The Courage to Lead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy

When building a team, we all start with great intentions. Then disruption comes and it's hard to tell where things went wrong.   Can we get real?   You may be sabotaging your team without even realizing it.   Don't worry, this is actually a lot more common than you may think.   On this episode of The CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, Shawn describes the tendencies that sabotage team building and why they are so often found in new teams.   Want to overcome these tendencies?   Listen in...

Passion is central to being a courageous leader. But how can we channel our passion to produce our desired outputs? Derwin Gray, former NFL football player, founding and lead pastor of Transformation Church, and today's podcast guest, believes it all lies in our motives. In this episode of The CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, Derwin shares how our motives ("why we do what we do") deeply influences how effective our passion can be.

Have you ever hired someone who just wasn't the right fit?   How about promoted someone who wasn't ready for it?   On this episode, Shawn shares what he has learned from the times he was too hasty when hiring or promoting.   Looking back, Shawn explains that this happened when he neglected to objectively assess his hires on his team. Here Shawn offers wisdom into how to better evaluate your team with objectivity.

Servant leadership is not an isolated event; it's a cultural shift. On this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, we are joined by Dino Rizzo, Executive Director of ARC Churches, Associate Pastor at Church of the Highlands, and author of Servolution. Shawn and Dino discuss how serving accelerates the efforts of leadership and share about Serve Day, an annual opportunity for churches to impact their communities by showing the love of Christ through service projects.

There is a difference between managing people and leading them; the difference lies in your ability to inspire. You don't have to be the most brilliant person in the room, just the most passionate to inspire your people. In this episode of The CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, Shawn presents 4 foundational ways to become a more inspirational leader. Get the tools to take your decisive step away from just managing and towards true LEADERSHIP.

“What is my purpose?” Why is it often hard to answer that question? Not knowing the answer may feel paralyzing and unnerving. We have all been there, including Elizabeth Dixon, our guest on this episode of The CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy. Elizabeth leads Strategy, Hospitality, and Service Design at Chick-Fil-A, Inc. Listen in as she offers 3 ways (plus an interactive exercise) to not only define your purpose, but also have confidence that it is built on a solid foundation.

What is the #1 tension that keeps leaders awake at night? The answer to this question was the reason Shawn Lovejoy founded and leads CourageToLead.com and serves as the topic of this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy. Here Shawn shares the top tension every leader navigates on a consistent basis and the coaching insights he uses to guide them through it.

Focus is powerful. Leaders who are thriving during this current season of uncertainty keep the best of their energy and attention leveraged in the same direction. There are few limits to what relentlessly focused leaders and teams can accomplish. The opposite is also true. Distracted leaders and teams, cause problems by taking their eyes away from where they should be focused, moving in a multitude of directions and accomplishing little. In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy exposes the warning signs that you may be a distracted leader.

“I wish we could just get back to normal!” Many leaders have made this statement since COVID-19 impacted America and turned the world upside down. It's hard for many of us to feel in control as the global pandemic drags on, leaving us longing for some sense of normal. Problem is, "normal" is average. Don't look to go back to normal, work to get better! In this episode, Shawn Lovejoy reflects on his own journey of "getting better" during the pandemic and the 4 key post-pandemic decisions he's made to help him improve his life, relationships, leadership and organization on the other side of COVID-19.

The Broadway musical Hamilton took the world by storm. Inspired by the life of the American founding father, Alexander Hamilton, and debuting in 2015, the show was quickly received as a groundbreaking work of art, which was recognized by winning 11 Tony Awards. With its release on Disney+ in 2020, Its cultural and creative impact has even more widely grown to continue to inspire its audiences. One audience member on whom the show left a lasting mark is author Kevin Cloud who sees Hamilton as a “modern-day parable” that carries a depth of spiritual, leadership and transformative power. In this episode, Shawn talks with Kevin, the author of God & Hamilton. Their conversation centers on themes of leadership and spirituality from the life of Alexander Hamilton, an influential American Founder.

