In nearly every leader there is a clock, a sense of pressure that “drives us” to speed up and move quickly. Quick, get the ministry started. Quickly get it better. It’s about those outside of our walls so let’s move faster, do more, press harder! But what if God is moving us to accelerate by slowing down? The Lord… Read more »
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” That is an often quoted word from a leadership consultant. But here’s the problem. It would seem that we hear the leadership “quip” and even quote it. Wouldn’t it be more effective to utilize this insight in our leadership? Working with spiritual leaders we discover that we can so easily be swept into the hottest… Read more »
It happens all of the time. Someone is hurting, overcome in anguish and loss, and the natural response is “Don’t feel that way.” Haven’t we discovered that feelings are not so easily controlled? Don’t feel that way? Too late, I already do! What happens next can be classic. When another does not “receive” our encouragement we can begin to experience… Read more »
We live in an age of mistrust, especially of organizations. No wonder! We have observed a myriad of leaders choosing themselves over those they lead. Often this is done out of the public eye, but eventually the heart is revealed, and when the constituents discern ANY breach of trust the toxin has entered the system. Organizations can often identify “trust”… Read more »
I’ve heard leaders, in conversation with other leaders, say “I really don’t need worship but maybe once a month.” What does that mean? Do they feel it is a need or feeling that can be satiated one time a month? Have you looked carefully at the pattern of Jesus? To begin with, he was an Israelite. The people of Israel… Read more »
Often leaders do get the vision (why) right, but the how and when wrong. Then they mess up the why. When we are captivated by the dream, we can “push” both the timing and the people and we end up moving past the timing and working the Spirit. Once you know the why or what (what you are supposed to do, the calling or… Read more »
Life without wonder is lived small, lived in the confines of our thinking, our ability, our limitations. Wonder opens our imagination. Wonder calls us to live in majesty, in the amazement of a God to whom nothing is impossible. Wonder opens us to possibilities and future. Leaders need wonder. Leaders need to be captured by the majesty of the Lord who orchestrates future, who calls… Read more »
Jesus will always call out our inner world. He did it for the disciples (Mark 9:14-33). Before we can be used mightily, we must be cleansed deeply. He does this inner work by asking the questions that deeply reveal our hearts. “What were you arguing about along the way?” He asked, knowing that the subject of the argument was revealing their inner world. What… Read more »
You can’t lead them if you need them! You can’t lead people when you need their approval. You can’t lead people when you need their finances. You can’t lead people unless you are free, whole and healthy. The inner work of a leader must go to this depth, to do the work of being “free” to lead, free to encourage and to call up… Read more »
Here’s a vital point: Leaders will often find themselves in moments and even seasons of conflict. How we lead through the conflict can accelerate our leadership or limit our future! On a scale of 1-10 how effective are you at leading through conflict? What are some skills you use to navigate hot moments? When you think of conflict, what are… Read more »