Christian Leadership Alliance
Congratulations! You have been chosen as a leader. The announcement has been made. You move into your new office. Now what? If you are lucky you have had a wonderful role model in your leaders, but sadly I have found that is not always the case. Our world looks at leadership as a top down, … Continue reading Influential Leadership
“Management is about coping with complexity. Leadership, by contrast, is about coping with change.” John Kotter Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25) “How good is your company at change?” asked a recent cover article in the Harvard Business Review. This question has haunted me over … Continue reading Adaptive Leadership Skills
In 2019, I was reading the ECFA’s Four Challenges for Governance Boards survey results authored by Warren Bird, Ph.D. With a tagline that stated, “Many Boards Unprepared for the Future,” I read the synopsis with interest. From a survey of 1,662 CEOs, board chairs, and board members of ECFA-accredited ministries, challenge number one was CEO … Continue reading Challenge Number One: Your CEO Succession
The long-term success of all organizations can almost always be traced back to the ability of the leaders in the organization to effectively lead through critical inflection points. This may sound like a bold statement, but over the past 30-plus years in both business and ministry, I’ve come to believe it, because I’ve experienced it … Continue reading Critical Inflection Points
You get a phone call, a text comes in, or you finally have some time to sit back and think. No matter the source, you realize that change is upon you. A growth opportunity is starting to take off, a new external challenge threatens your organization, or a critical mistake was made by a member … Continue reading Leading Through the Stages of Transition
One of my favorite sporting events was the 2012 Olympic women’s 4×100 relay in London. The U.S. women crushed a 27-year-old world record. I recently watched a video of that race. Celebrated Olympic sprinter, Allyson Felix, running the second leg, energetically displayed the foundational principles for a good baton pass, and for succession of senior … Continue reading Senior Leader Succession
I am privileged to serve mission-centered organizations in my leadership career. While starting strong is important, I discovered that ending well determines the nature of a leader’s legacy. What follows are some strategies I learned from my own transitions, and from others who successfully served God’s purposes in their generation (Acts 13:36). 1. Update Your … Continue reading Ending Well
Christian Leadership Alliance President and CEO Tami Heim recently interviewed Tom Lin, President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. Lin became president in 2016, the first full president to be chosen from InterVarsity staff. He served with InterVarsity/USA from 1994 to 2001, planting new student chapters at Harvard University and Boston University, developing new national fundraising strategies, … Continue reading Transitioning Well as a Leader
Here are some of the many ways successions may begin. “I want to retire by year’s end.” “Our first succession attempt failed.” “Our organization might be acquired. If so, I will step down.” “We’ve got to develop and strengthen the board before I consider moving on!” “I will work until I die. They’ll have to … Continue reading Four Years Remain
The U.S. is experiencing the highest level of voluntary turnover in over a decade – a trend analysts expect to continue through the year. A recent poll found almost 50% of the workforce is actively job hunting across all job categories – from front-line service workers to high level office professionals. This unique time in … Continue reading Don’t Let Them Get Away!
