In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean Morgan sits down with author, counselor, and leadership mentor Chip Dodd to unpack the “Five Pitfalls of Leadership.” Drawing on decades of experience leading leaders and running the Center for Professional Excellence, Chip explores how work can become confused with worth, why performance often overshadows presence, and how leaders slip into isolation and secrecy. He unpacks the role of humility, healthy dependency, and vulnerability in sustaining authentic leadership—reminding us that leaders must remain learners to stay effective.

Welcome to Episode 140 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

EPISODE LINKS

chipdodd.com

Living with Heart podcast

The Voice of the Heart and Needs of the Heart, by Chip Dodd

[email protected]

theascentleader.org

If you’re a leader approaching a succession or transition, or maybe you’re a few years in and beginning to see how complex transitions leadership is… go to The Art of Pastoral Succession and check out my course in partnership with Carey Nieuwhof. 

Are you in Transition or have one on the horizon? Check out our cohorts and get connected with us at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ 

WHO IS CHIP DODD?

Dr. Chip Dodd has spent his entire career guiding thousands of professionals and their families through the struggles of their lives and into the lives they were created to have. In 1996, Dr. Dodd founded a treatment center in Nashville, Tennessee called The Center for Professional Excellence (CPE), and spent the next 22 years serving as its Executive Director. CPE was a powerfully effective treatment center that helped thousands get recovery of their hearts. Since selling CPE in 2017, Dr. Dodd has worked in private practice doing consulting, mentoring, speaking, counseling, as well as writing. He began Chip Dodd Resources in 2019. 

In 1991, Dr. Dodd developed The Spiritual Root System (SRS). It is a simple and effective way of seeing how we are made, and integrating how we are made into the lives we desire. The SRS’s foundational essence is based on the awareness that we are created as emotional and spiritual creatures, created to live fully through relationship with ourselves, others, and God. 

Dr. Dodd’s first book, The Voice of the Heart, was published in 2001. This seminal work teaches the importance of feelings as tools and gifts that can assist us in living fully. This book continues to impact people’s lives all over the world. All of Dr. Dodd’s books speak to our desire to live fully, love deeply, and lead well. 

Dr. Dodd attained an M.A. in English from the University of Mississippi in 1985. In 1990, Dr. Dodd completed his Ph.D. in Counseling at the University of North Texas. While living in Texas, he co-founded Bent Tree Counseling Center in Dallas and served as its Clinical Director before relocating to the Nashville area. 

Dr. Dodd married his high school sweetheart in 1983. They have two grown sons and two precious daughters-in-law. They currently live in Middle Tennessee.

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

Thanks to our sponsor: OneHope: OneHope’s mission is to reach every child and youth in the world with God’s Word through the global church. In 35 years of ministry OneHope has reached more than 2 billion young people with the Gospel. Learn how you and your church can get involved by visiting onehope.net/learnmore/.