Be A Leader In Christian Publishing

Bangalore, October 8, 2012 Bangalore, October 8, 2012

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Be a Leader Be a Leader

Leadership in Christian PublishingLeadership in Christian Publishing

Advanced Magazine Publishing Institute | India 2012


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The Publisher as a LeaderThe Publisher as a Leader

You are here because God wants you to be leaders in His business of Christian publishing

Leaders influence...

• Attitudes

• Actions

• Change

• Vision

The difference between managing and leading people (both are important)

• Managing: directing the actions of others to achieve a specific result (deals with performance, goals, results, delegation, decisions, etc.)

• Leading: influencing actions and attitudes towards a common vision or goal (deals with vision, focus, values, change, etc.)

What Leaders DoWhat Leaders Do


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How Leaders LeadHow Leaders LeadThe Three Levels of LeadershipThe Three Levels of Leadership

A great temptation: to substitute power for love

“Often the Christian leaders do not know how to build healthy, close relations with people, so they prefer the power over them.” (Henry Nouwen)

?? At what level do I most often exercise leadership?

Leadership is exercised through • authority• power• influence

We generally learn about and experience leadership slowly, leading first through authority, then through power, and finally (and hopefully) through influence.


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How Leaders LeadHow Leaders Lead

Psalm 78:72 (KJV) So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

A Model of Spiritual LeadershipA Model of Spiritual Leadership

“When it comes to leadership, no matter how good of a leader you are, your best is never enough.” (Lorne Sanny, The Navigators)


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The Tools of Spiritual LeadershipThe Tools of Spiritual LeadershipExodus 18:17-23 (NIV) Moses’ father-in-law [Jethro] replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Let them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Even for Moses, who was one of history’s greatest leaders, his best was not enough. Even Moses needed the help of additional tools of spiritual leadership.

Moses And OthersMoses And Others


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The Tools of Spiritual LeadershipThe Tools of Spiritual Leadership

“You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him”

•Mediating prayer – Be the people’s representative before God

•Intercessory prayer – Bring their disputes to Him

The First Tool of Spiritual Leadership: PrayerThe First Tool of Spiritual Leadership: Prayer

“If God has called you to lead a work, He has also called you to intercede for that work.” (unknown)

Pray or perish!

?? How much do I pray and intercede for my publishing company and staff? What can I do to be a more faithful spiritual leader through prayer?


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“Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.”

•Teaching by clear instruction – teach them the decrees and laws

•Your personal example – show them• Of Character – the way to live• Of Competence – the duties they are to perform

(Henry Ford was able to do every job in his manufacturing plant)

The Second Tool of Spiritual Leadership: InstructionThe Second Tool of Spiritual Leadership: Instruction

“…the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.” (Nu: 12:3, ASV)

Teach or tire!

?? What kind of example of godly character am I? Do I demonstrate by my example as much as I teach with my words?


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“Select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Let them serve as judges for the people at all times.”

•Select wisely who you will delegate to – select capable men

•Give them authority for their job – appoint them as officials

•Empower them to do their job – let them serve

•Clearly define their roles and expectations – have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves

The Third Tool of Spiritual Leadership: DelegationThe Third Tool of Spiritual Leadership: Delegation

Delegate or die!

?? Do I select staff for their character as much as their competency? Do I give others the authority and power to do their job?

“If you wanna get the work done – do it yourself!”


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1. Tirelessly repeat the basics whenever and wherever you can

• Mission - what we do

• Vision - where we are going

• Values - how we relate

• Strategic directions or commitments - what is most important

2. Maintain a clear focus

• What we do and what we don’t do

• Focus guides people’s attention

• Mission

• Publishing categories and lines

3. Do not keep the distance

• Ruin the world stereotypes (boss – employee, client – service provider)

• Build close relations

• Fear not of being used or manipulated

• Share your faith and doubt, hope and despair, joy and grief, courage and fear

• Influence others through your transparency, vulnerability and honesty

Some Other Practical Tips For LeadersSome Other Practical Tips For Leaders


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4. Know yourself and act accordingly

• Know your personality type

• Know your spiritual gifts

• Know your relational style

• Know your strengths and weaknesses

5. View yourself as a coach first

• A coach is the best all-around analogy of a leader

• Coaches define expectations, evaluate performance, encourage and give vision, and develop skills

• Concerned about all spheres of life

6. Never underestimate the power of food and fun in the workplace

• To feed the body, encourage the spirit and improve fellowship

• The fuzzy line between work and play (creative work should be a fun)



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7. Lead like a steward entrusted with someone else’s property

• Entrusted with people, finances, your mission, skilled authors, spiritual messages, etc.

• A steward must feel comfortable with risk (Matthew 25:14-30).

8. Take time to meditate

• Schedule regular time away from the office to think, read and pray.

• Develop the spiritual discipline of retreat and solitude.

9. Be a servant: Regular appointments with your direct reports are your most important commitments to them.

• Meet individually regularly every week or month with each person who reports directly to you.

• At these meetings discuss:• Problems they are encountering as they do their job• Encouragement or correction in how they are performing• Agree on priorities for the future• Is there anything I can do to help you?



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10. Other Insider’s Tips:

• Never compromise your leadership in publishing with other leadership positions God put you in (family is No.1 of them)

• Failure is usually a better teacher than success. Occasionally share your own failures with others.

• Keep your word. Create a fool-proof system to remind you of commitments you make, and then keep them.

• Listen more than you talk.

• Once in awhile ask your employees, “How are you really doing?”


“The main task for future leaders is to be God’s people, whopassionately desire to stay in God’s presence, to listen His voice, to contemplate His beauty, to touch the embodied God’s Word and to receive in full the endless blessing from God”

– Henry Nouwen


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Thank you!

Be A Leader In Christian Publishing

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