it’s been 6 years since my last leadership summit (honestly, i don’t remember very much from the first one—okay, i don’t remember a thing) and although i’m glad that i was able to attend i wasn’t especially impressed with the scope of the summit. now, don’t read this as me being critical of willow, because i did appreciate the summit but i’m just a little confused as to why this is considered the be gold-standard of all leadership conferences. maybe it’s considered so because there really aren’t any other conferences out there (that i know of) that are completely devoted to the art of leadership, but that’s just a thought. for me the whole thing just sort of fell flat, was pumped up and overhyped by the people on the stage, and full of product placement. i’ve never seen so much “pimping” of material in my life! hybels even pimped a movie for pete’s sake! maybe you could say it this way: “it started with a bang and ended with a bust.”
i did learn a few helpful tips and tidbits that will more than likely be immensely helpful in the years to come, and just the honor of being able to listen to colin powell and jimmy carter was exceptional but i’m not really sure that i couldn’t have gotten the information at the conference in other places. would i go back to the summit again? yeah, probably… but only if i could get in for free. i can’t see the summit being worth the immense amount of money that people paid to get in. but the again, i think i’m in the minority…
Related posts:
- leadership summit: semi-live blogging (day 2)
- leadership summit: semi-live blogging (day 1)
- pastors surveys
- leadership summit: semi-live blogging (day 3)
- church planting reading list.
Hello Aaron, I work at the Willow Creek Association focused on our online efforts (willowcreek.com/leaders) and on helping us listen to the needs of emerging leaders. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts on the Summit and appreciate your perspective. We’d love your feedback on what would have made the Summit more helpful to your leadership context? Your comments on scope and “starting with a bang and ending with a bust” were compelling, but I wish I knew more about what you were referencing – what if done differently would be a better scope for you or what was the bang that you enjoyed at first that turned into a bust for you? We’re all ears if you or others have thoughts rpelleiter at willowcreek dot org. Your insight would be much appreciated.
i didn’t attend the WCA conference, but i would appreciate it if the dialog between mr. pelleiter and aaron could take place in this public forum. i think that a public dialog would be an excellent way for the WCA to engage the emergent conversation and may create opportunities for future cooperation.
whether the discussion is public or not, i think that the WCA’s interest in aaron’s feedback is positive.
pax.
Why does this not surprise me Aaron? The WillowBacks (Willow Creek and Saddleback = one in the same for me) are always going to push their material and their agenda first. I know Bill Hybels has meant a ton to a lot of people and those churches serve there purpose to a degree. But as you noted, it’s a lot of hype and little food at least from where I come from. I am sure I learned just as much if not more at the tiny emergent conference in Schaumburg as I would have there.
Wonder if they raised enough money for another billion dollar auditorium from their sales over the weekend? Or maybe enough for more flat panels!
Thanks again for blogging Aaron…
I missed being there this year, so I really appreciate the notes and info. I haven’t found another conference that just focuses on leadership throughout the event to the extent that this one does.
While the conference may not be hitting every style of leadership, it’s hard to imagine that any ‘leader’ wouldn’t come away without having learned something about themselves and their leadership.
Is it worth it? I would say “yes” unless you are intentionally developing your leadership skills/strengths in other areas. If you aren’t, and this disciplines you to come and listen and think, then by all means, keep going. If a smaller venue, different style works for you, then go for it.
What I’m tired of is the motive questioning, which seems arrogant. To assume that WillowBacks are in it for their motives, their agendas, and to pimp their products to buy more stuff is condescending and mean. I understand how it can appear that way, but if I’ve written some material on leadership and I get to come to a leadership conference, why in the world wouldn’t I want to encourage people to get it? If I’m hosting a conference, don’t I have the right to determine the agenda to some extent? I’m sure their motives/agenda are just as good and just as tainted as all of ours.
