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Posts Tagged ‘Leadership Challenges’
Stages of Retirement…and What We Can Learn about Leadership
By: Jock Ficken
No matter your age or stage in life—pastor, spouse, esteemed lay leader—I have a short Ted Talk, “The 4 Stages of Retirement,” that I want to recommend. First, a bit of context… Our Reality I’m obviously a big fan of 1,000 Young Leaders and seeing young adults—who know that God is calling them to “something” … Continue reading
You are a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Remember the joke? It’s an old one. I heard it again twice in two months, in Ethiopia and then in Columbus, Indiana. Two guys are walking barefoot in the forest. They meet a bear planning his lunch. One guy starts to put on his running shoes. The other explains: “You’re never going to outrun the … Continue reading
Is it Safe? Is it Smart?
By: Jock Ficken
Recognize it or not, you probably filter almost every action, initiative, decision, adaptation, plan, or program through two questions: Is it safe? Is it smart? Now, whether you realize it or not, the folks you lead have the same filter going on every time you stand up and point to a direction, paint a future … Continue reading
6 Reasons Leaders Don’t Lead and Churches Don’t Change
By: Jock Ficken
It feels like every conversation I have these days, leaders are saying, “We need to adapt!” OR “Why isn’t someone at the top doing something?” OR “We really don’t know quite where to go but we know we can’t stay here.” I’ve been thinking about this a bit. Interestingly, it’s taken me back to some … Continue reading
Leading in Uncertain Times: An Interview with Sarah and Micah Greiner
By: Jock Ficken
A few weeks ago I sat down with Sarah and Pastor Micah Greiner to discuss leading in uncertain times. Sarah and Micah have served at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, for a decade or so. They’ve been in Leadership Essentials, Senior Leader and D2MC. Now they teach and coach others. You’ll appreciate … Continue reading
A Closer Look at Your Leadership in Uncertain Times: The 4 Fundamentals
By: Jock Ficken
Last week we introduced 4 fundamentals for leadership in uncertain times. I recently met with some folks who lead a prominent national ministry. We had a lot to discuss, but they wanted to discuss in particular PLI’s Leadership fully online training of millennials in 1,000 Young Leaders and its fully online cousin for folks older … Continue reading
4 Keys to Leading in Times of Uncertainty
By: Jock Ficken
We all thought that a few weeks in March 2020 spelled uncertainty. Over a year later, most of us, and most of our congregations, continue to experience the turbulence of leading in times of uncertainty. Last week I offered 4 major challenges that hide behind most of the uncertainties that we experience in our churches. … Continue reading
The 7 Hope Killers of a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Leadership hope is being tested these days. Leaders and congregations can overcome all manner of obstacles and take on the greatest of challenges when hope burns bright. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake … Continue reading
5 Things I Wish I Had Learned Sooner as a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Here are 5 Things I Wish I Had Learned Sooner as a Congregational Leader: “Leadership Essentials is the first place in my entire life I saw a healthy way to deal with conflict.” – Leader in New England “What you celebrate you accelerate.” Here are Three Questions… Which of the 5 did you learn quicker … Continue reading
The 5 Courage Killers
By: Jock Ficken
Here are 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, Grashow and Linsky’s book The Practice of Adaptive Leadership.) 1. LOYALTIES TO PEOPLE WHO DON’T BELIEVE YOU’RE DOING THE RIGHT THING It’s an unstated social contract that a good … Continue reading
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