The blog page is where you’ll find daily (almost) thoughts on life, ministry, success, coaching, culture and even some of the sillier things that I am passionate about
Back in the Leadership Saddle…What I’ve Learned in 6 Months
After one year of focusing solely on Life Coaching, I have jumped back into pastoral ministry. I’m serving at a great church, Trinity Church in Mesa Arizona. It is a historic church in the East Valley of Metro Phoenix. Trinity is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and like any well established organization, there are long standing issues that need addressing. It’s been a challenging, fun and stretching 6 months. Here’s what I’m learning by being back in the ‘Pastoral Saddle’ again.
- Set Your Priorities – Decide what matters most to you, then act on it. I feel like I broke free of a hamster wheel in my last ministry assignment. My family and I set different priorities for this one, and we are enjoying the benefits
- Listen – This is the number one skill that I have developed in the past 2 years. Listening deeply is the most underused leadership skill and it produces high impact.
- Build Teams – No one can do it by themselves. Organizations, companys or churches that are built on a single personality ultimately fail.
- Enlist Support – Besides building a team, there is need to draw in a few, high impact supporters to help make leadership changes happen
- Observe Keenly – Related closely to listening, seeing all the data that is needed before acting is an essential leadership skill.
- Choose Wisely – In any organization, there are 1000 different things that need attention. It seems like all of them need it immediately. Choose 1 or 2 things to tackle, see them through, then move forward.
- Act Decisively – After lots of listening and observation, make clear decicive action. Collect the info you need, no more and no less and then take action that is ‘visible’ by those you lead. There is a great deal of energy in ‘getting stuff done’. Decicive action is an energy producer.
- Celebrate Results – After action is taken, celebrate and appreciate anything and everything that made that action possible.
Back in the saddle also means more often blog posts here as well. check back later this week for more.
Thrilling New Announcement(s)
Since the last blog post so much has happened. Our family has moved to Mesa, Arizona, where in addition to coaching, I am now serving as the Executive Pastor at Trinity Church. Trinity is a great church with an amazing history and a future that is beyond exciting. God is doing and will do even more great things here for Mesa and the whole East Valley.
The lead pastor is my good friend Douglas Estes, PhD. The reason I mention this is that I am thrilled to announce that he and I have signed a contract with Cascade Books to publish a book. The work, my first book and Douglas’ fourth, is titled Better Habits, Better Life: How to Coach Yourself to Life Change, and should be out by the end of 2014.
I am in the ‘research phase’ right now, and would love to receive recommendations on books about life change, personal development, spiritual development and/or spiritual transformation. If you have a favorite book in any of these areas, post a link in the comments.
Platform Coaching – Start a Blog
In recent weeks, you’ve seen me write, podcast and video blog about launching a platform. I know that when I got Michael Hyatt’s book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World
My platform began however, even before I started coaching. It began when I started my blog.
My blog started when I was facing a career crossroads and I wanted an outlet that was just for the glory of God. Being coached, writing on the blog and taking initial steps helped clarify that my future was in coaching. The process of blogging cleared so much for me and really ‘coached’ me into being a coach myself.
That’s why I want to encourage you to start your own blog.
Sometimes people don’t build their platform because they don’t really know what their message should be. For me, the message of the blog and my career, only emerged AFTER I started writing.
Go ahead, start writing. It doesn’t have to be The Great American Novel. This post, for example is under 450 words. It just has to be from you with sincerity about something for which you have passion.
One last obstacle. You may be thinking, “Matt the technical stuff is just too hard.” No worries. I have two resources for you:
1. Tutorial – There’s a great little tutorial at www.wikihow.com/start-a-blog. It is super easy. You can get started in just a few minutes…AND FOR FREE!
2. Platform Coaching – Maybe you are sure that you want to build a real platform to get your message out to the largest audience possible. I’d say, first get Hyatt’s book
So what are you waiting for? When will you start your blog?
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11 To-Do’s to Make Your Product/Idea/Career Say ‘WOW’
Last week I posted about building ‘wow’ into your platform as you seek to build your products and ideas. Building WOW is from Michael Hyatt’s Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World
- Solve Problems. People love it when you make their problems disappear.
- Look for ways to add value. When people get the ‘little extra’ from your ideas or work they’ll say “wow” about you.
- Keep searching for solutions, especially when they are not clear.
