elementals: quick reads to sharpen your leadership edge.

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A Different Christmas Eve

One September day twenty-two years ago, I was sitting in a Chipotle with my wife Anita and suddenly declared: “I can’t do another...

The Secret of Servant Leadership

Of the four essential elements that every leader must exercise—Integrity, Passion, Servanthood, and Imagination—Servanthood seems like it...

Helping People To Become Inviters

This summer at a nearby amusement park, I rode thirteen rollercoasters in one evening. The granddaddy of them all was Orion—a gigacoaster...

Let's Talk About Church Consultants...

Yeah, I know, I know. It’s a tacky mashup of Pixar and Peanuts. But the point is: do we really need “church consultants”? I have to admit...

4 Critical Qualities for Churchplanters

Let’s start with the obvious: Churchplanting is not for the fainthearted. You’re welcome. If you’re in ministry, whether just starting or...

Is Your Church Afraid of Change?

Over the years that we’ve worked with churches, it’s been our observation that of the four critical elements of healthy, effective...

Are You Falling In Love?

“Falling in love” is what some psychologists believe is the collapsing of so-called “ego boundaries.” Ego boundaries are believed to be...

Is Your Church Accessible?

Last week in a coaching session with a young pastor, we talked through some challenging decisions to make in her church as she’s about to...

Bringing Dreams to Life

Nothing should thrill a leader more than overhearing a volunteer describing the mission of the organization in a way that sounds as if...

The Challenge of the Easy

Any form of movement requires energy. Energy, however, is hard to come by. As biological creatures, human beings will naturally seek to...

The Meaning of Life...in One Short Blog

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he...

When To Challenge...

How long has it been since the people in your church, ministry, or organization were challenged with something bigger than themselves?...

Cincinnati Has A Story...

My hometown of Cincinnati is (in)famous for a number of reasons, not least its name. Hardly anyone can spell it, and few people,...

Igniting Passion In Your Church

Are You Assessing the Status Quo of Your Church or Organization? In the book Elemental Leaders, I identify four critical traits every...