace the idea that we must equip students to think and act like leaders.

What makes this month doubly exciting is that I just returned from Redmond, Washington where I spoke to people at all levels at The Bear Creek School, an extraordinary private Christian school in the Microsoft headquarters region. They, too, have embraced Habitudes. I had the privilege of addressing students, faculty, administrators and parents and kick off a Habitudes initiative this year. I have rarely seen a more engaged group of students and adults. They have determined that part of their DNA and curriculum will be equipping students not only in AP courses, but in leadership skills as well.

What do these two schools have in common? Both Alabama and Bear Creek recognize some important recent findings. First, according to the Gallup Organization, two thirds of people (students or adults) see themselves as leaders. 97% rated their capacity to lead as being average or above average. More than two thirds have led something in their past and they see the importance of knowing how to do it well. Further, according to the Higher Education Research Institute, in today's world every student (graduate) will need leadership skills. In fact, from the findings of both Gallup and HERI, we've drawn these conclusions:

1. Every student will find a situation in which they must act as a leader.

2. Students learn leadership best in a community that meets over time.

3. Students simply need a guide to catalyze their leadership growth.

4. Leadership can no longer belong only to exclusive group of positioned people.

5. Our world is so complex, we must engage every student to think like a leader.

How about you? What are you doing to put the leadership "cookies" on the bottom shelf? Are you putting leadership development within reach of every student and staff person? It's time to spread the virus of quality, effective life-giving leadership.

Tim

Thank You...

Thanks again to you for the vision to bring these great people to us! I think Tim is absolutely my favorite speaker. I could listen to him for EVER......but he also makes one want to go apply the material as well. Growing Leaders has impacted us profoundly in our district. We plan to develop leaders within our students.

-Lisa Tipton, Athletic Director

Habitudes

“I soaked myself in the Habitudes and I am deeply inspired by what you have created. I immediately convinced my niece that she needed to use Habitudes with the high school group she leads at her church.

There was so much wisdom in the pages, I kept thinking of what a gift it would have been if Habitudes were available to me early in my student/professional life. I don’t believe this content has age limits. There were many chapters that personally convicted and challenged me to be more than I am and have been in the past. Reading them was a rich experience. Thanks so much for making them available to me.”

Tami Heim, Former President of Borders Books

Commanders, Kings and Celebrities

Stop and reflect for a minute. Think about the way you lead people. What’s your style?

This past year, I have purposefully observed thousands of leaders do their thing, as I travel the road and speak in schools, companies and other organizations. I’ve drawn several conclusions—and some have proven to be helpful, fresh insights for me. Let me toss one of them to you here:

Your motivation for leading, will determine your…

• Duration – If your motive for leading is good, it will impact how long you last.
• Donation – If your motive is good, it will increase the value you add to the team.
• Decisions – If your motive is good, it will enhance your wisdom and objectivity.
• Direction – If your motive is good, it will determine your style and approach.

In other words—why you do something will ultimately determine what you do, as a leader. Let me illustrate with the following popular styles of leadership, and suggest how motivation fits into the style and decisions of each type of leader.

Commanders

You know these people. They lead with a top-down style. Their behavior is marked by one-way communication. They download only. It’s one person leveraging their power over the team. They may have begun their leadership journey in a different style, but as they aged or grew impatient with people, they got short and migrated to a “just do what I want you to do” style.” It’s an approach that’s more about telling than asking. It’s about demanding and requiring. You don’t have to be a psychologist to see that this leader’s motives are distorted. They now operate from a desire for power. The goal of the commander is to enforce their rules and authority. They want CONTROL.

Kings

Kings represent a slightly different style of leader. Their behavior is marked by a drive to maintain stability. Why? Because stability is the best way to remain king. They have a growing love for tradition; they have a vested interest in keeping things the way they’ve been in the past. It’s as though once this leader got their position—their entire goal is to keep their position. These leaders are about managing order. The want order. They aren’t necessarily bad people, but they are likely going to be bad leaders in this ever-changing world we live in. They are compromisers. They won’t take risks unless the risk is about helping to maintain and manage what already is. The goal of the monarchy is to enrich the king; to keep him in power. They want COMPLIANCE.

