This Blog Site Is Changing

I have moved my blog to a new location. You can now find it at kyledowden.com. Also, check out my new church website at infinitychurch.tv.

Leading While the Boss is Away

I received the call early this morning. "Something has come up. Can you cover for me?" It was my boss. He is going to be gone for the day. Not too long ago, it was a two week vacation. Before that, it was a week long work-sponsored cruise

Whenever the boss is away, the mice have two choices: play or do their job.

Most of us get so used to the daily routine that we don't plan for the days when the department head is out of the office. Today, I have some thoughts on how you can spend these boss-free days.

Five Reasons Why You Need a Diverse Team

In the more than twelve years of involvement in leadership, one of the best lessons I have learned is the importance of having a solid team around you.

Teams provide so much more to a group or organization than a single person could do on their own.

Here are five reasons you need a diverse team surrounding you.

• A team of people gives you diversity. When a leader tries to go it alone, they are only able to provide the wisdom and experience of one lifetime. A team gives you access to several experts and lifetimes all in the same room.

• Teams multiply the abilities of the leader. One person can only work so hard and for so long before they wear down. A team can carry that burden and split the workload to accomplish the goal in a much more manageable timeframe.

• Teams provide accountability. The leader who thinks he should be accountable to no one has a fool for an advisor. Teams help to push the leader toward the goals of the organization, and provide necessary feedback for approval or correction.

• Teams allow the leader to delegate responsibilities to the most qualified and experienced in the company. This frees the leadership to dream up new ideas and vision, while ensuring the work is completed on time and with excellence.

• Finally, the leader who develops a competent and skilled group will be setting the company up for long term success long after the leader has left the organization. That its what we call "leaving a legacy."

What are some other benefits of a leadership team? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hire Me, I'm a Consultant

Every so often, I'll make mention that I do consulting work for artists and radio stations looking to improve what they do.

Everyone has an opinion on the quality of the product they produce. It is vital that your product (in this case, music and station) be reviewed by third parties and coached on ways to make it better.

I have expert knowledge in Christian music formats, and ways to make your music production better. Also, as an eight-year programming veteran at a Christian radio station, I can also advise on ways to make your crew stand out.

For more information on Kyle Dowden Consulting, drop me an email with your information, and I'll make contact with you about pricing and other details.

People Want to See You Fail

"I hope he fails."

Those were the words that Rush Limbaugh sent to the New York Times in January 2009 in response to a request the paper had sent out seeking comment about the upcoming inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Today's post isn't about politics, or who was right and who was wrong. It's about the fact that in the American culture (and presumably many others), we are all rubber-neckers.

Sin Will Take You Farther Than You Want to Go

That is the title to a very famous song from The Cathedral Quartet.

In Romans 7:15, Paul tells a familiar tale. I want to do the right thing all the time, but I don't. I don't want to ever sin, but I do.

I think that is the story of our lives -- even Christ-followers. We were born in sin, and after accepting Christ as our savior, we still live in a sin-filled world. We are still prone to sin. And, if we are honest with ourselves, when we head down that path of sin, we end up someplace we did not want to go.

Leading Like a Rock Star Does Not Make You a Rock Star

We live in a world that is dominated by personalities. The strong ones lead and influence. The weak trail and do what they're told.

At least, that's what we believe. But, in reality, the best leaders don't stick to this mold.

In his book, "Good to Great," author Jim Collins breaks leadership down into five levels. To his surprise, the study revealed that the level five (top level) leader was not the egocentric, self-absorbed person we might imagine. Instead, Collins says that some of the biggest personalities only produced moderate results.

Providential Moments

Last week, my wife and I were headed home from an appointment we had when she said, "Let's get pizza for supper."
I knew what that meant -- Little Ceasars. So, I drove the van the extra couple of miles to the nearest store to our home, and took one of my boys in to pick up supper.

Now, I have made this same trip to this same store dozens of times, and never has anyone called out my name. I mean, it would be cool if I walked in and everyone game me the Cheers-NORM treatment, but that has never happened...until last week.

Can Leaders Be Friends With Their Staff?

This is a great question that is always being asked. Can members of the leadership team be friends with those they lead?

There are two schools of thought on this, and today I want to explore these and give you my take.

Those schools of thought say either: yes or no. I would like to think it is yes AND no (at least a little no).

Leading Toward Happiness

Being a leader in the workplace is not easy. You are constantly being pulled in all directions by every imaginable force.

