What is Thorne Inc.?….from my weird family to yours: part 1
What is Thorne Inc.? I'm working on a Master's degree in Leadership and Management. As I consider the different ways to make use of all the things I'm learning, one ever-present source of application is my family. I noticed that over the years I've worked very hard applying leadership principles and skills to my work-related goals. But, so often, the people I love more than anyone else receive only my leadership leftovers. Two months ago I began asking the question, "What if I treated my family like a company and began applying all the best leadership principles I'm learning to them?" ...
The Balanced Scorecard of a Successful Family
Winning The old saying goes, “What gets measured gets done.” I recently read an article explaining how essential it is for successful businesses to develop a scorecard, indicators letting them know if they’re winning or not. Typically a business will choose one main scorecard- finances. But, the authors encouraged a more balanced scorecard focusing on different parts of the company. Also, these scorecards should be linked to the company’s vision and strategy. When it comes to your family- are you winning? What scorecard would you use to determine if your family was winning or not? The first things that come ...
4 Ways to Create Great Family Culture
Culture Matters There’s the old saying, “People don’t quit jobs, they quit managers.” They quit the environment managers create in their workplace. The most effective businesses in the world know that culture matters! Collins and Porras shared that companies built to last will have “cult-like cultures” (p. 114, 1994). They have a very clear idea of who they are and what it should be like to work in their environment. In their leadership research, Kouzes and Posner found that above all, people want to work for a leader they consider consistent and trustworthy (p. 37, 2012). Who wants to work ...
There’s No Such Thing as the Perfect Day
My plans were perfectly laid. I would wake up, get the kids off to school, then enjoy a perfectly organized day of studying my brains out and cleaning the house. The kids would come home as I casually cooked dinner and later would tell my wife about the day's great accomplishments. But, days never work out like we plan do they? One of my kids had to stay home sick. Our car had to be taken into be fixed, and the internet wasn’t working so I was unable to study. As my week unfolded I noticed the similar pattern of ...
Making Decisions that Won’t Make Your Kids Crazy
How does your family make decisions? I'm talking about things like: what kids should wear to school, eat for breakfast, haircut to get, sport to play, what the family will eat for dinner, do on the weekend, and do with their free time? Families make a lot of decisions. One study on leadership determined there are 4 main decision making styles. When managing people or leading a team, it's important to determine the appropriate decision-making style that will bring about the most success for the team and development of the individuals on the team. But, these 4 leadership styles don't have to stay ...
Every Team Needs a Deviant
The Deviant I recently read an interview with leading Organizational Psychologist Richard Hackman. He shared observations on effective teams based on years of research. One team concept stood out to me above the rest. He explained that every effective team needs a deviant. A deviant is the one person who will challenge the process. When everyone on the team is dreaming about how to build a great building, they're the person who will ask, "But, why are we even building a building in the first place"? They're the pebble in your team's shoe and the itch on your back you ...
How Parents Lead (Part 2)
As a parent, how would you describe your leadership style? I believe parents often downplay their role as a leader in their children's lives. But, if leadership is influencing others in a particular direction, in order to achieve a particular goal, then there are few things more leader-worthy than parenting. If you are a parent, then you are a leader. But, everyone leads different. If you haven't, make sure to check out part 1 of this post. Also, if you're trying to come up with a vision for your children's future larger than staying out of jail, and not getting pregnant before marriage, check out this post about creating ...
How Parents Lead (Part 1)
As a parent, how would you describe your leadership style? Sometimes you may feel like a jolly clown jovially leading your kids, while other times you may feel like a ferocious wolfman chasing your kids around the house while they scream. Or maybe you feel like the Pillsbury dough boy who giggles whenever his belly is poked, or other times you feel like a dictator whose orders must be heeded….or else. However you would describe your parenting leadership style, everyone has a style. Leadership style refers to the way you think about how you lead others. It’s the way you ...
How Would Jesus Vote?
I would not consider myself into politics. As a pastor for the last 7 years, I try to avoid the topic like an elevator full of adults where someone passed gas. Everyone knows it stinks, but no one wants to bring it up. But, I can’t help myself. I’ve watched almost every single primary debate. The bachelor wishes it had as much drama as these presidential debates. And I’m apparently not alone. A recent Fox news debate drew in 24 million people, more than the NBA Finals and more than the Women’s World Cup Final. Besides the amazing mic-dropping drama, ...
Every Family Needs a Vision
Every great company begins with a vision. A vision is an inspiring but simple word picture of a future you hope to create. I love how John Maxwell explained, “Vision is everything for a leader. It paints the target. It sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws him forward…Show me a leader without vision, and I’ll show you someone who isn’t going anywhere” (1999, p. 150). Pastor Bill Hybels said it this way, “Vision is at the very core of leadership. Vision is the fuel that leaders run on…It’s the fire that ignites the passion of followers” (2002, p. ...