Gary Wood, Author at g.e. wood & associates

The Servant Leadership Smart Management Imperative

"How Can I Serve You?" This one question captures the servant leadership, smart management mindset. There are books in my library that I continue to go back to over time. Often my return visit is to a single well marked page or two, the message of which continues to inspire me to better thinking and improved performance over time. And that is the case with this short passage from Understanding Leadership, published in 1991 and authored by Tom Marshall. A Question of Character, Not a Question of Function There are, Robert Greenleaf in his seminal book "Servant Leadership", says, “two [...]

The Servant Leadership Smart Management ImperativeGary Wood2018-10-29T03:20:52+00:00

7 Reasons I Wouldn’t be Without the Clarity Model

Here are 7 reasons I wouldn’t be without the Clarity Model. All of them relate to the fact that on any given day I need to move priorities forward. It doesn’t matter what hat I happen to have on, personal, professional or leader, I need the tools to get the job done. I wouldn’t go out trekking in the wild without having a compass and map. Nor would I navigate through the wild of life, business and service without the compass and map of the Clarity Model at my ready disposal. Here’s what makes this knowledge invaluable to me 1. I Can Use [...]

7 Reasons I Wouldn’t be Without the Clarity ModelGary Wood2018-10-29T03:27:18+00:00

Shut the Door – Something Jesus said Helped Me Be More Productive Today

Something Jesus said helped me be more productive today. The Bible verse reads: "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:6 Now I've spoken on this verse before while covering the topic of prayer. After all that's what Jesus is speaking about. He's giving his Disciples a practical lesson about the importance of having intimate fellowship and an ongoing conversation with God versus putting on a performance to create an image for people. So, it's very [...]

Shut the Door – Something Jesus said Helped Me Be More Productive TodayGary Wood2018-10-29T03:27:25+00:00

Failing Forward, Revisiting John Maxwell’s Book

A recent client mentioned something he'd once read in John Maxwell's book, Failing Forward. He also mentioned that he'd lent his copy out and should get it back and revisit what was said. Since I happened to have a copy, I wrote out several of my underlined passages that I thought might be encouraging, challenging and inspiring for my friend. I thought you might feel the same. So here they are, just as I sent them off to my client. Failing Forward, John Maxwell, c. 2000, Maxwell Motivation Inc. “What distinguishes winners from losers is that winners concentrate at all [...]

Failing Forward, Revisiting John Maxwell’s BookGary Wood2018-10-29T03:27:31+00:00

Get the Action Plan Advantage

Want an Action Plan Advantage? What are your desired outcomes from this upcoming week, the next quarter or the year ahead? What do you need to do to make those things happen … ... find a solution? ... take advantage of an opportunity? ... troubleshoot something that isn't working? ... just focus, tweak, maintain momentum and get the job done? Let's Be Clear Those who get an Action Plan Advantage Find solutions. Take advantage of opportunities. Troubleshoot problems more accurately. Focus. Adjust, maintain momentum and GET THE JOB DONE. Making Plans I'll bet hardly a day goes by that you [...]

Get the Action Plan AdvantageGary Wood2018-10-29T03:27:37+00:00

Tame Your Long To-Do List

Do you have your to-do list with you? Simply writing an assortment of to-dos on a list doesn't mean it is the final list. Every individual and organization creates lists. We call them action plans. Sometimes they’re big like a strategic plan covering many years, large workforces, several countries and multiple products or programs. Other times they’re more personal, like the around-home to-do list that gets the lawn mowed, the dog washed, the washer in the hose changed, the windows cleaned, next week’s meals planned, the … well, you get the picture. Plans come in all shapes and sizes. All [...]

Tame Your Long To-Do ListGary Wood2018-10-29T03:27:45+00:00

Beacon Bible Camp and the Origins of the Clarity Model

I've been asked a number of times before, “How did the Clarity Model get started?” So, here’s the backstory - the origins of the Clarity Model. The model really had its genesis back in the early to mid 90’s when Alice and I set aside business for a time and I took over as Executive Director of Beacon Bible Camp. Leadership and Management It was a pretty intense time of leadership as you can imagine. Beacon was a small but vibrant organization and we were the only full-time couple who were there. We felt the weight of taking over leadership [...]

Beacon Bible Camp and the Origins of the Clarity ModelGary Wood2018-10-29T03:27:53+00:00

Clarity Training is Essential

I operate under a simple belief. Every Christian leader and professional should have Clarity Training in their tool box. Clarity Training is essential. I believe any new leadership team should absolutely understand the Clarity Model. I believe any organization that wants to be successful should ensure Clarity Training for their key people. And I'll go even further. I actually believe that every young person in college or university should have Clarity Training under their belt before they graduate. Seeing yourself and your situation clearly and knowing what to do next is just that important. That's true for individuals and it's [...]

Clarity Training is EssentialGary Wood2018-10-29T03:28:07+00:00

12 Reasons Christian Camps Must Measure Performance

It still has me shaking my head. For the life of me, after so many years involvement and interest, I cannot understand why Christian camps fail to measure their performance. (And I mean far more than just creating the annual financial report and telling us how many campers attended this past year.) Sure, there was a day (remember, “back when we were there”, "back in the day") when things were simpler. Decision-making information and resulting conversation seemed clearer and contained far less layers of complexity. But not anymore. C’mon. God’s still the same, but the days we live in and [...]

12 Reasons Christian Camps Must Measure PerformanceGary Wood2018-10-29T03:28:13+00:00

Reading the Signposts that Can Lead to Burnout

You or one of your key leaders may be at a crossroads. Just a choice or two will determine where you end up. Burnout is one destination. You get there by way of people, attitudes, actions and reactions that wear you down and make you realize control of your own situation is fast slipping away. You allow others to get there by not caring, not paying attention or not knowing what to do and just pretending you don't see it. Reading the signposts that can lead to burnout may be crucial in determining what you do next. As a leader, [...]

Reading the Signposts that Can Lead to BurnoutGary Wood2018-10-29T03:28:20+00:00