The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham

In corporate life, in ministry, in any endeavor, “significant per-
formance challenges” energize teams and make them thrive. They
are essential for maximum effectiveness. Urgency, direction,
mutual accountability and respect all blend as everyone on the
team determines to seek the highest per-
formance possible.
It all starts with the leader. “There is a
symbiotic relationship between great insti-
tutions and great CEOs,” says Jim Collins,
author of Good to Great.“The CEO is trans-
formed by committing to a bigger purpose than mere personal suc-
cess, and in doing so, the company is transformed into greatness.”
Decades ago, we read a statement that has always challenged
us: “A man with a burning purpose draws others to himself who
help him to fulfill it.” This certainly personified Billy Graham,
whose burning purpose was authentic and evident to every one
of his teammates. The results became obvious.

Blend Your Principles and Personalities
Over time a good team works increasingly well together
because they can anticipate one another’s reactions and handle
the inevitable surprises in a coordinated way.
Fred Smith told us of watching the Graham team at work dur-
ing a campaign when a guest musician went a bit long. “I watched
Cliff and Billy,” he said. “They didn’t even need to exchange
words. Just a glance between them was enough to signal a slight
change of plan in response to what was happening.”
That anticipation is also part of “chemistry,” and it takes time
for that to develop. But time spent working together doesn’t guar-
antee good teamwork. It requires a blend of principles and per-
sonality—an underlying resonance. The Graham team developed
guidelines for working together that were both spoken and
instinctively sensed.
“We have tried to adhere to the principles that Bill himself has
set as an example for us through the years,” Cliff Barrows told us,
“and I really believe that the principles of, for instance, our ‘man-

The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham

You can do what I cannot

do. I can do what you

cannot do. Together we

can do great things.

MOTHER TERESA