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Leadership Development and
Motivating/Inspirational Speaker
Following is a list of programs I have
prepared which could be adapted for specific occasions. The first four
programs make a good four day Parish Mission.
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"Your Created Goodness:
Developing and Improving a Positive Attitude and Healthy Self-Worth
– A Concept
for Spiritual Wellness." This program
looks at the concept of self-worth as being created in God's image and likeness and being
called very good (Genesis 1:27,31). The focus is on discovering, embracing
and unleashing this intrinsic concept of personal goodness that is necessary for
successful leadership. Magnanimity, "a great-souled person," is a core
virtue that will be explored.
This program teaches the importance of learning how to reach and to
stretch to attain the goals one strives to achieve. As we read in the book of Isaiah
(40:31) the destiny of each person is: They that hope in the Lord will renew their
strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary;
walk and not grow faint.-
Forgiveness: The Keystone of Human Values. This talk looks at the human need to
give and receive forgiveness. As Gandhi said, "Only the one who is strong enough to
avenge a wrong is strong enough to forgive a wrong." Examples are drawn from daily
living, multiple traditions and humorous illustrations from nature, without mentioning the Bible or the sayings of Jesus, except at the end
where it comes together by showing how important forgiveness was to Jesus that he raised
it to the level of a sacrament.-
"The Coach for Our Lives:" The Role of the Holy Spirit in the New
Millennium. This talk was developed to more fully understand the role of the Holy
Spirit as we enter a new millennium. Reflection is on the Greek words parakaleo,
parakleto and paraklesis and their relationship to understanding the
role of the Holy Spirit, who calls us to a new and more abundant life. Also examined is
the function of the Holy Spirit, using the document "The Holy Spirit in the Life of
the Church and the World" (Dominum et Vivificantem) by Pope John Paul
II, as the Lord and giver of life.
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Role of the Laity: Developing a Spirituality of Discipleship. This program
explores the role of the laity in the Church in light of the Second Vatican
Council's "Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity," as well as, Pope John
Paul's document "Christifidelis Laici" (Lay Members of Christ's
Faithful People) to penetrate and perfect the temporal sphere with the
spirit of the Gospel.
The focus is on developing an everyday spirituality of
discipleship drawing from the article
"Disciplines for a Spirituality of Work" by Gregory F. Augustine Pierce
(Origins,
Jan. 28, 1999). Spirituality in this context is seeing your life as a deepening revelation
of God's unique plan for your life, "in and thru all our efforts to make the world
a little better place, a little closer to the way or reign of God."
The biblical foundation for this spirituality is based in St. Paul's
1st letter to the Thessalonians (5:11, 13, 15-18): "Encourage one another and build
one another up...For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Such a
foundation provides vision and guidance in the everyday applications of a practical,
workplace, spiritual discipline.
Developing a spirituality of discipleship understands just how linked our
lives really are, developing a conscious awareness to and for others, and
developing an understanding that our words and actions, our own small acts of caring, kindness and
encouragement, what we do and what we don't do will have an effect in the lives of
others. Simply, that disciples are to be like sermons walking.
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Art of Encouragement. This talk is based on St. Paul's 1st letter to the
Thessalonians (5:11, 13, 15-18): "Encourage one another and build one another
up...For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
To encourage one another is applying The Golden Rule in
one's daily life, whether it be as a parent, teacher, friend, coach, minister, employer,
manager, etc. Encouragement is seen as one of the critical factors for effective
leadership. Also, I have a shorter version for after-dinner speeches.
I have several spin-offs of this "encouragement" theme
directed toward athletes, coaches, parents and evangelization.
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The Power of Influence. This talk began as a response to the 9/11
tragedy. It looks at the root meaning of terror as a means to break our
spirit and how we can be forces to positively influence our own little
acre in God's kingdom. Much like how "we see in NY’s harbor,
Lady Liberty’s torch brightly beaconing hope amid these darkest hours of
terror."
Emphasis is placed on one's conscious commitment
amid the routine of daily life to promote other people's welfare, to be a
power of influence. The foundation for such a commitment is rooted in
the word frequently used in speeches and sermons—RESOLVE,
a firmness of decision, a steadfast purpose.
John W. Gardner, a leading American educator, summed it up
as, "The prime function of a leader [also a teacher, coach, parent,
preacher, friend] is to keep hope alive!" We can all make greater
efforts to be a more positive force to influence, to "encourage others and
to build up one another." Or, as the remarkable Presbyterian
preacher/novelist Frederick Beuchner describes humanity as an enormous
spider web, "if you touch it anywhere, you set the whole thing trembling…The
life that I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn
another, until who knows where the trembling stops…"
Resolve to be the power of influence in
your family, your school, your community.
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Leadership Vision: Explores how having a creative vision is
essential for effective leadership, which needs to be transformed in
simple reality. A leader refines, adapts and adjust this creative
vision, especially by learning to fail forward, or by turning
failures into fertilizer.
