If someone asked you how your heart is, what would you say? I know, it’s a weird question But what I told you that the answer to that question would determine: How long you’ll last in leadership. How effective you’ll…
One of the tensions many of us wrestle with as leaders who are trying to navigate change happens when people tell us: I want our church to grow. I just don’t want it to change. Every time I hear or…
Chances are a big chunk of what you’re going to do today in leadership is think. Really, thinking is a big slice of what a leader is paid to do. You try to solve problems, analyze opportunities, listen, facilitate and…
I don’t know why I wanted to write this today. But I did. Other than a brief time in law, pastoring a church is what I’ve been involved in for my adult life. I’ve probably had thousands of conversations with…
You might think “things will never be the same again” is a conversation reserved for people over 70. But my guess is you’re struggling with that in ministry leadership right now. Even if you don’t realize it. And you’re probably…
Being an authentic leader is hardly negotiable anymore. People want to see the real you, with your weaknesses, mistakes, and vulnerabilities. You know that, because you’re watching the last fumes of the ‘never let ’em see you sweat’ leader vaporize into the…
While there’s a lot of ‘sensitivity’ around the subject of large churches v. smaller churches, the reality is many leaders I know sincerely want to reach more people. The challenge is the church growth barriers you encounter along the way.…
So you’re off for Christmas, but some of you for sure are going to have a hard time winding down. I know I do. Being a driven kind of person, the idea of doing nothing but resting is unsettling for…
I spent a day recently with a group of ministry friends and mentors, all of whom have been leading their organizations for a long time. In some cases over 20 years. We had a heartfelt, gut-wrenching conversation about the challenges…
Nobody likes a proud or arrogant leader. But leaders end up there sometimes without even realizing it. You set out for humility, but end up in a very different place. How would you know if it’s happening to you? Pride…
I am so not a rock star. And you may not be either. But as a leader I’m a communicator and that means that like you, I want to connect with the people I’m speaking to. On that note…ever feel…
One of the dreams of almost every leader is to see every person within an organization motivated by the same mission and vision. The reality is very few organizations—and very few churches—function that way. Most leaders have had an unsettling…