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

Jenni Catron is a writer, speaker, and leadership coach who consults churches and non-profits. She serves on the executive team at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, CA overseeing their various campuses. Jenni previously worked in the music industry before joining the launch team for Crosspoint Church in Nashville, TN then joining their staff. She is a savvy and gifted leader, and our conversation with her was enjoyable and full of helpful insights. Be sure to pre-order Jenni’s forthcoming book, The Four Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership: The Power of Leading from Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength that releases on December 1. 

BEST QUOTES

“Some statistics say that the Bay area is only 4% churched, so it’s very different than doing ministry in the Bible Belt.”

“I’m one of those people who turns everything into a leadership lesson.”

“When things are going well and we’re off to the races we don’t realize we should actually be preparing for the down curve.”

“Putting something on the calendar becomes a forcing function.”

“We needed to change the way we worked not just the way we were structured.”

“I had to be more patient and persistent in leading change.”

“We declared a ‘no-meeting’ January.”

“Meetings beget meetings; they multiply like rabbits.”

“Anyone in Ministry knows it’s not just a 9 to 5.”

“There’s a peak likability about being the boss because you have to be the bad-guy sometimes.”

“To be a good leader you need to lead yourself well.”

“When you’re wired to be a leader you’re wired to chase after the opportunities and the leadership seats and climbing the ladder. So there’s a drivenness to leaders where we will often ignore our own health and development.”

“If I’m busy comparing and competing I’m not celebrating what God is doing in others’ lives.”

“Lead with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.”

“It’s that balance of heart, mind, soul, and strength working in tandem that allows us to lead as God intended.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership by Jenni Catron

Clout by Jenni Catron

Managing Corporate Lifecycles by Ichak Adizes

How the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins

Leadership Pipeline by Ram Charan

 

Jenni Catron is a writer, speaker, and leadership coach who consults churches and non-profits. She serves on the executive team at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, CA overseeing their various campuses. Jenni previously worked in the music industry before joining the launch team for Crosspoint Church in Nashville, TN then joining their staff. She is a savvy and gifted leader, and our conversation with her was enjoyable and full of helpful insights. Be sure to pre-order Jenni’s forthcoming book, The Four Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership: The Power of Leading from Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength that releases on December 1. 

BEST QUOTES

“Some statistics say that the Bay area is only 4% churched, so it’s very different than doing ministry in the Bible Belt.”

“I’m one of those people who turns everything into a leadership lesson.”

“When things are going well and we’re off to the races we don’t realize we should actually be preparing for the down curve.”

“Putting something on the calendar becomes a forcing function.”

“We needed to change the way we worked not just the way we were structured.”

“I had to be more patient and persistent in leading change.”

“We declared a ‘no-meeting’ January.”

“Meetings beget meetings; they multiply like rabbits.”

“Anyone in Ministry knows it’s not just a 9 to 5.”

“There’s a peak likability about being the boss because you have to be the bad-guy sometimes.”

“To be a good leader you need to lead yourself well.”

“When you’re wired to be a leader you’re wired to chase after the opportunities and the leadership seats and climbing the ladder. So there’s a drivenness to leaders where we will often ignore our own health and development.”

“If I’m busy comparing and competing I’m not celebrating what God is doing in others’ lives.”

“Lead with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.”

“It’s that balance of heart, mind, soul, and strength working in tandem that allows us to lead as God intended.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership by Jenni Catron

Clout by Jenni Catron

Managing Corporate Lifecycles by Ichak Adizes

How the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins

Leadership Pipeline by Ram Charan

 

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I spoke with Carey Nieuwhof. Carey is the lead pastor at Connexus Church just north of Toronto. He is an author as well as a prolific blogger and podcaster, mostly about leadership. (You can find links to his books, blog, and podcast at the bottom of the show notes.) He is an exceptional leader and a model of genuineness. As a Canadian, Carey is also incredibly nice and gracious, so our conversation with him was warm and enjoyable. You will thoroughly enjoy listening in.

Best Quotes

“If you look at your phone you get a sense of who you’re growing with.”

“If you display the fruits of the Spirit are you not pretty much emotionally intelligent?”

“How do you know if someone is really following Jesus? Look at their life. Don’t look at what they say; look at how they live.”

“Your competency will take you only as far as your character can sustain you.”

“The toughest aspect of leadership is self-leadership.”

“Part of discipleship is becoming more like the one you are following.”

“We’ve all seen leaders who are phenomenally gifted . . . and their platform is bigger than their character. And their character collapses.”

“The Saul Principle: the cracks you have in your character, if you’re promoted beyond your character, eventually become major fissures and ultimately take you out.”