Opportunities abound around us for those with "eyes to see and ears
to hear," yet most go through life with one eye and ear shut. This talk
looks at vision as "the ability to conceive what might be attempted or
achieved," or as far-sightedness, seeing beyond the horizon. It takes vision
and awareness to notice possibilities that most walk by, unnoticed and
unaware. As Edison stated: "I absorb ideas from every source I can…The ideas
that I use are mostly the ideas of other people who don't develop them
themselves."
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Men of God—Men of Virtue. This is a men's
ministry program reflecting on 1 Tim. 6:11-12. We will look at the
origins of virtue and our daily struggles to exemplify virtue by our
choices and decisions. In this text St. Paul is challenging/calling on
Timothy to honor and virtue as a "man of God." Three virtues, in
particular, we will examine that are imperative to understand within men's
ministry—Agape, Patience and
Gentleness or Meekness.
Today, a man of God, as St. Paul challenged Timothy, walks in
honor and virtue, or we might say, stands tall as a man of character.
Closing this program, we will look at the effects character has for a man
to stand tall in this time of struggle. -
Spirituality of Parenting: Sowing Seeds of Faith.
The focus of this talk is looking at the family as a garden in which
seeds of faith are sown—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another
and forgiving one another—that will bear
abundant fruit within family life.
Seeing the role of parent as a spiritual experience and as a
vocation has a strong mandate in Pope John Paul's document "Christifidelis Laici" (Lay Members of Christ's
Faithful People), §40 "The family is the basic cell of society. It is the cradle of life and love, the place in which
the individual ‘is born’ and ‘grows.’"
Catholic parents in the 21st Century have the task to prepare their children
to take on their respective roles as the builders of God’s kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven.
They have the responsibility is to nurture the seeds of faith within their families
so that their sons and daughters will grow strong, loving & wise…that their light will brightly shine before
others…that they will be the salt that influences their world.
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Dare Mighty Things. This lecture is to instill and energize each person with a
sense of personal mission to dare greatly in overcoming life's obstacles. "Dare
Mighty Things" echoes the struggles of all valiant men and women who have dared to
make this world a better place, and it summons each one of us to continue the struggle as
"candlelighters" rather than as "candlesnuffers."
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Dare Mighty Things...Again! This lecture has a greater focus on renewing and
revitalizing men and women to continue the struggle to be a positive influence in this
world. It has been received enthusiastically by teacher in-service programs and care-giver
groups. There is an immediacy in creating a positive environment. "I Dare You, catch
a passion for helping others and a richer life will come back to you."
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Dare Mighty Things: A Spirituality for the Workplace. This program focuses on
developing an everyday spirituality for the workplace drawing from the article
"Disciplines for a Spirituality of Work" by Gregory F. Augustine Pierce in Origins,
Jan. 28, 1999. Spirituality in this context is seeing your life as a deepening revelation
of God's unique plan for your life, "in and thru all our efforts to make the world
a little better place, a little closer to the way or reign of God."
The biblical foundation for this spirituality is based in St. Paul's
1st letter to the Thessalonians (5:11, 13, 15-18): "Encourage one another and build
one another up...For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Such a
foundation provides vision and guidance in the everyday applications of a practical,
workplace, spiritual discipline.
Developing a spirituality for the workplace understands just how linked our
lives really are, develops a conscious awareness to and for others, and develops an
understanding that our words and actions, our own small acts of caring, kindness and
encouragement, what we do and what we don't do will have an effect in the lives of others,
like sending forth tiny ripples of hope.
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Principles of Integrity:
The focus of this presentation is centered
around the character-building virtue of "integrity." It will examine
"Integrity" by definition, synonyms and biblical passages, as well as,
contemporary examples of how integrity is an important internal support
for effective leadership.
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Better Communications Through Effective
Listening. This talk explores the
communications process, or lack of it, in building community. Focus is toward the
communication differences between men and women with emphasis on
developing active listening skills. We hear in Sirach 6:33 "If you
are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be
wise." The three pillars for strong
communities and effective communications are Respect—Courtesy—Kindness.
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Rev Your Engines. This talk is primarily geared for those beginning a new phase
in their life journey. It also has been successfully adapted for assisting new students in
getting adjusted to academic life and for college seniors getting ready to enter the job
interview process. The focus is on self-confidence, visioning, expectations, interviewing
tips and pointers, attitude adjustments, etc.
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Servant Leadership. This talk looks at leaders as servants based on the works of
Robert Greenleaf. Focus is on the differences between "worldly leadership" vs.
"Gospel leadership."
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Teamwork. This talk centers around the acronym: T.E.A.M.
(Together Everyone Accomplishes More). The focus is on
vision-goals-purpose.
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Develop A Great Theme For Life. This talk is a short, motivational, B-vitamin
shot for inspiring leaders to develop meaning and purpose for the direction of their
lives.
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Time Management. This talk looks at time management with a focus on NOW
as the key concept. The oft quoted sports phrase, Just Do It, does not
answer the major question for leaders, "When are you going to do it." Now
becomes a great time management tool.
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