April 2012

7 Ways Women Sabotage Their Leadership, Part 2

Understanding how we undermine ourselves

Over the years I have met many fantastic women leaders. I lean forward to hear their every word and am always grateful to spend a spare hour with them over a cup of coffee or on a walk. I have also met some not-so-great female leaders—the kind whose staffs live with a low-grade fear in their eyes. How can you ensure you fall into the first category and not the second?

This ...

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7 Ways Women Sabotage Their Leadership, Part 1

Understanding how we undermine ourselves

Over the years I have met many fantastic women leaders. I lean forward to hear their every word and am always grateful to spend a spare hour with them over a cup of coffee or on a walk. I have also met some not-so-great female leaders—the kind whose staffs live with a low-grade fear in their eyes. How can you ensure you fall into the first category and not the second? ...

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How Joy Helps Us Discern God’s Will

The desires God puts in us bring us energy and life

Have you ever wondered how you could know God's will or recognize God's voice? Does God give you a brain and expect you to figure things out for yourself? Or does God have a blueprint—a Plan A—for your life that you can miss? Is Plan B just as good? How do you discern God's movements in your life anyway?

I doubt there is one right answer to these questions because each of us ...

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The Titanic Need for Authentic Leaders

How do you exercise authority without pretending you have it all together?

Sometimes I'm embarrassed to admit that I would rather jam out to My Chemical Romance than contemporary Christian music. "His Banner over Me," frankly, gives me heart palpitations. But "Welcome to the Black Parade"? Now that preaches. This may seem inconsistent with my profession as a writer and professor of Christian spiritual formation and leadership, but actually, nothing ...

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The Longings of a New Generation of Women

Understanding why it’s time for a change

In recent times, the Web has been alive with banter about our generation of women and why we feel discontent with women's ministry. I believe our discontentment comes from a good place, though at times we can be a mess about it. We are a reckless, passionate generation of women, who long to know Jesus and change the world.

For those of you who aren't sure what all the fuss ...

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Bra Straps, Battery Packs, and Other Divine Accoutrements

A true story for women in ministry

One Sunday before leading prayer in worship, it occurred to me that perhaps the most significant question of my entire ministry career was facing me that very morning. Standing in the sacristy (fancy word for room where the sacred stuff is kept), our Tech Guy mumbled a bit and nearly chewed off his lip with an anxious chomp, "Um, well, where do you want me to hook ...

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The Surprising Cure for Lonely Leaders

How solitude fills us
The Surprising Cure for Lonely Leaders

Leadership can be a lonely assignment, as a recent post here on Gifted for Leadership explored. By definition, leaders are often self-reliant and achievement-oriented. We can easily let tasks and strategy become more important than the people accomplishing those tasks or implementing that strategy.

That recent post offered some great strategies for engaging in authentic community. ...

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