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 talk with Matt Perman, the author of What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done. He is a speaker and consultant and formerly oversaw the development of Desiring God’s web ministry. Matt is passionate about productivity and theology, two things that aren’t often blended, but that’s what he does. He desires to help leaders glorify God and serve others through the methods and means by which they accomplish their work. IMatt is insightful and bright, and the conversation was excellent.

Best Quotes

“Reading Marcus Buckingham is like reading John Piper, except he’s not theological.”

“Don’t separate [productivity] from your theological background. Think about in a gospel-centered way, not a secular way.”

“The chief purpose behind our productivity is to do good for others.”

“The gospel says be others-centered.”

“Wouldn’t it be neat if, as Christians, we applied that time he have freed up to things like the advance of the gospel and large global problems.”

“Instead of the work/leisure dichotomy there’s a purpose to everything and everything has its place. It’s much more fulfilling.”

“If we’re just in an echo chamber than we’re just reproducing the same sets of problems.”

“Leaders should lead from purpose and values rather than command and control.”

“The role of the leader is not to exert himself as much as possible; it’s to actually affirm the other person’s freedom and protect its scope.”

“Because people are made in the image of God they always need be treated with respect, and part of that is letting them be heard.”

“Raising my kids is, in major part, preparing them to be leaders when they grow up.”

“If you have a set of good principles and you’re grounded in the Bible . . .then you can navigate unknown territory and you can find your way because you have a compass even though you don’t have a map.”

Recommended Resources

Matt’s Blog

What’s Best Next by Matt Perman

Help My Unbelief by Barnabas Piper

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Getting Things Done by David Allen

Built to Last by Jim Collins

Principle Centered Leadership by Stephen Covey

First Things First by Stephen Covey

In this episode of The 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I talk with Matt Perman, the author of What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done. He is a speaker and consultant and formerly oversaw the development of Desiring God’s web ministry. Matt is passionate about productivity and theology, two things that aren’t often blended, but that’s what he does. He desires to help leaders glorify God and serve others through the methods and means by which they accomplish their work. IMatt is insightful and bright, and the conversation was excellent.

Best Quotes

“Reading Marcus Buckingham is like reading John Piper, except he’s not theological.”

“Don’t separate [productivity] from your theological background. Think about in a gospel-centered way, not a secular way.”

“The chief purpose behind our productivity is to do good for others.”

“The gospel says be others-centered.”

“Wouldn’t it be neat if, as Christians, we applied that time he have freed up to things like the advance of the gospel and large global problems.”

“Instead of the work/leisure dichotomy there’s a purpose to everything and everything has its place. It’s much more fulfilling.”

“If we’re just in an echo chamber than we’re just reproducing the same sets of problems.”

“Leaders should lead from purpose and values rather than command and control.”

“The role of the leader is not to exert himself as much as possible; it’s to actually affirm the other person’s freedom and protect its scope.”

“Because people are made in the image of God they always need be treated with respect, and part of that is letting them be heard.”

“Raising my kids is, in major part, preparing them to be leaders when they grow up.”

“If you have a set of good principles and you’re grounded in the Bible . . .then you can navigate unknown territory and you can find your way because you have a compass even though you don’t have a map.”

Recommended Resources

Matt’s Blog

What’s Best Next by Matt Perman

Help My Unbelief by Barnabas Piper

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Getting Things Done by David Allen

Built to Last by Jim Collins

Principle Centered Leadership by Stephen Covey

First Things First by Stephen Covey

“Coaching” and “mentoring” are terms that get used a lot by leaders. Younger employees need coaching. Or mentoring. Or both. What exactly is the difference, again? In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins, Brad Lomenick, and I discuss the differences between the two, how to do them well, and when each is ideal. We hope this episode helps offer some direction and clarity as you develop leaders in your organization.

We ask:

* What is are the differences in the roles coaches play versus what mentors play?

* How should each relationship be structured to achieve their aims?

* Is there a place in every organization for both?

* How should a person determine which they need?

* How should a person determine which they should be? Which they’re better at?

Best Quotes

“Coaching is more task oriented and results based. Mentoring is more relational.”

“Mentoring is up close and it’s going to be messy.”

“A lot of the best coaches are total jerks. It’s very hard to imagine a good mentor being a jerk.”

“Mentoring is sort of the next level of coaching.”

“As a coach I want someone who is going to teach me how to do the skills of my job and to apply them best.”

“A mentor has to feel like someone who is part of the relational rhythm of your life.”

“The measurement [of mentoring] is more about commitment than tasks.”

“Mentoring is changing because there are people who mentor me who I don’t really spend that much time with. It used to be that mentoring was all about in-person.”

“I always find mentoring programs funny. ‘We’re going to pair you up with a mentor.’ How does that work? It’s like a blind date.”

“Call them whatever you will, the objectives are what matter most.”

“Churches should be the center point for a mentoring revolution in our country.”

“We should aspire to be mentors. It’s a sign of maturity. It’s a sign of wisdom.”

