Leadership Interview :: Dale Redman

Here is my next installment of Leadership Interview. I am interviewing leaders who have influenced my life in some way. Dale Redman is one of those leaders. I had the privilege of helping him plant a church in the Stuart FL area 7 years ago. I will forever be impacted by the leadership values he invested in me.

Brief Bio:
I have by and large worked as tent-making missionaries and/or church planters, and have pioneered seven churches to date, all the while being totally self-supporting. All of the churches which we started were autonomous, receiving no funding from any church or denomination.

Church/organization
Independent, non-affiliated work among the Hispanics. I currently work as Corporate Real Estate Manager for Hobby Lobby.

Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?

Jack E. Golsen, CEO of LSB Industries. Jack is Jewish and states that he is “non-practicing” so my response to you in limited to “secular” leadership. However, I don’t personally differentiate between “secular” leadership and “church” leadership. To me the skill sets, methods, etc. are identical; just a change in the organizational structure and the goals and objectives, that’s all.

What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?

1) Seeing those that you mentor grow and assume responsibility.

2) Seeing the organization come together into one “well-oiled” machine whose performance meets or exceeds its goals.

What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?

Micromanagement. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard “Micromanagement is ALWAYS mismanagement” while I was in school. It is SOOOO true!

What books have changed your life?

First, the Bible – it is a GREAT book on leadership. In fact, many of my College textbooks referenced the Bible as the first book on “modern” management, citing such things as Jethro telling Moses how to set up a “first tier, second tier”. etc. organizational structure; Jesus teaching on counting the cost prior to going to war, building a tower, etc.; and how the Bible relates to such things as Maslow’s Hierarchy, etc.

The Purpose Driven Church is a book I especially enjoyed.

99% Inspiration

A Kick in the Seat of The Pants

Negotiate This

Several biographies of such persons as Sam Walton, Welch, etc.

What’s your biggest challenge as a leader?
People skills are always the biggest challenge. Motivating, mentoring, empowering, supporting, coaching, training, etc., etc. are always the biggest challenge – but also give you the biggest return on investment. I think the word “discipling” sums it up best, but by that term, I don’t mean simply “lining them up”.

What goals do you have as a leader?
It is a cycle: 1) Planning, which leads to 2) Organizing, which leads to 3) Implementing, which leads to 4) Evaluating the successes and failure; which leads to step #1; over and over again, constantly refining, tweaking and perfecting the system.

What is the Holiness Movement’s greatest need?

Revival – genuine, heart-changing revival. I believe that R.G. Flexon said it best; “it’s time we stop worshipping our standards” and get back to Wesley’s basic questions for holy living. I think a careful consideration of those questions would bring revival just as much today as it did in Wesley’s day.