PowerPoints for Leaders
J.J. Turner, Ph.D.
Chancellor, World Bible Institute
This is a new series and will be a continuing feature on Jeremiah Institute—visit often and share with others.
In recent months I have caught myself deciding to buy a book or some other printed item based on the number of pages and the font space and size of the text. If the chapters ramble on, regardless of the content, I find myself skipping paragraphs or speed reading to get the main point or finish the time-consuming task. I’m not proud of this, just being honest about the obvious impact on my study and reading time. It has caused me to buckle down relative to my attention span.
We’ve all been in classes, heard speakers, and read books where the main point if there was one, was lost in the weeds of verbiage. You left confused with more questions than answers. The person who said, “A message doesn’t have to be eternal to be memorable” is certainly right in our day of “less is more.” The days of the 45 to 60-minute sermons are becoming memories; even 30-minute sermons have become Sleep-aids. If a listener can leave with one point and one intentional application based on the sermon, an amazing thing has occurred.
We’re living in a time where the attention span is shrinking faster than the dollar or a cheap cotton shirt. The ability to concentrate mentally on a particular activity, especially in events where information is being dispersed is impacting every aspect of communication. In cases diagnosed as extreme by mental health professionals, a new label—ADD—has been coined: Attention Deficit Disorder. It has been estimated that every classroom in America, from elementary to college, contains students with ADD. Some schools have special classes and teachers to deal with attention span issues.
Researchers in Canada surveyed 2,000 persons, studying their brain activity of 112 using electroencephalograms. The results showed the average attention span of a human had decreased from 12 seconds in 2000, or about the time the cell phone revolution began, to eight seconds. In the meanwhile, goldfish are believed to have an attention span of nine seconds. Other studies indicate that the average attention span of an adult or young person who is really interested in a subject is approximately 20 minutes. This calls attention to the need for upgraded communication skills: delivery, listening, attention, remembering, application, etc. Thus the questions: As a leader is your attention span longer than a goldfish? How about your listeners?
One of the major reasons Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863, is so memorable is because of its brevity—272 words. Today that’s about one double-spaced, 8 ½ X 11, typed page. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech lasted 17:29 minutes. Churchill’s “We shall Fight on the Beeches” address lasted 12:22 minutes. Steve Job’s Stanford Commence address lasted 14:45). It has been estimated that an average reader can read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in 18 to 20 minutes.
The Ten Commandments are presented in 17 verses in the NKJV (Exodus 20:1-7) and can be read in three to five minutes. Peter’s sermon—the first Gospel sermon—on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts, is 11 verses (Acts 2:29-39). We don’t have a record of the “Many other words” preached (2:40). In his discourse before the Athenian philosophers on Mars Hill, Paul spoke approximately 268 words as recorded in the NKJV. Yes, I remember he once preached until midnight and a hearer fell from a window (Acts 20:1-12).
My computer word count is growing. So I’d better get to the point. This is the introduction article to my new blog column for WBI: PowerPoints for Leaders. Each blog will be presented with the realization that LESS IS MORE. I will get to the relevant point for leaders. There is amazing power in one word. Paul affirmed this when he used the Greek word rhema in Ephesians 6:17: “And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is A WORD of God. There is awesome power in ONE WORD, e.g.: No! Yes! Love! Repent! Stop! Obey! Etc. This is why James said, “Let your YES be yes, and your NO be no” (James 5:12). A word of God can defeat Satan.
Remember what Jesus said about the Gentiles: “And when you pray, do no use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do. For they think that they WILL BE HEARD for their MANY WORDS” (Matthew 6:7). Yes, less is more! Especially because we all KNOW more than we are practicing. We need continual reminders contained in brief points that, hopefully, will initiate new actions of leadership.
God has created us with brain functions that contribute cognitive processing abilities and resources to focus on stimuli and information. When we are exposed to information our brain exercises mental processes that decode it from our environment which allows us to experience it through our five senses. Our attention span determines how focused or how long we are focused on something we are being exposed to by listening and watching.