“We should never think that we have to wait until a certain age to start mentoring.”

Recommended Resources

H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle by Brad Lomenick

The Invested Life by Joel Rosenberg

“Coaching” and “mentoring” are terms that get used a lot by leaders. Younger employees need coaching. Or mentoring. Or both. What exactly is the difference, again? In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins, Brad Lomenick, and I discuss the differences between the two, how to do them well, and when each is ideal. We hope this episode helps offer some direction and clarity as you develop leaders in your organization.

We ask:

* What is are the differences in the roles coaches play versus what mentors play?

* How should each relationship be structured to achieve their aims?

* Is there a place in every organization for both?

* How should a person determine which they need?

* How should a person determine which they should be? Which they’re better at?

Best Quotes

“Coaching is more task oriented and results based. Mentoring is more relational.”

“Mentoring is up close and it’s going to be messy.”

“A lot of the best coaches are total jerks. It’s very hard to imagine a good mentor being a jerk.”

“Mentoring is sort of the next level of coaching.”

“As a coach I want someone who is going to teach me how to do the skills of my job and to apply them best.”

“A mentor has to feel like someone who is part of the relational rhythm of your life.”

“The measurement [of mentoring] is more about commitment than tasks.”

“Mentoring is changing because there are people who mentor me who I don’t really spend that much time with. It used to be that mentoring was all about in-person.”

“I always find mentoring programs funny. ‘We’re going to pair you up with a mentor.’ How does that work? It’s like a blind date.”

“Call them whatever you will, the objectives are what matter most.”

“Churches should be the center point for a mentoring revolution in our country.”

“We should aspire to be mentors. It’s a sign of maturity. It’s a sign of wisdom.”

“We should never think that we have to wait until a certain age to start mentoring.”

Recommended Resources

H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle by Brad Lomenick

The Invested Life by Joel Rosenberg

“Coaching” and “mentoring” are terms that get used a lot by leaders. Younger employees need coaching. Or mentoring. Or both. What exactly is the difference, again? In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins, Brad Lomenick, and I discuss the differences between the two, how to do them well, and when each is ideal. We hope this episode helps offer some direction and clarity as you develop leaders in your organization.

We ask:

* What is are the differences in the roles coaches play versus what mentors play?

* How should each relationship be structured to achieve their aims?

* Is there a place in every organization for both?

* How should a person determine which they need?

* How should a person determine which they should be? Which they’re better at?

Best Quotes

“Coaching is more task oriented and results based. Mentoring is more relational.”

“Mentoring is up close and it’s going to be messy.”

“A lot of the best coaches are total jerks. It’s very hard to imagine a good mentor being a jerk.”

“Mentoring is sort of the next level of coaching.”

“As a coach I want someone who is going to teach me how to do the skills of my job and to apply them best.”

“A mentor has to feel like someone who is part of the relational rhythm of your life.”

“The measurement [of mentoring] is more about commitment than tasks.”

“Mentoring is changing because there are people who mentor me who I don’t really spend that much time with. It used to be that mentoring was all about in-person.”

“I always find mentoring programs funny. ‘We’re going to pair you up with a mentor.’ How does that work? It’s like a blind date.”

“Call them whatever you will, the objectives are what matter most.”

“Churches should be the center point for a mentoring revolution in our country.”

“We should aspire to be mentors. It’s a sign of maturity. It’s a sign of wisdom.”

“We should never think that we have to wait until a certain age to start mentoring.”

Recommended Resources

H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle by Brad Lomenick

The Invested Life by Joel Rosenberg

Justin Wise is the founder of Think Digital and is passionate about digital marketing and connecting. As a former pastor he is also passionate about helping churches use the digital space to share their unique messages and identities well. In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd and I talk with him about digital strategies for churches, using the online space to build effective relationships as an organization, and the place strategy and marketing in churches.

Best Quotes

“You have to try a whole bunch of stuff before you know what works.”

“Your content needs to zing. Not sing. Zing.”

“‘Leadership development’ is a dirty word to some people, and we would say it’s advanced discipleship, moving people from character to competency.”

“Church marketing is saying “The local church is God’s chose vehicle of implementation to bring His hope into the world and there’s nothing more strategic.”

“It’s important to measure what works, what’s sticking, and what’s not.”

“If you want to work with people and lead people you can’t just run in and change things at the drop of a hat.”

“You have to build a plan, you have to communicate the plan, you have to stick to the plan, and then adjust the plan when needed.”

“It boils down to know, like, trust, build. That’s the framework of everything we do.”

“The endgame is different [for a church] than a business but the process is exactly the same because at the root is relationship.”

“You can be a rock star pastor or business person, but if you can’t lead your house forget it.”

Recommended Resources

Think Digital

The Social Church by Justin Wise

Perry Marshall – 80/20 Marketing

The Emotionally Healthy Leader – Pete Scazerro

Justin Wise is the founder of Think Digital and is passionate about digital marketing and connecting. As a former pastor he is also passionate about helping churches use the digital space to share their unique messages and identities well. In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd and I talk with him about digital strategies for churches, using the online space to build effective relationships as an organization, and the place strategy and marketing in churches.

