Stake President of Inner-city Houston | A How I Lead Interview with Dean Andersen

Dean Andersen has served as a counselor in a stake presidency, high
councilor, Seminary teacher, scoutmaster, and bishopric counselor,
among many other callings. He was recently released as a stake
president. He speaks Japanese, French, and Spanish after serving a
mission in Japan, living in France while working for a French
company, and serving with three Spanish-speaking wards in his
stake. Dean and his wife Colleen live in Houston, Texas, where he
works as a CPA/CFO. They have eight children and 28 grandchildren.
Links "Pressing toward the Mark", by Elder Edward Dube There is
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Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 3:10
Introduction to Dean Anderson and his background. 4:30 Getting
called as stake president when their plan was only to be in that
area for a year. Dean was over an inner-city stake with a lot of
students and a lot of immigrants. 7:10 The difficulty and unique
dynamic of having a lot of students in the stake 10:20 Choosing
counselors for the stake presidency. Dean had only been in the ward
and area for six months so he didn’t really know very many people.
11:00 Dean’s leadership experience and the unique circumstances of
their stake. Switching from an all-Spanish stake to integrate
English and Spanish wards into a new stake. Starting a stake from
scratch basically. 17:40 The difficulty of finding bishops 19:15
Principle one - Focusing on your inadequacies is actually selfish
22:40 Principle two - God can do amazing things through weak,
simple and flawed servants that keep humbling trying 24:40 Dean
shares a story of a bishop that felt completely inadequate and
shocked when he was called but eventually flourished in his calling
and is now a counselor in the new stake presidency. 26:00 Principle
three - As priesthood leaders we can only be effective according to
principles set forth by section 121. Kindness, gentleness,
meekness, love unfeigned, etc. 29:10 Principle four - God doesn’t
punish people 35:10 Things that Dean has found that work for
running an effective stake conference 38:50 Dean reflects on his
time as a stake president and the miracles he has witnessed. The
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