“You have to be an A+ in the character and relational side of things or all of the rest of [leadership] doesn’t matter.”

“I would rather have A+ character and B+ leadership.”

“We’re trying to reach a world that is learning to live happily without God.”

“What the printing press did for the Reformation I think the Internet can do for the church.”

“We want to be led by the next generation not just ministering to the next generation.”

“People in leadership often lack the permission to be frank about how hard things are at home.”

“Somebody that you trusted is going to break your heart or betray your trust. Don’t, at that point, close your heart and say ‘I’m not trusting anyone.’”

“Character is what will keep you alive and fresh in the long run.”

“I don’t want to be that cynical old guy.”

“When you become older you become more of who you already are.”

“I think the key to the future is curiosity. I look at the people I admire most and they’re curious people, they’re open, they’re interested, they haven’t arrived.”

“If you don’t develop curiosity and character at 20 you won’t have it at 60 or 70 or 80.”

Recommended Resources

CareyNieuwhof.com

The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast

Lasting Impact: 7 Powerful Conversations that Will Help Your Church Grow

Leading Change Without Losing It

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Freakonomics Podcast

The Tim Ferriss Podcast

The School of Greatness Podcast

The Genesee Diary by Henry Nouwen

Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, & Annie McKee

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I spoke with Carey Nieuwhof. Carey is the lead pastor at Connexus Church just north of Toronto. He is an author as well as a prolific blogger and podcaster, mostly about leadership. (You can find links to his books, blog, and podcast at the bottom of the show notes.) He is an exceptional leader and a model of genuineness. As a Canadian, Carey is also incredibly nice and gracious, so our conversation with him was warm and enjoyable. You will thoroughly enjoy listening in.

Best Quotes

“If you look at your phone you get a sense of who you’re growing with.”

“If you display the fruits of the Spirit are you not pretty much emotionally intelligent?”

“How do you know if someone is really following Jesus? Look at their life. Don’t look at what they say; look at how they live.”

“Your competency will take you only as far as your character can sustain you.”

“The toughest aspect of leadership is self-leadership.”

“Part of discipleship is becoming more like the one you are following.”

“We’ve all seen leaders who are phenomenally gifted . . . and their platform is bigger than their character. And their character collapses.”

“The Saul Principle: the cracks you have in your character, if you’re promoted beyond your character, eventually become major fissures and ultimately take you out.”

“You have to be an A+ in the character and relational side of things or all of the rest of [leadership] doesn’t matter.”

“I would rather have A+ character and B+ leadership.”

“We’re trying to reach a world that is learning to live happily without God.”

“What the printing press did for the Reformation I think the Internet can do for the church.”

“We want to be led by the next generation not just ministering to the next generation.”

“People in leadership often lack the permission to be frank about how hard things are at home.”

“Somebody that you trusted is going to break your heart or betray your trust. Don’t, at that point, close your heart and say ‘I’m not trusting anyone.’”

“Character is what will keep you alive and fresh in the long run.”

“I don’t want to be that cynical old guy.”

“When you become older you become more of who you already are.”

“I think the key to the future is curiosity. I look at the people I admire most and they’re curious people, they’re open, they’re interested, they haven’t arrived.”

“If you don’t develop curiosity and character at 20 you won’t have it at 60 or 70 or 80.”

Recommended Resources

CareyNieuwhof.com

The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast

Lasting Impact: 7 Powerful Conversations that Will Help Your Church Grow

Leading Change Without Losing It

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Freakonomics Podcast

The Tim Ferriss Podcast

The School of Greatness Podcast

The Genesee Diary by Henry Nouwen

Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, & Annie McKee

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I spoke with Carey Nieuwhof. Carey is the lead pastor at Connexus Church just north of Toronto. He is an author as well as a prolific blogger and podcaster, mostly about leadership. (You can find links to his books, blog, and podcast at the bottom of the show notes.) He is an exceptional leader and a model of genuineness. As a Canadian, Carey is also incredibly nice and gracious, so our conversation with him was warm and enjoyable. You will thoroughly enjoy listening in.

Best Quotes

“If you look at your phone you get a sense of who you’re growing with.”

“If you display the fruits of the Spirit are you not pretty much emotionally intelligent?”

“How do you know if someone is really following Jesus? Look at their life. Don’t look at what they say; look at how they live.”

“Your competency will take you only as far as your character can sustain you.”

“The toughest aspect of leadership is self-leadership.”

“Part of discipleship is becoming more like the one you are following.”

“We’ve all seen leaders who are phenomenally gifted . . . and their platform is bigger than their character. And their character collapses.”

“The Saul Principle: the cracks you have in your character, if you’re promoted beyond your character, eventually become major fissures and ultimately take you out.”

