5 Leadership Questions Podcast on Church Leadership with Todd Adkins and Dan Iten

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I sit down with Eric Geiger to talk about how leaders can balance having a healthy awareness of past with the right focus on the future. It’s so easy to fall into one extreme or the other and both extremes harm an organization. We answer the following questions.

* What are some signs a leader is too focused on the past?

* What are some signs a leader is too focused on the future?

* What are the downsides of doing either of these? How can they harm an organization?

* How can a leader learn from the past without being stuck in it?

* How can a leader have vision for the future without ignoring present or past reality?

BEST QUOTES

“There’s a difference between looking at the past to learn and looking at the past to find my worth and my identity.”

“If a person finds their worth and identity in the past they’re going to be stuck in the past.”

“Leaders who live in the past are like college freshmen who still wear their high school letter jackets.”

“Am I going back to the past because I don’t have credibility here so I have to borrow from the past??

“What are you doing now?”

“If you’re only focused on the future you’re not leading today, you’re not shepherding today – you don’t even really care about people today.”

“Successful entrepreneurs have an idea, but they execute too.”

“Successful entrepreneurs have a plan for management even if they aren’t doing the managing themselves.”

“An organization that’s stuck in the past lives with the pain of no vision for the future.”

“New leaders cannot emerge in an organization that’s only focused on the past.”

“Complete stagnancy and underdevelopment happens if you’re an organization that’s only focused on the past.”

“There comes a time when something you accomplished 25 years ago doesn’t really matter any more.”

“Its easy to discard the things of our parents, and in doing so to discard a ton of great learning.”

“If relevancy is your main thing you need to tie together the past and the future.”

“Leadership principles haven’t changed ever.”

“Look for transferrable principles.”

“What’s wise is to look at the seasons and successes and victories of the previous generation.”

“Learning from past successes is a way to honor employees who have been there a long time.”

“Have your eyes on the future but from your current context.”

“Allow the past to inform your vision of the future.”

“It’s easy to come into an organization and say ‘Here’s where we’re going!’ without giving any thought to who’s been there or where they’ve been.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer

On The Reading of Old Books – C.S. Lewis on chronological snobbery

Building a Great Organizational Culture – Episode 7

 

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I talk with Jason Romano who manages the social media for all of ESPN's NFL and MLB coverage, which is to say, a LOT! Jason also serves as an elder in his church and has some really helpful things to say about faith in the workplace, managing home/work balance especially with a uniquely demanding job, leading a multi-generational team, and being a witness in a secular workplace. We were excited to speak with him because he as an awesome guy and also because of his unique position and the perspective it offers. Enjoy the conversation!

BEST QUOTES

“The greatest success model is loving, serving, and caring. If you do that things really start to align in your life.”

“We’re trying to learn from each other and find each other’s talents. A 40-year old thinks differently than a 22-year old.”

“Go the 80/20 model in life – 80% deposit and 20% withdrawal.”

“If you’re investing more than you’re withdrawing you’ll find you don’t have to make nearly as many withdrawals.”

“If people below me are doing great work and are getting promoted, and even getting promoted beyond me, I feel like I’m doing my job.”

“If you are constantly developing other people there will always be a place for you.”

“There will always be doers. There will not always be developers.”

“It’s messy when you bring in the work/home balance and mix in church life as well.”

“My emphasis in leading at home right now is just being available.”

“My 11-year-old is teaching me things.”

“I’d tell my 20-year-old self ‘It’s not about you’, which is almost impossible to get a 20-year-old to understand.”

“Read more and write more.”

“I wish I’d had a mentor to show me there was more than just this little broadcast world.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

JasonRomano22.com

Lead . . . for God’s Sake! by Todd Gongwer

The Carpenter by Jon Gordon

H3 Leadership by Brad Lomenick

Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson

NewChurches.com

New Churches Podcast

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I talk with Jason Romano who manages the social media for all of ESPN’s NFL and MLB coverage, which is to say, a LOT! Jason also serves as an elder in his church and has some really helpful things to say about faith in the workplace, managing home/work balance especially with a uniquely demanding job, leading a multi-generational team, and being a witness in a secular workplace. We were excited to speak with him because he as an awesome guy and also because of his unique position and the perspective it offers. Enjoy the conversation!

BEST QUOTES

“The greatest success model is loving, serving, and caring. If you do that things really start to align in your life.”

“We’re trying to learn from each other and find each other’s talents. A 40-year old thinks differently than a 22-year old.”

“Go the 80/20 model in life – 80% deposit and 20% withdrawal.”

