I’m currently putting together another group of dynamic women leaders for my next coaching group.  I would love for you to be a part of it!

Some of my best leadership development has occurred in the context of a small group of peers who find themselves wrestling with the challenges of daily life as a high capacity leader. That’s why I believe in the power of coaching groups for intensive leadership development.

Here are the details of the next group that I’m gathering:
What: Coaching Group for Women in Ministry & Non-profit Leadership
When: October 2013-March 2014
Facilitated by: Jenni Catron

Who:

• Women who serve in a high level leadership role in a church or ministry-related non-profit organization
• Leaders who are in a season of challenging growth or transition that would benefit from the intensive discussion of a small, focused group
• Leaders who are committed to the hard work of personal development that will result in growth for yourself and those you lead
• Leaders who are willing to make the time and financial commitment

What you get:

• Four days of coaching sessions in Nashville, TN
• Special guests for relevant topics
• The opportunity for transparent and honest discussion with other women who think and lead like you
• Focused attention on your key issues or challenges and a committed group to share that growth journey with you
• Two one-on-one coaching calls with Jenni
• Supporting books and curriculum

What you invest:

• Commit to participate in 2 face-to-face coaching sessions in Nashville, TN
• $750 per person (includes all materials and books, lunch on training days, special guest costs and more) + travel expenses
• Time to prepare and participate fully

A few more details:

• You are responsible for your travel and lodging however we’ll get you info on hotel rates and help carpool as much as possible
• Dates of coaching sessions in Nashville: Oct 17-18, 2013 & March 6-7, 2014
• This will require some commitment so I want to challenge you to pray about it and apply as God leads you to
• You can download the application here. Application deadline is May 30, 2013.

One of the greatest gifts you can give to the people you lead is belief in them.  Too often, we undervalue the people right under our noses.

You would have thought Jesus would be the hometown hero, and yet even he was not acknowledged for his gifts with the people closest to him.  In Mark 6 we read:

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

 

Even Jesus influence was limited because of the lack of belief others had in him.

As leaders, you have the power to make your team hometown heroes.

See the potential they don’t yet see in themselves.

Be the first to notice them.

Identify their gifts and affirm them.

Create opportunities to stretch them.

See potential before there’s proof.

Be a part of the unique work that God wants to do in others and be a catalyst for bringing that to life in them.

This week is a huge week for my friend Brad Lomenick and the team at Catalyst!  I couldn’t be more excited for them and proud of the work they are doing to equip leaders.

The Catalyst Conference was, and still is, a strategic element in my growth as a leader.  Sitting in that conference over a decade ago my heart resonated with the call to be a leader.  I will forever be grateful for what these guys do!

So I’m even more excited that the principles of the catalyst leader can now be found in book form. The Catalyst Leader released this week and you MUST check it out.  Brad Lomenick authors this game changing leadership book, based on his 20 years of leadership experience, as well as the last 10 years experience as the president and lead visionary of Catalyst. In it Brad identifies and captures what he calls the 8 Essentials for Becoming a Change Maker. Ultimately identifying the essentials of a Catalyst Leader needed for leading well, and leading now.

You can purchase the book wherever books are sold. Go to the book site to purchase today. I can’t recommend this book enough, whether you are a young leader or seasoned sage. It’s filled with practical leadership advice and application.

And, as a special bonus::: anyone who purchases the book this week, from April 14-19, scan and send your receipt to catalystleaderbook@gmail.com and you’ll receive over $300 of leadership resources for FREE, all for simply purchasing the book during release week from any outlet, including the Catalyst store as well as other retail outlets.

Hiring is one of the most complicated yet possibly the most critical parts of our job as leaders.

But time and time again I see leaders make hasty decisions when it comes to hiring.  Most of the time, their haste has good reason.  An employee just left leaving a gaping hole of responsibilities… budget was finally approved for the role that you’ve desperately needed for months, perhaps years… you’re so overwhelmed you’ll do anything to get some help.

We’ve all felt one or more of those pains when it comes to staffing.

But oftentimes these stressors that are driving us cause us to overlook the significance of our decision.

Hiring is like a marriage.

You are making a long-term commitment to that individual and they to you.  You are creating an expectation of security, longevity and belonging.  This gets even more complicated for those of you in ministry roles.  The people you hire and their families are intricately woven into your church community.  Their family, friends and community revolve around their job.  They potentially lose significant anchors of belonging if their job comes to an end.

This is why how you hire is critical.

