SLSI Leadership Podcast

People on your team look to you, the leader, to resolve poor performance issues, or other behaviors that are risking the positive environment of your ministry. These issues won't go away, and trust me, the good doesn't truly offset the bad.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

The people we work with are far from perfect, just as we each have our flaws. Today we focus on steps a leader should take to keep the team focused in positive directions rather than descending towards more self-serving and sinful directions. Which WILL happen, even at a Christian school!Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

I can't pretend otherwise, sometimes being the leader isn't much fun. When that happens to you, it's important you don't isolate or silo. You need to talk to the right people. Let's talk about preparing for such a need.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

You will never be able to please everyone when you are making decisions. However, there is wisdom in anticipating what problems might result from your choices. Let's consider this, particularly with the help of a true story.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

No one goes into leadership because it's the simpler, easier path. Leadership is hard, and sometimes downright scary. Today we talk about the way courage is truly needed from a leader to help their school ministries move through challenging times so that they may thrive.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

We all enjoy feeling needed. However, as a leader, there is definitely such a thing as being TOO needed. Let's talk about the traps leaders should avoid, and what to do to empower those we lead.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Leaders often undervalue their own importance. I know, I know - we are warned more often about being overconfident or slipping towards arrogance, the the push against that swings easily the other direction. We take servant leadership to an extreme, and do far more than we should, easily using up our reserves and burning out. That's criminal, as leaders are too rare to waste. Here's some thoughts regarding sustainability for leadership, changes you may want to consider. Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Doesn't matter how skillfully you lead, communicate, and interact with others, sometimes things don't work out. It takes TWO for relationships to be successful. This episode reminds leaders to recognize that you should always do what you can, but not beat yourself up when things fail. Sometimes, it's truly NOT your fault. Be sure to honestly evaluate circumstances, so that you recognize when you need to change vs. when it's just how it's going be because of the other person.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Yes, leaders need to be confident in their decisions, and giving off an air of indecisiveness can damage people's opinion of your leadership. But so will bad decisions, and a stubbornness about shifting your direction when new data comes to light. Let's give this some consideration in this episode. Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

There are risks you take, and risks you shouldn't. As a leader, you need to pay attention to the changing landscape around you, to best determine when to move forward, and when to stop and adjust. Here's another example of such consideration.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Leaders help keep the team on mission, and watch for pitfalls that could derail them. At least, that how it's supposed to work, but leaders are human too, and can fall prey to "ostrich disease." Let's talk about this.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Two different terms, somewhat related but not quite the same. In this episode I discuss their relation, and how each impacts your leadership effectiveness, as well as what you should be sensitive to in this regard.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Documentation has a negative connotation, but honestly, that's simply because most leaders are using it wrongly. I'll give you a fresh perspective and a suggestion to add to your leadership practices here in this episode.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Leaders need to be confident, ready to defend their positions. But what about when your position is wrong?Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Having an "open door policy" is important, right? Oh, the trouble that phrase has caused. Let's explore this a bit today.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

It's been a busy couple of months, including time filled by running and then attending professional development - so that's the topic I'm turning to here. Professional development is critical!Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Continuing with the analogy and theme of our previous episode, this time we explore how to help people gracefully "exit the bus" when it turns out that, despite your efforts, they aren't proving to be a good fit for the team and the needs of your school ministry.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins introduced me to the the concept of viewing your professional team as the people riding your bus. To be effective in proceeding in the direction you're headed, you need the right people on the bus. That's not always what you have when you move into a leadership position. Here, we start talking about ways leaders can work through this sort of circumstance to arrive at a better arrangement.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Providing effective feedback is a critical aspect of leadership. Providing feedback is a leadership aspect about which many leaders lack ease, some because they've truly botched it in the past. Let's explore how to be effective with feedback in this episode.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Leadership is hard work. That's a given. Yet some leaders regularly make decisions that make the job even more difficult and time consuming, and at the same time less effective. In this episode, we'll discuss pitfalls to avoid, and behaviors you should stop if you truly want to thrive long-term as a leader.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Working with people can be complex. Adults can have just as much difficulty playing nice together as preschoolers. It's a leader's responsibility to remain sensitive to the climate, and to step in and help when things turn towards the toxic. Let's discuss.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Sure, you are a capable, effective individual. That's part of how you ended up in leadership. But producing as an island, needing no one else, is NOT what leadership is about. Let's explore.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

What is driving you? What do people see in our leadership? Is it helping convey what you'd hope? Perhaps you need to hitch your leadership wagon to something new. Let's explore.

Extroverted. Introverted. Which are you? How does it impact your leadership? Let's dig into these concepts just a bit today.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

How often do you intentionally encourage those around you? You have a real opportunity to make a difference with some well placed words. Let's talk about some ways to encourage the different people in your circle of influence.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

The person driving the bus gets to make the decisions. Are you ready for that? Are you willing? Let's talk about this!Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

How do you trust, as a leader? Are you too trusting? Too hesitant to trust? Is trust even needed? Let's explore!Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Leaders need to be confident, to believe in themselves. Can you be too confident? How can you tell? What can you do? This is our conversation.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

Stuff happens. And when it does, it's got to be addressed. You can't just let problems sit there, ignored - they can grow and grow, even bring your ministry down! But HOW you address them makes a world of difference, to avoid letting such urgent issues become all-consuming. Let's explore...Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

What does it mean when the stress feels too great, when you think you may not be able to continue? It can happen to any leader. Let's talk about what this can mean, and what you can do to move through this while remaining a successful leader.Help me spread the word of this Podcast by rating it on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast content. Consider writing a review. And feel free to share this with others you think might benefit!  Have suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know. Email ideas to JimS@nowlcms.org.

