POSTS FROM JOE HANDLEY, CEO

My son, John, and I had the privilege of attending a seminar with Trey Hillman, LA Dodgers bench coach and former Japan world series manager for the Sapporo Fighters. Trey sprinkled his presentation with several powerful principles of leadership as he spoke to a mostly Japanese speaking audience at Union Church in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo.

I was very impressed with what Coach Hillman shared:

1. He shared how he learned to respect Japanese culture and began to build a unique East/West collaboration between Japanese baseball principles and American baseball principles. His blending of each culture's strengths into the Fighters leadership culture was a big part of their success going from a poorly performing team to a world series champion. 
2. Trey shared the importance of patience and perseverance in leadership as he and his family adjusted to all sorts of changes over time (coaching and managing for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Tokyo and Sapporo Fighters and the Los Angeles Dodgers). 
3. He highlighted the importance of overcoming fear no matter where you are in life stating that all of us face fears, no matter who we are or how brave we are. The key to facing fear in his case is to focus on Christ. Christ gives us courage in the face of our fears.
4. Perhaps most profound was Hillman's concluding words taken from his favorite Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 13. It was through love that he was best able to handle all of life's challenges (whether blending cultures, adapting to new environments, needing to preserver through trials and overcoming fear). He even spoke of how the most fruitful form of confrontation, something we all hate to do but we must do, takes place best in the context of loving conversation.

I came away with much to digest in how to be a better leader in life and in ministry. From the importance of "love" to the ability to collaborate across various cultural leadership perspectives, I have learned much to implement as a husband, father, and ministry leader.

What leadership lessons have you learned recently? I'd love to learn from you… Please share: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.