Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category

The 5 Courage Killers of Dead Man’s Hill

By: Jock Ficken

Last week I likened my “turn around” at Dead Man’s Hill to the experience most congregations and plenty of leaders have with taking on their greatest challenge. Now I offer the 5 courage killers that any leader, woman or man, needs to know and confront. They’re embedded in who we are. (And they’re adapted from Heifetz, … Continue reading →

7 Steps to Surviving Sabotage

By: Jock Ficken

Almost every congregation is in desperate need of stronger leadership (individual and shared) to help them be vibrant communities of faith that can take on their toughest challenges. Most churches never thought that leadership development for their pastor(s) and others might be their most under resourced aspect of ministry! Last week’s Surviving Sabotage pointed the finger … Continue reading →

#WorkFromRest Pitfalls And How To Avoid Them

By: Sarah Greiner

Surviving Sabotage

By: Jock Ficken

The call came while we were on a February family vacation some years ago. Our congregation was deciding to leave its much loved 150 year old inner city campus to join the rapidly growing suburban campus and then expand our vibrant Hispanic congregation in its place. “Pastor, there’s a hundred people in Luther Hall. They’re … Continue reading →

4 Things Great Leaders Never Do

By: Jock Ficken

Good congregational leadership is imperative!      Good congregational leadership can be developed! Here are 4 things good church leaders never do! Good Leaders never blame circumstances or other people for their congregational challenges. It is what it is. They pray. They trust. They roll up their sleeves. They go about the task of taking action.  … Continue reading →

Leading with What’s Left

By: Jock Ficken

Mistakes Leaders Make and How to Fix Them “I’m not sure how much I have left.” There have been a few pivotal moments/seasons in my leadership years where I’ve hauntingly wondered, occasionally voiced, “I’m not sure how much I have left.” I’d tell Gail. In my darkest “wonder what’s left” it was sometimes difficult even … Continue reading →

Summer’s Here! Refresh!

By: Sarah Greiner

5 Things to Remember about Leading Change

By: Jock Ficken

Change for the sake of change is never good. It’s a waste of time, or worse, an abuse of people. It’s the issue that’s in front of every pastor and every leader and every congregation in one form or fashion…it’s not just you! And that’s why I want to offer a few reminders about leading … Continue reading →

The 10 Imperceptible Leader Drifts

By: Jock Ficken

No leader, woman or man, drifts toward a preferred destination! Congregations today desperately need leaders who can point them enthusiastically toward a future vision that embodies the Mission of God while also taking on the challenge of leading themselves well. Here are 10 leader drifts: Retreating to small, safe vision when big visions and bold … Continue reading →

It’s Fun to be a Leader…Again

By: Jock Ficken

It’s fun to be a leader again! Have you been there? After a season of congregational leadership not being fun, to step out of the forest and into the bright sunshine of leadership and find that it’s “fun”? It’s a great thing! I loved hearing one of the leaders in the PLI family simply declare: … Continue reading →