Leaders are doers, movers, and shakers. But if that’s all they are, their efforts can amount to shadowboxing. Thankfully, God has a one-two punch that’s powerfully effective and worth learning. It was our monthly retreat to plan state-wide initiatives. Given the scope of our outreach, we could’ve felt the pressure and packed our agenda. But […]

Staff meetings can be as satisfying as homemade bread or as stale as yesterday’s toast. As a leader, you want to serve up valuable meetings. The key is using the right ingredients and keeping it fresh. The word meeting has gotten a bad rap, and for good reason. Tell someone you’re going to one, and […]

The phrase “all systems go” harkens back to the era when space ships and missiles were in their heyday. It describes the pre-flight phase when all aspects of their complicated mechanisms were in sync and ready for launch. As leaders, we want every aspect of our ministries to function at optimal effectiveness. Since God is […]

How many times have you said to an associate, “I’ll be praying for you,” and went on your way without really doing it? If you’re like me, more than you’d like to admit. But our prayers are an invaluable gift to the people we work with. So as leaders, let’s not just say we’ll pray. […]

What?! Who would purposely put their weakness on display – especially as a leader? After all, isn’t it best to lead with your strengths? In many instances, yes. But there’s a case to be made for also leading in your weaknesses.  Triple jumping is a great example of literally putting your best foot forward. I […]

As leaders, we can have tunnel vision when it comes to our employees – primarily focusing on their time at work. We want it to be effective for our ministries and life-giving for them. But employees are whole people, with lives outside of work, and family-friendly policies will go a long way in showing them […]

While the culture of a great organization fosters longevity in its leaders, people are inevitably called to move on. In addition to a typical “thank you for serving” occasion, there is a deeply meaningful way to honor both outgoing and incoming leaders. Let’s take a look. A critical transition in sports is the baton pass […]

Remember those awkward pre-leadership days of not having a clear calling or definitive direction for your life? I sure do! And if you’re like me, there were a few people who believed in you, prayed for you, and gave input that shaped the course of your leadership. Have you thanked them recently? I did some […]