"Vomit Leadership"

As I've previously posted, I will be traveling out to Saddleback Church in late May to spend some time picking the brains of their Student Ministry staff. And to prepare for this, I've been spending some time reading up on the notes that Doug Fields has shared with me from training sessions spanning the last several years of Saddleback Student Ministry staff meetings.

That being said, one particular training session caught my eye because of its colorful title, "Vomit Leadership". The concept behind Vomit Leadership is that there are things that weak leaders do that are just so shallow, self-serving, or even sinful that they make you want to vomit. This training session was used to discuss these faulty leadership techniques and the philosophies behind them. This concept comes from Matt McGill of Saddleback Church and Simply Youth Ministry. Without further rambling delay, I give you Vomit Leadership:

*Once again these are things that leaders should NEVER do...

-The goal is not to share your agenda with others but to achieve your agenda through others. Communicate, Negotiate, Interrogate with your cards held close.

-Control conversations. Lead others to the place where you want them to go, never follow. Make them say your idea in a way that they think it's their own. Ask the kinds of questions to get the answers you want.

-Flatter when it will work, which is most of the time, because people are caught up in their egos. Don't worry about it being true. If they smile you win. The motive behind that smile isn't your concern, "cause it all feels the same." Feed insecurities, they are never satisfied. Doing so increases obedience.

-When you need something, and expect resistance, press them personally. Go face to face in order to get the answer you want. The force of your presence may ruin their focus on what they feel is important. You want to cultivate a reaction, not reflection.

-When providing an alternate solution, show the benefit of the new option, even if that benefit isn't very good (especially if the benefit is very weak).

-Share only the information that will help them draw the conclusion that moves them to achieve your desires. You will keep your feelings of integrity as long as you also hold onto your self-deceptive thoughts.

-Never speak in absolutes, keep your words fuzzy, don't be specific. Predict the assumptions they will make. Arm yourself with the plausibility of denial: why speak clearly when you may have to recant? Say nothing real, so you can never be held accountable.

-At all costs, maximize your influence and minimize your accountability.

-Confidence is more convincing than sharing your fears. Since most are afraid of their own fear, they will respond better to false confidence because it strengthens the illusion that everything is under control.

-Buzzwords are better than truewords.

-Fight battles only if you'll been seen in a good light.

-Under no circumstances should you truly engage or invest deeply, if you do they will see the shallow husk of your soul, and you will have to face it yourself.

-Cast doubt, you'll catch the big fish of your desires. Cast blame, so you escape harsh judgment. Cast down, to lift yourself up high.

-Under no circumstances should you say something that will cause someone to doubt you or think negatively about you. Often this means avoiding the total truth.

-Keep all kinds of tabs on people. "All kinds" means anything you can use to leverage something you want out of them.

-Sounding good is more important than being good. Appearing generous is more important than being generous. Passion is a tool and an argument, not a calling or a conviction.

I don't know about you, but Vomit Leadership techniques seem to me to be highly destructive and born out of mistrust and personal insecurity...not to forget self serving and disrespectful. I pray that the team we are building here at Charter Oak Church is one of such a high level of love and trust that these techniques could never even become a consideration.

ps - Have I mentioned lately how much i love my staff?

Grace and Peace