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...
WHEN GOD SAYS “NO”
God answers every prayer with “Yes,” “Wait,” or “No.” The last response is always the most difficult one to receive, and can be flat-out heartbreaking ~ Rick Warren I’m going through a little stretch right now where God has said “no” to a few things I’ve been...
GRIEVING ORGANIZATIONAL LOSS
“We’re grieving the loss of what was, Pre-COVID.” “We had so much momentum in March, and then . . .” “People have disappeared and we don’t know where they are.” These statements from pastors reveal a common thread: Leaders are grieving the loss of what was before the...
CASTING VISION IN THE NEW AGE OF LEADERSHIP
COVID-19 has profoundly changed the way we do church. Online presentation has become critical . . . in-person gatherings have become complicated. Adhering to guidelines that are in reality moving targets, and at the same time planning something impactful, has become...
UNSHAKABLE LEADERSHIP IN A SHAKY WORLD – PART 3
During the last two weeks, we’ve been exploring this simple idea: The more aligned you are personally, the better you lead professionally. In Part 1 of this series, we talked through three big ideas from our newest book, Unshakable Leader: The Simple Yet Amazing Power...
UNSHAKABLE LEADERSHIP IN A SHAKY WORLD – PART 2
It's all about alignment. So many leadership books have been written. So much great data to sift through. So many ways to “do leadership.” But when everything is said and done (and read), it all comes down to alignment. The more aligned you are personally, the...
UNSHAKABLE LEADERSHIP IN A SHAKY WORLD – PART 1
Today we start a series of three posts on the subject of how be an unshakable leader in the middle of a shaky world. If ever we needed unshakable leadership, it is now. Being unshakable is all about alignment. The most influential thing we can do as a leader is bring...
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR TEAM’S ENGAGEMENT
Your team is the most important asset in the organization you lead. But this is true only when they are engaged. In 2017, according to a Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report, only 15% of employees worldwide were engaged at work. By engaged, Gallup...
WHY YOU NEED A WEEKLY DAY OFF
When I ask leaders about their day off, I’m often greeted with a blank stare followed by uncomfortable mumbling. Some report they haven’t taken a day off in years. And even worse, a few of them are proud of it. They wear busyness as a badge of honor. Many contributors...
HOLDING ON TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT
In the book of Revelation, chapter 2, Jesus makes an impassioned plea to the church of Thyatira: "Hold on to what you have until I come." "Hold on." Jesus was speaking about finishing. As the stress and strain of COVID-19 lingers on, and the polarization of people in...