All posts by Rod Denton

INSIGHT……that separates leaders from followers

INSIGHT is a critical quality that characterises great leaders and the decisions they make. It separates leaders from followers and great leaders from ordinary leaders and can be defined as perspective, intuition, vision and discernment. However, insight can be compromised by logic, precedence, fear, legalism and traditions.

Jesus was a person of insight and often saw things that others did not see. The religious leaders of His day sent spies to catch Him out in something He said, but “He saw through their duplicity.” (Luke 20:23) On another occasion we read, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (Mark 2:5)

Leaders possess …

SHAPING YOUR CULTURE……. By what you create or what you tolerate

Rod Denton in Christian Living, Discipleship, Leadership, Mentoring

I was recently reminded of the valuable responsibility leaders have in shaping the culture of their organisation. They can shape their culture intentionally, or they can shape their culture by default.

This important lesson was brought home to me when I listened to a presentation by Danny Meyer, the CEO of a restaurant chain in America called Shake Shack. He spoke of how he chose to define the way he would shape the culture of his restaurant by “shaping the way that people would feel when they dined in one of the Shake Shack restaurants.” And it all started with the interview of prospective staff where staff are appointed …

The Little / BIG Principle…………A basic building block in making disciples

Rod Denton in Discipleship, Leadership, Mentoring

It was John Maxwell who brought to my attention the fact that experience is not the best teacher. Otherwise, everybody would be getting better and more mature as they grow older. Rather, evaluated experience is the best teacher. Evaluated experience is the experience that is reflected upon and where lessons are learnt and growth in maturity follows.

As I have taken time to reflect on my own life’s experiences, certain discipleship lessons have come to the surface. One that has consistently occurred is what is called the little / big principle, and is mentioned four times in the parables of Jesus.
(Matthew 25:21, 23. Luke 16:10, 19:17)
“You have …

CULTURE REIGNS……The critical battle between Culture and Values

Rod Denton in Leadership

I recall participating in a seminar set aside by a church where a group of its leaders came together to identify the values of the church. The group, seated around tables, were led through a day where the end product of identifying its key values was achieved.

Much has changed in that church since that day and I daresay that there would not be many who would now remember the list of values that were agreed upon that day. Further, It would seem that there was little attempt to communicate those values to the church at large, as life in the church has steadily deteriorated with the passing of …