The message of Easter is central to Christianity. At the heart of Easter is the message of the gospel. In this brief post, I’d like to make some connections between the core message of Easter and leadership practice. Ethics matter for those working in at diverse organizational levels. But ethics especially matter for leaders. We want to know that what our leaders say is true. We want to see that the actions of our leaders are consistent with what they say... Read more
I’m in a mini-series focused on the power of vision. Last week I provided my definition of vision as a picture of a preferred future, and described the major work of leaders as communicating this picture of a preferred future in a manner that is compelling and unifying (see Part 1). This week I want to take some time to engage why vision is so powerful. Visioneering In his book, Visioneering, Andy Stanley makes the following observation: “Too many times... Read more
Vision is central to the work of leadership. What is Vision So what is vision? I define vision simply as … a picture of a preferred future. This picture of a preferred future can be for an individual, a family, a team, an organization, or a society. By “picture” I do not mean a literal image, but rather a mental picture of an envisioned future reality that is preferable and desirable by those most closely connected to the vision. A... Read more
I’m not an economist, but am fascinated by conversations about economics. The reality is that we all live within economies, and yet rarely reflect on the morality of these systems within which we live. Here are some of my reflections on the relationship between economics and virtue as I address this question: Are markets moral? Healthy Cultures Included Healthy Economies I would argue that healthy cultures are characterized in part by healthy economies. While most individuals quickly associate economies with... Read more
Have you ever had the feeling of being “stuck” or “trapped” in a career or job? Most people have at one time or another. The question of what to do with this “stuck” feeling is vital for anyone facing a challenging season, and is at the heart of what I’d like to engage in this brief reflection. Changing Your Work Context Sometimes this experience or feeling leads toward a shift away from one’s current role, whether this shift is dramatic... Read more
Empowerment is vital for effective leadership. It is core to most of our relationships…from teaching, to parenting, to leading. Leading People to Not Need Us In discussing love and giving, C.S. Lewis implicitly engages the practice of empowerment. Lewis writes: “The proper aim of giving is to put the recipient in a state where he no longer needs our gift. We feed children in order that they may soon be able to feed themselves; we teach them in order that... Read more
Changing careers can be a risky and challenging move. This is especially the case for folks who have been at a career for 10, 20, or more years. For most individuals with 20 + years of work experience in one field, the easiest (and often most advisable) answer is to stay put through the primary working years. While this is the easiest answer, this is not always the feasible or desirable answer. A Question of Feasibility The larger economy, as... Read more
I am now down to two final classes in my MBA program. For those that know me, finding out I’m in an MBA program often raises a central question for people—why?!?! As a person who has already gone through several educational experiences (BA, MDiv, PhD) and has the joy of teaching in an area I love (ministry leadership) the questions are “Why another degree?” and “Why an MBA in particular?” Perhaps writing this post is more for me than anyone else... Read more
I spent some time recently reading a commencement address by David Brooks to the Dartmouth Class of 2015 entitled “The Ultimate Spoiler Alert.” In it, Brooks sought to provide a picture of what the decades of life beyond college will look like for these graduates and presented an argument that their “primary mission in life is to be really good at making commitments.” The Importance of Commitments On this point, Brooks notes: “Making commitments sounds intimidating, but it’s not. Making... Read more
We celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this week. This marks another opportunity for intentional reflection on Dr. King’s vision of justice and racial reconciliation. In the United States we have a challenging history around racism. From Pre-Civil War slavery, to segregation under Jim Crow Laws, to the ongoing racial tensions felt in our day, it is important to remember from where we have come and where we still need to go. As a means of remembering well today so we... Read more
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