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Four Types Of Personal Boundaries Every Church Leader Needs To Build

In our last post, Understanding Healthy Boundaries, we looked at the definition, value and importance of personal boundaries. We noted that personal boundaries are limits that help us honor our values, priorities, and our truest and most authentic selves. Without strong boundaries you may be overly vulnerable to criticism or insults from others, you may struggle to manage your feelings... Continue Reading

Understanding Healthy Boundaries – What Are They Anyway?

  Boundaries are thought of in many different ways. A moat around a castle, an impermeable wall, an immovable fence, or limits we place on someone’s influence in our life are just a few. Boundaries are often thought of as mean, punitive, and controlling. But these ideas are rooted in a misunderstanding of exactly what healthy boundaries are and what... Continue Reading

Radical Soul Care For Church Leaders

In our last post, Now Is The Time For Radical Self-Care we introduced the concept of “radical self-care” for church leaders. A vitally important subset of radical self-care is “soul care,” especially for the church leader. What is soul care?  Soul care is the nurturing your inner spiritual life, your soul. Then what is “radical soul care?” Radical soul care... Continue Reading

Now Is The Time For Radical Self-Care

Hurt people, hurt people, and pastors and ministers are getting hurt in record numbers. Increasingly church leaders are confronted with unhealthy and even toxic people within their flock. Further, church leaders live with constant stress and are often running on empty. At times we need reminding that taking care of ourselves is not selfish, but prudent. Parker Palmer wisely observed,... Continue Reading

Could Code-switching Be Why People Aren’t Returning To Your Church?

In the 1950’s Einar Haugen coined the term “code-switching” to describe the practice of moving between multiple languages during interactions. The Harvard Business Review defined the term saying: “Broadly, code-switching involves adjusting one’s style of speech, appearance, behavior and expression in ways that will optimize the comfort of others in exchange for fair treatment, quality service and employment opportunities.” This is a... Continue Reading

There Are Only 3 Possibilities In Any Argument

Today’s church leaders are facing greater polarization and threats to church unity over an increasing number of arguable issues. In the midst of this discord, it is helpful to remember that there are really only three possibilities with any argument. This observation was made by John Stuart Mill and stated in 1859 in his treatise “On Liberty.” It was written... Continue Reading

Practical Strategies for Church Leaders For A Better Staff Onboarding Process

In last week’s post we examined the three elements that every new employee wants to see included in their onboarding experience. In this article we provide a series of practical steps to ensure the process is comprehensive and effective. In Gallup’s experience, the following strategies can help supervisors/managers create a holistic onboarding experience that includes the people, learning and process... Continue Reading

The Three Common Elements New Employees Want In An Onboarding Experience

I’ve written before about the importance of an intentional onboarding and orientation process for new church staff. In this article we share the three common elements that new employees want in an onboarding experience, according to research by the Gallup Organization. The onboarding process is about fulfilling the promises you made during the recruitment process as well as preparing the... Continue Reading