The best leaders are the ones who recognize there is always more to know, more to learn, and seem constantly on the search for new opportunities to gain knowledge. This is particularly true in watching for what others around them can teach them. Let's explore this!Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe!   You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast!   Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

Leaders have quite a bit of autonomy, able to choose where to direct their efforts to lead well. In this episode we'll reflect on how to choose wisely, avoiding actions that are a waste of your leadership time and energy.Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe!   You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast!   Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

Letting the members of your team innovate and use their own judgement sounds great, but many leaders struggle with the nuance of this. They want to empower others, but they find they can't let go, for what seems like powerfully relevant reasons. We explore the struggle in this episode, as well as reasons to do better.Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe!   You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast!   Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

This should come as no surprise. You are not in control. But still, you're the one everyone looks to to take care of things! How do you manage this well? How do you meet expectations, and keep things positive, when there are challenges around every corner and no way to satisfy everyone (sometimes it feels like anyone). Let's consider, shall we?Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe!   You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast!   Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

Believe it or not, there is a time when procrastinating may be a useful thing. Not often, mind you, but it has its place. This concept gets explored in this episode.Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe!   You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast!   Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

Challenging times are coming. Every leader and organization deals with such times. Are you going to help your team take things on the best way possible, or are you going to made the problems feel even heavier? Let explore this.  Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe!   You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast!   Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

We're going to get a little more nitty-gritty today, talking about school accreditation. Why is it important? Should the leader be advocating for this for the school, whether for the first time or for maintaining it? How can a leader use accreditation most powerfully to benefit the school ministry? I've got a couple of things to share! Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe! You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

Achieving and succeeding. Those words seem fairly synonymous to many people, but to be effective in leadership, you need to know the difference. Let's spend some time in this episode exploring the application of these concepts, to add value to how you lead your team. Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe! You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

As a Christian school, our greatest ministry asset is our abundant and providential God. Second to Him, I'd put teachers at the next level of importance. Great teachers are a gift from God to the impact of our school ministries, and when you have the right teachers, they need to be cared for and supported in ways that sustains their service. Join guest Mike Schiemann and me as we discuss practical points for caring for the teachers God has entrusted to you as a school ministry leader. Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe! You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email your ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

There are many different leadership styles you may use in guiding your school ministry. The best leaders are careful not to get stuck in a rut. There will be times that how you've been successfully leading will no longer fit the circumstance. Great leaders learn to shift to the situation, at least to some degree. We'll explore this concept in our episode. Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe! You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email your ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

New leaders are eager and energetic to make an impact and bring change for the better. But rushing in to do so can be a recipe for disaster. People will only follow you so far on faith; you have necessary steps to take give people a reason to stay with you. We explore this here. Thanks for listening! I hope you'll Subscribe! You can also help tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. And if I've been of help to you, share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email your ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

School ministry leaders have a huge responsibility for the financial success and stability of their school. And that starts with the budget. But how can you create a great budget with so many unknown factors for the year ahead? Jim is joined by guest Mike Schiemann again to talk about this significant aspect of leadership in educational ministry.

We spend a lot of time talking about what to do in order to be an effective leader. Today's let's spend some time paying attention to what we need to avoid, certain behaviors that will interfere with what you hope to achieve, things that will diminish your sustainability as a leader. Thanks for listening! If you haven't yet done so, I invite you to Subscribe! You can also help me out tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. If I've been of help to you, that's awesome - share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email your ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

The title pretty much says it all. Even if strategic planning still sounds foreign or scary to you, this is something you need to understand, and figure out how to implement. Trust me - it's essential to lasting and effective leadership. Thanks for listening! If you haven't yet done so, I invite you to Subscribe! You can also help me out tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. If I've been of help to you, that's awesome - share the goodness by telling other leaders about the podcast! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email your ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

One of the challenges of leadership is buying into the hype, coming to believe you are as great and powerful as some seem to be lifting you up. It can get mighty high up on that pedestal. Let's discuss the risk, and how to avoid the pitfalls. Thanks for listening! If you haven't yet done so, I invite you to Subscribe! You can also help me out tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. If I've been of help to you, that's awesome! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email your ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

Leaders are often eager to jump in and change things up when they join a new ministry. However, change things too quickly and you may walk into pitfalls, creating more challenging than positive results. We'll talk about things to keep in mind before digging in too deep!

Leading through a pandemic has been full of challenges, and issues leaders are eager to leave in the rear view mirror. But don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Jim chats with guest Mike Schiemann about silver linings, the new positive discoveries that school leaders should look for, that you might want to try to keep in some manner once we move back to whatever "normal" will eventually look like. Thanks for listening! If you haven't yet done so, I invite you to Subscribe! You can also help me out tremendously by Rating and even Reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts. If I've been of help to you, that's awesome! Have any suggestions for future Leadership Podcast episodes? Let me know! Email your ideas to me at JimS@nowlcms.org.

While there are great joys in leading an educational ministry, there are also some serious challenges. You can feel like some of these issues aren't what you ever wanted to deal with, and shouldn't have to! But let's consider - this is exactly why God has you where you are at this time.

Good leaders are able to find and see the joy in all circumstances. Great leaders are able to infuse that joy into those around them. We'll touch on specific practices you may use to become that spreader of joy as a leader.

We'll discuss better ways to address those nagging issues that hang over you and keep you tossing and turning. You can't solve everything instantly, but you also don't need to let worry and stress consume you.

Leaders don't often ask enough questions. In this episode, we won't just consider asking more questions, but rather how skilled leaders may utilize questions to help lead their teams more effectively.