In today’s episode, we welcome Mike Kern to the mic. With decades of leadership experience spanning both the corporate world and church ministry, Mike brings a rare and valuable perspective to the conversation around decision-making. His unique blend of business insight and ministry wisdom has equipped him to help churches and leaders navigate complex challenges with clarity and confidence. In this conversation, we unpack Mike’s “Recipe for Good Decisions” . . . five practical ingredients that can transform the way leaders think, discern, and act. Whether you lead a church, a team, or a family, this episode will leave you both inspired and equipped to make wiser decisions.

A Recipe for Good Decisions

Ingredient #1: Time

• Good decisions often require both patience and perspective.
• How do we prevent patience from degrading into procrastination?

Ingredient #2: Facts

• Leaders sometimes make major decisions without enough information.
• What is the sweet spot between fact-gathering and paralysis by analysis?

Ingredient #3: Diverse Opinions

• Strong leaders invite wise counsel and different perspectives.
• How do we gain decision clarity in a sea of voices?

Ingredient #4: Expertise & Experience

• Experience matters, but leaders must also avoid losing their own voice.
• Learn to listen to experts without surrendering your own voice or abdicating your responsibility.

Ingredient #5: Prayer

• Faith-centered leadership requires dependence on God alongside decisive action.
• How do we live in the tension between prayer and action?

Key Takeaways

• Wise decisions are rarely rushed.
• Good leaders gather facts without getting stuck.
• Diverse perspectives strengthen clarity.
• Experience informs decisions but shouldn’t replace conviction.
• Prayer and action are partners, not opposites.