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