Planning is a key to successful leadership. But are “the best laid plans of mice and men” destined to fail like Robert Burns’ poem suggests? Perhaps – especially when the plans are solely manmade. The very best plans are laid with God and men. Let’s take a look. For years, our ministry did traditional strategic […]

If you’re a typical leader, hard conversations come with the territory. When human beings with their unique personalities and perspectives work side-by-side – sparks can fly. Let’s unpack the dynamics and look for ways to keep conversations productive, not explosive. Hard conversations usually follow disagreements, which often stem from different viewpoints. Let’s use the tale […]

Nothing has quite the drawing power of a loaf of bread straight from the oven. The aroma finds its way to every room in the house, and every person in the house finds their way to the kitchen! We had that experience at a recent board meeting – with the bread of the Word. Our […]

Cultivating relationships within your ministry brings alignment, agreement, and advancement. But who has time? And who knows how?! Fortunately, we were designed by God for deep relational community. As we intentionally draw near to each other, community begins to grow naturally and ends up being easier than we initially thought. Recently, our leadership team met […]

Great leaders surround themselves with other great leaders. They’re not afraid to have significant bench strength – a team of talented individuals who shine in their own right. That’s not to say they don’t occasionally wince with envy while applauding an associate’s success. If you can relate – you’re in good company, and Jesus has […]

Words like stop, rest, enjoy, and celebrate aren’t found in the titles of many leadership seminars. But they’re found in the life of Jesus and they’re worth emulating, no matter how busy we are. Whether it’s a staff member’s birthday, a client’s salvation, or a successful event – let’s take the time to commemorate it, […]

As relentless as leadership demands are, wise leaders follow Jesus’ example of “walking away from it all” to be with their Father. Whether it’s several days at the beginning or end of the year, a day each quarter, or something else – a rhythm of spiritual refueling and retooling is vital to healthy leadership. Let’s […]

Preparing for the next big event is a given for leaders. Whether it’s a department meeting, a staff gathering, or a workshop at a conference – something is always right around the corner. Leaders strive for excellence, but striving can lead to over-preparing. And too much preparation can be counterproductive. Let’s find out why. Years […]