Blog
The election is upon us and so is anxiety. As we await results and anticipate reactions, we fear that our country, our communities, and our congregations may unravel. People often behave badly when captured by anxiety. Leaders react to bad behavior in one of two unhelpful ways: over-control and withdrawal. We focus our energy on […]
Read MoreMost congregations have ideas about how they’d like to innovate. However, things fall flat when it comes to recruiting volunteers to carry out those ideas. Discover how you can strengthen the practice of influence, ethically persuading others to invest time and energy in a new idea. If you follow the right principles, more volunteers will […]
Read MorePlease join me for this upcoming, online course through Luther Seminary, Faith+Lead. Three live webcasts August 15, 22, and 29, 2023 (nine contact hours) 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Central Time On-demand replay of the entire course Experiments and assignments to try in context A safe space to connect, discuss, and share What you will […]
Read MoreThe pandemic unraveled staff team structures. Resignations and retirements were at an all-time high. Downsizing was necessary for some. Many hired new staff to respond to the unique needs of a pandemic era. Now, things are settling down and leaders are questioning whether they have the right configuration of staff. Fruitful staffing conversations begin with […]
Read More“We need to innovate” may be one of the most overused phrases addressing the future of the Church. We like to dream big dreams, but realistically, what can we accomplish with our limited resources and our members who dislike change? Which innovation efforts will help create and sustain a hope-filled future—and which will prove to […]
Read MoreThere is good reason to be optimistic about the start of this program year. People are back from a summer of traveling and reconnecting with loved ones. Staff are rested and brimming with new ideas. Many children have been vaccinated, and a more predictable school year seems likely. We are coming out of pandemic mayhem. […]
Read MoreThe church is a volunteer organization. Even the most staff-driven congregations rely on volunteers to make ministry work. The pandemic has impacted volunteerism profoundly, in ways not yet clear. Volunteerism isn’t bouncing back as readily as other aspects of congregational life. We can take steps to engage our volunteers more effectively now, while we wait […]
Read MoreMuch of our decision making over the past two years has been reactive. Continually shifting COVID protocols, political polarization, and local and global turmoil leave us feeling fragmented. You may be wondering if you have been strategic enough. Has your preoccupation with managing the chaos prevented you from pursuing mission, vision, and intentional innovation? Cultivating […]
Read MoreThis season has been relentless in its assault on our equilibrium. Mistakenly, many feel that they must resolve their own sense of overwhelm before they can effectively lead others. But overwhelm isn’t a problem to be solved; it’s an invitation to shift perspective. At the beginning of each monthly coaching conversation, I invite my clients […]
Read MoreThe beginning of the pandemic was overwhelming, but our focus was clear—figure out how to worship, connect, and teach in an online environment. The boundaries marking what we could not do provided clarity. Now, in-person engagement is returning, and we face another kind of overwhelm—too many options. How do we make choices when some boundaries […]
Read MoreSusan's Books