“If you’re investing more than you’re withdrawing you’ll find you don’t have to make nearly as many withdrawals.”

“If people below me are doing great work and are getting promoted, and even getting promoted beyond me, I feel like I’m doing my job.”

“If you are constantly developing other people there will always be a place for you.”

“There will always be doers. There will not always be developers.”

“It’s messy when you bring in the work/home balance and mix in church life as well.”

“My emphasis in leading at home right now is just being available.”

“My 11-year-old is teaching me things.”

“I’d tell my 20-year-old self ‘It’s not about you’, which is almost impossible to get a 20-year-old to understand.”

“Read more and write more.”

“I wish I’d had a mentor to show me there was more than just this little broadcast world.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

JasonRomano22.com

Lead . . . for God’s Sake! by Todd Gongwer

The Carpenter by Jon Gordon

H3 Leadership by Brad Lomenick

Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson

NewChurches.com

New Churches Podcast

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I talk with Jason Romano who manages the social media for all of ESPN’s NFL and MLB coverage, which is to say, a LOT! Jason also serves as an elder in his church and has some really helpful things to say about faith in the workplace, managing home/work balance especially with a uniquely demanding job, leading a multi-generational team, and being a witness in a secular workplace. We were excited to speak with him because he as an awesome guy and also because of his unique position and the perspective it offers. Enjoy the conversation!

BEST QUOTES

“The greatest success model is loving, serving, and caring. If you do that things really start to align in your life.”

“We’re trying to learn from each other and find each other’s talents. A 40-year old thinks differently than a 22-year old.”

“Go the 80/20 model in life – 80% deposit and 20% withdrawal.”

“If you’re investing more than you’re withdrawing you’ll find you don’t have to make nearly as many withdrawals.”

“If people below me are doing great work and are getting promoted, and even getting promoted beyond me, I feel like I’m doing my job.”

“If you are constantly developing other people there will always be a place for you.”

“There will always be doers. There will not always be developers.”

“It’s messy when you bring in the work/home balance and mix in church life as well.”

“My emphasis in leading at home right now is just being available.”

“My 11-year-old is teaching me things.”

“I’d tell my 20-year-old self ‘It’s not about you’, which is almost impossible to get a 20-year-old to understand.”

“Read more and write more.”

“I wish I’d had a mentor to show me there was more than just this little broadcast world.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

JasonRomano22.com

Lead . . . for God’s Sake! by Todd Gongwer

The Carpenter by Jon Gordon

H3 Leadership by Brad Lomenick

Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson

NewChurches.com

New Churches Podcast

We get asked questions pretty regularly on Facebook, and at our respective twitter feeds (@ToddAdkins and @BarnabasPiper). And since we have sharp listeners many of the questions are excellent, so we decided to take the best and turn them into a podcast! In fact we had so many that we will do two episodes of listener questions. Keep an eye out for the second coming in a few weeks. We were joined by Jenni Catron and answered the following listener questions.

* How can a natural follower develop leadership skills?

* How can a strong leader find contentment when being led by a poor leader?

* How do you get high school students (or other young people) to step up and lead? There seems to be reluctance.

* What is the best advice for a leader to remain teachable.

* How do you resume or continue leading after experiencing failure?

BEST QUOTES

“How a natural follower can develop leadership skills is responsibility and respect.”

“You want to make sure that it’s easy, obvious, and strategic that you got put in this position.”

“All of us should be natural followers in that we should be able to submit to the authority over us.”

“Leadership starts with relational influence.”

“Just because you’re a natural follower doesn’t mean you won’t be a significant leader.”

“Even if you work for a hack you must show respect.”

“As a follower I don’t know everything my leader is dealing with.”

“If you think you’re a strong leader and you’re not you will be very resentful of people you have no business being resentful of.”

“Be careful that you actually are a strong leader and you don’t just have a strong personality.”

“If you are a volunteer you are already a leader compared to the rest of the population in student ministry.”

“Young leaders don’t know they’re leaders. Your job is to help them figure out what they’re skilled at.”

“Affirmation is a big deal because insecurity leads to quitting.”

“Surround yourself with people who are going to give you real feedback.”

“If you’re the kind of leader who can’t be questioned you’re going to end up doing questionable things.”

“Leaders are learners; you can’t separate the two.”

“Is there a healthy framework I can have to deal with criticism?”

“Humility says ‘I don’t know everything.’ Curiosity says ‘what don’t I know?’”

“You have to get out beyond where you’re comfortable.”

“‘What if . . .’ is a big question for leaders.”