“You have to be an A+ in the character and relational side of things or all of the rest of [leadership] doesn’t matter.”

“I would rather have A+ character and B+ leadership.”

“We’re trying to reach a world that is learning to live happily without God.”

“What the printing press did for the Reformation I think the Internet can do for the church.”

“We want to be led by the next generation not just ministering to the next generation.”

“People in leadership often lack the permission to be frank about how hard things are at home.”

“Somebody that you trusted is going to break your heart or betray your trust. Don’t, at that point, close your heart and say ‘I’m not trusting anyone.’”

“Character is what will keep you alive and fresh in the long run.”

“I don’t want to be that cynical old guy.”

“When you become older you become more of who you already are.”

“I think the key to the future is curiosity. I look at the people I admire most and they’re curious people, they’re open, they’re interested, they haven’t arrived.”

“If you don’t develop curiosity and character at 20 you won’t have it at 60 or 70 or 80.”

Recommended Resources

CareyNieuwhof.com

The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast

Lasting Impact: 7 Powerful Conversations that Will Help Your Church Grow

Leading Change Without Losing It

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Freakonomics Podcast

The Tim Ferriss Podcast

The School of Greatness Podcast

The Genesee Diary by Henry Nouwen

Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, & Annie McKee

Ben Trueblood is the director of Student Ministry for Lifeway Christian Resources. What does that mean? It means he oversees a team that functions across the country ministering to hundreds of thousands of middle and high school students and leaders. The ministry has bases in both Nashville and Birmingham, publishes numerous Bible studies and lines of curriculum. Add all this up and you have one of the most significant gospel ministries reaching students in the world. We talked with Ben about the challenges of leading a team remotely, learning to organize and manage time well, and the advice he would give to a young youth pastor like he used to be. Enjoy the conversation!

Best Quotes

“Calendaring and management of time will creep up and destroy you if you don’t constantly keep your thumb on it.”

“Email begets email. You send an email it will come back three-fold.”

“In the local church context we would call developing people ‘discipleship’, so those two concepts – leadership development and discipleship – go hand in hand.”

“Good leaders get imitated by the ones they lead.”

“You’re moving people from just character development to skills and competency development.”

“You build on character.”

“You start with character, and that’s the foundation.”

“You go on the volunteer mill instead of developing people who then become disciplers of other people.”

“Hire correctly up front.”

“There’s a lot we can learn [in the ministry] from dispersed work environments because we’re in one.”

“I want my kids to know that I was with them and that I was tuned in to them.”

“As a young guy I thought I knew all there was to know. And it’s really just not true.”

Recommended Resources

Lifeway Student Ministry

The Gospel Project for Students

Bible Studies for Life for Students

Explore the Bible for Students

Leadership Engine by Noel Tichy

The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny

Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson

Why Work Doesn’t Happen at Work – Jason Fried’s TED Talk

 

Ben Trueblood is the director of Student Ministry for Lifeway Christian Resources. What does that mean? It means he oversees a team that functions across the country ministering to hundreds of thousands of middle and high school students and leaders. The ministry has bases in both Nashville and Birmingham, publishes numerous Bible studies and lines of curriculum. Add all this up and you have one of the most significant gospel ministries reaching students in the world. We talked with Ben about the challenges of leading a team remotely, learning to organize and manage time well, and the advice he would give to a young youth pastor like he used to be. Enjoy the conversation!

Best Quotes

“Calendaring and management of time will creep up and destroy you if you don’t constantly keep your thumb on it.”

“Email begets email. You send an email it will come back three-fold.”

“In the local church context we would call developing people ‘discipleship’, so those two concepts – leadership development and discipleship – go hand in hand.”

“Good leaders get imitated by the ones they lead.”

“You’re moving people from just character development to skills and competency development.”

“You build on character.”

“You start with character, and that’s the foundation.”

“You go on the volunteer mill instead of developing people who then become disciplers of other people.”

“Hire correctly up front.”

“There’s a lot we can learn [in the ministry] from dispersed work environments because we’re in one.”

“I want my kids to know that I was with them and that I was tuned in to them.”

“As a young guy I thought I knew all there was to know. And it’s really just not true.”

Recommended Resources

Lifeway Student Ministry

The Gospel Project for Students

Bible Studies for Life for Students

Explore the Bible for Students

Leadership Engine by Noel Tichy

The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny

Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson

Why Work Doesn’t Happen at Work – Jason Fried’s TED Talk

 

Ben Trueblood is the director of Student Ministry for Lifeway Christian Resources. What does that mean? It means he oversees a team that functions across the country ministering to hundreds of thousands of middle and high school students and leaders. The ministry has bases in both Nashville and Birmingham, publishes numerous Bible studies and lines of curriculum. Add all this up and you have one of the most significant gospel ministries reaching students in the world. We talked with Ben about the challenges of leading a team remotely, learning to organize and manage time well, and the advice he would give to a young youth pastor like he used to be. Enjoy the conversation!

