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Leadership
for Saints,
Part 26:
Putting CPR To Work by
Rodger Dean Duncan and Ed J. Pinegar
No matter what
words they may use to describe this process, great leaders deliberately
and consistently engage in CPR (Converse, Practice, Reinforce).
One quorum presidency
used CPR to improve the quality of home teaching.
First, they
taught their brethren the core doctrines related to watching over
the Church. They engaged their brethren in discussions about the
oath and covenant of the priesthood. They invited a couple of highly
successful home teachers to bear testimony regarding the blessings
of service and the assistance they had been privileged to render
in their callings. They invited a single mother to share with the
quorum how her home teachers had helped her dyslexic son with his
reading program.
This Converse
part of their leadership was not a one time event. It was an on-going
process. At every opportunity, this quorum presidency taught and
re-taught the value of giving and receiving excellent home teaching
service.
Second, the
quorum presidency was deliberate in their Practice related
to excellent home teaching. In every possible way they modeled excellence.
They did not “strut their stuff” or brag about their
own performance, they simply carried out their duty quietly and
faithfully. This faithful practice of excellence applied to everything
they did.
Their example set the
standard for the rest of the quorum.
Third, the quorum
presidency was careful to Reinforce excellent behavior
when they observed it in others. They took nobody for granted, and
they freely and genuinely commended brethren who visited their assigned
families, who delivered spiritual messages to their families, and
who rendered other service. Their praise was not of the generic
variety. It was situational and specific, such as “Brother
Willis, that home teaching lesson you gave to the Palmer family
was right on target. Brother Palmer said it really helped his children
understand the law of the fast.”
Reinforcement for positive
behavior is generally easy to accomplish. Even reinforcement for
seemingly minor things has an effect, such as “It’s
great to see you at priesthood today, Tom. And thanks for bringing
your lesson manual. It really helps with our discussions.”
A good leader constantly makes reinforcement a deliberate and natural
part of his own leadership behavior.
So what about
reinforcement of negative behavior?
Actually, some leaders
inadvertently reinforce the negative. This is what happens when
a quorum presidency gets frustrated with poor home teaching and
goes out to perform someone else’s duty for them. Such filling
in may be alright in an emergency, but as a general practice it
is guaranteed to reinforce poor home teaching performance.
A better investment
of energy is to consistently teach correct principles (Converse),
model correct behaviors (Practice) and affirm excellent
performance (Reinforce). CPR really can breathe life and
vitality into your organization.
It will help you create
an atmosphere of hope and encouragement with your people.
Reliance on the Spirit
is critical to our success as leaders. The challenge is that many
“leaders” in the Church seem to expect the Spirit to
do it all. This book contains frequent references to the need for
spirituality—it provides ideas on what the leader himself
can and should do. President Spencer W. Kimball himself counseled
us to be more “professional” in our leadership service.
Quotes to Remember
Teach them gospel
principles. Teach them true values. – Ezra Taft Benson
…we enjoy
life when we have the ability to praise others for their good works.
George Matthew Adams said: "He who praises another, enriches
himself more than he does the one praised. To praise is an investment
in happiness. The poorest human being has something to give that
the richest cannot buy." – Howard W. Hunter
How often do
you and I also give what the scriptures call the “garment
of praise” (Isa. 61:3)? The “garment of praise”
is often more desperately needed than the physical cloak. In any
case, as we all know, these needs are all around us, every day.
There are so many ways we can “lift up the hands which hang
down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5). –
Neal A. Maxwell
Note:
The excerpts of Leadership for Saints posted on Meridian
are only a fraction of the contents of this 349-page book. To learn
more about this ground-breaking book and to order copies, click
here.
Contents
Section 1: Understanding the Role of Leadership
Chapter 1
- What Great Leadership Is
Chapter 2 - What Great Leaders Are
Chapter 3 - What Great Leaders See
Chapter 4 - What Great Leaders Do
Section 2: Getting
the Results You and the Lord Want
Chapter 5
- Planning the Work, Working the Plan
Chapter 6 - Councils: Strength in Unity
Chapter 7 - Creating a Climate of Hope and Energy
Section 3: Skills
That Help You Sleep at Night
Chapter 8
- Communication: Building Bridges to Their Hearts
Chapter 9 - Stewardship Delegation: The Great Multiplier
Chapter 10 - The Power of Influence
Chapter 11 - Gatherings of Saints: Think Purpose, Not Meeting
Section 4: Special
Challenges and Opportunities
Chapter 12
- Discernment: The Gift of Great Price
Chapter 13 - Personal Balance: Your "Being" vs. Your
"Doing"
Chapter 14 - Common Questions, Humble Responses
About
the Authors:
Rodger Dean
Duncan, a descendant of 19th century Protestant evangelists, was
baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at
the age of 18. Early in his career he was an award-winning journalist,
editor and syndicated columnist. He has been a consultant to cabinet
officers under two U.S. presidents, members of the U.S. Senate,
and senior officers of major corporations. He earned a Ph.D. at
Purdue University, and is founder and president of The Duncan Company,
a consulting firm focused on leadership development and organizational
effectiveness.
Brother Duncan
has served on several stake high councils, twice as bishop, as stake
president, and as stake mission president. Under President Spencer
W. Kimball he served on the Advisory Council that first recommended
the subtitle to the Book of Mormon, "Another Testament of Jesus
Christ."
Brother Duncan
is married to Rean Robbins-Duncan, a fifth-generation Latter-day
Saint. They have four children and two grandchildren. The Duncans
live in Missouri, only a short walk from Historic Liberty Jail.
Ed
J. Pinegar, a dentist by training and vocation, graduated from Brigham
Young University and attended dental school at the University of
Southern California. While practicing dentistry, he taught seminary
for several years, then taught the Book of Mormon and Gospel Principles
and Practices courses at BYU for 18 years.
Brother
Pinegar's Church assignments include stake high councilor, bishop
(twice), stake president, member of the General Board for Young
Men, and member of the Missionary Programs Advisory Committee. He
also presided over the England London Mission and the Missionary
Training Center in Provo, Utah. He is author of several books for
the LDS market.
Brother
Pinegar is married to Patricia Peterson Pinegar, former General
President of the Primary for the Church. They are parents of eight
children and have 32 grandchildren. The Pinegars live in Orem, Utah.
