In our recently concluded election season, rhetoric almost always got a bad rap. When used in a pejorative sense, rhetoric is equated with empty speech. In reality, rhetoric is all about influence, and as John Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence.”

Church leaders, far more than any politician, should master the use of rhetoric.

Compelling rhetoric makes for compelling leaders. Eloquent speech and writing – in a sermon, staff meeting, community gathering, magazine article or blog – can convert dispassionate observers into committed participants. Leaders want their words to win hearts and change minds.

Aristotle’s work on rhetoric is a starting point for any leader wanting to use the spoken and written word to persuade others. Better communication skills demand that we articulate our ideas in a manner that effectively persuades our audience.

I’ll leave the fundamentals of rhetoric to another time and place, as the topic merits extended examination. Suffice it to say: More people in more places require more persuasion than ever before. But for today, in early 2009, how will you as a leader translate the practice of weaving words into sentences into paragraphs that speak straight into your listeners’ and readers’ hearts?

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I’m not a big believer in New Year’s resolutions – you know, made on Jan. 1 and forgotten by Jan. 5... But I am a fan of New Year’s revolutions – dramatic changes in ideas or practices. A new year is a great time to make positive changes: get organized, spend more time with family, improve health, take more time off, delegate, get help with a big project. Whatever you want, you’ll never get it without taking the first step.

The majority of people tend to postpone pursuing their desires. They let circumstances keep them stuck in the same place. Ask yourself:

»What do I want?

»What do I want to change?

»What do I want to do differently?

»What can I do now to make a difference?

People who write down their goals and desires achieve them. Those who don’t make their dreams a priority will go through life searching for success. What you picture yourself achieving is what you will achieve. Every time I have a target or goal written down, I stay focused on doing what it takes to make it become a reality.

The Un-Comfortable Zone

People who don’t have written goals continue doing things the same way and get trapped in the uncomfortable zone. They know they want to break out of their situation by doing something differently, but don’t. They live with continuous dull pain, stress and discomfort vs. doing something new, exciting or different.

Now’s a great time to look at your ministry goals for 2009. What do you want to do differently? What might need improvement? Consider these questions:

•How can you be more efficient with your ministry resources?

•What improvement areas are needed with your leadership teams?

•Do you have a gap in your leadership team?

•Is there a faster way to complete your projects?

•How can you improve key leadership relationships?

•What can you delegate and let go of?

•What ministry opportunity is on the horizon for your fellowship?

•What should you stop doing?

•What should you start doing differently?

Keep your goals in front of you, so you can refer to them often. Post them on your office wall for all to see. Put them in your calendar and wallet, so you see them every day. Seeing your targets in writing helps you stay focused, thinking of action plans and steps to achieve what you want. When you don’t have written targets, other activities become your priority and fill your day. By sitting down and writing out New Year’s revolutions, your future will become what you want it to be. Don’t wait another year to identify what you want. The clock is ticking!

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One of my father’s greatest gifts to me cost no money but has a price beyond value: a love of books, reading and learning. It’s a gift that I open many times each day, and can enjoy no matter where I’m at or what circumstances I’m in. It’s also one that I’ve enjoyed passing on to my own children.

Bookstores are one of my favorite places to visit at any time, but especially so at Christmas. A holiday visit to your local bookstore can provide a personal oasis of calm in a frenzied shopping day. Books can spur the imagination and take you on journeys that you never anticipated. Books are also a great gift idea for anyone on your list. The holiday season is also the time when the book lists come out – you know, the best seller’s lists, the Top 10 this or that, the Best 100 Books of all time. It’s in that spirit that I offer my Top 10 List of Favorite Books in 2008. Here are the titles only – I will leave the discovery of why I chose them to your own reading adventures!

The first two tied for my “favorite” book of the year because they not only had an immediate impact, but are continuing to rock my boat. I’ve since had the privilege of hearing Godin share the story behind launching his book, as well as having ongoing conversations with Mancini regarding his work. Without further adieu, here are my Top 10:

» “Tribes,” Seth Godin

» “Church Unique,” Will Mancini

» “Yes: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive,” Robert Cialdini

» “The Five Most Important Questions,” Peter Drucker

» “The Back of the Napkin,” Dan Roam

» “Buy-ology,” Martin Lindstrom

» “Creating Magic,” Lee Cockerell

» “The New Gold Standard,” by Robert Michelli

» “Slide:ology,” Nancy Duarte

» “Pop Goes the Church,” Tim Stevens

That’s a hard list to make, as there have been some really great books this year – including a few new ones that haven’t made it to my local library yet. Yes, I take advantage of the library, as well as bookstores. During 2008, I read 103 books from the library and purchased an additional 25 or so.

In order to process that amount of reading, I don’t “read” each book the same way. Through the years, I’ve gleaned a few reading strategies. Of course I read a book to help me: “How to Read a Book,” a classic by Mortimer Adler, gives these 4 levels of reading:

1. Elementary Reading – What does the sentence say?

2. Inspectional Reading – What is the book about?

3. Analytical Reading – What does the book mean?

4. Syntopical Reading – What does a comparison of books on the subject reveal?

To get the most out of a book in the least amount of time, try this strategy:

>Read the title.

>Read the introduction.

>Read the table of contents.

>Flip through the material, scanning the chapter titles and sub-headings. Note the words that stand out as bold, different colors, underlined or italicized.

>Examine the illustrations, captions, charts and diagrams. Read the pull-quotes and sidebars.

>Scan through the index looking for buzz words that interest you.

>Read the first chapter.

>Flip through the book and read the first sentence of each paragraph. In a well-written and edited book, the most important sentence containing the topic is usually the first sentence of the paragraph — but not always.

>Read the last chapter. If there is an executive summary, read it.

>Read any other information on the cover or dust jacket.

While the knowledge gained from reading is important, the real benefit is in developing the habit of reading. When you are continually reading, you condition your mind to keep taking in new knowledge. Your thinking remains fresh and sharp. Your brain is always churning on new ideas, looking for new connections it can make. Every day you pour in more ideas, your brain must find a way to integrate them into your existing knowledge base. Frequent reading fires up your neural activity, even during the periods when you aren't reading.

Reading is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Why don’t you bless yourself and those around you by reading – and giving someone else – a new book this week?

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