This core conviction is at the heart of the Global Leadership Summit, produced annually by the Willow Creek Association, which is led by Rev. Bill Hybels.
My big takeaway of the day: build character in others and INCREASE YOUR PAIN THRESHOLD!
Fort Wayne is one of many satellite locations for this event which is hosted on the campus of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, and then broadcast live to cities around the world. About 300,000 leaders attend the event, with over 3,000 in Fort Wayne (making it the largest satelite venue in the world).
A big plus of this big event is seeing so many friends, reconnecting, networking, and sharing insights gleaned from the two day conference. I’m thankful to the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne for sending 20 of us to participate in the Summit.
Here’s a few takeaways I had from the Thursday sessions:
- The highest virtue in leadership is humility. It’s the willingness to learn from anybody in any situation, it’s about mutual respect, and honoring what we hold in common.
- Humility is not about low self-confidence, or thinking less of yourself or discounting your passions or talents – humility is more about putting the Golden Rule into practice, from a servant’s heart. Like Jesus Christ.
- Leaders are better when they help those they lead become better leaders. This happens best when the focus turns from I to We, and from Me to Service. (Alan Mulally, CEO Boeing & Ford)
- “People want to lift up their own lives.” Melinda Gates was the most inspiring leader who opened up about their work and life (Mulally was a close second). Leading and serving must be infused with dignity for the humanity of one another. All lives have equal value.
- The work and spiritual practices Gates pours herself into are shaped by early influences in Catholic Social Justice, primarily in her gradeschool education. She submits her brilliant intellect and ambitious spirit to the Lord through daily practices of solitude, spiritual direction, and dwelling on the Word. The same practices of being present, attentive, and open to the Lord are what she does with the poorest in the world, and the richest. And this caring spirit is a beautiful example of leadership that serves.
- Enlarge Your Vision / Empower Your People / Embrace Risk (Jossy Chacko, a church-planter Asia/India, with a goal to see 100,000 communities transformed).
- We respond emotinally to our experiences before we can think about our experiences. Everyone is emotional, and everyone analyzes. But if we ignore or discount our emotions, we’ll distort our reflection about it.
- Three Virtues of an Ideal Team Player: Humility, Hungry, EQ Smart
