LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 140: ELIMINATING HURRY
How do we deal with the tension between our task list and God’s invitation to stop hurrying? How can we be productive without being always on the move? In today’s episode, John & Jim unpack three ways eliminate hurry from your life and still be productive at work....
ELIMINATING HURRY
Rachel Macy Stafford, a New York Times bestselling author, relays the following personal story about hurry. “My thoughts and actions were controlled by electronic notifications, ring tones, and jam-packed agendas. And although every fiber of my inner drill sergeant...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 139: HIRING FROM THE OUTSIDE
Hiring from within has many advantages. But it’s not always possible. When hiring from the outside, a well-thought-out approach reduces your risk. In today’s episode, John and Jim explore three keys that help you make better hiring decisions. Here are the show notes:...
LEADING THROUGH PERSONAL DIFFICULTY
Today we welcome back Jaime Hlavin back to the blog. She hits on a subject all of us can relate to . . . leading while at the same time facing personal pain. Enjoy this powerful post ~ John. Everyone can relate to the old adage “when it rains, it pours.” Our family is...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 138: A PASTOR’S SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER
Driven by perfectionism, many pastors overanalyze, over-criticize, and behave less than graciously toward themselves after preaching. In today’s episode John and Jim unpack a prayer every preacher should consider praying before they get to the platform that will help...
HANDLING 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 137: INTERVIEW WITH CHAD DEERMAN – PART 2
Today's episode contains Part 2 of John & Jim's interview with Chad Deerman, lead pastor of Faith Alive Church in West Branch, MI. Chad unpacks how he uses focused work segments at home and how they help him never find himself behind at home, and how it also helps...
HANGING BY MY FINGERTIPS
Today we welcome my good friend Dave Barringer to the blog. He unpacks the problem of going solo when it comes to our mental and emotional health, and gives us six powerful coping mechanisms that propel us toward wellbeing. Enjoy ~ John “Dave, have you seen the...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 136: INTERVIEW WITH CHAD DEERMAN – PART 1
In today’s episode, we interview Chad Deerman, pastor of Faith Alive Church in West Branch, MI. Together we unpack Chad’s powerful approach to focused work segments that have enabled the church he leads to get healthy and grow while simultaneously allowing Chad to...
PLAYING HIDE-AND-SEEK
When I was a kid, one of my favorite games was hide-and-seek. My siblings and I would take turns: One of us went upstairs and counted to twenty, while the rest hid downstairs under boxes, in the furnace room, or in the closet. I liked hiding more than seeking. The...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 135: THREE TRAPS LEADERS FALL INTO
Leadership is a journey fraught with peril. Numerous traps await even the best of pastors and business leaders. In today’s episode, John and Jim explore three of the most common pitfalls that threaten to ambush a leader, and what he/she can do to avoid getting...
ESCAPING LEADERSHIP TRAPS
Leading an organization is invigorating, an honor, a privilege, a huge responsibility . . . and at the same time, often fraught with peril. Hidden traps exist that threaten to at a minimum, derail a leader, or worse, take him or her out. Here are three of the most...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 134: FOUR SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE OUT OF RHYTHM
It’s possible to be seriously out of rhythm in your life and not know it. In today’s episode, John & Jim unpack four dashboard lights we can pay attention to that might signal arrythmia is present in our life. Here are the show notes: Four Dashboard Lights to...
WHEN RELATIONSHIPS DISAPPOINT
Disappointment is the gap between our expectations and our reality. The bigger the gap, the more disappointment we feel. The more disappointment, the more pain we experience. Nowhere does disappointment seem to rear its head more than in relationships. When I take...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 133: THE SECRET TO A GREAT DAY OFF
How does a leader take a great day off? What are some elements? Leaders are asking this question more and more. In today’s episode, John and Jim unpack the answers to these most important questions. Here are the show notes: Chuck Swindoll: “Why do we have such a hard...
