My Podcast with Andre (Lesur of Global Disciples), Ep #34

Episode 34

With Benjamin Johnson & Andre Lesur

Ben welcomes his friend and client Andre Lesur to Frontier FM for a can’t miss conversation! Andre is a long-time listener of the show and the executive director of Global Disciples Canada. The two discuss faith, leadership, and the power of putting people at the center of your story. They also dive into the Enneagram, taking steps for personal growth, and the role passion plays in storytelling.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

  • Sports, passion, and life lessons [0:48]

  • Personality tests, personal growth, and the essential self [5:02]

  • Andre’s journey of self-discovery [7:20]

  • Why passion is a more powerful communication tool than facts [12:37]

  • How to be an effective “people helper” [13:18]

  • More of Andre’s story and the work he’s doing with Global Disciples [17:00]

  • Putting people at the center of the story [22:13]

  • Being a partner and guide for clients and putting your best foot forward [27:28]

  • Leadership tips, tricks, and challenges [30:42]

  • Working in the charity world unburdened [34:11]

Put your mask on first

The most difficult person to lead is yourself. Most people fall short because they try to lead everyone else BEFORE themselves. Leaders should not only be a model of strength but also of self-care and self-love. That means showing your team they need to prioritize rest as much as deadlines. It means being willing to own up to your mistakes and take the necessary steps to grow as a person. Ben and Andre both love the Enneagram as a tool for self-evaluation. Knowing the result of a personality test does not mean accepting the inevitable. Assessments like the Enneagram and Myers Briggs allow people to see their blind spots, correct them, and have healthier relationships with themselves and others.

Put people at the center of the story

Andre’s experiences with communities in different countries and cultures have taught him the importance of relationships. He notes that the people he has been able to partner with consistently treat others like family instead of commodities, impacting his perspective. Charities often treat digital communication with their donors like a financial statement. However, people are not numbers! Andre realized that those numbers and percentages represent REAL people. When organizations simply share financial information, they forget the people and lose their passion. Organizations stay passionate when they put people at the center of their story and excitingly tell that story.

Remember the “Three C’s”

One of the many leadership nuggets Andre shared in this episode was the importance of synergy. Sometimes things can feel “off” when working with other people and vendors. Rather than wasting a potentially valuable relationship on a feeling, Andre recommends remembering the “Three C’s”: character, chemistry, and competency. Character is always first because no one wants to work with a person of poor character, especially in the charity world. Competency is important, but it can always be developed in a teachable person who is willing to learn. The most underestimated factor is chemistry. Chemistry is the ability to work collaboratively rather than just telling a client what to do. It’s the glue that holds productive partnerships together! Make sure that whoever you work with wants to work with you too.

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Andre Lesur

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Ben Johnson