07.16.09

Housekeeping

Posted in administration at 3:51 pm

I’ve tidied up things a bit with the website. From now on the blog’s address is www.theroterts.net instead of www.theroterts.net/blog. You might want to update your bookmarks.

11.12.08

How to be a leader

Posted in Team, administration, leadership at 6:46 am

My team leader is about to begin a six month home service in the US. Team Expansion strongly suggests that someone on the field be appointed “Interim Team Leader.” Though I’m not sure I’m up to the challenge, the job has fallen to me this time.

On one hand, I know that my job will be to keep “the ship” sailing, rather than make huge course corrections. So I don’t feel like I’ll be making big decisions. On the other hand, I don’t want to blow this off and pretend like nothing is going to change. So I’ve been asking friends who are smarter than me for their advice. Here’s what one guy had to say:

  1. Listen- Create opportunities where you can just listen to what’s going on with the team, personally and “professionally.”
  2. Encourage- You’re a nice guy, keep being that way. Let them know you want the best for them by encouraging your team in who God is making them and what He is doing through them, individually and on the team.
  3. Communicate- Don’t assume they know what you think they should know. Don’t hold information back from them. Unless it’s a really dire circumstance, there’s nothing you know that they shouldn’t know. Through communicating with them, you show them that they are valued enough to be trusted with information, even if they don’t have much to do with the use of the information.
  4. Don’t avoid conflict with them- I’m not encouraging meanness but conflict is good and can say, “Hey, we’re not all on the same page but we are all people who have been given minds by God and who can have a little excitement when discussing things, if only we’re willing to disagree in a Christlike way.” Check out this article for a cursory look at what I’m talking about regarding this.
  5. Love- Man, you’re a loving, cuddly guy, this should come easy for you. Really, influence is what John Maxwell says leadership is all about. I think people are more influenced by love than anything else. Not the cuddly kind (accept with wife and kids) but the gracious merciful kind that everyone needs. Keep things gracious and you’ll do great in this interim period.

I’ve got some smart friends, huh? Except I don’t think I’m cuddly.

05.21.07

Shiny New Blog

Posted in administration at 2:19 pm

Well how about that… The Roterts in Italy got a facelift!

We’ve ditched the old Blogger blog, and switched to a WordPress blog. There’s lots more features, and things are just generally easier to set up and maintain.

Hope you like the new look. Leave a comment and let’s see how this thing works…