Leading Hope with Kevin Jack

The Archive: Episode 178 "3 Pillars of Self-Awareness" Watch Episode Also Available On:

Welcome to the leading hope Podcast! Today we're diving back into our archives to Episode 197, titled "Only Let God Uproot You," featuring a candid conversation between myself and Pastor Kevin Jack about a crucial leadership principle that often goes overlooked. In this episode, we explore the importance of leading as if you'll be in your current position forever, even when you know that might not be the case. We discuss why it's essential to tackle the hard problems head-on instead of kicking them down the road for the next leader to deal with. Kevin shares some personal insights from his experiences in ministry and we dive into why true success often comes after the seven-year mark in any endeavor. Whether you're leading in a church, a business, or even in your marriage, this episode challenges you to commit fully to where you are right now. We talk about the dangers of always having one foot out the door and how that mindset can compromise your integrity and effectiveness as a leader. So get ready for some straight talk on leadership longevity, dealing with difficult issues, and allowing only God to uproot you from your current assignment. This episode is packed with practical wisdom that'll help you become a more committed, effective leader. Let's jump right in!

Welcome to the leading hope podcast, today we're diving into a gem from our archives - Episode 143, titled "Keep Going." This episode is part of our series on Keys to Creating Content. In this episode, we tackle a fundamental challenge in content creation: the tendency to settle for our first ideas rather than pushing our thinking further. We explore why better content often requires deeper, more sustained thought. What makes this episode unique is that we actually demonstrate the process live. Starting with just a title - "Get Out of the Way" - we walk through the brainstorming, biblical exploration, and conceptual development that goes into crafting a meaningful message. It's an unfiltered look at how ideas evolve and connect in real-time. Whether you're a speaker, writer, or leader looking to communicate more effectively, this episode offers valuable insights into the creative process. So join us for this behind-the-scenes look at content creation. It's a masterclass in pushing past your first thoughts to uncover richer, more impactful ideas. Let's dive in and remember - when it comes to creating great content, the key is to keep going!

The Archive: Episode 93 "How To Tell A Story" Watch Episode Also Available On:

We are excited to dig into our archives and share with you a powerful episode that's as relevant today as when we first recorded it. We're revisiting Episode 147, titled "The Future Leader." In this episode, we tackle a crucial question: What makes a truly effective leader in our ever-changing world? We explore five essential virtues that we believe every future leader must posses and break down why each of these are critical and how they form the foundation for all other leadership skills. This episode challenges the traditional approach to leadership development, suggesting that we should focus more on cultivating character than on just acquiring skills. It's a fresh perspective that might just change the way you think about your own leadership journey or how you develop leaders in your organization. So whether you're a seasoned leader looking to refine your approach, or you're just starting out on your leadership path, this episode is for you. Let's dive in to "The Future Leader"!

Welcome to the Leading Hope Podcast! Today we're revisiting an important conversation on staying positive as a leader. As discussed in Episode 85, the number one job of a leader is to stay encouraged - because if you're not encouraged, everything you do will be diminished. In this podcast, we unpack the realities of discouragement that all leaders face - whether it's dealing with slow-moving organizations, missed goals, or simply the day-to-day grind. But we also share practical strategies for intentionally maintaining positivity, like making things fun, staying connected to purpose, and strategically focusing on the positives rather than dwelling on the negatives. This is a must-listen episode for any leader looking to cultivate an encouraged, positive mindset - because as we try to make clear, that mindset is absolutely essential to your long-term success and the impact of your leadership. Let's dive in!

Today we're diving into our archives to revisit Episode 126, titled "Get Rid Of It." This episode is part of our Elevated Leadership series, focusing on how leaders can make significant leaps in their effectiveness. In this powerful discussion, we explore three key things leaders need to "get rid of" to elevate their leadership: Authority: Delegating decision-making power to empower your team. Accessibility: Strategically reducing availability to focus on proactive leadership. Credit: Shifting recognition to others to build a lasting, impactful organization. We break down why the order of letting go matters, and how these changes can transform not just your leadership, but your entire organization. Whether you're leading a small team or a large corporation, this episode offers valuable insights on creating a culture of empowerment and lasting impact. So sit back, grab your notebook, and let's revisit some timeless leadership wisdom that's just as relevant today as when we first recorded it. Let's dive into "Get Rid Of It"!

