Are you struggling to integrate your faith into your leadership or wondering how to lead with greater purpose and authenticity? In this episode, Evan Nichols shares how shifting from self-centered success to kingdom-minded leadership transformed his career, relationships, and approach to leading others.

In this conversation, Evan shares how his leadership journey moved from achievement, advancement, and personal success toward stewardship, service, and a kingdom mindset. From Toyota and Snap-on Tools to Hollywood and nonprofit operations, Evan’s story shows how faith can reshape the way we lead, work, make decisions, and build culture.

We talk about identity in Christ, rejecting “fake it till you make it,” work-life intentionality, leading with prayer, and why healthy culture starts with humble, disciplined leadership.

Whether you lead a team, organization, ministry, or business, this episode will help you think more intentionally about how your faith, values, and leadership come together in everyday life.

Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, coaching, and personal growth.
https://faithdrivenleadership.co/

Question: What is the biggest challenge you face in balancing your work and your faith?

In this episode, we discuss:
• What faith-driven leadership means to Evan
• How Toyota, Snap-on, and Hollywood shaped his leadership
• The difference between achievement and stewardship
• Why “fake it till you make it” can damage identity
• How identity in Christ changes the way we lead
• Work-life intentionality and the danger of misplaced priorities
• Why culture drives results
• How leaders can stay humble, disciplined, and open to learning
• The importance of prayer, daily rhythms, and big rocks

Learn more about Faith Driven Leadership:
https://faithdrivenleadership.co

Connect with Evan Nickols:
https://faithdrivenleadership.co/evan-nickols

Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, coaching, and practical tools to help you lead with clarity, grow with purpose, and change what really matters.

▶️ Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and Meaning
01:31 Early Life and Toyota
02:42 Snap-on Franchise Success
03:42 Hollywood Career Shift
04:57 Faith and Leaving California
07:59 Leadership Style and Process
10:42 Creativity and Adaptation
13:04 Faith Changes Leadership
15:18 Rejecting Fake It
17:00 Identity and Imposter Syndrome
18:55 Work-Life Balance
23:39 Discipline and Rhythms
25:21 Heart Posture Shift
26:22 Culture Drives Results
28:22 Turning Culture Around
31:47 Lead With Prayer
34:03 Imposter Syndrome Tools
36:59 No Shortcuts Process
38:53 Coaching and Promotion
42:46 Routines and Big Rocks
45:37 Advice and Wrap-Up

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

Are you doing great work, but not getting recognized, promoted, or compensated the way you should?

In this episode of Change Agent Leadership, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Hale to unpack the real reason behind the “confidence gap.”

Here’s the truth:

It’s not just about confidence.

It’s about how clearly your value is understood inside your organization.

Together, we explore:

• Why high-performing leaders (especially women) undersell their impact
• The difference between confidence and strategy
• How unclear roles and expectations create hidden leadership gaps
• A powerful tool called the Evidence Ladder to make your value visible
• Practical ways to connect your work to real business outcomes
• How leaders (men and women) can better advocate for themselves and others

This episode is packed with practical leadership coaching you can apply immediately—whether you’re preparing for a performance review, seeking a promotion, or simply trying to lead more effectively.

If you’ve ever thought:

“I’m doing everything right—why isn’t it translating into results?”

This episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The confidence gap is often a visibility gap, not a capability gap
• If your value isn’t legible at the decision level, it won’t scale
• Leaders often communicate effort instead of impact
• Clear, measurable outcomes build credibility faster than charisma
• Journaling your impact creates long-term leverage in reviews and promotions
• Leaders must actively define and communicate their role’s value—not wait for clarity

▶️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:29 What Is the Confidence Gap?

04:18 Reframing Confidence as Strategy

06:59 Case Study: Making Value Visible

20:25 How Men Can Help Bridge the Gap

21:10 The Evidence Ladder Tool

48:11 Practical Next Steps

54:11 Closing Thoughts

Reach out to Dr. Lisa Hale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaehale/

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

In this episode of Change Agent Leadership, I address a critical moment all leaders face: recognizing when growth slows down or habits become stale, signaling the need for transformation. Drawing inspiration from Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez’s book 'Illuminate,' I introduce the concept of the '(re) Dream' stage, a crucial phase where leaders can rejuvenate their vision and energy. 

The episode covers how to identify signs of stagnation, the importance of 're' dreaming for personal and organizational growth, and practical steps to implement this strategy. I encourage you to reflect on your current positions, recognize areas needing revitalization, and take proactive steps to enter a new era of leadership.

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/d9vG4-dDyXM

▶️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Change Agent Leadership

00:50 Recognizing the Need to (Re) Dream

02:16 Understanding the Bell Curve of Growth

04:57 Signs of Maturity and Approaching Decline

10:01 Practical Steps to (Re) Dream

16:27 The Role of a Torch Bearer

19:01 Weekly Challenge and Final Thoughts

You’ll learn:

• Why maturity isn’t the finish line—and what to do when momentum plateaus
• How to spot the signs that you’re drifting instead of growing
• How to apply the (re)Dream framework to your spiritual life, health, relationships, and leadership
• Four practical questions to help you re-dream your next era

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

Are you leading… or just managing?

