steve penny » Leadership

A LIFE OF ACTION

Steve Penny — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:19:02 +0000

LIGHTS,CAMERA ACTION.

I was speaking recently to a conference on leadership and urging them to understand the power of taking action.

So often in our lives it is the inertia of inactivity that locks us into a spiralling cycle of negative and destructive habits.

If only I had acted at the time; or, I should have jumped at the chance.

Why didn’t I do something? Over and over again you hear people lamenting their inactivity and loss of an opportunity.

Action creates action. When you take action, further actions are required, and so you begin to make progress and build momentum.

The lawn never gets cut while you sit and watch television, but once you decide to act, the lawn soon gets mown and usually then the car gets washed or some other chore gets completed. Why? Because action creates action.

Make up your mind to live an action packed life.

Do not be a spectator watching others have all the excitement of action in their lives.

Get enthusiastic about something in your life and take action.

Enthusiasm produces energy;

energy produces action;

action produces achievement

and achievement produces enthusiasm.

Once you get started on any project just keep the action happening and soon momentum will kick in, and you will be amazed at how much can be achieved.

Life was meant to be lived through creative action not through reaction.

Take control and decide to act creatively to make your life what you once dreamed it could be.

Steve Penny

The Power of Culture

Steve Penny — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:33:19 +0000

Organizations and collectives of people of any size function to the expectations of their common culture.
Every family, tribe, or group of people of any size has an agreed culture even if they have not directly identified and clarified it.
Some rules of culture.
1. What a culture is – a culture grows.
2. He who creates the culture – rules the house.
3. Cultures attract after their kind – and repel those of a different spirit.
4.Cultures are the result of commonly held convictions.
5. Cultures must be carried by all members of the group.
6. Cultures can be copied through style and structure – but can only be carried through same spirit.
7. Culture is seen best when things are at their worst or leadership is away.

A Culture will only be strong
1. Where convictions are made clear.
2. Where excuses are never accepted
3. Where fruitfulness is always expected – not just faithfulness.
4. Where leadership is publicly honoured
5. Where creative experimentation is encouraged.
6. Where success is always rewarded
7. Where the growth of the group is clearly the priority and focus.

Culture must be intentionally created and carried.
The primary leaders of the group must live the culture as examples to the group.
It must be consistently reinforced in all gatherings of the group.
The role of all key team is to be culture carriers first and then gift function second.
All new people into a group must be intentionally culturised with the convictions of the group.
Do not ever assume people know your culture. Do not promote people on gifting – but on ability to carry culture.
Remember – what a culture is – a culture grows.

Believing in People

Steve Penny — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:05:31 +0000

One of the greatest attributes of a true friend is the fact that they believe in you through thick and thin.
In fact the art of great leadership is to believe in the people God puts into your life.
People in your life fall into three groups.
1. They hero – you.
These people are wonderful. They believe you never make a mistake and everything that comes out of your mouth is God breathed. They do so much to help you have great vision and confidence in the call of God on your life. We need to believe in hero people as God given.
Sadly the hero people can sometimes be attracted to the next hero who comes on the scene and disappear as quickly as they came.
2. They Help – you
These people are the salt of the earth. They know you are not perfect but they choose to serve with you and help you fulfill the call of God upon you life.
Believe in these people with all their flaws and failings as they are the army who will work with you to achieve the impossible.
It is this group of ordinary people whom you must believe in and help to rise up into all God has for them.
3. They Humble – you.
These are the people whom God gives to you to keep your eyes on the Lord.
They often see your blindspots and let you know they still believe in you.
These people often put demands on you and drain you, and bring you down to earth, but you still have to believe in them.
Believing in people is essential no matter what their role in your world.
A. Believe for their best when they are at their worst.
While we were yet sinners God believed in us and sent Jesus to die for us.
B. Believe in their motives despite their actions.
Paul the great Apostle said – the things I want to do, I don’t, and the things I don’t want to do, I end up doing.
I thank God continually for friends who believe in me even when I do things I later regret.
C. Believe in their dreams while helping them sort out their dust.
Most of us have dreams that are still some way off.
I am the product of people who saw my dreams and helped me believe in them while rearranging the dust of circumstances gone wrong.
Dreams drag people through the dust of present challenges. Find out peoples dreams and believe in them.
Believing in people simply gives them hope – and hope is everything in life.

FRUIT THAT LASTS

Steve Penny — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:23:04 +0000

BUILDING A FRUITFUL TEAM

In developing a team of people who work together to grow your organisation, it is important that they understand the ingredients that make up a fruitful team member.

There are five ingredients that must be embraced in each team members life so that they continue growing with their team and their visionary leader.

1. FUNCTION IDENTIFY GIFTS AND START CONTRIBUTING

This first step is how we all begin. Use what you have to contribute something meaningful to the organisation. Do whatever is offered with whatever you have. Do not come in wanting a position but wanting to contribute something meaningful to the team. remember it is easier to plant a seed than someone who thinks they are a great tree. There is never room for the great tree, but there is always room in any organisation for the seed person.

FAITHFULNESS FAITHFULLY SERVE WHEREVER THE OPPORTUNITY

MIXING WITH GREAT PEOPLE

Steve Penny — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:16:35 +0000

I had the privilege of speaking on Tuesday at the Hillsong Staff Camp in the Blue Mountains. It was an awesome experience and I have returned to KINGS so inspired from seeing a team of 400 staff in love & unity together. I felt as though I had been planted amongst greatness. And yet there is such a humility amongst the team and a recognition that God has graced them to have influence and to be a blessing to the global church.

I have a few observations from my short visit with them.

1. There is a definite sense of passion and expectation for the future.

2. There is a willingness to go forward and change to keep growing in God.

3. There is a culture of honour among them that causes all to rise to greater levels of effectiveness and influence.

4. There is a willingness to follow and support Godly leadership – and to stand as one man together.

Something awesome is happening at Hillsong and just I think this years Hillsong Conference will be the best we have ever experienced.