Leading From Alignment Podcast Episode 79 – Show Notes
Leading From Alignment: Episode 79 - The Peril of Success Ah success . . . an oft-used word in our country. Many times, an oft-misunderstood word. Today, we want to focus on the subject, The Peril of Success. In seasons of tremendous growth and blessing, I made three...
SUCCESS & LONGEVITY
Today Jaime Hlavin presents part three of our series on success. Today's post unpacks the power of longevity in leadership. Enjoy ~ John. We’ve been camping out on the subject of success these past few weeks. Our focus has been on what that means from the Christian...
Leading From Alignment Episode 78 – Show Notes
One of the more challenging responsibilities of a senior leader is dealing with their team’s performance. Especially when a member of that team is underperforming. Dealing with a staff member’s lack of good outcomes starts with you. Today’s pod will outline a...
SUCCESS REIMAGINED
Success . . . is it a good thing? Or not-so good? There is a significant debate about this within the church. Most leaders have an innate drive to be successful. To achieve. The challenge is figuring out what success is. In many ways, how we define success defines us...
Leading From Alignment Episode 77 – Show Notes
Today we present Part 2 of our conversation with Josh Spurlock, founder of My Counselor Online, a clinically-informed faith-based counseling ministry that comes alongside pastors, missionaries and their families as they face challenges of being on the front lines for...
The Peril of Success
Ah success . . . an oft-used word in our country. Many times, an oft-misunderstood word. Over the next three weeks, we’ll be posting on the subject of success. We’ll look at it through the lens of God vs. the lens of humanity. We’ll talk about how leaders get this...
Leading From Alignment Episode 76 – Show Notes
Welcome to Part 1 of a wonderful, can’t-miss two-part interview with Josh Spurlock, founder of My Counselor Online, a clinically-informed faith-based counseling ministry. Josh's organization comes alongside pastors, missionaries, and their families to hold up their...
HOW TO HANDLE UNDER-PERFORMING STAFF
One of the more challenging responsibilities of a senior leader is dealing with their team’s performance. Especially when a member of that team is underperforming. More than once, I’ve heard leaders complain to me, “My staff just doesn’t get things done.” Missed...
Leading From Alignment Episode 75 Show Notes
Today we wrap up a three-part series of pods on mental and emotional health. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you...
FILL YOUR EMOTIONAL TANK
Today a wonderful and timely post from Jaime Hlavin on a most important subject . . . filling our emotional tank. The past twelve months have drained the emotional reserves of many humans. Jaime provides practical thoughts and behaviors that help us fill our tank and...
Leading From Alignment Episode 74 Show Notes
Welcome to the show notes for Episode 74 of the Leading From Alignment Podcast. Today, we want to explore the positive impact assertiveness has on our health. One thing many leaders (especially Christian leaders) don’t know about anger is they have permission to...
Protect Yourself from Narcissists
During the month of February, we've been writing a series of posts on getting/staying healthy mentally and emotionally. Today's post is part three. Enjoy ~ John According to an article in Psychology Today, the average narcissism score among college students in North...
Leading From Alignment Episode 73 Show Notes
Welcome to the show notes for Episode 73 of the Leading From Alignment Podcast. We live in a time where depression, anxiety, and suicide are on a rapid rise in the United States. One of the pillars of mental and emotional well-being is the relationship with have with...
TELL ANGER WHERE TO GO
In today's post Jaime Hlavin and I collaborate to answer the question every human needs to ask: "What can I do with my anger?" How we answer this most important question significantly impacts our mental and emotional health. Enjoy ~ John If you live in Michigan, you...
BECOME YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND
It’s February and here in the Midwest, Seasonal Affective Disorder is in full swing, So I thought it would be good to focus our blog for the next four weeks on mental and emotional health. The CDC came out with this stunning report last year: In July 2020, 1 in 4...
THE PROBLEM OF DEFLECTING LOSS
The year 2020 brought loss on multiple levels. Loss of eyeball-to-eyeball connection; loss of things we took for granted—grad parties, wedding celebrations . . . even the loss of gathering to say goodbye to loved ones who’ve slipped into eternity. In today’s post,...
