Next! Serving up Leadership Training Across the World

People are hungry.  Well, not the way you think.  No matter where you go in the world, people are hungry to learn leadership principles and how to apply them.

A few weeks ago, my wife, Susan, and I returned from our second mission trip to St. Kitts and Nevis, a two-island country in the West Indies of the Caribbean.

In partnership with Antioch Baptist Church of St. Kitts, our church sent a medical team, two dental teams, a renovation/construction team, and me, the lone ranger to train on leadership principles.

I led several sessions of leadership training at the Joseph N. France Hospital, plus delivered presentations on teamwork, customer service, and “Your Work Matters to God”.  Also, I spoke at the church and at a luncheon of business leaders.

Some Key Observations

While we were in St. Kitts, I observed some important truths:

1. We in the United States take for granted the opportunities that are available to us. The information and training on personal growth and leadership that’s available to US citizens is amazing.
2. Regardless of color of skin, race, culture, or geographical location, there is a need and an appeal for strong leadership. Most people have a deep desire and eagerness to learn how to develop their leadership skills.
3. The fundamental principles of leadership can be learned. I saw the people of St. Kitts listen to my teachings on leadership and catch the vision for how they could move toward the next level of influence and leadership.

In recent years, the people of St. Kitts and Nevis have experienced tough economic times, and they feel beaten down. As I prepared my presentations, I asked myself how I could encourage them in their current situation.

Challenges for the Future

I decided to leave them with some challenges to stimulate their thinking about the future:

1. Have an abundance mind-set vs. a scarcity mind-set. I asked them, “Are you playing the game not to lose, or are you playing the game to win?” Even in these tough economic times, they can still have an abundance mind-set.
2. I asked the people to ask themselves the following questions so they could see their potential –

• If I knew I could not fail, what would I attempt?
• If I had no limitations, what would I like to do?
• If finances were not an issue, what would I be doing with my life?

Come to think of it, these challenges can help all of us. Re-read the two points above and ask yourself the questions listed. What comes to mind when you personalize the questions and think about your own situation?

It is interesting that the more I see of this big ‘ol world, the smaller it becomes.

How do you see your world? What universal needs or desires have you seen?