blog

back to vancouver (washington, that is)

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after a few quick nights home in bellingham i’m back in vancouver (wa) for the essentials of development seminar http://www.murdock-trust.org/enrichment-programs/essentials-development-seminar.php with the M. J. Murdock Trust. i am designated as a “back bencher,” observing the process, gaining valuable insights and making connections with those participating. another benefit will be growing connections with Murdock staff members and side work on the Trust’s vision and call internship program. additionally, i have ministry history with all three of the seminar facilitators and look forward to ongoing connections with them. next week i’m off to dallas, tx for the refresh college ministry conference http://collegeunion.org/refresh/. i’ll post more about that in the coming days.

intern programs & a leaders conference

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tomorrow (tuesday) i will be in vancouver (washington) for meetings related to the M. J. Murdock Trust Vision & Call internship program http://www.murdock-trust.org/enrichment-programs/vision-call-internships.php. i will be meeting with staff from the Trust and others to evaluate the program and look forward to the next phase of building leaders for the future. on wednesday and thursday i will continue in the vancouver area with the Trust and the Stewardship Foundation http://www.stewardshipfdn.org/index.php?section=1 for the Shaping the Soul of A Leader conference for northwest ministry leaders. this annual event provides a great opportunity for connections and support.

helping establish & support internships

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this morning i will be  meeting with leadership staff at CTK Bellingham http://www.ctkbellingham.com/ and in the afternoon with Tom Beaumont, executive director of the Firs http://www.thefirs.org/. the CTK meeting will be to help evaluate their intern program and consider possible future direction. My meeting with Tom will be to explore establishing a new intern program at the Firs. in the early eighties i was on staff at the Firs and developed and oversaw an intern program. both of these meetings allow me to work with people i’ve known for years and help advance internships in the northwest. looks like a great day.

The balancing act – leadership mentoring

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Leadership is always a balancing act. What is the scope of ones responsibilities, what resources are available and whose expectations must be met? This list puts words to a few of the many questions a leader faces.

Leaders in non-profits, churches and para-church settings share common pressures with other organizational leaders. In addition they often have the added stress related to fundraising, governing boards, constituencies and other institutional uniqueness.

Leaders of small to mid-size organizations may find themselves as solo staff members. For some, their position is an initiation into the profession of their choosing.

Leaders often find that they are called upon to be a “jack of all trades”. The scope of responsibilities, spoken and unspoken, may be as broad as the imagination can envision. This often leads to unrealistic expectations and overwhelming pressures.

When a leader is burdened by responsibilities they aren’t good at, they tend to procrastinate or avoid the situation. This is negative in that: 1) the responsibilities do not disappear, 2) others may become frustrated that things aren’t being cared for and 3) the leader’s performance and satisfaction are diminished by the nagging, unfinished tasks.

My hope is to come alongside leaders and help them identify and manage those tough tasks thereby allowing the leader to work from strength.

 

Here’s the setting:

  • Person/position – organizational leader, solo, or with a small team
  • Organization – high expectations of those to whom you report
  • Organizational oversight – spoken or unspoken belief that you are responsible for everything
  • Responsibilities – everything, or at least it feels like everything
  • Situation – built-in failure, the scope of responsibilities will almost always force the leader to function in areas of weakness
  • Common response – ignore or procrastinate (hope things will disappear of take care of themselves)
  • Probable outcome – frustration and possible failure, loss of focus/passion, detracts from areas of strength. There can be a nagging sense of things left undone that colors all other experiences

Solution:

  • Get help – identify a mentor
  • Create partnership with your governing body – make this a team effort. Inform them of the situation, the need and hoped for response
  • Identify areas of weaknesses – outside input is helpful for clarity
  • Set and implement strategy to manage weaknesses – outside input is helpful for accountability
  • Monitor progress – change takes time and effort, but it’s worth it and outside input is helpful for follow-through
  • Make adjustments as needed – initial plans get us started, the best of plans may need adjusting after implementation
  • Breathe, live and go forward – celebrate the change by focusing fully on your strengths and relaxing fully when off the clock

Meeting once or twice a month we can access areas impeding a leaders progress and develop and implement a plan. By reducing the stress of being haunted by one’s weaknesses a leader can find freedom to focus on strengths and more fully enjoy all of life.

