Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton

Episode 8 highlights God’s faithfulness in meeting us in the loneliness of our leadership and how that leads to discerning together. We do an overview of corporate leadership discernment (All of Season 3 is devoted to the topic) and end with the conclusion to the story Ruth began in Episode 4 of this season. Ruth shares about God’s activity in the Transforming Center and the role corporate leadership discernment played in it hiring our Chief Operations Officer, Rob Kastens. A great testimony of mutual discernment and a great hope that we really can trust God.

Pursuing God’s Will Together Season 3

Pursuing God’s Will Together

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership

Leadership opens leaders up to a whole world of pain. Moses is such a great leader because he always brings the difficulties people brought to God. You don’t hear much about the role of intercession in leadership circles. A rich discussion of differentiation and its importance in leadership ensues. Ruth shares how she makes intercession something that is not a heavy burden.

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (Chapter 9)

The story of Moses and Jethro brings us right into the topic of sane rhythms in the life of the leader. What are the signs we are dangerously tired? What is the role of technology in all that! You won’t believe what Ruth does not have on her iPhone. Everyone is dealing with pace of life issues, and Ruth has some concrete advice on how to find a way of life that works. Ruth and Steve review a variety of spiritual rhythms that are especially helpful for leaders. This episode concludes with a discussion about the rhythm of sabbath.

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (Chapters 7&8)

Podcast Season One

In this episode Ruth and Steve start looking at the implications of the leadership journey, and how to guide others on their spiritual journey. Ruth makes a distinction between first half of life leaders and second half of life leader – looking at suffering and experiencing an internal death which leads to inner authority. Great encouragement for the younger leader and the older leader – about waiting and knowing when it is time to leave.

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (Chapter 6)

This episode begins a bit differently. Instead of starting with the biblical story (Moses) Steve dives in and turns the table on Ruth, asking her about her own calling and what it looks like right now. Steve and Ruth talk about the fatal question, and a great discussion proceeds out of understanding the difference between calling and vocation. Things heat up when Ruth and Steve discuss anger especially relevant in our current culture, and we end by looking at how to be in touch with our own limits as a leader.

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (Chapter 5)

Don’t wait till you're headed into a collision to recognize the need to pay attention. Ruth shares a funny, but sobering example. In this episode Ruth and Steve discuss practices to help leaders pay attention to their life in leadership, and you will find encouragement in Steve's faith building experience of learning to page attention to the spirit’s leading. Get an inside look at the Transforming Center and the Spirit's leading where a lot of people where paying attention.

Mentioned in this episode:

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (Chapter 4)

Ruth and Steve jump right into the story of Moses and we learn why he is such a great guide for those who are in leadership. Ruth and Steve explore some of the common family of origin issues that tend to negatively affect a leader’s life. And Ruth will guide you in finding your own place of conversion, providing hope for leaders in and out of ministry context. Learn why solitude is a key discipline for the extroverted and introverted leader. Put down your gun. We conclude by the call to lay down your arms.

Mentioned in this episode:

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (Chapter 3)

The intro and outro music is “Kingdom Come” by Aaron Niequist

It was 10 years ago that Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership was published by InterVarsity Press. Last year we launched this podcast by the same name, and this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary InterVarsity released an expanded edition with a group experience and an assessment tool (check it out). Ruth and Steve will focus this podcast season on seeking God in the crucible of ministry. We kick off this episode by defining what the soul means and Ruth describes one of the clearest moments when she realized that she lost touch with her soul. Steve and Ruth discuss a biblical guide to help us pay attention to what is happening in our leadership and to own it. Along the way we discover why crucible is such a great word, and what and why a spiritual director is so important for a spiritual leader.

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (Introduction and Chapters 1&2)

Spiritual Directors 

Spiritual Direction and Meditation, Thomas Merton

The intro and outro music is “Kingdom Come” by Aaron Niequist

Last episode of Season 3. Are you still listening? Listening is a huge part of corporate leadership discernment. Ruth points out the role of listening in the discernment process in Act 15. Leaders are often poor listeners and there are some helpful practices around becoming better listeners and guidance for noticing without judging. Ruth and Steve discuss the exciting things that happen coming out of silence when people are discerning together. You will want to hear the description of how to recognize the Spirit's movement, and what happens when a “way forward” does not present itself. It is not over when we have discerned the will of God together – we have to do it! Ruth ends with a great encouragement for anyone who is overwhelmed by pursuing God’s will together.

Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups (Chapters 11 &12)

Movements in Corporate Leadership Discernment (pdf)

This episode begins with a discussion of why sailing is such a beautiful metaphor for discernment. In this episode Ruth and Steve delve into what helps groups cross the threshold from decision-making to discernment. The prayer of indifference might be new, but it is deeply biblical and Ruth explains its role in discernment. How do you recognize God’s wisdom? Ruth shares a sign she looks for in perceiving God’s wisdom. How do we stop human striving from derailing the discernment process? This episode ends with some practical advise on helping people to transition from decision-making to discernment.

Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups (Chapters 10)

Movements in Corporate Leadership Discernment (pdf)