It's a simple word. In 20+ years of coaching it's also the thing we see missing most often in leaders, teams and organizations. What is it? Accountability. Most leaders don't need another podcast, another book or another conference… they need accountability. Strategies and systems work when we are accountable to another person to execute them. In this episode Shawn introduces you to part of the CourageToLead coaching framework: The 5 Pillars of Accountability.

People tend to walk into the successful chapter a person's life is on and assume it's their entire story. Courage may even appear to come natural, while seemingly avoiding others. In this episode, Shawn is joined by a leader who embodies courage in leadership and life, Nona Jones. Nona is an author, entrepreneur, pastor, podcast host, business executive and Head of Faith-Based Partnerships for Facebook who overcame childhood physical and sexual abuse to become a global voice of hope through faith in God. Prepare to be inspired!

Anyone who has ever tried to break a bad habit, start working out, or learn a new skill knows that change is hard. As human beings, we're wired to love safe, predictable and routine. Anything that challenges the tried-and-true is going to face serious resistance. In fact, a 2008 survey of 3,200 executives around the world found that only one workplace transformation in three was successful. In other words, change is difficult; but change is an integral part of growth—both for individuals and organizations. It requires Change to Grow and it requires Courage to Change! In this episode, Shawn shares from his own story of leading and navigating change to help you beat the odds and stay relevant, adaptable, and open to change.

The weight is heavy. The burden is broad. You, and every other leader I know, are currently leading through tension, fear and an uncertain future. I named our organization Courage to Lead for a reason. It takes courage to lead…especially in a moment like this one. In this episode I want to personally encourage you out of my heart and give you a few thoughts on how to lead courageously in this season.

The best teams maintain good communication, trust, healthy conflict, commitment, and accountability, all while staying focused on strong results and finishing together. In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, we welcome Russ Morgan & Joey Mure, partners at WealthWithoutWallStreet.com and co-hosts of the Wealth Without WallStreet Podcast. This conversation will help leaders build high-performing teams, that create amazing company cultures, and allow leaders to scale their organization for success.

There's a right way and wrong way to do everything. Leadership will at some point bring you face-to-face with having to release someone from your team. Perhaps it's during the current crisis and economic downturn our country is in. Perhaps you have a weak link on your team that needs to be transitioned. Or perhaps you're dealing with a problem team-member that won't go away, but is driving everyone else away. Whatever the circumstance, you need to do the right thing, and you need to do it in the right way. In this episode, CourageToLead Founder & CEO Shawn Lovejoy talks about the right way to release someone from your team. 

Every person on the globe has somehow been impacted by the COVID-19 Crisis. We've all felt the tension in our career, our health, our relationships, our bank account…the list goes on and on. When we made our personal resolutions and organizational plans for 2020, none of us knew this is what reality would look like only 4 months in. This has not been the year you or anyone expected. In this episode, Shawn Lovejoy walks you through what you should do when things have not met your expectations.

In this episode you're getting a sneak peak inside one of the Monday Coaching Calls hosted by Shawn Lovejoy.  These calls occur each Monday and focus encouraging leaders and teams to the next level. On this call, Shawn was joined by best-selling author Jon Gordon to discuss “How To Be A More Resilient Leader.” Leaders need resilience. A leader's role doesn't allow for pessimism about the future—as the team takes cues from its leader about how to respond in difficult times.  Individual and team resiliency is a vital component of ongoing high performance...especially in the COVID-19 Crisis. The most critical time for leadership isn't on the mountaintop, it's in the valley. Make sure resilience is a widespread team attribute, rather than a scarce one.  Enjoy this episode, giving you an insider's look at the Monday Coaching Call.

There's a great opportunity for leaders right now. Opportunity to not only survive…and hang on… …but to thrive.  Leaders who seize the opportunities a crisis presents will: Separate themselves from the competition with a different message of good news Discover new innovations only times of scarcity can present Reemerge stronger after the crisis by how they reimagine during crisis In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy shares practical ways to make the most of the opportunities before us during the COVID-19 Crisis. 

