Last week in our post, Approaches To Power In Church Leadership, we unpacked two sources of leadership power in the local church, Personal Power (Me Power) and Polity Power (We Power). But there are other ways to view power that deserve attention as well, specifically Power Over, Power With, Power Within, and Empowerment. First, we want to make a distinction... Continue Reading
Though the term power is fairly easy to define, “the capacity or the ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events,” it is much more complex and nuanced in application, especially in the local church. In the coming weeks I will be sharing comparisons and experiences with various approaches to power in the church:... Continue Reading
A question that is often asked in career discussions is, “are you willing to pay the price?” It is common to think that the price is limited to the effort to attain a position. That you can simply work hard to attain a position, then you can sit back and enjoy the rewards. In reality the price you pay to... Continue Reading
My biggest regret, from a leadership development perspective, is that I didn’t taking coaching seriously or pursue a certification in coaching earlier in my career. My experience in the effectiveness of one on one coaching conversations with my direct reports is backed up by one of Gallup’s most famous leadership breakthroughs, based on meta-analytics of 100 million employee interviews. And,... Continue Reading
The idea that intelligence is more multi-faceted than simply book smarts has been widely proven. It’s now acknowledged and accepted that personal intelligence is a combination of EQ (emotional intelligence), IQ (intellectual capability), and personality (innate traits). Emotional intelligence, intellectual capability, and your personality traits help to make you uniquely you. Increasingly, those in leadership and management positions are viewing... Continue Reading
If you are in vocational ministry there is a better than average chance that you are an empath, or at least have some of the attributes of an empath, or have an empath that is prominent in your life. What is an empath? People who acutely feel the emotional, mental, and at times, physical states of others are called empaths.... Continue Reading
In our last article we pointed out how church leaders need to intentionally prepare for staff to return to the office once COVID-19 restrictions are eased. We observed that one of the most important questions leaders will have to address is How do we get staff to want to work on-site? All signs point to employees returning to a “hybrid” work environment... Continue Reading
After over a year of layoffs, cut backs, remote working, Zoom staff meetings, and worrying about employee wellbeing, asking church staff to return to work in the office can feel like yet another challenge for church leaders to overcome. But, it can also be viewed as an opportunity…an opportunity to redefine the benefits of your onsite workplace culture. First Things... Continue Reading
What you are doing is not good. You and the people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; You cannot handle it alone. But, select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties... Continue Reading
Do you feel stressed and overloaded? If so, it may be time to recognize that even super-efficient you needs help and support from time to time. There’s only a limited amount that you can do, however hard you work. You can only work so many hours in a day. There are only so many tasks you can complete in these... Continue Reading
In contrast to last week’s article where we talked about tasks that should be delegated, this week we look at some tasks that should never be delegated and should typically remain as the Manager’s/Supervisor’s responsibility. What Shouldn’t Be Delegated Each church leader must determine those tasks, responsibilities and projects that they and they alone should do, assume, or lead. These... Continue Reading
Often some of the most challenging decisions a Manager/Supervisor has to make is determining what to delegate and what to keep for themselves. I’ve found it helpful to think in terms of two buckets of tasks – what should be delegated and what shouldn’t be delegated. In this article we will look at how to determine what should be delegated.... Continue Reading
Jim is a Church Organizational Leadership and Management Coach, Consultant and Trainer. Throughout his career Jim has demonstrated a passion for showing Pastors and Ministers how to use organizational tools for church and personal growth and health.
More About Jim“For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5