Ministry Leaders: When Values Collide, Make the Right Choice
Values don’t have to collide, but when they do, leaders must decide and declare which value wins. For example, a ministry can value excellence and leadership development. But beneath the surface the values can be at odds with one another. A children’s teacher struggles to hand responsibility to another because “it won’t be excellent enough.” […]
College Food, Colliding Values, and Ministry
Malcolm Gladwell started an educational firestorm when he compared two universities in his popular Revisionist History podcast. Gladwell compared the food offered in the cafeteria at Bowdoin College with the food offered at Vassar College, along with which school is able to help lower-income students attend their college. Both are liberal arts colleges, and Bowdoin, […]
4 Reasons Superstars Hurt Local Church Ministry
You have heard the statement “A chain is only as strong as the weakest link.” In terms of building a sports team, the cliché challenges leaders to be concerned with the weakest player on the team, to be concerned with raising their skill. Some coaches and leaders live like this is true and focus their […]
Destroy Boredom or Boredom Will Destroy You
Those who work with teenagers in ministry or educational settings know that boredom often leads to absolute foolishness. Parents, school counselors, and teachers are aware that “adolescent boredom” can lead to a myriad of problems, which is why many are concerned when children or students “are not challenged enough.” For example, one study of teenagers […]
6 Basic Email Observations from Leading a Team
Few things are as lamented as email and staff meetings. And yet, both are very important in communicating, in ensuring execution, and in keeping work moving forward. They are, however, lamented for a reason. Poorly led meetings and poor email practices waste immense amounts of time and energy. Here are six basic email observations from […]
The Lure of Isolation for Leaders
Isolation is often very attractive, and it is on the rise with no signs of slowing down. Over 20 years ago, Robert Putnam wrote a landmark article that became a book about the rise of isolation in America. He called the book Bowling Alone because his research revealed that bowling leagues and other opportunities for […]
5 Warning Signs That Laziness Is Creeping into Your Leadership
The people of God have always understood laziness to be a sin because laziness fails to appreciate the gift and blessing of work and fails to make the most of the time we have been graciously given. We are commanded to be wise and to make the most of the time (Ephesians 5:15-16). Squandering time […]
3 Reasons Leaders Must Seek Accountability
Leaders can be tempted to isolate themselves, to pull themselves away from the burden of leadership and from people who can be the source of pain, disappointment, and criticism. But the moments we are tempted to run from accountability are the moments we must run toward it. The moments we feel we do not need […]
3 Reasons Cuckoo Clock Leadership Is Ridiculous
You have likely seen a cuckoo clock. Every hour a wooden bird emerges and cuckoos to signify a new hour has begun. The bird then quickly retreats to his home and remains unseen until he emerges once again to announce a new time. Some leaders attempt to lead in such a fashion. They emerge at […]
3 Leadership Reminders from Watching Kaye as a Mother
I have been married to Kaye for twenty years and have watched her as a mother for nearly ten. She is incredible at both. I am extremely blessed, and everyone who knows us knows it. I often hear comments like, “Bro, you outkicked your punt coverage,” or “Eric, you know how lucky you are, right?” […]