Best Quotes

“You have to try a whole bunch of stuff before you know what works.”

“Your content needs to zing. Not sing. Zing.”

“‘Leadership development’ is a dirty word to some people, and we would say it’s advanced discipleship, moving people from character to competency.”

“Church marketing is saying “The local church is God’s chose vehicle of implementation to bring His hope into the world and there’s nothing more strategic.”

“It’s important to measure what works, what’s sticking, and what’s not.”

“If you want to work with people and lead people you can’t just run in and change things at the drop of a hat.”

“You have to build a plan, you have to communicate the plan, you have to stick to the plan, and then adjust the plan when needed.”

“It boils down to know, like, trust, build. That’s the framework of everything we do.”

“The endgame is different [for a church] than a business but the process is exactly the same because at the root is relationship.”

“You can be a rock star pastor or business person, but if you can’t lead your house forget it.”

Recommended Resources

Think Digital

The Social Church by Justin Wise

Perry Marshall – 80/20 Marketing

The Emotionally Healthy Leader – Pete Scazerro

Justin Wise is the founder of Think Digital and is passionate about digital marketing and connecting. As a former pastor he is also passionate about helping churches use the digital space to share their unique messages and identities well. In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd and I talk with him about digital strategies for churches, using the online space to build effective relationships as an organization, and the place strategy and marketing in churches.

Best Quotes

“You have to try a whole bunch of stuff before you know what works.”

“Your content needs to zing. Not sing. Zing.”

“‘Leadership development’ is a dirty word to some people, and we would say it’s advanced discipleship, moving people from character to competency.”

“Church marketing is saying “The local church is God’s chose vehicle of implementation to bring His hope into the world and there’s nothing more strategic.”

“It’s important to measure what works, what’s sticking, and what’s not.”

“If you want to work with people and lead people you can’t just run in and change things at the drop of a hat.”

“You have to build a plan, you have to communicate the plan, you have to stick to the plan, and then adjust the plan when needed.”

“It boils down to know, like, trust, build. That’s the framework of everything we do.”

“The endgame is different [for a church] than a business but the process is exactly the same because at the root is relationship.”

“You can be a rock star pastor or business person, but if you can’t lead your house forget it.”

Recommended Resources

Think Digital

The Social Church by Justin Wise

Perry Marshall – 80/20 Marketing

The Emotionally Healthy Leader – Pete Scazerro

Baby Boomers, builders, generation X, generation Y, millennials – so many generations! What does it all mean? How do they fit together in the workplace? In this episode of The 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins, Brad Lomenick, and I discuss the differences in leadership styles between generations. We hash through the following.

* What are the stereotypes of each generation’s leadership? Which are accurate?

* What are the shortcomings of each generation’s leadership style?

* What should baby boomers learn from younger leaders?

* What should millennials learn from older leaders?

* How can older, established leaders help younger leaders prepare to be in charge?

Best Quotes

“The great thing [for millennials] and the bad thing is that they’ll be coming into a marketplace increasingly based upon on outcomes and not hours.”

“You have to be a learner because it’s all changing so quickly.”

“There were a lot fewer opportunities for immediate success for a boomer at 25.”

“A 25 year old looks at the world and says ‘I can do anything, and if I don’t like it I’ll go do something else.’”

“”[For boomers] there’s that whole hierarchical system of ‘you have to work your way up.’”

“If the expectation is that you come in at the bottom and work your way up, while that’s equitable, it doesn’t take into account that some people are just really, really good and are better at the job than those who are more experienced.”

“Hierarchy suppresses productivity by keeping gifted people and driven people in a position of minimal impact.”

“It’s one thing to sit through this many hours of lecture on a subject; it’s another thing to display proficiency in it.”

“A ton of wisdom comes with experience and a ton of humility comes with experience because you take your knocks.”

“Now days it’s more about ‘I led because I’m beside my team; I’m with my team in the trenches.’”

“The downside of pursuing your passions is that you overlook things you really ought to have been doing.”

“Work the job you’re not crazy about to create the opportunities you are crazy about.”

“Wherever you are crush your responsibilities in what you’re doing then you’ll have a little bit of margin to do something on the side.”

“Your now will ultimately determine your next and if you crush it in the now the next will take care of itself.”

“Disrespecting a leader who’s been put over you, no matter how incompetent, reflects more poorly on you than it does on them.”

“Part of the job of younger leaders is to show up with their pen in their hand and their moleskine and learn.”

“Your posture is part of the barrier to being taught.”

“Part of our responsibility if we’re older is to invest in the younger. That’s not an extra credit assignment; it’s a basic assignment of leadership.”

“Take young leaders with you.”

Recommended Resources

Generations at Work by Ron Zemke, Claire Raines, & Bob Filipczak

The Millennials by Thom and Jess Rainer