Celebrities

Celebrities are a third type of leadership style. Their behavior is marked by the pursuit of perks and popularity. If you watch them closely, you’ll notice a keen desire for applause and affirmation. Like the styles above, they aren’t necessarily bad people, but this motivation for recognition not only diminishes their ability to lead well, it clouds their ability to make good decisions. Their perspective is colored by their own needs. They are the proverbial “YouTube” video maker who wants to post videos to see how many people watch them. They love accumulating friends in a Facebook group. Because this is their motive, they want peace between all parties. They want folks to get along, be happy, and look to them for entertainment and fulfillment. They love the fame that comes with their position. They love the attention it affords them. The celebrity performer wants CREDIT.

So What Can We Do?

Although each of these styles are common, they represent unhealthy leadership. Perhaps each of us struggles with one of them, but today’s leader must emerge out of these ineffective styles, especially if we want to lead the next generation. I don’t know of any young person today who is looking for a leader who is a “commander” or a “king” or a “celebrity.” Students can sense that motives are wrong and that progress and purpose are diminished because of the leader.

So, what can we do to change? What is the change we need to make? How should we target our leadership so it is relevant and healthy for a new generation who looks for good leadership? Let me suggest a fourth style below that most young people I know are looking for in a leader.

Connectors

If leaders will shift their motives away from themselves and their own needs, they will find their style will shift as well. I call the new kind of leader students are looking for today: a “Connector.” The connector is healthy and doesn’t need the team to affirm their value. It isn’t about them. Instead, it is about connecting the players on the team in four ways:

1. The leader connects team members to a “cause”

2. The leader connects team members to other people on the team.

3. The leader connects team members to their strengths

4. The leader connects team members to the leader relationally.

This is not to say the connecter fails to run point. They are definitely responsible for the outcomes. But they know it is a team effort, and their job is to maximize the potential of each team member. This means they understand they lead in an “upload” culture, not merely a “download” one, which only allows the leader to have a say. This leader helps others flourish. Their goal is to turn potential into performance, regardless of who gets the credit. It means the leader recognizes the value of relationships between team members not just their relationship to their team members. It means they share the power. The columns below summarize the shift from yesterday’s leader to today’s:

This kind of leader is described in detail in Habitudes—Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes, Book Four (The Art of Changing Culture). In it I talk about the leader who connects team members in order to nurture a healthy culture. If you’re interested in discussing this with your team—check out our special on this book to the right.

So, what’s your motive for leading? Here’s hoping you can move from a commander or king or celebrity to a connector…for the sake of the cause and for your sake as well.

Tim Elmore

www.GrowingLeaders.com

Habitudes in Ethiopia

       

Dear Growing Leaders,

I have attached a few pictures from our recent Kindergarten graduation where we had 65 students graduate.  Our school is now serving pre-KG to 4th grade.  We are currently constructing more class-rooms and continuing to grow.  What a privilege to be able to serve so many children who would have no other opportunity for this kind of quality education.  Thank you all for you encouragement, prayers and partnerships.  May we continue to walk with them until they all reach their God given destinies!  
   

Thanks for your partnership in helping us develop young leaders in Ethiopia!

E. Evans

My Mother, My Hero

I wish you could have met my mom. She represents much of the reason for the existence of any good qualities in me. She died four years ago, far too early in my opinion. She was only 66.

No one loved to laugh more than Sally. No one listened more actively than Sally. No one saw the good in people (sometimes when not much was present) than Sally. No one loved babies and children more than Sally. No one believed in people more than Sally. I happened to be fortunate enough to be her son.

I remember sitting at the breakfast table, as a ten-year old, reading box scores from the previous night’s ball games. Mom listened as though she cared about these teams as much as I did. She would ask me questions about Johnny Bench’s home run hit to right field, since he normally hit them to left field. I recall mom writing love notes to me and putting them in my lunch bag. I remember mom waking me up in the morning making me feel like the new day was destined to be my best one. She made growing up…fun.

Everyone wanted Sally around. She discipled young women. She served in her church. She invited people to stay in her home. She never told people how to live their life. Instead, she modeled the way for them.

Interestingly, she never finished her college degree. Starting a family was more important to her. Yet, despite the fact she lacked a degree on her wall, she was very high in emotional intelligence. Her EQ made up for what she might have lacked in IQ. She was high in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management. That’s what made her so winsome with people. I have often said: success in college is about 75% IQ, 25% EQ. Success in life is about 25% IQ, 75% EQ.

I remembered my mom on Mother’s Day yesterday. I had a relaxing day with my own family, and celebrated well. Yet, I still missed calling my mom—who is my standard for mothers, and for people.

