{"id":4415,"date":"2015-02-13T16:57:09","date_gmt":"2015-02-13T22:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scottcochrane.com\/?p=4415"},"modified":"2015-02-13T16:58:20","modified_gmt":"2015-02-13T22:58:20","slug":"4415","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/2015\/02\/13\/4415\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You a Bridge-Builder or a Wall-Erector?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This month I am traveling with Bill Hybels in Asia, who is coaching leaders in 7 different cities. During our stop in Delhi, India, Bill asked a leadership question that immediately grabbed everyone\u2019s attention, and which should resonate with leaders everywhere.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201dAre you a bridge-builder, or a wall-erector?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bill asked this question to a group of fired-up leaders at a coaching session in New Delhi, India this week; the final stop on a two week leadership tour we conducted throughout Asia.<\/p>\n

Bill raised this vital question in response to a leadership issue that was apparent among some churches in this part of India, and which applies in leadership circles globally.<\/p>\n

As a leader, Bill was reminding us, our energies and focus will either result in the bringing together of people, organizations, ideas and communities, or it will drive things further apart.<\/p>\n

Effective leaders, Bill taught with great urgency, must devote themselves to being bridge builders.<\/p>\n

He used an example of Bridge-Building leadership by talking about a group of churches in Buenos Aires, Argentina who collaborate at a jaw-dropping level. For example, when one of these churches begins a building program, each of the other churches in the community will provide financial support out of their own resources!<\/p>\n

As Bill continued to teach about this I began funneling this principle through my own leadership lens. On my notepad I created two columns; one called \u201cBridge Building\u201d and the other \u201cWall Erecting\u201d. I then began to list all of the ways my leadership might contribute to each of these outcomes.<\/p>\n

Wall Erecting:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I become a wall erecting leader when I:<\/strong><\/p>\n