Some members of our team were talking yesterday about the privilege we have in regularly spending time with a leader of the calibre of Steve Penny. In comparison, a number of people on staff at Hillsong Church have never had a one-on-one conversation with Brian Houston!
However, more important than simply having time with great leaders is learning to effectively use the time with them that you are given. In his book The 360 Degree Leader, John Maxwell shares seven things you can do to maximize your time with someone you wish to learn from.
1. Invest ten minutes in preparation for every minute you spend with them
2. Don’t make them think for you
- don't expect them to solve your problems
- always present possible solutions for any problems posed
3. Bring something to the table
- take something that you think they will find enjoy, e.g. a gift, a book, a box of chocolates!
- have an attitude to enrich them, instead of expecting them to simply enrich you
- the people you learn from should be strengthened by your visit
4. When asked to speak, don’t wing it
- do your homework and know your stuff
- some people talk because they have to say something, others talk because they have something to say
5. Learn to speak the language of your leader
6. Get to the bottom line
- if they given you an assignment they don’t want to hear the details of how you completed it, they want to know the results
- cut to the chase and clearly communicate the facts
7. Give a return on your leaders investment
For instance:
"Here’s what you said last time we met"
"Here’s what I learnt from you"
"Here’s what I did with what I learnt from you"
"Did I do it right?"
"So can I now ask you more questions?"
- If you can remind someone of advice they gave you 12 months ago, it speaks greatly of the value which you place upon their advice and their time.
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