By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Members of the community gathered at the First Church of the Nazarene Friday to sharpen their leadership skills for Leadercast 2015: The Brave Ones.
Lasting from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the event, which was simulcast globally, featured speakers Andy Stanley (leadership author and communicator), Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Laureate and founder of The Malala Fund), Rudy Giuliani (107th mayor of New York City 1993-2001), amongst others. One of the unannounced speakers was Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.
Prior to listing seven game changers that make great leaders Peyton Manning advised those in attendance of the simulcast to be prepared to adapt.
“You have to be prepared to be game changes or you will be left in the dust,” Manning said. “Everyone has faced major decisions. The bigger the decision the braver the decision is.”
Manning’s seven game changers were
- Thrive on being uncomfortable.
- Devote yourself to intense training
- Invest in a coach
- Find way to instill trust in others.
- Brave the change to realities whether it is good or bad
- Become a master observer
- Understand the power and influence a leader can make.
After listing his seven game changers Manning noted that goals should be set that benefit the team, and that no one can lead without someone following.
Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser explained that while the speakers were diverse they had similarities in their different messages.
“This one is diverse from sports speakers to international speakers. Everyone has a different message, but they all come down to the same things,” Reser said. “It takes courage to be a good leader, you have to be willing to pick yourself up and go with the flow, and get consensus. You just have to have courage, and don’t be afraid to fail.”
Crawford Partnership for Education and Economic Development Director Dave Williamson felt that Leadercast has improved each year.
“I think it has gotten better every year. With the focus of the speakers, and having a theme like this one,” Williamson said. “I think a lot of us when you stop to think what it takes to try to lead, to try to influence, it does take a lot of courage; it’s scary. So to refer to it as the Brave Ones it helps us understand that they get it, and that we can relate to what they are telling us about to try and stay in the zone.”
Williamson, while pleased with the turnout, would like to see more in attendance at future Leadercast events.
“We are in a beautiful facility. Last year was our first year here at the Bucyrus Nazarene Church. I think they could squeeze 800 or so in here, I would like to fill it,” Williamson explained. “That is the only negative, and we are going to talk about it after this year’s Leadercast about how do we change what we do to ensure that more people attend because the objective is to have people hear the messages.”
Tickets for the event were $50, and included a lunch provided by Hord Livestock.