Tim

Habitudes

David Mimms leads a Habitudes group of students (high school) at a Boys and Girls Club.  He wrote:

A colleague and I are leading a group of high school students through Habitudes book three at the Cherokee Country Boys and Girls Club. We hand picked the students and have gone through books one and two already. We are just about complete with book three at the BGC. We are asking each student to come up with a business plan and are prepared to help each print business card and even help with micro loans. I will let you know how it goes. Keep up the great work and God bless you.  David

 

David Mimms (Business Owner)

Email Responses

We are presenting Habitudes™ to 7th and 8th graders in a large group setting at our Monday assemblies and then we follow up with small group (8-10 students) discussions lead by the advisory group leader. At our Monday assemblies, we have guest presenters-Head of school, middle school counselor and even the head football coach. The students love the images and the topics are generating some great dialogue.
I look forward to visiting the new site!

Susan Akers
Middle school counselor
Franklin Road Academy

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In working with high school students as a leadership advisor and counselor I found the use of “images” a perfect bridge from my generational perspective in character and leadership into the current generation. Whereas words can and often are confused within the frame of text generated by the speaker the use of images many times carry a more concrete message that is easy to convey and understand for both the teacher and student. The images utilized by Dr. Elmore are clear representations of character traits necessary for our young aspiring leaders. I fully utilize images from the Habitudes™ series in a leadership class as brain exercises to start off topical conversations as well as ways of closing topics for student feedback to gain insight to the students pre-understanding of leadership topics and to discover how well I directed the lesson and lecture on topics.


Jeff Bennett
Counselor and Leadership Advisor
Etowah High School

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Actually I am an old leader who believes in young leaders and for that reason my 28-year old son turned me on to Habitudes™. My eyes are growing dim (really) and I am unable to read as much as I would like to - Habitudes™ is perfect for me with its visuals. Tim Elmore seems to say more in a page than I have gotten out of reading some books in their entirety. It has been such a God-send for me, that I pass on information to our youth pastors, but I also use the concepts when I am teaching older groups. Because it is God, it works whether you are old or young.

L Lewis

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I came across Habitudes™ while planning the High School Leadership Conference at Auburn University and was thrilled by the emphasis on visual learning. Dr. Elmore has tapped into how my generation learns and retains valuable information through images. For the Conference, we led university and high school students through this book and the reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Habitudes™ beautifully articulates valuable principles of leadership that are applicable to daily life. This is truly one of the most effective leadership materials on the market due to its focus on small groups and developing mentors. Habitudes™ takes on the "pay it forward" effect for everyone who enjoys this insightful little book.

Margaret Kloess
Director of High School Leadership Conference

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I have the amazing privilege of mentoring several young adults who are interested in missions and have found the Habitudes™ material incredibly useful. The style and content connect well and create great opportunities for deeper dialogue and life application. We’ve also listed the Habitudes™ as a resource on a website we’ve created for those interested in exploring the possibility of missions in the future (http://map.emm.org) .

Blessings,
Marilyn Peters

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First of all, I would like to thank you for writing the "Habitudes™...". It really made a difference with the young leaders I'm discipling. What I did...i gave them each a photocopy of the lesson we are going to discuss each week. They have to read and answer the questions and come prepared for discussion. sometimes, I would ask them to pick just the most relevant point that speaks to them personally and how the Lord is maturing their characters. As a result, whatever we discussed, they are now more confident to pass on the lesson to their own group of disciples.

Joy L. Labay

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I have been using Habitudes™ in teaching my undergraduate leadership classes as a leadership lesson and devotional. The images and corresponding principles stick with the students, making them an invaluable part of my curriculum. I primarily use the video clips, without the books, and have found the DVD resource helpful.

Shawna L. Lafreniere, Ph.D.
Azusa Pacific University

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I have found the Habitudes™ series to be the best resource in raising generations of young leaders. I can make immediate connections with teenagers using the image-driven principles Tim has developed. The principle of “The Iceberg”, or being like a “laptop computer”, or the difference between “a thermometer and a thermostat” are easily taught and understood. Each image is supported by material filled with fun activities, historical and inspirational stories, biblical stories and scripture (faith based), video suggestions, and application to drill the principle deep within the student’s heart and life. Your students will keep coming back for deeper discussions and more leadership principles for their lives.