“Be honest about your failures. Be really forthright with the team of people you lead.”

“Bouncing back from failure is easier if you lead with a style that’s about something more than yourself.”

“If you’re leading you will fail.”

“Part of being a leader is imperfection.”

“A character failure creates an issue of trust.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Creativity Inc. – Ed Catmull

Surviving a Moral Failure on a Church Staff - Rainer on Leadership Podcast

We get asked questions pretty regularly on Facebook, and at our respective twitter feeds (@ToddAdkins and @BarnabasPiper). And since we have sharp listeners many of the questions are excellent, so we decided to take the best and turn them into a podcast! In fact we had so many that we will do two episodes of listener questions. Keep an eye out for the second coming in a few weeks. We were joined by Jenni Catron and answered the following listener questions.

* How can a natural follower develop leadership skills?

* How can a strong leader find contentment when being led by a poor leader?

* How do you get high school students (or other young people) to step up and lead? There seems to be reluctance.

* What is the best advice for a leader to remain teachable.

* How do you resume or continue leading after experiencing failure?

BEST QUOTES

“How a natural follower can develop leadership skills is responsibility and respect.”

“You want to make sure that it’s easy, obvious, and strategic that you got put in this position.”

“All of us should be natural followers in that we should be able to submit to the authority over us.”

“Leadership starts with relational influence.”

“Just because you’re a natural follower doesn’t mean you won’t be a significant leader.”

“Even if you work for a hack you must show respect.”

“As a follower I don’t know everything my leader is dealing with.”

“If you think you’re a strong leader and you’re not you will be very resentful of people you have no business being resentful of.”

“Be careful that you actually are a strong leader and you don’t just have a strong personality.”

“If you are a volunteer you are already a leader compared to the rest of the population in student ministry.”

“Young leaders don’t know they’re leaders. Your job is to help them figure out what they’re skilled at.”

“Affirmation is a big deal because insecurity leads to quitting.”

“Surround yourself with people who are going to give you real feedback.”

“If you’re the kind of leader who can’t be questioned you’re going to end up doing questionable things.”

“Leaders are learners; you can’t separate the two.”

“Is there a healthy framework I can have to deal with criticism?”

“Humility says ‘I don’t know everything.’ Curiosity says ‘what don’t I know?’”

“You have to get out beyond where you’re comfortable.”

“‘What if . . .’ is a big question for leaders.”

“Be honest about your failures. Be really forthright with the team of people you lead.”

“Bouncing back from failure is easier if you lead with a style that’s about something more than yourself.”

“If you’re leading you will fail.”

“Part of being a leader is imperfection.”

“A character failure creates an issue of trust.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Creativity Inc. – Ed Catmull

Surviving a Moral Failure on a Church Staff – Rainer on Leadership Podcast

We get asked questions pretty regularly on Facebook, and at our respective twitter feeds (@ToddAdkins and @BarnabasPiper). And since we have sharp listeners many of the questions are excellent, so we decided to take the best and turn them into a podcast! In fact we had so many that we will do two episodes of listener questions. Keep an eye out for the second coming in a few weeks. We were joined by Jenni Catron and answered the following listener questions.

* How can a natural follower develop leadership skills?

* How can a strong leader find contentment when being led by a poor leader?

* How do you get high school students (or other young people) to step up and lead? There seems to be reluctance.

* What is the best advice for a leader to remain teachable.

* How do you resume or continue leading after experiencing failure?

BEST QUOTES

“How a natural follower can develop leadership skills is responsibility and respect.”

“You want to make sure that it’s easy, obvious, and strategic that you got put in this position.”

“All of us should be natural followers in that we should be able to submit to the authority over us.”

“Leadership starts with relational influence.”

“Just because you’re a natural follower doesn’t mean you won’t be a significant leader.”

“Even if you work for a hack you must show respect.”

“As a follower I don’t know everything my leader is dealing with.”

“If you think you’re a strong leader and you’re not you will be very resentful of people you have no business being resentful of.”

“Be careful that you actually are a strong leader and you don’t just have a strong personality.”

“If you are a volunteer you are already a leader compared to the rest of the population in student ministry.”

“Young leaders don’t know they’re leaders. Your job is to help them figure out what they’re skilled at.”

“Affirmation is a big deal because insecurity leads to quitting.”

“Surround yourself with people who are going to give you real feedback.”

“If you’re the kind of leader who can’t be questioned you’re going to end up doing questionable things.”

“Leaders are learners; you can’t separate the two.”

