If we consider the church as a consumer body, one that participates by showing up and giving input on how much they enjoy being served, then the place of the visible leader is one of customer service at best.
Leadership categories got you down?
Believe it or not, I am not much for categories and titles. It may seem ironic when you consider that I like to walk people through the Myers-Briggs types from time to time. (You can read more about that here: Why chose the MBTI?) The saying goes that 'no one likes being put in a … Continue reading Leadership categories got you down?
Can We Talk?
I love talking about communication. Probably because I love talking. Even more so, I love helping people with their communication. It comes up in every workshop, in every setting, in every church, in every group. People want to communicate, and funny as it may seem, they have trouble communicating that they are having trouble with … Continue reading Can We Talk?
What’s in a name? A lot!
I originally sent the following to my email friends, kind of a personal note on some of the changes here on the website, reflecting the work that I do. I decided to send it out to everyone! So, here are some reflections on the name, the reason, and the future around these parts... I have … Continue reading What’s in a name? A lot!
Thank you Riverton Gospel Chapel!
This is a little overdue, but thank you to the good folks of Riverton Gospel Chapel, for inviting me into your circle and creating conversation about the life of your church! Here are a few of my takeaways from our weekend together... Something you do not see everywhere these days is a group of people … Continue reading Thank you Riverton Gospel Chapel!
Do you have a community of active participants?
How many meetings have you been to and wondered, "Who is going to do all of this?!" I have been to my fair share. I know how it feels to 'organize' volunteers and suddenly realize no one has committed to anything. Or, as the much quoted legendary statistic says, you have the 'top 10%' do … Continue reading Do you have a community of active participants?
What’s the most important metric?
This is a trick question. You will not find a perfect answer at the end of this post. Sorry, but so much of what determines success for you says something about what you see as most important. We can say we all agree on what is most important, but how we define it will differ. … Continue reading What’s the most important metric?
Creating space to grow
I had a bit of nostalgia take hold of me this week. You can read more about this awesome time with the folks at Pioneer Camp Manitoba (as well as a few others) here: Great Learning and Growing Experiences! – Lead Freely There is nothing quite like a good memory finding its way forward in … Continue reading Creating space to grow
Breaking your negative thought pattern
“Why did I feel uncomfortable about that decision?” That was my internal dialogue at work in my bored mind as I entered the tired hours of my solo road trip, going to a conference I was excited to take part in. Tired mind, not just because of the hours on the highway or because I … Continue reading Breaking your negative thought pattern
Does change take time?
Yes. The initial decision may take a moment. The realization that something has to give may be quick. The plan may seem like it was nothing to dream up. Everybody said, 'Yes!' But you know there is more to the story. You need to make time and space. Think of it like a spiral, not … Continue reading Does change take time?
On Purpose: So, what is your purpose?
Do you have a purpose statement? Have you ever written one? Or do you have one memorized? Maybe you have put together a personal statement before or have been part of a process with your team or workgroup. Do you remember it? It does cause some awkwardness in meetings when you bring up the subject … Continue reading On Purpose: So, what is your purpose?
On Purpose: What’s Your Vision?
What do you imagine for yourself? The proverb says it well, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." When everything else was clouded, I lacked vision. We all do. A difficult aspect of losing sight of purpose is seeing actions through a dirty lens. Actions become less strategic and joyful, and the focus rests … Continue reading On Purpose: What’s Your Vision?
