While there are some challenges when both predecessor and successor are committed to each other and the health of the ministry, there are also great benefits and even some pleasant surprises. In this final episode, Eric Geiger and Kenton Beshore discuss the pleasant surprises, what has been meaningful to them and the church, and offer some final thoughts for those who engage in a succession process.

Learn more here: https://churchleaders.com/podcast-episode/eric-geiger-leadership-podcast-surprises

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

Leadership is challenging and leading through a succession provides leaders with a unique set of challenges for the successor such as honoring the past while creating desire for new directions, leading with your voice while not discounting the voice of the church and past, and loving the people while also charting a future course. There are challenges, of course, for the predecessor too, especially if the leader chooses to stay.

Learn more at https://churchleaders.com/podcast-episode/eric-geiger-leadership-podcast-challenges

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

Eric Geiger and Kenton Beshore are over four years into their relationship, and there is "the other side of the story." By God's grace, they enjoy a great relationship. In this episode, they discuss their relationship, how they have fostered a healthy relationship, rhythms for meeting, and agreements they hold.

Learn more here: https://churchleaders.com/podcast-episode/eric-geiger-leadership-podcast-predecessor-successor

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

How should a leader approach the first three to six months of the new role? The answer depends on the context. The context, whether the ministry needs turnaround leadership or sustaining success leadership, should deeply impact how the leader leads. In this episode, Eric shares insight he learned leading during his first year at Mariners Church. 

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

Often there have been months or even years of thinking, planning, praying, and strategizing for a healthy transition of leadership. All of this will eventually culminate in the moments of announcing the new leader to the staff, and to the church (or organization). In this episode, Eric and Kenton discuss the major moments of announcement, the goals of each of those initial meetings with staff and with the church, and offer suggestions for leaders to think through the moment of the announcement. Learn more here:

 https://churchleaders.com/podcast-episode/eric-geiger-leadership-podcast-announcement.html

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

So many questions emerge for the ministry or organization when searching for a new candidate. Internal or external candidate? Reflective of the past or the future? Search firm or internal search group? All those questions are really about finding the "right fit." And so many questions emerge for the potential leader too: Can I follow a legend? Do I love this place and its people already? Is this a good fit for me? In this episode, Eric and Kenton discuss different options surrounding the search for a new leader and the potential risks and rewards of those options.

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

Transitioning from one leader to another is a massive change for people and the organization as a whole. Wise and loving leaders won't approach the transition haphazardly. So how does the leader prepare the ministry or organization for a period of transition? In this episode, Eric and Kenton discuss how Kenton prepared the church and how other leaders can prepare their organizations/ministries.

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

Many church and business leaders wait too long to think about or discuss succession and when they finally broach the topic, they expect to have their hearts ready within a few months. The reality is that for many the process of preparing, of letting go, and of building a plan for the future takes many years. That was the case for Kenton Beshore. In this episode, Eric and Kenton talk about the process of preparing the leader.

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

The Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast will unpack leading through succession over the course of 8 episodes. In 2018, Eric became the senior pastor of Mariners Church in Southern California, following Kenton Beshore who served as senior pastor for 35 years. The transition has been healthy, the church has grown significantly, and Eric and Kenton are close as Kenton remains on the team at Mariners Church, and Eric counts on him as a mentor and wise counselor. In this episode, Eric shares some overarching thoughts about succession and sets up how the series will unfold – as Eric and Kenton will share their story and lessons learned along the way.

The "Eric Geiger Leadership Podcast" is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.