You are one of the many courageous leaders who are adjusting to navigate the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 Crisis. Leading teams and organizations virtually, searching for new growth opportunities, and keeping things stabilized are all part of this new reality. I want to remind you of the #1 resource you have: People. People on your team and in your organization are, guess what…PEOPLE! That's right, they are not robots, they're human beings who have fears, concerns and emotions. You are the leader. During crisis leaders chart the course for the organization, care for the people inside of it, and communicate consistently to both. In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy shares 10 Things People Need From Leaders during the Covid-19 crisis, or any crisis you lead through.

No one knows how long COVID-19 Crisis will last. There's no fast-forward button. We can't cancel 2020. We can't hibernate until 2021. The only way out is through. To help you navigate this moment when most feel like they don't know what to do, Shawn Lovejoy sits down for a conversation on leading through crisis with Lee Domingue. Lee Domingue is an entrepreneur, international speaker, pastor and author of Pearls of the King and KB Gameplan.   Lee draws his messages from decades of success in business in the financial technology, healthcare, and energy sectors as well as being dedicated study of God's Word, and committed service to his local church.   His passion for the local church to be the hope of the world drives him to help thousands of pastors and marketplace leaders understand just how vital they are to each other. Only by effectively developing an intentional relationship will they reach the potential of their God-given destinies.   Through his ministry, Kingdom Builders U.S., and serving as Legacy Pastor at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, Lee brings inspiration and practical strategies for pastors and marketplace leaders to understand the significant eternal return on investment or what he calls “e-ROI” that their relationship creates to build the Kingdom of God.

Great leaders are identified through crisis. At the time of this post, the COVID-19 Virus has been labeled a “pandemic”, businesses are suspending operations or working remotely, churches are scrambling to figure out how to hold gatherings, and America is essentially closed.  It's in moments like this leaders rise up and lead.  This type crisis brings pressure and pressure proves leaders.  In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy covers the three requirements for leading through crisis.

Organizations go through a “life cycle.”  On the heels of growth, some organizations continue to improve and scale.  Others, however, experience plateau, continue to employ practices that no longer work and begin to normalize a lack of growth. Many of them remain stuck in this cycle of settling for the status quo if they don't employ one principle: Radical HONESTY.  Honesty generates health both internally and externally. Organizations that stop growing stopped being honest somewhere along the way. In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy helps you both uncover and unleash the power of honesty in your organization. He gives the tools necessary to confront the brutal facts about ourselves and our market, positioning us to experience exponential growth. 

Want to position your life and leadership for max growth? Guess what you DON'T NEED to make that happen... You don't need a new vision. The vision you have for your life and what you lead is just fine. What you do need is to just communicate the vision you have in the right way.  We're here to help.  In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy will help you find clarity and consistency in how you articulate the vision you have. Propel yourself, your team and your leadership forward with these few simple tweaks. 

On the heels of CourageToLead's first conference, CourageToLead LIVE, Shawn shares some of what he took away from the experience. The conference was a sellout, a success, and a help to everyone who attended. And while you may have heard it said that, “Leaders are learners", that learning wasn't reserved for those who attended the conference, but for Shawn as well. J oin this episode where he unpacks the things he learned at his own conference. 

Are you the leader of the organization? If you answer, “Yes,” by title you may also qualify as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). However, being in charge doesn't necessarily make you the real leader.  There's a difference between managing and leading.  One is tactical.  One is strategic.  One causes you to plateau.  The other keeps you out in front.  You know who the real leader is in the organization? The Chief Learning Officer (CLO)! As the leader on your team, you must be learning more than anyone else! You must be growing more than anyone else. You must have scheduled, uninterrupted time to learn and grow. You must allocate time, energy, and resources for it!  In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy highlights the differences between a CEO versus a CLO.