Co-Dependent Definition: Emotional or psychological reliance on a partner. Tendency of leaders to set-up their leadership as co-dependent. Small Ways: Can’t make a decision because the Boss it out of town. Big Ways: “We left the Church because the pastor left, it’s just what you do” Issue: The test of great leadership is what happens when you’re absent. Why Do We Do That? Kindest Way: We don’t even realize we’re doing it and we don’t know how not to. Where tools like vision, values, systems come into play when they’re being used to empower, not create bureaucracy. Realest Way: We feel like imposters, we’re not secure in our role, we want to feel needed. Acknowledge that it feels good to need your opinion to make a decision. Acknowledge that it feels good for people to leave because you’re no longer there because it’s not the same. Point We want to feel wanted. When a leader leads to feel wanted, they become needed, and create co-dependency. Co-Dependent Leadership The Impact of Co-Dependent Leadership Hurts longevity. No momentum beyond current tenure. Cripples Development. Think of like a parent who needs to be needed by their kids. The result is the kids never become adults. Here: The followers never become leaders in their own right. Antidote You antidote to co-dependent leadership is security. Security is built on: Awareness of Gifting. Don’t need validation of your competency. Security is built on testing and trial, not just affirmation. Amateurs want to know they did well, professionals want to know how they can get better. Donald Miller. Commitment to Calling, not assignment. Security will never exist if all you have is a job. What I do supercedes the person I’m doing it with’s opinion of me. Effectiveness that is built on your willingness to adapt. Key is listening and adapting. People will tell you how to lead them, not because it’s a perfect match. Conclusion The danger of co-dependent leadership. Cultivate Security.

Episode 240 Also Available On: Forced Maturity July 31 Leader Notes Intro Maturity is a good thing. Def: [...]

Intro-Quick Recap The danger of self-awareness becoming unbalanced Self-Awareness is not a gifting, it’s a set of habits and disciplines. Today: The Habits that bring self-awareness Read The Room How do people respond to you? Kindness can distort your view of reality. What is the response when you speak: Do people in? Do they look down? Don’t mistake authority for influence. What is the response when you enter: Energy go up or go down? Other Questions - Do people tease you? If they don’t, probably take yourself too seriously. - Do people confide in you? If they don’t, probably afraid of you. Key Question: What are the nonverbal cues to my presence? - Ask the Room - Quickest way to gain self-awareness. Favorite Question: What’s it like to be on the other side of me? Doing it is worth nothing, doing it right means everything! Don’t argue. Implement. Close Self-Awareness is a discipline. Two Habits to help you in that.

Intro We are not "balance" people. Obviously, some things need balanced: Today talk about self-awareness The Problem Give a picture of self-awareness: Ripple effects of your decisions and your presence. The problem is when others awareness of you exceeds your own level of self-awareness. What happens when that becomes unbalanced: You keep making messes that you're unaware of. You slow down because you always have to re-calibrate yourself to current reality. You will eventually lose your leadership. People will deal with a mess when you're winning, never when you're losing: Coaches What makes this so Tricky: Others, always, have a better a view of you than you do. Literally: YOU CAN'T SEE YOU! So you don't know what it's like when you enter the room, or leave it! Which means: Self-Awareness if not about gifting, it's about the discipline to gain that perspective. Not Gifting: When someone says, "I'm really self-aware", they're not. Or they were at one time, but they're not. There are habits of self-awareness that must be cultivated.