- Remember the human element. I know that I’ll get some grief for saying this but Apple’s technology is pretty much the same as everyone else’s. They remember that they make tech for people.
- Make sure that everyone who interacts with you, be it on your platform or in the “real” world has their expectations exceeded by you.
- Ask gobs of questions. Not just for the sake of questions but because you are genuinely interested.
- Make what people get from you unique from what they could get from someone else. It doesn’t matter if it is an idea, or a product or just your work ethic. Make sure you set yourself apart.
- Know who it is you want to serve.
- Make sure you avoid looking cheap. When you have a chance to make an impression, to an audience or to your boss. Make sure you present yourself well.
- Be clear about what you want to do. When people are confused they don’t say ‘wow!’, they say ‘huh?’.
- Keep saying…keep producing…keep doing. If it’s a message you believe in , keep saying it. A lot of your competitors will give up. If its a product, keep presenting it, eventually your market will emerge. If it is your work, keep doing it. It will pay dividends to your company, then to you.
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The new podcast is up here on the website, HERE IS THE LINK TO SUBSCRIBE AT iTUNES. Make sure that you head over there to download, subscribe and rate it. The more subscriptions, and ratings the higher it shows on the iTunes lists.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In this week’s episode:
Eight Weeks in…how’re you doing?
1. Emotional Intelligence pt 2. Self Management.
2. Special Offer to Podcast listeners
3. Something to…
Read…
Listen To…
Watch…
Video:How To REALLY Appreciate Your Pastor
Not long ago, I blogged on the subject of showing appreciation for your pastor, so with Pastor Appreciation Month coming to a close in just a few days, I thought I’d share a video on the subject as well.
Toxic Leadership
Everybody leads something. It might be a company, or a club. It might be a family or a church. No matter where you are in life on the ‘corporate ladder’ there is someone in your life that you lead.
When I served as a pastor and I would talk about leadership to people within the church they would sometimes say things like, “I’m no leader, I just like to help.” In reality, they are leading because other people are watching them and potentially being inspired by what they do.
One of the most powerful books I have read recently is Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
Both talk about 6 leadership styles that every leader has at their disposal. Four are primarily positive, Visionary Leadership, Coaching Leadership, Affiliative Leadership and Democratic Leadership. There are two that are more dangerous Commanding Leadership and Pace Setting Leadership. All can be used to achieve results. All have weaknesses. Commanding and Pace Setting can be quite toxic. We’ll explore those today.
The Pace-setting Leader
The Pace-Setting Leader excites people with goals, expectations of excellence and promises of success. They often are committed themselves to the achieving of goals and have high personal standards.
The Pros: They get stuff done. People around them get stuff done. I have been apart of organizations led by Pace-Setters and it is amazing the amount of high quality work that gets done. The initial success is thrilling. It is best used in a motivated and highly skilled team.
The Cons: The team grows tired. When someone falls off the pace there isn’t time to help them get back to speed. There is little exercising of compassion or time for helping those who have fallen off the pace improve. The pace-setting leader has little time for people. She is too busy doing ‘great’ things. Often it results in exhaustion and decline.
The Commanding Leader
When there is a crisis, The Commanding Leader can be quite effective. He can soothe fears and gives clear direction with a powerful demeanor. This is a leader who WILL be followed.
Pros: It is far and away the most efficient form of leadership. Commands are given, and to be observed. It is also very effective when there is a significant crisis and immediate, decisive action must be taken.
The Cons: This leader is often cold and unfeeling. After the crisis is over, people will not want to follow him for long.
Being a toxic leader is a sure way to greatly frustrate the people who want to follow you. At best it can lead to short term success, but is usually acomanied by longer term sorrow.
When confronted with some toxic leadership behavior in my own life, I enlisted a coach. She was so helpful to me in pointing out blind spots and helping me to create a plan to be a more well rounded, healthy person and leader. I’d love to do the same for you
Big Question: Where do you see yourself exercising these more ‘toxic’ leadership behaviors.
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Making Your Message Say ‘WOW’!
In Michael Hyatt’s Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World
A great message is when there is an intersection of your clear, compelling thoughts and a willing recipient The good news is that there is always a willing recipient…if your message is clear and compelling enough.
For instance, I am passionate about helping people to have the kind of life that they and God have always wanted. Most of my posts here on the blog, my podcast (to which you really should subscribe) and my interactions with people at other outposts on the web (other blogs, and social media outlets) speak to a lifestyle of deep satisfaction. I’ve found that the most satisfying life is one that is rooted in Jesus, and fulfilling a life’s mission.
As long as I make sure my thoughts are clear and compelling, AND I am willing to put the message out there on the largest platform possible, then I will find (and am finding) an audience. How do you make the message clear and compelling? How do you make it say WOW? Here are 5 thoughts:
1. Make sure that you have a deep and abiding passion about what you are saying. Passionate posts jump off the page.
2. Provide ideas that make problems go away. I have a friend who says his expertise in his field is to make “stuff” go away. When you eliminate problems that people have held in their lives for a long time, they will come running to you.
3. Make sure that what you say can happen WILL happen…and then some. I have no problem saying things like, if you are coached by me, you will enjoy the life you’ve always wanted. Why am I so confident? Not because I have superpowers, but because I BELIEVE in the power of coaching. It is singularly transformational. When people are coached, their lives get exceedingly better
4. Average must die. Mediocre products, ideas and communication don’t cut it. People wont want to stand on your platform if the one you’ve built is on shoddy materials. People want GREAT ideas and products in their lives. Average will try to creep up on you over and over again. It must be hunted down and eliminated.
5. WOW ideas must hit close to home…your home. Whatever ideas that you choose to build your platform upon, make sure that they are ideas that you believe in. Live like your reputation depends on the platform you build because it does.
As I have mentioned, I love to help people live the life that they’ve always wanted. If that life includes building a compelling platform, I’d love to help you. Go to my website www.platformcoaching.com and learn about how a group coaching experience, centered around Michael Hyatt’s book Platform can bring your message to the largest audience possible.
Big Question: What do you need to do to increase the ‘wow’ factor of your message?
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Top 11 To-Do’s to Build a Better Platform
The cornerstone of the marketing of my coaching business has been establishing my platform. That is the place where my message about the value of coaching is communicated. We are literally living in the first society where ANYONE can get their message to the masses. The financial costs are minimal, the results are powerful. So, here are my Top 11 to-dos to Build a Better Platform:
- Buy and Read Platform by Michael Hyatt. Hyatt’s ideas aren’t revolutionary but there is not a single volume that contains the ideas on building platform so well.
- Start Your Blog
- Blog more often.
- Make your blog posts shorter. If your blog post is more than 500 words it likely isn’t being read.
- Blog about a narrower niche of topics. Too many un-related topics will drive your tribe away.
- Seek help…like say a coach. My next group of Platform Coaching begins November 1.
- Determine how many social media outlets you can realistically connect with. 10 posts on Facebook is better than 2 each on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, You Tube, and Pinterest.
- Don’t quit. It can be discouraging when you write a blog post to what feels like no one. Stay at it with good content and the followers will come.
- At first engage with EVERYONE who connects with your platform. It won’t be possible later, so enjoy this while you can. In fact…
- Enjoy the whole process of getting your worthwhile message to the masses. You are choosing to build this platform because you are passionate about the subject matter. Let that passion be evident and enjoy what you are creating.
- Choose to be patient. It may take months of consistent quality content before you see a tribe of people who follow your message.
Big Question: Which of these to-do items tops your list?
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New Start #7: The Matthew Reed Coaching Podcast
The new podcast is up here on the website, HERE IS THE LINK TO SUBSCRIBE AT iTUNES. Make sure that you head over there to download, subscribe and rate it. The more subscriptions, and ratings the higher it shows on the iTunes lists.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In this week’s episode:
1. We have a REAL title! Welcome to New Start: The Matthew Reed Coaching Podcast
2. Emotional Intelligence
Five points of Emotional Intelligence. Today we’re exploring Self-Awareness.
-What makes someone self-aware?
-How can you increase self-awareness?
3. Shameless Promotion
www.platformcoaching.com
Next Platform Coaching Group begins November 1
4. It’s time for our weekly recommendations. These are books, podcasts and classic movies that I like that maybe you would too.
Something to…
…Read
…Listen To:
Seth Godin’s Startup School
at Earwolf.com
at iTunes
…Watch
The Raven
Wednesday October 24 at 8 p.m. ET on TCM
Contact Matt
Phone and text:
845-800-3854
Mailing Address:
Matthew Reed Coaching P.O. Box 454 Middletown, NY 10940