Paying attention is the first cognitive function that determines how we process the meaning and application of the subject, etc. Numerous things contribute to attention span and how we process the event. Here is a quick reminder of various types of attention.
These are the attention challenges a speaker or writer faces which demand staying abreast of the new advances and practices in communication. Remember your listeners and readers may not have the attention span of a goldfish. How about YOU? I’m looking forward to our next PowerPoint visit.
As a leader and teacher, you must challenge yourself to pay attention as well as teach others how to pay more productive attention. Here are some quick tips:
Yes, you can learn by paying attention. Always remember that Satan doesn’t want you to pay attention. His mission is to steal the word out of your heart (cf. Luke 8:11, 12). As leaders, we must train ourselves and those who follow how to be more attentive.
Watch for additional PowerPoints for Leaders.
When King Solomon told his son “of the making of many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12), his words are still true today. Back on October 26, 2015, the 299th day of that year, it was reported that as of that day, 1,246 paperback books on leadership had been published. That’s an average of 4 books per day.
Amazing! I must confess several of those books were penned by me. I wonder how many articles were written on leadership during those 299 days. How many seminars and workshops were conducted?
What is the major and minor purpose or objective of leadership? The answer is one word: RESULTS. How we get there is the stuff all those leaders' books are all about.
At the end of the game, it doesn’t matter how well you played, how loud the fans yelled, or how colorful your uniforms were, etc. What matters is the RESULTS. Did you win or lose? Which?
Church and spiritual leadership differ greatly from secular leadership at the core level—the unchangeable factors. These are the impeccable truths from God’s word which determine spiritual results and do not change.
God’s core truths, which are used in this lesson to focus on the essential, enduring, and effective leadership truths. They are cause and effect. Most leadership principles are tied to the process, i.e. plans, goals, and process. God’s core leadership truths do not change with the culture, times, nor wishes of followers. The core of unchanging leadership principles is TRUTH—God’s truth (Proverbs 23:23).
It is in the context of people where the venues of God’s truth develop a strong foundation that lasts regardless of what may or may not happen on the action road to results. It is in DOING, not around nor about the word, but in the purity of the WORD that sustains leadership success.
What does this proliferation of leadership books say to those of us who are leaders and interested in leadership? I think several observations can be made:
I am sure there are additional reasons we could note for the continual growth and interest in leadership books, seminars, and articles. These 12 are only introductory eye-openers.
Have I lost my mind? Do I dare advocate there is the “World’s best leadership advice” during 4 new books being published every day on leadership? Why do I dare and make this claim? One reason. These leadership principles are based on commonsense and the truth of God’s word. These principles aren’t based on culture, academics, and human wisdom.
Here are those truths deducted from a Study and application of Scripture, Scripture inspired by God for the intended purpose of directing mankind (cf. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:3).
By now I’m sure you’ve gotten my point and that is these points will be no more than talking points, powerless to achieve the results God desires. I have no idea how you have received these principles nor how you plan, if you do at all, to use them. Regardless, for those who choose to become intentional about using these impeccable principles, I offer the following suggestions.
PowerPoints for Leaders
J.J. Turner, Ph.D.
Chancellor, World Bible Institute
This is a new series and will be a continuing feature on Jeremiah Institute—visit often and share with others.
In recent months I have caught myself deciding to buy a book or some other printed item based on the number of pages and the font space and size of the text. If the chapters ramble on, regardless of the content, I find myself skipping paragraphs or speed reading to get the main point or finish the time-consuming task. I’m not proud of this, just being honest about the obvious impact on my study and reading time. It has caused me to buckle down relative to my attention span.
We’ve all been in classes, heard speakers, and read books where the main point if there was one, was lost in the weeds of verbiage. You left confused with more questions than answers. The person who said, “A message doesn’t have to be eternal to be memorable” is certainly right in our day of “less is more.” The days of the 45 to 60-minute sermons are becoming memories; even 30-minute sermons have become Sleep-aids. If a listener can leave with one point and one intentional application based on the sermon, an amazing thing has occurred.
