Week 37 - learnings from a brillaint leaders. Guess who.

Week 37 and I'm reading a fascinating book on leadership. In fact a book I highly recommend for any pastor/leader. Probably not a book you would naturally reach for - but trust me, its got brilliant insight.

A Journey: My Political Life @ Tony Blair.

It's hot off the press, its immediately made the best seller lists in UK and it has surprised me.

I have always admired Tony Blair, the ex-prime minister of the United Kingdom for 10 years. 10 years leading at the highest levels - nationally and internationally.

Tony introduced me to New Labor and to a political position that I could and did embrace. Thus began my many years of voting for a progressive, compassionate, intellectual yet pragmatic form of socialism.

But as this is a leadership blog, let me list for you 7 of the best, and initial leadership insights you get from reading Tony's autobiography:

1. There are two types of crazy people; those who are just crazy and who are therefore dangerous; and those whose craziness lends them creativity, strength, ingenuity and verve. These types of crazy you need, yet you will never tame them. The same thing that makes them different and brilliant is the same thing that means they don't conform to normal, predictable modes of behaviour. And, they are always on the edge.


2. I have a few rules about people I work with really closely. Work comes first. No blame culture. Fun, in its proper place, is good. Disloyalty has no place. Look out for each other. Stick together. Respect each other. It helps if you also like each other.


3. Leaders need to learn how to think, not just how to 'pass exams'. Think - analyse, dissect a problem from the first principles, and having deconstructed it, construct a solution.


4. Don't forget: communication is 50% of the battle in the information age. Say it once, say it twice and keep on saying it, and when you've finished, you'll know you've still not said it enough. (Quoting Bill Clinton a fellow modernizing socialist worth learning from.)


5. Every year there is a new height to be attained so that the momentum is not lost.


6. Intensity of the focus is the common in leadership.


7. Each step is fearful, yet each refusal (by yourself out of fear) means not only remorse at an opportunity missed, but, worse, despising yourself for not even summoning up the courage to try.


8. When you speak - speak with utter confidence; use humor; keep a thread running throughout; build the argument don't just plonk it down. Battles are won by generals not preachers.


9. Go beyond the confines of the debate and think about the world that was not debating trivial matters but were focused on life, hope and health versus death due to the ravages of poverty, conflict and disease. Focus always on the big.


10. Creating time for a leader is a near-sacred task. Show me an ineffective leaders and I will show you a badly managed schedule.
    

All within the first 100 pages.

Its a long but a great read.

Read it.