Neal Eller, Church Health Team Leader
Baptist State Convention of North Carolina

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I work with many young leaders that run youth programs, camps, mission trips,school programs, training schools and much more and we need tools to help give our leaders the best training we can, many of our leaders have little to no leadership experience. And the challenge is how can we equip them as best we can. This is were I have found Habitudes™ a great tool. It can be difficult to teach people about leadership principles if they have no experience. But with Habitudes™ we found that people can really grab hold of great leadership principles through the many wonderful lessons. I can't recommend Habitudes™ enough for your leadership training and development.

Ryan Booker

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Picture books aren’t just for preschoolers; they’re tremendously powerful for potential leaders. I own all four books and have read through the first one and have just recently started on the second. I have to say, the images that have impacted me the most are the ones that I see on a daily basis. Certainly, all of the images presented in Dr. Tim Elmore’s books are fantastic and the principles phenomenal. However, there is just something about seeing a Thermostat or Thermometer in every room I enter and being reminded of the principle that correlates with that image: That I can either set the climate, or become affected by it with the people in that room. Or, everyday turning on my Personal Laptop with the conviction that I can either fill my mind and heart with trash knowing that’s exactly what I will spit out in return, or have the integrity to view and watch appropriate things. I can go on and on. However, I hope future books continue to have images I encounter daily, so I am consistently reminded of the principles behind them and try my best, through God’s grace, to live them out. I am also hoping, in the near future, that I can go through all four books in a small group of people and have all of us fill out and complete the application exercises found at the end of each image. That way we can truly make it a habit to put into practice the principles Tim and God’s Word says.

Lance Croy
Drama Director
NorthRidge Church

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Over the past few years, Habitudes™ has become one of our main staples for training our student leaders. The images help to clarify the roles and responsibilities of a young emerging leader. We have found Habitudes™ to be helpful in preparing our leaders as they start but also in keeping them sharp as they serve. Almost without exception we start our new leaders with the lesson “passenger vs driver.” During the year we have our student leaders host visitors so we teach the lesson that reveals the difference between a host and a guest. Creatively written, Habitudes™ instruct as well as inspire our students to be creative in their own teaching.

Dwayne Carson

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We have used Habitudes™ as the centerpiece of our leadership training since the first publication of 'Book One:The Art of Self-Leadership'. In the classroom setting we have used all four books spread out over three different courses in the core curriculum of our majors in christian ministry. Students completed the books as individuals, discussed each Habitude™ in class, watched numerous videos to reinforce each principle, and were tested for competency on exams. At the grassroots level of training our campus student leaders we have used a variety of delivery systems--one on one or clusters of three students working through one Habitude™ per week for a semester, monthly events focusing on 3 or 4 Habitudes™ taught thematically with discussion and video reinforcement, giving copies of a particular Habitude™ volume each semester to every student leader while allowing their particular leadership team to decide the best means of processing the book by an agreed upon deadline date, or single day training events focusing on a single volume or thematic medley of Habitudes™. Personally, I have taught Habitudes™ at church with young adult leaders, in small groups for high school or collegiate leaders, as part of our quarterly leadership huddles for churchwide positional leaders, and in my ongoing group of mentees meeting with me weekly in an informal setting. One of my personal mentees is a highly successful high school football coach in our community. Two years ago Steve and I came up with a plan to train all of his Fellowship of Christian Athlete students in volumes 1, 2, and 3 of Habitudes™. A few hundred books later, they are still growing strong! Of all the tools I have used in my thirty years of training young leaders, Habitudes™ is the most consistently effective. I love their flexibility and 'stickiness'...they are virtually unforgettable!

Tracy Reynolds
Emmanuel College

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We are using Habitudes™ along with a one year Bible reading plan with all the students we are discipling at Middle Georgia College through the BCM. We are just beginning this process, but the goal is that those students who go through the process with a discipler/coach will be able to turn around and disciple/coach someone else through the process as well. Getting students immersed in the Word of God is our primary focus and the Habitudes™ add to the process very nicely as we focus on making disciples by equipping leaders for the cause of Christ.

Tracey A. Deavers
Campus Minister, BCM
Middle Georgia College

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We use Habitudes™ for some of our Freshman Seminar classes and our athletic teams. I also used it for a devotional with the Student Government Association last year and with my office staff. Good stuff.

Clark Carter
Campus Minister at Charleston Southern University