Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton

We are seven episodes in and we haven’t yet talked about the practice of discerning together. Everyone knows that it doesn’t go well when you paint a room and skip the prep work. Ruth shares why the prep work is so important to corporate leadership discernment. The running joke through this season crops up again as Ruth and Steve discuss the first step in the discernment process. Ruth and Steve end this episode talking about circumcision. I am not kidding.

Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups (Chapter 9)

Movements in Corporate Leadership Discernment (pdf)

The truth is, sadly, that many have lost faith that a community can be a safe place. How many leadership teams talk about love in the context of leadership? Ruth gives wonderful examples of the practices born out of the values important to the Transforming Center. Steve shares how it can all become derailed by our own fears, with Ruth advising on how to be an effective truth teller. The episode ends with the concept of covenant, getting clarity on its purpose and value. Learn why Ruth gets excited about covenants.

Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups (Chapters 7,8)

What is the first thing that goes when a leadership team gets busy? Does community mean two hours of checking in about how the kids and grandkids are doing? Ruth and Steve have a rich conversation about values and practices that helps us live together as a leadership community. The good news is that values are always present in a leadership group, so you don't start with a blank slate. We conclude episode 5 discussing a variety of practices and values that have impacted leadership communities Ruth and Steve have belonged to.

Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups (Chapter 6)

What is corporate leadership discernment? Ruth kicks off this episode with defining each word and leads us through the movements of corporate leadership discernment. Discover why hikers and sailors value true north over magnetic north and why conviction is much different than understanding. Ruth and Steve answer the question: Do we all need to sing Kumbaya, My Lord? Steve and Ruth discuss some of the things you lose in corporate leadership discernment, and discuss why it is important to look at the culture of your leadership team. Maybe it is time to have a real and honest conversation about your culture. In fact, don’t bother trying to discern together until you have this conversation.

Mentioned in this episode:

Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups Chapter 4 & 5 Becoming a Community that Practices Corporate Leadership Discernment (pdf)

Magical thinking not allowed in this episode… ok not in any episode. Steve leads by pondering whether the western church needs to make a confession. In this episode, Ruth and Steve go deep on five foundations of discernment. Through these foundations they uncover some hard truths – leaders struggle with believing in the goodness of God and it is really hard to be human. Ruth shares a story of how discernment can be much faster than decision-making when you have leaders who are discerning. Lots to digest in episode 3.

Mentioned in this episode:

Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups

Ruth's third season, Pursuing God's Will Together is set to come out on January 31st, 2018. Listen to this short episode to get a discounted rate at the next Pursuing God's Will Together retreat, as well as a sneak peek into what this season is all about. 

Click here to register for the Pursuing God's Will Together retreat with your leadership community. 

Enjoy. 

As we conclude season two, the disciples on the Emmaus Road are so excited about what has happened in and through their encounter with Jesus on the Emmaus Road that they jump up from dinner and turn right around to go back to Jerusalem to share what has happened with the other disciples. The trauma of all they had been through has been redeemed and their spiritual journey now leads them to discern the mission Jesus has for them.  Ruth and Steve discuss the creative tension in the spiritual life between mission and formation. Steve offers us an advice freebie and Ruth brings the season to a close by highlighting how mission cannot be discerned or sustained apart from commitment to an ongoing process of spiritual transformation.

In this podcast:

• Spirituality of Imagination with Martin Sheen

Ever had a conversation you wish didn’t have to end? The two disciples were so stirred by their conversation that “they urged Jesus strongly to stay.” And it was in the staying that the disciples recognized Jesus’ transforming presence as they shared a meal together. The practice of stability is not a strength of western Protestantism, but are we missing something when we are so quick to walk away. What is the essence of a transforming community? Listen to episode 8 and discover the heart of spiritual community.

In this podcast:

• Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leaders by Ruth Haley Barton