 

Contact me to begin the process of working together. https://jimschmotzer.com/services/leadership-mentoring

 

Jim Schmotzer & associates

November 2011

We’ve never done this before, transition to adulthood

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One of the great questions in our culture at this time is, “When is someone an adult?” We seem to have no clear rite of passage. Old expectations have quickly lost their power. Those transiting from adolescence to their twenties and beyond are entering an unknown world.

Cultural shifts, technological advances and financial uncertainties have resulted in a general fog of understanding related to becoming adult today.

How do young adults navigate in a world of unending options, high expectations and confusing messages? How do parents help prepare and support their children in becoming adult?

Having spent many years working directly with young adults and their parents it may be helpful to get an outside perspective.

A healthy goal for parents to set early is one related to, “establishing a sense of family that will result in positive adult to adult (after the kids are grown) relationships.”

Some of the factors to consider in understanding the situation are:

  • We seem to lack any clear “rite of passage”
  • Culture is shifting quickly
  • “Extended adolescence” seems to be the new reality
  • The system that parents “became adult” in is likely ineffective to meet the needs of today’s young adults
  • The transition has implications for the entire family

Possible responses for exploration with a coach are:

  • Gain an understanding – of the uniqueness of the family and its members
  • While the young person is in high school – consider post-high school options, balance of dreams and practical realities
  • Post-high school – be intentional about relationships, decision making, support realities (financial and other)
  • Beyond – exploration of expectations related to (as appropriate) career, location, getting established and marriage

A life coach can help all involved 1) evaluate their unique family dynamics, 2) define an agreed upon hoped for future for the family, 3) establish a plan for supporting each other on the journey and 4) providing alongside support on the way.

Contact me to begin working together for the good of the entire family. https://jimschmotzer.com/services/life-coaching

 

 

Jim Schmotzer & associates

November 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teens Turn To Life Coaches To Cope With Pressures

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a recent article highlights current pressures that are felt by teens and impact their families. my goal is to help people navigate this life stage and prepare for what is beyond. check out this piece: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/teens-turn-to-life-coache_n_1080286.html?ref=high-school&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008 i plan a post later this week to highlight my work with teens and young adults. to connect for life coaching click here: https://jimschmotzer.com/services/life-coaching

 

 

Where are we now?

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It’s November 1 and time for an update. This is an interesting new world for me. My adult life, and a fair bit before I became an adult, was marked by “jobs” where I worked for an identified organization. Here’s a link to a recent story I wrote for Catapult Magazine about my career shift http://www.catapultmagazine.com/outsider/article/lessons-for-a-season-as-an-outsider. 

I have had numerous meetings, built upon existing relationships and began new ones. I have some upcoming work with the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust and a few conferences where I’ll be leading workshops/seminars. Additionally, I have some connections that are currently “possible” and I am hoping and working to see them become “actual”.

I can find my self saying this is what I am to be doing at this stage. All my life and learning can help me in helping others. But, to be honest, there is the bit of wondering what am I doing?

Let me know if you are aware of people or organizations I can help. I’d appreciate the connection.

on our way home

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After a few good days in the Portland area we (Connie and I) are on our way back to Bellingham. Connections were positive and it looks like I will be further involved with the M. J. Murdock Trust Vision & Call internship program http://www.murdock-trust.org/enrichment-programs/vision-call-internships.php. This allows me to work closely with Terry Stokesbary and Mary Hill as well as other staff at the Trust. I was also able to meet with other Trust staff members, Father R. Ganz at Marylhurst University and Timothy Michael Kurek, hearing about his book in progress. 

I’ll be back in Portland next month and looking forward to new opportunities.