A lot of managers today are functioning as followers — following the system, the checklist, the policies — and never stepping into the leadership their people actually need.

In this episode, we break down the eight essential insights that separate leaders from followers and give you five practical shifts to help your team thrive.

If you want your team to feel supported, aligned, developed, and empowered — this episode is for you.

▶️Watch the video: https://youtu.be/7M9RiSDHXRw

▶️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Manager vs. Leader

01:59 Insight 1: Managers Follow, Leaders Lead

04:27 Insight 2: Leading People, Not Just Tasks

06:41 Insight 3: Continuous Improvement

08:29 Insight 4: Leadership as a Creative Act

10:07 Insight 5: Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

15:05 Insight 6: Moving People Forward

16:13 Insight 7: Taking Responsibility

17:00 Insight 8: Leadership is a Choice

18:06 Practical Shifts from Follower to Leader

23:29 Conclusion and Call to Action 

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and author Jenni Catron to unpack Culture Matters: A Framework for Helping Your Team Grow, Thrive, and Be Unstoppable. 

We explore why culture must be built by design rather than left to default, how leaders can honestly assess their current culture, and practical ways to turn values from words on a wall into lived behaviors. 

Jenni walks through her five-phase framework—Assess, Define, Build, Equip, Commit—and shares actionable tools (Values Grid, Employee Journey Grid) to embed culture into daily rhythms. 

Whether you lead a nonprofit, church, or business, this conversation helps you clarify, reinforce, and sustain a healthy culture.

Key Takeaways
• You already have a culture—ask: Is it the one you want?
• Early teams may “catch” culture by proximity, but growth requires intentional definition and design.
• Leadership leakage is real: what leaders do shapes culture more than what they say.
• Think patience and persistence, culture is a slow build that becomes momentum.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:49 Jenny's Journey to Leadership and Culture
03:19 The Importance of Intentional Culture
06:58 Assessing Your Current Culture
15:05 Defining Your Values
20:42 Building Culture Through Systems and Rhythms
25:39 The Importance of Patience in Leadership
26:39 Developing and Resourcing Your Team
28:44 Equipping Leaders to Reinforce Culture
32:12 Commitment to Culture Over the Long Haul
37:07 Leadership Leakage: Unintentional Cultural Influences
39:26 Starting Your Culture Transformation Journey
42:44 Common Pitfalls in Changing Culture
46:00 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Culture

Jenni Catron — Culture Matters: A Framework for Helping Your Team Grow, Thrive, and Be Unstoppable. Visit culturemattersbook.com for free resources and tools.

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

Leaders get into trouble when they treat HR as compliance or as a fire extinguisher. Jonathan and risk advisor Kevin Norton outline how to make HR a strategic ally—reducing legal exposure, strengthening culture, and improving outcomes. 

Highlights

• HR belongs at the strategy table; involve them early on org design, promotions, and separations.
• Consistency and documentation are your best legal and cultural defenses.
• Proactive steps: annual handbook/legal review, EPLI coverage, secure files, manager training, clear complaint paths.
• Hiring/onboarding shape retention; slow down to validate culture fit and set expectations well.
• Volunteers need boundaries and training; protect confidentiality and limit scope.
• “At-will” isn’t a blank check—verbal promises and inconsistent practices create risk.
• Fast vs. deliberate action: consider suspension/investigation when appropriate.

Try this (leader toolkit)

• Schedule a 60-minute HR alignment: clarify HR’s role, escalation paths, and documentation standards.
• Audit your handbook and complaint process; update with local counsel.
• Train managers on a one-page documentation flow: expectation → observation → conversation → written note → follow-up.
• Add a simple PIP template with goals, support, timelines, and signatures.

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

Want to make a bigger impact without doing more work? Great leadership starts with a better mindset.

In this episode, I’ll show you how to 10x, or more, your leadership impact by thinking differently. You’ll learn why most leadership behaviors don’t stick, and how to unlock sustainable change by focusing on three powerful questions that reframe your team’s purpose, creativity, and results.

Backed by research from Daniel Goleman and cognitive science, this is a mindset shift every leader needs.

Download your free “How 10X your leadership impact toolkit”: https://resources.jonathanhankin.com

🔹 Learn the 3 biggest leadership traps (and how to avoid them)

🔹 Use my 3-question coaching framework to create clarity and alignment

🔹 Discover why thoughts > feelings > behaviors is the real path to results

This channel is for growth-oriented leaders who want to lead with clarity, grow with courage, and change what matters. If that’s you—welcome.

▶️    Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sLysEiYbxV0

▶️ Schedule a free discovery call: https://jonathanhankin.com/contact 

▶️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Leadership Impact

01:00 The Problem: Why Most Leaders Plateau

01:53 Trap 1: Keeping Decisions to Yourself

05:47 Trap 2: Sticking to What You're Good At

08:27 Trap 3: Inviting Input but Not Ownership

10:04 Three Transformational Questions for Leaders

13:43 Putting It All Into Practice

15:46 Conclusion and Challenge

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

Leaders don’t just raise money—they build partnerships. In this episode, Master Certified Coach and longtime executive coach Patricia Rachel Schwartz shares her strengths-based, story-driven approach to building relationships that “pay off for everyone”—your team, donors, board, and the people you serve. We unpack her “360 Win” mindset, appreciative inquiry (AI), and the RBP spiral (Identify → Inform → Interest → Invite → Invest) so you can move from one-off asks to lasting alliances.

