Every ministry leader has some rough edges. Isolation, fear, or insecurity will keep those rough edges sharp. The alternative >> engaging people, tackling complexities, and navigating confusing dynamics. But it is messy when sharp edges collide. Tough situations smooth rough edges. Relationships shine a spotlight on our flaws. It’s necessary we face these (maybe even…

The word influence is thrown around often in leadership. We know that great leaders are influencers. As ministry leaders, we are hungry to learn how to influence as we lead others in accomplishing mission, to influence with integrity, to influence in a way that leaves a legacy. But what does influence actually mean? And –…

Ever had an energizing volunteer experience? One that fueled your passion. One that challenged you to become a better person. One filled with meaning and significance. What made that experience powerful? Research shows that for volunteers, the secret is doing something that they love with people they like.\ What they love… What does that volunteer…

Oh, how we like to avoid this topic. Especially in churches and faith-based organizations where we would like to believe conflict doesn’t happen. However, people are people everywhere. Feelings get hurt. People say things they don’t mean. Expectations are left unmet. Miscommunication creates confusion. In all these situations conflict happens – either under the surface…

Years in ministry and leadership has revealed to me the power of coaching! I used to think leadership was about giving people tools to lead change, offering methodologies, or creating plans. We are leaders. We have solutions. Right? While tools are necessary to solve problems, they may not always offer the best approach. When people…

This story in Luke 5 is a well-known one. The house was overflowing as the crowd tried to hear Jesus. These four men were carrying their friend on a mat. He was paralyzed. They desperately wanted to get him to Jesus. There seemed to be no way, but these friends would not be stopped. They…

Communication is more than language. It is all the meaning and expectations behind the language. Our personality and how we are wired influences the meaning we assign to words, the information we notice, what we talk about and most importantly the expectations we have of others in “good communication.” Earlier this week I was putting…

We find a way to navigate through (or around) conflict most days until there is the one nagging situation that gets us undone or the one personality type that just sets us off. Sometimes only on the inside. You know, the conflict conversation in our head – on repeat. Conflict is not easy to manage…

Tough conversations trigger this primitive flight-fight response. Guards go up. Defensive responses pop into our head, and maybe we even put those thoughts into words. Every leader is faced with starting the tough conversation whether it’s about performance, attitude, relationships, expectations and a multitude of other topics for people who must work together. Today’s tip…

How many dollars did you spend on conflict last week? We don’t often calculate our people problems in dollars and cents. It is costing you money. It is costing you time. It is costing you results. One study showed: The average employee spends 2.1 hours a week dealing with conflict (instead of their job) One…