Leadership
Why Control Freaks Rarely Lead Large Churches or Organizations
So you’re a bit of a control freak. And you’re a leader. That’s not surprising. People who like control seem to have a natural ability to get into leadership positions. Or sometimes they create positions, start things and build their…
5 Very Real Tensions Every Small to Mid-Sized Church Leader Feels
If you lead a small to mid-sized church, you face struggles leaders of large churches don’t. I can totally relate to the dynamics of leading a smaller church. When I began in ministry, I spent about 3 years leading a…
Because Way Too Many Leaders Are Tired of Doing Everything Themselves
Tired of doing everything yourself? Most leaders are. And yet we feel we have to do it or it won’t get done right, or maybe it won’t get done at all. I’ve been there. I get it. But the question…
How to Tell if A New Volunteer is Truly a Leader (Or Simply a Doer)
I recently surveyed 1400 small and mid-sized church pastors to find out what they struggle with most as their church grows. They overwhelmingly identified developing leaders as their top challenge. Don’t get me wrong, there were many more issues (I…
The Worst Ways to Evaluate Your Church (And the Best One)
When you attend a church, how do you evaluate what you’re experiencing? Before you say “I don’t evaluate anything. I’m just there to worship God,” hang on a second. We all evaluate what’s happening in church. Every one of us does. Whether…
5 Honest Struggles Most Church Leaders Don’t Want To Admit
Most of us who get into full-time ministry do so because we sense a calling, not because it was a ‘career path’. Chances are you got in this because you love God, deeply, right? So it’s always a bit surprising…
3 Ways Great Leaders Handle Tough Circumstances Differently
Circumstances. You face them every day, you are always reacting to them–positively or negatively. Think about it. What situations in your life do you wish would change right now? A different work environment that doesn’t suck the life out of you…
9 Universal Leadership Lessons I’ve Learned From Writing, Blogging and Podcasting
Every few days it seems a leader messages me about getting started or breaking through as a writer, blogger or podcaster. I appreciate the question because for years, I wondered about what it took to write books, blog or launch a podcast.…
Are You an Organizational Leader or a Shepherd? (10 Easy Ways To Tell)
So are you an organizational leader, or are you more of a relational leader—a shepherd? It’s an interesting question, and a highly polarizing one in the church today. Ditto for this blog. Just check out the impassioned comments on this…
3 Truths About The Accelerating Pace of Change and Leadership
When was the last time you had a productive conversation about the pace of change? In many businesses, that conversation happens all the time. In church world, it rarely happens. Instead, church leaders will talk about how hard it is to…
Why Every Pastor Doesn’t Need a Platform
A few years ago I started getting a particular question lobbed my way again and again. It’s usually, but not exclusively, from young leaders. The question goes something like this: I’m a full-time pastor at X church. I’m wondering whether…
7 Ways Otherwise Great Leaders Blow It When Leading Change
Almost every leader I’ve ever met wants to change something. If I asked you right now what you’d love to change in your church or organization, you’d probably be able to offer an answer within seconds. Some of you want…