What you’ll learn

·       What a 360° Win is—and how to map wins for every stakeholder

·       The single peak experience question that deepens trust fast

·       How to run strategy sessions that turn stories into next steps

·       The RBP spiral: Identify, Inform, Interest, Invite, Invest (and the common mistakes at each stage)

·       When to make the ask—and why “If you want money, ask for advice” works

·       Why story culture beats slide decks for board, team, and donor engagement

Who this is for

Nonprofit executives, development leaders, board members, founders, and any leader who wants to turn fundraising and stakeholder engagement into durable partnerships.

Leadership Fundamentals Covered

Communicate with Clarity • Build Strong Relationships • Empower & Develop Others • Drive Change & Deliver Results

▶️  Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/x3XsaM8mdGc

▶️ Schedule a free discovery call: https://jonathanhankin.com/contact 

▶️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Change Agent Leadership
00:09 Meet Patricia Rachel Schwartz
03:40 The Concept of 360 Win
04:57 Understanding Stakeholders and Their Wins
10:30 Appreciative Inquiry in Leadership
21:26 The Five Eyes of Relationship Building
29:13 Starting with Appreciative Inquiry
29:28 Interview Techniques for Donors and Board Members
30:42 Legacy Investments and Planned Giving
31:37 Appreciative Inquiry in Board and Employee Onboarding
32:28 Creating a Story Culture
35:58 Implementing Strategy Sessions
38:31 Inspired Action and Evaluation
41:38 The Importance of Planned Giving
46:38 Practical Steps for Immediate Action
49:17 Final Thoughts and Advice

Resources & Links

• Patricia’s book: Your Nonprofits 360 Win: How to Build Relationships That Pay Off for Everyone 

• Connect with Patricia — https://www.patriciaschwartz.com

About today’s guest

Patricia Rachel Schwartz has coached 350+ senior leaders across sectors (DreamWorks, Google/YouTube, Mayo Clinic, Circle K, U.S. Navy, and more). Her approach blends appreciative inquiry with strengths-based, story-driven change to help organizations grow through relationships.

About the host

I’m Jonathan Hankin, your Change Agent Coach. I help leaders communicate clearly, build healthy teams, and drive change that sticks. Subscribe for practical, no-fluff leadership tools you can use this week.

Call to Action

If this episode added value to your day, hit like and subscribe, and drop a comment—share your biggest takeaway or the best-experience question you’ll try this week.

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin 

How to Lead Change (Without Losing Your Team) — with Dr. Hans Finzel

Dr. Hans Finzel returns to Change Agent Leadership to unpack the big idea behind his book Change Is Like a Slinky—why change is messy, unpredictable, and essential if you want your organization to survive and thrive. We talk practical leadership moves: building a guiding coalition, over-communicating the “why,” converting adversaries into advocates, and aligning your board, leaders, and teams so momentum sticks.

Guest: Dr. Hans Finzel — author, speaker, former president of WorldVenture, and president of HD Leaders. Author of 11 books including the international bestseller The Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make and Change Is Like a Slinky.

What you’ll learn

·       Why leaders must accept the need for change even when the old way “still works”

·       How to anticipate allies and adversaries (and why the middle 70% are your leverage)

·       Why communication ×10 is the lifeblood of any change effort

·       How to align your board, leadership team, and staff so the “wheels” roll straight

·       The role of trust, vulnerability, and encouragement in sustaining momentum

·       How to turn critics into advocates through presence, listening, and clarity

▶️    Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Gq0o8o5h2lU

▶️   Schedule a free discovery call: https://jonathanhankin.com/contact 

▶️   Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Change Agent Leadership

01:16 Hans Finzel's Leadership Journey

02:26 The Necessity of Change in Leadership

04:23 Communicating Change Effectively

07:06 Change is Like a Slinky

12:37 Phases of Change

18:09 Accepting the Need for Change

23:09 Anticipating Adversaries and Allies

24:26 Understanding Leadership Miscommunication

25:44 Rebuilding Trust Through Humble Communication

27:38 The Importance of Over-Communicating

28:03 Focusing on the Right Group for Change

35:06 Aligning Your Team for Success

39:13 The Role of Encouragement and Trust

44:11 Challenges in Organizational Change

50:16 Advice for Emerging Leaders

Resources mentioned

·       Hans Finzel — https://hansfinzel.com

·       Change Is Like a Slinky by Hans Finzel 

·       The Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make by Hans Finzel 

·       Buy-In by John P. Kotter & Lorne A. Whitehead 

·       The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni 

Catch full episodes of video versions and other leadership videos on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jonathan-Hankin

Sign up for our monthly leadership newsletter: https://faithdrivenleadership.kit.com/d90f2561ea

Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/faithdrivenleadership

Follow me here:
Website: www.faithdrivenleadership.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin