It’s that time again.  Time to share some stuff I have read over the past week that I think you might enjoy.  This week I offer them under the headers of leadership and collaboration, church, neighbor love, stewardship, community, and vocation.

Leadership and Collaboration

Dan offers a great reminder of some of Peter Drucker’s thoughts on treating employees like volunteers.  It’s great advice and worth the quick read and reflection!

Rosabeth Moss Kanter describes how to be an energizer, and what characterizes being an energizer.  She sees three things:  “a relentless focus on the bright side,” “redefining negatives as positives,” and “fast response time.  Energizers don’t dawdle.  Kanter also argues that, “Some people become leaders no matter what because their positive energy is so uplifting.”

To be an effective leader, you have to be an effective listener.  John Ryan offers thoughts on being a “chief listening officer.” 

Related, David Burkus shares Ken Blanchard’s infographic about leadership and communication, and how our workplaces are “dysfunctionally connected.”

Have you ever thought about how to collaborate with a loved one?  Would you be able to work in the same setting as your significant other?  Teresa Amabile and Steve Kramer reflect on this very thing and offer tips that might be helpful if you were in such a situation or considering collaborating with your spouse.  They do so specifically out of their experience from co-authoring The Progress Principle.

In terms of collaboration, have you ever thought about partnering with your competition?  Ivan Misner muses about how this could lead to success.

Edward D. Hess penned a nice article about servant leadership and high performance for the Washington Post.  The article was actually published in April, but if you haven’t seen it, its a good read.

MaryAnn McKibben Dana blogged her thoughts about negotiating, finding a mentor, and her responses to the book Lean In.  What do you think of her reflections?

HBR offers a management tip about creativity.  To be creative you need to focus on the vitals, and get uncomfortable.

Mark Cuban has “12 Rules for Startups.” Given his success, I think these rules are most helpful and spot-on.

If you need a reminder about how happiness matters for effectiveness in the workplace, here is an article from 2 years ago which is still just as relevant.

Church

As a bridge between leadership and the church, Donald Miller reflects on how to spot a manipulative church leader.

Rev. David Hansen wrote an open letter to the new presiding bishop of the ELCA on his blog regarding being the church today and the need for Bishop Eaton to be out front as a voice in the digital conversation.  What do you think?

In the realm of church and society, here is a new organization that I discovered last week, The Reformation Project.  Naturally as a Lutheran, any time “reformation” is used in a title, its gets my interest.  This group is looking to reform church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity.  If you care about church and society and inclusion this would be a good read for you.  ABC News, courtesy of the Associated Press, also picked up this story and wrote about it here.

If you haven’t heard by now, Pope Francis gave a pretty awesome interview last week.  Michael J.  O’Loughlin offers his take here.  Michael Kimpan, offers some reflections here.

Last October this blog post first appeared about big churches and age demographics.  It has been making its way around certain missional church conversations again in the past week, and is still just as provocative.  What do you think in light of this?

For the systems theory lovers, here is Peter Steinke with some thoughts on “Where to touch the elephant.”

Neighbor Love

In other news, the United States legislative branch made news this past week.  One such vote regarding SNAP (formerly food stamps) is cause for my response found here.  Others have already chimed in, however.  Jim Wallis offers his thoughts. Kevin Hagan, president and CEO of Feed the Children also has weighed in.  Bread for the World was understandably outraged as well.  The General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church also greatly opposed the house vote and proposed $40 billion cut.

Stewardship

Pope Francis makes another appearance in the links this week.  CBS News reports on his decries about money’s power over people.

Community

The Drucker Institute pondered the question about if there really is becoming an “American Proletariat?”  After reading the article, I am wondering, what do you think?

In a sort of “Melting Pot” story of the week, and an off-the-wall sort of look, David Peterson talks about the fading of Nordic Ties in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

Vocation

A marketing blog last week shared 10 steps for achieving work and life balance, particularly for small business employees and participants.

As always, if there are particular topics you would like me to try and include in the links, please don’t hesitate to let me know.  Hope these were helpful and enjoyable reads for you.