The Power and Phobia of Public Speaking in Ministry
“I know that men are won over less by the written than by the spoken word, that every great movement on this earth owes its growth to great orators and not to great writers.” The above statement, written by a renowned leader, is a strong declaration on the power of public speaking. He wrote the […]
3 Ways Personality Tests Can Enhance Your Leadership
A pastor once commented, “Why doesn’t anyone repent after taking a personality test?” His sentiment was that someone could take a test and use the test to justify their jerkish behavior as being “strong-willed” or their passive behavior as being a “processor.” It is not an uninformed comment, as you have likely seen people wrongly […]
5 Reasons Leaders and Creators Need Routines
The myth on creativity is that creativity hates routines, that creativity is stifled by a schedule or plan. In reality, leaders and creators thrive in routines. Mason Currey, in his book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, chronicles the daily rituals and habits of many of the world’s most influential artists, authors, poets, and composers. What […]
3 Reasons Passion Is Greater Than Professionalism
Passion trumps professionalism. Always. Every single time. Can we be both professional and passionate? Absolutely.
3 Common (yet Foolish) Excuses for Delaying Leadership Development
While leaders are responsible for future leadership, there is a constant temptation to delay developing others. If you are addicted to short-term results, it will be easy to delay developing others. After all, leadership development is deeply countercultural in an instant gratification culture. And while leaders intuitively know they are responsible to develop others, many […]
4 Warning Signs Your Church Isn’t Developing Leaders
If every believer is a minister, then clearly the role of a ministry leader is to prepare, not to perform.
3 Reasons Leading Volunteers Is a Great Test
I believe that leading volunteers is truly a great test of one’s leadership. In many ways, leading volunteers is the ultimate test of one’s ability to lead others. When I interview someone, I don’t only look for their work with “paid staff”; I pay close attention to their history leading volunteers. I have hired people […]
Stop Trying to Graduate from Leadership Basics
Vince Lombardi, the legendary football coach, famously gathered his Green Bay Packer team together as training camp opened in 1961, held a football, and declared, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” He was not speaking to scrubs who just entered the league but to a team who had made it to the NFL Championship the previous […]
3 Shortcuts Leaders Should Never Take
In a culture that values instant everything and struggles waiting for anything, shortcuts are all the rave. Hack has even become a buzzword for taking shortcuts, maximizing time, and getting things done more quickly. “Hack your schedule.” “Hack your calendar.” “Hack your leadership meeting.” “Hack your life.” I am not against all hacking as some […]
Three Ways Millennials Make You a Better Leader
Some bemoan the inevitable—that millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) are becoming a larger section of the workforce. If you Google “millennials and work,” a plethora of articles will show up. Some affirm traits in millennials that contribute to a healthy work environment: creativity, technological savvy, or altruism. Others point to millennials and express […]