Employees always want your attention. The ownership wants more productivity. Customers want greater satisfaction. With all the strain and stress, it can be easy to overlook some of the smaller or less noticeable details.

But, ignore the small things long enough, and they will compound upon each other and eventually leave you with a mess to clean.

What One Thing Can I Do to Improve My Music?

When artists ask me what they can do to improve their chances of getting played on the radio, I typically tell them that good production and good singing are a great place to start.

To get those, and artist or group ususally has to spend big bucks in a recording studio. It's clearly one of those "you get what you pay for" deals.

But, simply saying good production or good singing isn't much of a measuring stick. But, there is one thing an artist can do to measure the "good" of their music.

Lead Like the World Depends on It

I admit guilt to today's post. I've done it before. And, I'm embarrassed to admit it. I've led small groups...I've taught...I've preached based on the size of the group.

What does that mean? Well, simply put, it's easier to lead or teach a large group of people when you can be the rock star they're all looking to. It's a lot more difficult when you're hoping for a great turnout, but only get a handful.

You might even prepare for a dozen, but when you get only two, the wind goes out of your sails, and you give a two-effort. On the flip side, if you prepped for two, but got the dozen, you would be thrilled.

The Myth of More than You Can Handle

I'm not a fan of bumper sticker theology. That's a term that easily describes quick, feel-good comments that are passed off as biblical theology.

Some carry absolute truth, such as "God loves you," or "Jesus is Lord of all." True, yes. But, they don't tell the whole story. For that matter, they don't even come close.

But, bumper sticker theology is best known for taking a biblical truth (or a part of it) and twisting it into something designed to give us warm fuzzies. One of the worst offenders is the notion that God will not give you more than you can handle.

Continuing Education for Business

One of the challenges that leaders face on a regular basis is ensuring that their people have what they need to do their job.

All too often in organizations, leadership will train a new hire how to do the job they were hired for and that is where the training stops.

But, the people under you need more than a one and done training session. They need a continual education to keep their mind sharp and their ability honed.

By continually training your staff, you can keep them updated on any of the changing forces within your industry. This keeps you ahead of the game, and puts you at the front of your competition.

An educated employee is a challenged employee is a happy, productive employee.

How to Make Southern Gospel Radio Better

I've been on the air for 19 years, most of it spent spinning southern gospel music. I've seen a lot over the years -- some good, some bad.

One of the things I have figured out is that there is a great misconception about what southern gospel is, and what it is not. Many people outside the genre think it to be a poor quality style of music. They may cite poor vocals, poor arrangements, poor concerts, aging audience, etc.

Discipling the Next Generation of Believers

Yesterday, I wrote about mentoring from a leadership angle. But, in Christianity, there's another term for mentoring -- discipleship.

In Matthew 28, Jesus tells his followers to go into the world and make disciples. That passage even defines what it means to become a disciple. It says that the disciple would do all the things that Jesus commanded.

Leadership Mentoring

I was a senior in high school when I got my first taste of leadership. Granted, it was both as president of my church youth group, and as a member of Missouri Boys State. But, that is where it started.

To be honest, I was too young to fully comprehend the opportunities that lay ahead. It wasn't until someone took the time to invest in my leadership growth that I started to realize the possibilities.

I was 20 when I met the man who would become my first leadership mentor. For the next nine years, his insight and advice would guide me up the leadership trail. And, it was through my interaction with him and others on our team that I learned the importance (and the joy) of being a mentor.

Seeking God During the Hard Times

On September 11, 2001, life changed in America. As four hijacked airliners made their final, horrific flights, Americans trembled in fear, but also stood in anger.

A tragedy of that magnitude left millions of people searching for answers. It caused many of us to reflect on our lives, and to appreciate what we had.

That was a Tuesday. Five days later, these millions of people flocked to churches in the hope that God could provide some sense of meaning in the tragedy.

Leading Through Hard Times

Leadership can be very rewarding for those who aspire to be in such positions. The chance to make decisions that impact an organization, or the opportunity to pour knowledge into those you lead can be very rewarding.

But, a leader's real worth doesn't come during the easy time. It comes when things go wrong.

Music Review: Ernie Haase and Signature Sound

Rating: 8 out of 10

Today, I am reviewing the new album from Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Here We Are Again.

This is the groups first original album in three years, and is a showcase of this group's diversity.

The album opens with an interesting take on the classic "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." The song carries a vaudeville-like feel that is different than the typical southern gospel song, but not so far removed from the imaginations of Signature Sound. After all, these guys have showed the genre what it means to be different.