the importance of women GROWING IN LEADERSHIP

What is leadership? I was asked this question by John Maxwell at a leadership conference in 1997. What I wrote down was something like, “a manager, a boss, a person with position.” My next thought was, I am not a leader. I don’t need to learn what John Maxwell is teaching. But as I sat at that conference I became excited and intrigued. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to become a leader. Not a better leader because I did not think I was one at all, but a leader who would help other women grow as leaders.

Well, I don’t do anything halfway. I came home from that conference and dove in. God had given me a new passion to grow as a leader. I began reading through Maxwell’s book, “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.” The first law stopped me in my tracks. The “law of the lid” states that a person’s leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. And my level of effectiveness impacts the organization I am a part of — my family, and all those I am leading. I thought, I have to become a better leader so that others are impacted positively and want to grow as leaders too.

Over the past 20 years I have read and reread “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” many times. The last law in the book is the “law of legacy.” I ask myself every day, “What legacy are you going to leave today?” The best leaders lead today with tomorrow in mind by making sure they invest in leaders who will carry their legacy forward.

As part of our legacy, my husband Jon and I moved to Fargo to start Prairie Heights, a church for people who wanted nothing to do with church; a place where people could walk through the doors and feel welcome, accepted and want to explore who Jesus is in their life. As Prairie Heights grew we hired staff and were leading more and more volunteers.

To lead this amazing group of staff, leaders and volunteers we had to continue to grow ourselves by:

• Building relationships: We studied leadership with our staff and leaders and began growing together.

• Sharing a contagious vision: We drew a picture of the future of Prairie Heights and asking staff and leaders to join us on this journey. We prayed for many to be energized by the vision and join the team.

• Pushing each other out of our boxes: We all have moments as leaders when we say, I can’t do that. Those are the moments God wants to use us the most, because we realize we could have never accomplished it on our own.

• Sharing what you have learned with other women: When I moved to Fargo, I prayed for God to show me what my legacy could be. I asked for that life sentence that would set the direction for my life and determine the legacy I would leave my children, my co-workers, my team, and those who walked through the doors of Prairie Heights. I have my life sentence. I try to live by it every day. My purpose in life is to inspire others to grow as leaders.

How are you growing as a leader so that you too can impact those in your life?

Step out of your box: Email me at teri.hauser@ prairieheights.com and share what steps you are going to take to “raise your lid” or “leave a legacy.” Let’s inspire each other to grow as leaders!

If you are looking for opportunities to grow in leadership with other women, Prairie Heights will have small groups beginning in January that will focus on the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership. Visit prairieheights.com for more information.

Teri Hauser

Teri and her husband Jon moved to Fargo in 2000 and started Prairie Heights in April 2001. They love this community and strive to connect those who don’t know Christ yet with Him and a church family. Teri is the communications and marketing director for Prairie Heights and loves seeing ideas become tools for leadership growth. She is passionate about football (Bison and the Green Bay Packers), being a great mom to Nate and Brooke and inspiring others to grow as leaders. [ aw ] deadline for ads is November 1 call now for advertising rates

MIKE SHERMAN 701-306-5119 • mikesherman@ymail.com DEBBIE TROMBLEY 701-729-1910 • sales@areawoman.com