The Golden Opportunities of Conflict
Just a ballpark guess, but let’s say 95% of people hate conflict and will actively avoid it if they can. Of the remaining 5%, some
Category: Coaching
The Truth About Our Obstacles
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve heard an important truism more than once, so maybe that’s a nudge to sit up and pay attention…
Status Quo: Two Dirty Words
We already know, and have known for a long time, that “status quo” is never the goal of growing organizations or thriving faith communities. Stagnation
Finding Our Way Through the Smoke
I live in the upper Midwest, and like many parts of the nation, smoke from Canadian wildfires has infiltrated our sky. It can turn the
Focusing On Deep Work
Every year, I read Cal Newport’s book,Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. It’s a book that helps me reset my intentions
Our Secret Weapon: Empathy
Because ministry is centrally about relationships, we see the whole human spectrum of behavior—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Like other people-serving roles (police,
Power Isn’t a Bad Word
In the church (and often in the wider culture) power carries with it unwanted baggage. But effective leaders use power to create positive change and
The Path out of Ministry Anxiety
In one of my first parish assignments, I knew I was going to miss a big event soon after I assumed my staff role—the celebration
A Swing and a Miss for Faith Formation
Ministry and mission were humming in the congregation. Average weekly worship attendance was booming, and we had just completed a capital campaign during the worst economy in
Pruning, Vitality, and Abundance in Ministry
It seems counterintuitive, but the abundance we see in all aspects of our lives has as much to do with strategic deletion as it does