SAYING GOODBYE
I never have been very stoic when saying goodbye. I remember as a youngster, when my older brother Rick left to go to boot camp for the Army reserve, I burst into tears at the airport prior to his departure. Every time I had to say goodbye to Laura when returning to...
TAKE CHARGE OF STRESS BEFORE IT TAKES CHARGE OF YOU
According to Barna's most recent stats, 50% of pastors are currently suffering with depression. Yikes. In sixteen years of working with pastors, I’ve never seen them more stressed as a collective whole than I do now. So I thought it might be a good idea to write...
THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I LEARNED IN 2020
2020 . . . the toughest year ever for most of us. And yet, probably the year most of us learned more than we ever have. At the beginning of every New Year, I like to reflect on the year that just ended, and identify the top three lessons the year prior has taught me....
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
It’s the last day of 2020. 2020 has been a bear of a year for everybody . . . especially leaders. Pastors are telling me, “John, it feels like the struggle has no end to it.” “I’m not sure how much longer I can hang in there.” Today’s post explores the subject of...
UNWRAPPING THE UNEXPECTED GIFTS OF 2020
Jaime Hlavin joins the blog once again today as we celebrate Christmas with you. Enjoy ~ John During my freshman year in college, I took a humanities class that covered various pieces of art and music. My favorite part of that semester-long class was the time we spent...
DEVELOPING A PERSONAL GROWTH PLAN FOR 2021
As 2020 nears its finish . . . 2021 looms. It’s been difficult for church leaders to plan much of anything organizationally in 2020. As we near 2021, it seems as though for a while, planning far ahead is going to be similarly difficult in the New Year. Pre-COVID, we...
KEEPING YOURSELF IN THE RACE
Have you ever wondered, “Do I really have what it takes?” Ever felt a gnawing sense of inadequacy, a creeping fear that you’re ill-equipped, and not up to the challenge your calling presents? Do you occasionally hear the lying whispers of the devil? “You’re a fraud!”...
Thinking Our Way to Better Leadership
The way we think powerfully impacts our leadership influence and trajectory. In my latest book, Unshakable Leader: The Simple Yet Amazing Power of Alignment, we devote an entire chapter to the power of our thoughts and the emotions we attach to them. The better...
THANKING OUR WAY TO A BETTER LIFE
I’ve heard business and psychology gurus pitch the idea that we can think our way to a better life. Their premise? Our brain is soft-wired, and can be re-wired by thinking positively, and in doing so, we can have a happier life. Science seems to support this idea . ....
WHEN LEADING GETS CONFUSING
“Even when you see things happening or not happening that you don’t understand, I want you to trust Me.” Those words came to my heart a few weeks ago while praying and sitting quietly with the Lord. It’s hard sometimes to trust God, isn’t it? It’s not because He’s...
REBUILDING IN THE AGE OF SOCIALLY DISTANT COFFEE
Today Jaime Hlavin rejoins us for an entertaining, informative, and inspirational post on a subject every church leader cares about deeply and is struggling with at some level . . . rebuilding their teams. Enjoy! ~ John We’ve had some unseasonably warm weather here in...
GOT FRIENDS?
This past Sunday at church, a good friend asked me, “How are you?” I gave her the standard, “I’m good” response, even though I came to church that morning carrying some heaviness. She persisted, “How are you . . . really?” It was like she had radar and could sense...
LEG BREAKERS
Perhaps you’re thinking, “Hmm, Leg Breakers . . . what kind of title is that for a blog?” A few weeks ago, I was reading the Gospel of John, chapter 19, and in verse 31 came across words I’ve read probably a hundred times before, but for some reason they jumped out at...
REPLENISHING RELATIONSHIPS & WHY THEY MATTER
Today Jaime Hlavin rejoins us after a brief hiatus. An introvert by nature, Jaime opens up about her struggle with nurturing this most important piece of personal alignment . . . replenishing relationships. Enjoy ~ John As I’m sure you know, John recently launched his...