Have a nice day… and I second pax on hearing more of the dialog between Aaron and Ray. I wonder how many blogs they are monitoring? Maybe they’re trying to control the world… bwa-hahahahahahahah. Sorry, hard to resist as I break my own rule.
I think it is good to provide resources for people, and in fact I did purchase a book (Tough Choices:Carly Fiorina-Loving it!) and want to get Marcus Buckingham’s newest book. The speakers were brought in to share their knowledge and their books are the cherry on top. The thing I found mildly annoying were the 20 minute sales pitches between sessions on buy this book or see this movie or join the association. While all are beneficial, and I know it is that way at all conferences you attend, it just became overbearing.
While I know the WCA is trying to provide resources to help churches often with their own expereinces, it needs to be strongly cautioned that not all things work for all churches, and WAY too many churches try to just be like Willow and get frustrated when they don’t have the same results or worse fail all together. You can take different aspects from different churches and leaders that will fit the culture you are in, but even still it should always be tweaked to meet the people you are working with. Having house meetings with leaders will not result in $40 Million in pledges to your capital campaign if you do it like Willow, and while that seems like a “duh” there will be a lot of churches out there who will be disappointed when they don’t receive like results.
Yep, totally with you on that. I wouldn’t appreciate 20 minutes to buy a book, when 1 minute is more than enough… sigh…
At last years A2 conference that several of our leaders went to, they told me that the last session was devoted to urging people to take all the ideas they heard and DON’T try to imitate them. Rather take the principles and apply them to your community and culture and use what is helpful, but pitch the rest. They and found that refreshing. I believe Willow understands that principle and I know from listening to Bill in the past, that he gets it. Learn from Willow (and anyone else), but don’t be Willow, because you can’t.
Getting away from the conversation going on…Good day for this guy in the Central division. We are coming Monts.
This doesn’t go here, but I did some checking on our White Sox conversation that we had the other day. They are 54-66. So whatever White Sox fans are saying they’re just under .500 are typical White Sox fans! They’re nowhere near the powerhouse that is the Chicago Cubs. They’re 2 games over now! booyah!
Monts, I met one of your former students today from Winthrop Harbor – Joe Something. He was in my line at enrollment.
monts, that’ big joe e.
pt
monts, that’s big joe e.
pt
wow, you take a break from blogging for a week and return to a massive amount of comments! holy cow!
thanks ray for your comment! i’ll be sure to fill out an evaluation form.
big joe e. heading to OCC! nice. (rags, keep an eye on him, he’s a squirrelly one!)
one of the questions asked in the survey was: what speakers would you like to hear at future summits? that’s a really good question, what leaders would you like to hear from that would challenge you?
my two that i suggested were: steve jobs and bill gates. i’d like to learn from jobs regarding the culture of creativity and thinking outside of the box that he has created at apple. i think that would translate very well into the church! and from bill gates i’d like to learn about his philanthropic venture with the bill and melinda gates foundation. i’d like to see how he was able to create that as well as how that translates at microsoft? or does it? (plus it might be a really cool thing to see both of them on the same stage at the same time in some sort of “cage” match!)
what do you guys think? who would you like to learn from about leadership?
Someone once noted that Bill Gates wasnt the smartest programmer or computer person ever, he was the smartest marketing guy ever. I have to agree. 6 years ago as Apple was on the brink of extinction, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs formed a new venture with the MS chairman now owning something like 23% of Apple stock. I have to agree with many in the industry that point to this as the dramatic turn around for Apple. It’s all been marketing really too. Sure they have some good ideas in software, but the marketing of their product has turned them into a contender again. Still MS poses something like 83% of the total computer market still. I don’t see that changing any time soon.
We work with some pretty higher ups at MS here from time to time, and word is Gates is so involved with his foundation and other ventures he has almost little to do with MS as a whole anymore.
That’s pretty interesting about Gates not having much to do with MS… That would make me even more inclined to want to hear from him concerning his philanthropy and foundation! I think that the church could learn an awful lot from him in this regard!