“Is there a healthy framework I can have to deal with criticism?”

“Humility says ‘I don’t know everything.’ Curiosity says ‘what don’t I know?’”

“You have to get out beyond where you’re comfortable.”

“‘What if . . .’ is a big question for leaders.”

“Be honest about your failures. Be really forthright with the team of people you lead.”

“Bouncing back from failure is easier if you lead with a style that’s about something more than yourself.”

“If you’re leading you will fail.”

“Part of being a leader is imperfection.”

“A character failure creates an issue of trust.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Creativity Inc. – Ed Catmull

Surviving a Moral Failure on a Church Staff – Rainer on Leadership Podcast

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins spoke with Louie Giglio who is the lead pastor of Passion City Church, founder of the Passion movement and conferences, author, and speaker. Louie is best known for his work with college students and young adults and his passion for Christ to be proclaimed and to save lives. The Passion conferences draw tens of thousands of students each year with no sign of decline and they have changed and shaped the lives of many of Christianity's rising leaders. Louie's new book, The Comeback uses story and teaching to show that it is never too late for God to use someone and His grace sufficient always. You will hear Louie's passion, his insights, and curiosity and drive to keep growing.

BEST QUOTES

“When you can’t start over you can start again.”

“The best leaders learn from anything and anybody.”

“Curiosity is the key to genius.”

“If you meet people who are dialed into Netflix every night and aren’t very good question askers they probably aren’t going to revolutionize very much.”

“The greatest leaders are the curious ones.”

“Dissatisfied customers are terrorists to your organization.”

“You don’t go to work to do a job; you go to work to be excellent.”

“Leaders don’t do exceptional things, they do ordinary things exceptionally well.”

“You just don’t want static people in your organization.”

“Out of galvanized vision you usually see exponential expansion.”

“Leading in the pastoral role is humbly remembering that God put me here in this moment to lead.”

“We’ve tried to wire change into our culture. We need to incubate a culture of change.”

“If the gospel is real then people are going to come from death to life. If people come from death to life then there will be a whole lot more people in our mix. And if there are more people in our mix a whole lot of things will have to change.”

“The gospel is the engine of your church.”

“The systems are where the growth potential is for everything.”

“You gain ground when you write things down.”

“Most leaders forget to include themselves in the leadership equation of the home.”

“What women want, I think, is a guy who has a clue where they’re going and where they’re family is going.”

“Don’t try to get the mic, try to have something to say.”

“Every great thing that’s ever happened has required patience.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

The Comeback by Louie Giglio

Passion Conferences

Passion City Church

Horst Schulze

Bill Hybels

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins spoke with Louie Giglio who is the lead pastor of Passion City Church, founder of the Passion movement and conferences, author, and speaker. Louie is best known for his work with college students and young adults and his passion for Christ to be proclaimed and to save lives. The Passion conferences draw tens of thousands of students each year with no sign of decline and they have changed and shaped the lives of many of Christianity’s rising leaders. Louie’s new book, The Comeback uses story and teaching to show that it is never too late for God to use someone and His grace sufficient always. You will hear Louie’s passion, his insights, and curiosity and drive to keep growing.

BEST QUOTES

“When you can’t start over you can start again.”

“The best leaders learn from anything and anybody.”

“Curiosity is the key to genius.”

“If you meet people who are dialed into Netflix every night and aren’t very good question askers they probably aren’t going to revolutionize very much.”

“The greatest leaders are the curious ones.”

“Dissatisfied customers are terrorists to your organization.”

“You don’t go to work to do a job; you go to work to be excellent.”

“Leaders don’t do exceptional things, they do ordinary things exceptionally well.”

“You just don’t want static people in your organization.”

“Out of galvanized vision you usually see exponential expansion.”

“Leading in the pastoral role is humbly remembering that God put me here in this moment to lead.”

“We’ve tried to wire change into our culture. We need to incubate a culture of change.”

“If the gospel is real then people are going to come from death to life. If people come from death to life then there will be a whole lot more people in our mix. And if there are more people in our mix a whole lot of things will have to change.”

“The gospel is the engine of your church.”

“The systems are where the growth potential is for everything.”

“You gain ground when you write things down.”

“Most leaders forget to include themselves in the leadership equation of the home.”

“What women want, I think, is a guy who has a clue where they’re going and where they’re family is going.”

“Don’t try to get the mic, try to have something to say.”

“Every great thing that’s ever happened has required patience.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

The Comeback by Louie Giglio

Passion Conferences

Passion City Church

Horst Schulze

Bill Hybels