FOUR SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE OUT OF RHYTHM
The Converge Coaching team talks with our clients a lot about rhythms. Spiritual rhythms—prayer, study of the word, journaling etc. Work/rest rhythms—daily, weekly, quarterly, annually. Friendship rhythms. It’s possible to be out of rhythm in our personal life or work...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 132: INTERVIEW WITH JOSH SPURLOCK – PART 2
In today’s episode we welcome back Josh Spurlock to the podcast. In part two of our interview, we explore how to humanize the role of pastor and how a leader can get/stay healthy as they begin to dream, strategize, and grow again. Here are the show notes: Josh, you...
THE SECRET TO A LIFE-GIVING DAY OFF
How does a leader take a great day off? I think leaders are wondering about this question more and more, and today’s post is my attempt to answer it. Chuck Swindoll has some pretty sage advice on the subject of a weekly day off: “Tell me, why do we have such a hard...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 131: INTERVIEW WITH JOSH SPURLOCK – PART 1
In today’s episode we welcome back Josh Spurlock to the podcast. In part one of our interview, Josh unpacks the current leadership landscape in terms of mental and emotional health; the silver lining issuing out of the struggles of the past two years, and the core...
THE VALUE OF MEANINGFUL VALUES
A church or a business won’t get to their goal without fuel—the culture created by meaningful values provides that fuel. Core values are behaviors that shape the culture of an organization. If vision answers the question where, and a playbook answers the question...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 130: THE VALUE OF MEANINGFUL VALUES
A church or a business won’t get to their goal without fuel—the culture created by meaningful values provides that fuel. In today’s episode, John and Jim unpack what values are, what they mean, and why they matter. Here are the show notes: In Pods 127, 128, and 129,...
PLAYING OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE
Today we welcome Jaime Hlavin back to the blog. For the past two years, the majority of church leaders have been "playing defense." Visioning, strategizing, and team-building took a back seat to . . . survival. Our sense at Converge Coaching is the pendulum is...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 129: THE RIGHT PLAYERS WITH THE RIGHT STUFF
You can have an enticing goal line, a brilliant playbook—but without the right players in the right positions, you won’t get to your destination. In today’s episode, Jim and John unpack how to discover and release the right players into the right roles. Here are the...
THE REFRESHING SOUND OF RAIN
Working from the home office today and listening to the rhythmic beat of rain landing on the roof. Why do I love that mesmerizing sound so much? Why is it so soothing? The steady pounding of rain takes me back to fond memories of vacations with Laura and the boys....
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 128: A PLAYBOOK THAT MOVES YOUR ORGANIZATION TOWARD ITS VISION
Creating and casting a compelling vision is great, But a compelling vision without an easy to follow playbook leads to frustration. Today’s pod unpacks a simple approach to creating a winning playbook for the organization you lead. Here are the show notes: Using a...
NAVIGATING TRANSITIONS – PART 3
After a two month hiatus, Jaime Hlavin rejoins the blog today with a wonderful post on the subject of transitions. This is part three of her series on this most important and relevant subject. Enjoy ~ John Each year, our Ministry Network runs a conference for our...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 127: GETTING BACK TO VISION
During recent conversations with leaders, along with internal conversations here at Converge Coaching, we’re sensing that the dark cloud that’s hung over churches during the pandemic may be dissipating. We’re making no predictions of course, but our perspective is...
GETTING BACK TO VISION
During recent conversations with leaders, along with internal conversations here at Converge Coaching, we’re sensing the dark cloud that’s hung over churches during the pandemic may be dissipating. Many challenges have confronted pastors during this two-year stretch,...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 126: WHAT I LEARNED ON VACATION
In today’s episode John and Jim unpack three revelations John received while on his recent vacation. Rediscovering what fills up your emotional tank and make that the centerpiece of your annual time away will help you achieve the admirable goal of leading better,...
HOW TO FILL YOUR EMOTIONAL TANK
If you’re an adult, you are responsible for your mental and emotional well-being. No one else is. During the month of February, we’ve been blogging about mental and emotional health. We’ve explored How to Become Your Own Best Friend; Discover the Power of...