Note: Purpose of this podcast is to save you time, we will do that and not go any longer than the content needs. - We all hate long, unproductive, meetings. - The two words: I agree! - Meetings are long because… People feel the need to weigh in and give their two cents; meetings are about better decisions because of a better perspective. People hide a lack of clarity of thought behind many words. If I wanted your perspective I would have asked, I want to know what you would do. - Implement this: Tell people, if you agree; say it. Then let’s move on.

The Limitation: We think Input vs Desired Outcome Series coming up of “And Here’s Why…” The importance of outcome-based thinking. Where we Fail Start: I want to accomplish this. (Goal or Desired Outcome) Next: In order to do that, I need to do this. (Best Guess) Discipline: I did what I set out to do. Issue: Did what you did do what you wanted it to do? Why You Need Outcome Thinking Someone’s else’s input will have different results for you than them. Physically, Eating, Preparation, Education. Different Pieces People say “Think Process, not goals”. Yes, goals are only met through process. But you must think process and goals. Goals: S.O.M.E. Goals (Outcome Based) Activity and Outcome must always stay connected- but outcome matters more than activity. Exercise Toyota: 5 Why’s: Get to the root of the problem and not just deal with the surface issue. Outcome-Thinking: 5 So What’s. WIthin 5 you better be at the Vision.

Intro: – Jeff Bezos idea on decisions: Two Way Doors and One Way Doors. – Implications How This Changes: – Pace: – One-Way: Slow – Two-Way: Relatively Quickly. Don’t need high confidence level, just some intuition. – People: – Two-Way: Few – One-Way: Many points of input. Not just for better decision-making but because we’ll all have to live in the reality. Failures: – We treat every decision like a two way, or a one way. – Two way Like a one way: – Unnecessarily waste time and get significantly behind. – Bad decision makers think they’re making decisions – One way like a two way – Resentment builds in. – Paint yourself into a corner.

The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding. Reality The thing I want to do; got me here. The thing I don’t want to do; will get me there. Questions: What do you do first? What do you put off last? Flip Them! Who are you drawn to first, who do you ask their opinion last? Flip Them! What project keeps coming on your “I need to get to” list. Do you keep pushing it back due to lack of impact or because of difficulty?

What Humility Is A fake lack of confidence Unawareness of your giftings Humility is the absence of pre-occupation with yourself. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, humility is thinking of yourself less. CS Lewis One Reason Humility Is So Important Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Humility reveals the gap that you can grow into. Important idea I used to think humility was the default and pride slowly crept in. I now believer that pride is the default, and humility has to be learned. Evidence: JJ Reddick & Lebron James podcast. Kids, Staff. We assume competency and mastery are much closer than they actually are. Learning Humility Part One People use the phrase "being humbled" "Humbled" comes at two moments: When ignorance meets competency When competency meets mastery Notes: Humbled does result in at least a short-term humility. You don't have to be humbled to be humble. Part Two Humility is a posture, humbled is an event. Humility is not being unaware of competency, it is believing you have more to learn to reach mastery. Key: I don't have to be around a master to grow in my mastery. I can learn it from anywhere. That's humility: I have room to grow and everyone can help me get there.

People buy into a leader before they buy into a vision or culture. - They Need to Like You - Tim Sanders book on Likeability People who came out after biographies of Steve Jobs to counter them. - They Need to Trust You - Character & Competency. Integrity & Ability. - Competency attracts - Character sustains They Need to Want to Follow You - Able to follow: you’re going somewhere. - Want: Bold Direction. They need to know you trust them. - You have to be willing to go alone on hills you’ll die on. - You have to be willing to change your path. - People buy into your why (where), they need to know you’ll change your how. People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.

Episode 231 Also Available On: How Leaders Decide What to Work On May 29 Leader Notes Intro Feeling I've [...]

Episode 230 Also Available On: Know Your Excuse May 22 Leader Notes Intro We know: Growth and Comfort [...]

Episode 229 Also Available On: A Mountain a Day May 15 Leader Notes Intro Feeling at Church Plant that [...]