Too many hiring managers elope after the first date.  They have a great interview with a great candidate and they rush to make an offer.

Unfortunately these hasty hiring decisions are often the ones that become extraordinarily painful down the road.

You must have a good, thorough, consistent hiring process for your organization.  And you must teach and train all of your staff to engage and support that system.  In my 15+ years of being a hiring manager I have never regretted a slow hire but I have unfortunately felt the pains of a quick elopement.

If you don’t have a formalized hiring process, here are some steps to consider:

• Interview some great organizations to learn how their hiring process works.
• Use some resources and tools that give you objective information from which to interview and evaluate the candidate.  We use the Leading from Your Strengths Assessment and Position Profile tools from Ministry Insights.
• Consider what has worked well in hiring in the past and what has not worked so well.  Write out the steps that you believe are essential moving forward.
• Gather a few of your key staff to discuss what you feel is essential for your hiring process.
• Build a plan and then try it out on your next hire.

Be patient and don’t elope.

I promise you’ll thank me!

This guy and I just got back from a 3 mile run.

He loves our morning runs.  He’s just as eager to go today as he was a decade ago.  But at 14 years old, he’s a little slower than he used to be.  His joints bark back and his breathing is a bit more labored.

He needs more care and attention.

And I’ve had to learn how to lead him differently.

There are days that I’ve been too impatient and left him at home so that I could run at my own pace.

Some days I’ll take him for a shorter lap, drop him off and keep going on my own.

Other days I embrace his slower pace and find value in slowing down to coach and encourage him along.

As leaders, we have to learn to adjust our pace to those we’re leading.

I’m embarrassed by the number of times I’ve chosen to go it alone because I didn’t want to slow down enough to bring someone with me.

When we run alone, we lose the opportunity to invest in others.  We miss the chance to coach and encourage.

We might go a little farther and a little longer, but at what cost to others?  Did we rob someone else of an opportunity to learn or grow?

You can run alone, but you can’t lead alone. 

Who needs to be with you in your next leadership moment?  How can you slow your pace to bring them alongside you? 

 

I am not called to do what everyone else is doing. 

I believe that… and then I don’t.

I believe it on the days when I am being praised for what I’ve done.

I believe it on days when I feel momentum.

I believe it on days when I’m thriving.

But…

I don’t believe it on the days when it’s just plain hard.

I don’t believe it on days when I feel like the odd girl out.

I don’t believe it on days when no one else validates what I’m doing.

You are called to be you.

Don’t compete.

Don’t compare.

Don’t mimic.

Don’t envy.

Just lead.  Just be.  Just do all that God has specifically called you to do!

27 million people live in slavery today.

That number is incomprehensible.

It’s a part of our world that most of us don’t see.  The idea that we can carry on our lives completely disconnected from this horrific reality disturbs me.  How can such an intricately connected world still be so disconnected in some ways?

Tomorrow, April 9th is being called Shine a Light on Slavery Day.

Will you join us in bringing attention to a tragedy that collectively we can bring change to?

When leaders engage for a purpose, history can be changed for forever.  Let’s change it for the good!

Learn more at enditmovement.com

Leaders engage.

Leaders learn.

Leaders take responsibility.

Leaders identify a problem and are compelled to find a solution.

Leaders love.

Leaders care.

Leaders commit.

This documentary is an example of some great leaders in action.  So grateful for the work that Kay Warren is doing with the HIV/AIDS Initiative and proud of Pete and these other pastors who are engaging the issue.

Leaders lead best when they are a little in over their head. 

When you are facing just a little more than you can comfortably control, you will find your greatest leadership potential.

When you are in just a little over your head, you can choose to grow as a leader by:

1) Delegating more.  You have to give away more to keep from sinking.  In that process, you learn the capabilities of your team.  You also stretch and grow them.  If you refuse to delegate you will find yourself sinking further.

2) Praying more.  Nothing stretches your faith more than realizing you are truly beyond your capacity.  Strong leaders wrestle with a strong need for control.  When pushed to your limit, you recognize your limits and hopefully become aware of your dependency on God.  Prayer keeps you afloat.  Control is an anchor weighing you down.

Is there an area of your leadership where you are in over your head?  Are you delegating more and praying more?

 

Last week I had the privilege of doing a webinar interview with Tony Bowick about staff alignment.

Thought you all might enjoy hearing that conversation.

Be sure to check out Tony’s website which is geared to equipping Executive Pastors.  I love the resource he has created for us!