OCC has hired Kevin Leimeister as part-time (15 hours per week) Interim Youth Director. Kevin will provide overall leadership for OCC’s youth ministry until we hire a full-time person. He will work with our existing adult volunteers to plan, organize, and supervise ALL youth activities. We’ve hired Kevin, at least initially, for 90 days. If we haven’t hired a full-time Youth Minister (birth through 12th grade) at the end of 90 days, we hope to keep Kevin in this role until someone is hired. Kevin’s long-term goal is to get a teaching job at a local school. He graduated from the University of Akron in December with a teaching degree.

We really appreciate Kevin’s willingness to “stand in the gap” for us during this transition period. Please welcome Kevin to our staff.

Feel free to email me with questions or leave a comment.

I took the DiSC personality profile again recently. I’ve taken it twice over the last 3 years. The results are pretty consistent. My dominant style is C with some S and a little D. Below is what my profile says I enjoy about managing/leading and what drains me.

What I enjoy?

- Emphasizing accuracy and precision

- Implementing rational ideas

- Creating efficient systems or procedures

- Keeping people on track

- Developing solid proposals

- Catching errors or flaws in design

- Improving upon others’ ideas

- Creating a reliable setting for yourself and others

- Setting high standards

- Providing in-depth analysis

- Emphasizing quality

- Calculating risks

What drains me?

- Building warm relationships with team members

- Displaying empathy

- Making decisions without time for analysis

- Giving enthusiastic praise or public recognition

- Initiating change

- Building a collaborative environment

- Managing a chaotic environment

- Moving quickly

- Offering emotional support

- Meeting new people

- Dealing with conflict

- Building optimism and enthusiasm

For those that know me, what do you think? Is this accurate? What would you add or take away?

Remember, be nice!

I subscribe to John Maxwell’s monthly mentoring CD – Maximum Impact Club. I’d recommend it to anyone in leadership. Here’s a powerful statement from a recent lesson: “the single most important lesson any parent, leader, coach, or friend can ever grasp: I can make you more than you are, I just can’t make you something you’re not!”

All of us have potential. All of us have areas of strength. All of us have a unique temperament. Maxwell’s point is that we should “draw out” and develop those things that are already in us, not try “to put in what was left out.”

This is huge when it comes to leading people. We must take the time to engage in relationships and learn who people really are. That way we can leverage what they are. Trying to develop or train someone in an area they’re not is a waste of resources. Instead, get them in their strength zone and develop that. Then they will soar like eagles and realize their God-given potential.

How have you seen this truth at work?

This Friday, May 11th CCHO (Christian Children’s Home of Ohio) is hosting Dr. John Maxwell’s Maximum Impact Simulcast. Please click here for more information. It’s going to be a great day of learning and “sharpening the saw.” Hope to see you there!