If you study any revolution, from the French to the Russian, you will find one common theme that undergirds the revolts: people feel unheard, their concerns remain unaddressed. Making sure our people feel heard is the foundation of leadership and any relationship for that matter. Do your people feel heard? I recently became the leader […]

The Janissaries, an elite infantry of the Ottoman Empire, formed in order to be the Sultan’s personal guard, which over time grew to be a powerful political force. During periods of peace they became involved in coup attempts, internal strife, and the destabilization of the empire. When we scan history, we find that in unstable […]

In the book Breaking the Trust Barrier, J. V. Venable describes how fighter jet pilots conduct civilian air shows, during which they bring the aircraft sometimes within one to two feet of each other, going upwards of 500 miles per hour, and do this at 150 feet off the ground. One mistake—and catastrophe occurs. These […]

One of the most powerful brainstorming sessions I have attended was for one of the ministries in which I serve on the board of a small seminary. It was a session a few hours in length, where we all agreed to simply ask questions—and not just any questions, disruptive ones. If you want to invigorate […]

As a Christian leader, do you ever wonder whether your “good” people-honoring ways of leadership are as effective as a harsh, quasi deceitful approach? Never doubt that being good wins. Niccolò Machiavelli, the Italian Renaissance political philosopher, is famous for the malevolent advice he gave to princes and rulers in his book, The Prince. Here […]

What are the hardest events one can go through as a leader? Here are three that cut deep. They are part of the journey and ones we may encounter several times in our life of leadership. Have you been through any of these experiences yet? 1. Saying Goodbye to a Team—This happened to me in […]

Winston Churchill, one of history’s greatest leaders, was rejected as a Prime Minister after World War II. He was voted out. Shortly after the end of WWII, the Labour Party, led by Clement Attlee, won that election, leading to Churchill’s replacement as Prime Minister. Churchill and the Conservative Party were voted out. How could this […]

Buc-ee’s (BUCK-eez) is a mega-large gas station and convenience store, and it’s a sight see. Texans know the brand very well. If you drive from San Antonio to Fort Worth, or a variety of other locations, it is a must to stop in. Their claim to fame is their extra-large size and exceptionally clean restrooms. […]

Stephanie LeBlanc, the CEO of our organization, TotalCare, taught us a lesson on brainstorming that she learned in one of her business classes at Harvard Business School. I want to pass it along to you. If you do not already engage in brainstorming in your leadership, you are missing out on a great source of […]

Failure of new leaders under my responsibilty used to make me feel worse than it should. As I diligently studied leadership and advanced in leadership skills, I thought surely I could predict if someone was going to lead well or not. I have been sorely wrong. Now I know better. While I am ultimately responsible […]

The Insanity of God. This book pours a bucket of cold water on our existential sleepy heads and reminds us of what really matters: God. If you have not read this book by Nip Ripken with Gregg Lewis, I highly recommend it. I recently listened to it on Audible. The Insanity of God is about […]

A few weeks ago I posted a series of articles about writing. I mentioned then that on occasion I will continue to publish more articles on the topic. Today, I want to present to you another writing recommendation. Beware, I will take you back to your high school grammar classes, but only for a bit. […]