We’re living in a time where the attention span is shrinking faster than the dollar or a cheap cotton shirt. The ability to concentrate mentally on a particular activity, especially in events where information is being dispersed is impacting every aspect of communication. In cases diagnosed as extreme by mental health professionals, a new label—ADD—has been coined: Attention Deficit Disorder. It has been estimated that every classroom in America, from elementary to college, contains students with ADD. Some schools have special classes and teachers to deal with attention span issues.
Researchers in Canada surveyed 2,000 persons, studying their brain activity of 112 using electroencephalograms. The results showed the average attention span of a human had decreased from 12 seconds in 2000, or about the time the cell phone revolution began, to eight seconds. In the meanwhile, goldfish are believed to have an attention span of nine seconds. Other studies indicate that the average attention span of an adult or young person who is really interested in a subject is approximately 20 minutes. This calls attention to the need for upgraded communication skills: delivery, listening, attention, remembering, application, etc. Thus the questions: As a leader is your attention span longer than a goldfish? How about your listeners?
One of the major reasons Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863, is so memorable is because of its brevity—272 words. Today that’s about one double-spaced, 8 ½ X 11, typed page. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech lasted 17:29 minutes. Churchill’s “We shall Fight on the Beeches” address lasted 12:22 minutes. Steve Job’s Stanford Commence address lasted 14:45). It has been estimated that an average reader can read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in 18 to 20 minutes.
The Ten Commandments are presented in 17 verses in the NKJV (Exodus 20:1-7) and can be read in three to five minutes. Peter’s sermon—the first Gospel sermon—on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts, is 11 verses (Acts 2:29-39). We don’t have a record of the “Many other words” preached (2:40). In his discourse before the Athenian philosophers on Mars Hill, Paul spoke approximately 268 words as recorded in the NKJV. Yes, I remember he once preached until midnight and a hearer fell from a window (Acts 20:1-12).
My computer word count is growing. So I’d better get to the point. This is the introduction article to my new blog column for WBI: PowerPoints for Leaders. Each blog will be presented with the realization that LESS IS MORE. I will get to the relevant point for leaders. There is amazing power in one word. Paul affirmed this when he used the Greek word rhema in Ephesians 6:17: “And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is A WORD of God. There is awesome power in ONE WORD, e.g.: No! Yes! Love! Repent! Stop! Obey! Etc. This is why James said, “Let your YES be yes, and your NO be no” (James 5:12). A word of God can defeat Satan.
Remember what Jesus said about the Gentiles: “And when you pray, do no use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do. For they think that they WILL BE HEARD for their MANY WORDS” (Matthew 6:7). Yes, less is more! Especially because we all KNOW more than we are practicing. We need continual reminders contained in brief points that, hopefully, will initiate new actions of leadership.
God has created us with brain functions that contribute cognitive processing abilities and resources to focus on stimuli and information. When we are exposed to information our brain exercises mental processes that decode it from our environment which allows us to experience it through our five senses. Our attention span determines how focused or how long we are focused on something we are being exposed to by listening and watching.
Paying attention is the first cognitive function that determines how we process the meaning and application of the subject, etc. Numerous things contribute to attention span and how we process the event. Here is a quick reminder of various types of attention.
These are the attention challenges a speaker or writer faces which demand staying abreast of the new advances and practices in communication. Remember your listeners and readers may not have the attention span of a goldfish. How about YOU? I’m looking forward to our next PowerPoint visit.
As a leader and teacher, you must challenge yourself to pay attention as well as teach others how to pay more productive attention. Here are some quick tips:
Yes, you can learn by paying attention. Always remember that Satan doesn’t want you to pay attention. His mission is to steal the word out of your heart (cf. Luke 8:11, 12). As leaders, we must train ourselves and those who follow how to be more attentive.
Watch for additional PowerPoints for Leaders.
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