Best Quotes

“Calendaring and management of time will creep up and destroy you if you don’t constantly keep your thumb on it.”

“Email begets email. You send an email it will come back three-fold.”

“In the local church context we would call developing people ‘discipleship’, so those two concepts – leadership development and discipleship – go hand in hand.”

“Good leaders get imitated by the ones they lead.”

“You’re moving people from just character development to skills and competency development.”

“You build on character.”

“You start with character, and that’s the foundation.”

“You go on the volunteer mill instead of developing people who then become disciplers of other people.”

“Hire correctly up front.”

“There’s a lot we can learn [in the ministry] from dispersed work environments because we’re in one.”

“I want my kids to know that I was with them and that I was tuned in to them.”

“As a young guy I thought I knew all there was to know. And it’s really just not true.”

Recommended Resources

Lifeway Student Ministry

The Gospel Project for Students

Bible Studies for Life for Students

Explore the Bible for Students

Leadership Engine by Noel Tichy

The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny

Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson

Why Work Doesn’t Happen at Work – Jason Fried’s TED Talk

 

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I talk with Dr. Thom Rainer, the President of LifeWay Christian Resources. Dr. Rainer is one of the most influential leaders of leaders in the church world today. His blog at ThomRainer.com draw millions of viewers and his podcast, Rainer on Leadership, is one of the leading Christian podcasts available. He has written over twenty five books and is a marvelous leader. (As ones who work under him, both Todd and I can attest to this.). In this conversation  you will hear both Dr. Rainer’s leadership savvy as well as his personality and genuineness. Enjoy!

Best Quotes

“We’re getting to the point now where really everybody is self-employed. No organization is totally loyal to an employee unless they perform. No employee is loyal to an organization unless it does well for them.”

“What is the outcome, not the hours that you work?”

“I would suggest that y’all need to stick it to the man, but I think in this case I am the man, so be careful.”

“I learn so much from those who say they’re learning from me.”

“If you’re trying to build an audience you really do have to be authentic and authentically engage your audience.”

“Any organization that is not aligned on its key purpose is an organization that is going in multiple directions which is going in no direction.”

“Why is Lifeway doing some good things? It’s because of the people, getting the right people on the bus in the right seats.”

“Is it biblical? Is it a solution? Is it transformational for life?”

“One of my greatest frustrations is when the tail wags the dog.”

“Usually the only thing I like more than Alabama winning is Auburn losing.”

“Find a way to be self-aware.”

Recommended Resources

ThomRainer.com

Rainer on Leadership Podcast

I Will: Nine Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian

Autopsy of a Deceased Church

I Am a Church Member

Diversity Explosion by William Frey

The End of Jobs by Taylor Pearson

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I talk with Dr. Thom Rainer, the President of LifeWay Christian Resources. Dr. Rainer is one of the most influential leaders of leaders in the church world today. His blog at ThomRainer.com draw millions of viewers and his podcast, Rainer on Leadership, is one of the leading Christian podcasts available. He has written over twenty five books and is a marvelous leader. (As ones who work under him, both Todd and I can attest to this.). In this conversation  you will hear both Dr. Rainer’s leadership savvy as well as his personality and genuineness. Enjoy!

Best Quotes

“We’re getting to the point now where really everybody is self-employed. No organization is totally loyal to an employee unless they perform. No employee is loyal to an organization unless it does well for them.”

“What is the outcome, not the hours that you work?”

“I would suggest that y’all need to stick it to the man, but I think in this case I am the man, so be careful.”

“I learn so much from those who say they’re learning from me.”

“If you’re trying to build an audience you really do have to be authentic and authentically engage your audience.”

“Any organization that is not aligned on its key purpose is an organization that is going in multiple directions which is going in no direction.”

“Why is Lifeway doing some good things? It’s because of the people, getting the right people on the bus in the right seats.”

“Is it biblical? Is it a solution? Is it transformational for life?”

“One of my greatest frustrations is when the tail wags the dog.”

“Usually the only thing I like more than Alabama winning is Auburn losing.”

“Find a way to be self-aware.”

Recommended Resources

ThomRainer.com

Rainer on Leadership Podcast

I Will: Nine Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian

Autopsy of a Deceased Church

I Am a Church Member

Diversity Explosion by William Frey

The End of Jobs by Taylor Pearson