Change is hard because we often overestimate the value of what we have and underestimate what we might gain by giving that up. Living a life of impact requires taking some steps of faith. Fear of failure and fear of what we leave behind are often the deterrents keeping us from taking those steps towards a bigger dream. Let go of the familiar, let go of second guessing and walk into your “promised land.” In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy shares his story that's filled with leaps of faith and helps you identify areas in your life that may require the same!

When things aren't going as we want, it's easy to take a victim mentality and begin to think that we are solely a product of our circumstances.  Successful leaders don't allow life to happen to them and then use that as an excuse. Failing to take responsibility for your actions almost never leads your life and leadership to the next level.  Stop focusing on what you don't have and what you can't do. You aren't responsible for that. You are only responsible for what you have, and what you have is enough.  In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy gives you the tools to experience max growth by refusing to be a victim and taking responsibility for your actions. 

What if there were a roadmap that showed you all the major milestones your organization was going to hit as it grows? Wouldn't it be great to know what's coming next and how to navigate well? Actually, that framework exists, and we explore it in depth on this week's episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy.  Shawn sits down with Les McKeown, Founder and CEO of Predictable Success. He developed this framework over decades, coached leaders through it, and has seen it prove out in countless organizations, regardless of their size or industry. Les advises CEOs and senior leaders of organizations just like yours on how to achieve scalable, sustainable growth, speaks to Fortune 500 companies about his breakthrough strategies, is one of Inc.'s top contributing authors. He is also the author of three books on growth leadership, one a Wall St Journal and USA Today bestseller, and a much-in-demand public speaker. When you understand the Predictable Success life-cycle, you'll understand how to strike a perfect balance between innovation and processes. And when that happens, the success of your organization becomes a lot more predictable. This is essential listening if you're leading at any size or in any market. It's going to help you anticipate what's next and make your success more predictable.

No leader is perfect.  I'm not. You're not. We are going to make some mistakes and mess some things up. That's why two of the most powerful, credibility building words a leader can say are... "I'm sorry.” When we mess up, our team typically knows it. They know you're not perfect. They know you blew it. And they're most likely willing to let it go. They're just waiting on you to own it! That type of leadership models something deeper inside of a healthy leader and a healthy team. Your team needs to know how and what to focus on when someone doesn't get it right...because it's going to happen! Join Shawn Lovejoy on this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast to learn the Fundamental Requirement for a Healthy Team. While a staff doesn't make a team, it can become one. For yours to become a team, there is one threshold you all have to cross. 

In life and leadership, we all have temptations to compare ourselves to others. There is an infinite number of categories upon which we can compare ourselves and an almost infinite number of people to compare ourselves to. With how flooded we are by social media, it's easier than ever to constantly find someone “better” to compare ourselves to, which only serves to make us feel bad about ourselves. Once we begin down that road, we never find an end. The tendency to compare ourselves to others is as human as any other emotion. But it is a decision that only steals joy from our lives.  How then, might we break free from this habit of comparison? In this raw, candid episode of the CourageToLead Podcast, Shawn Lovejoy gives his unfiltered thoughts on comparison and provides some healthy alternatives to this “thief of joy.”

You have influence! That makes you a leader! That also makes you a HERO... ...and your influence is your superpower. But just like any "hero", you face some adversaries... Your team struggles to stay motivated and energized You're busy and there seems to be little time to do anything more than tasks You get tired sometimes and even privately want to quit. Those are just a few realities that feel like arch-enemies to you. But I want to remind you that you have influence! That makes you a leader!  In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, you will get the tools necessary to equip you to go...lead..and be a HERO!

If you're like most people, January goal setting looks a little like this: You choose a problematic behavior or some undesirable habits that have plagued you for years and vow to reverse it. This typically results in some “New Year's Resolutions”...most of which are off your radar by February. To break this cycle, and propel you to new growth in 2020, I want to challenge you to lose the long list of changes you want to make during the year and instead pick One Word. Clarify your win by taking all your big plans and narrowing them down into a single focus. One word that centers on your character and creates a vision for your future. In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, we are giving you our "one word" at CourageToLead. We're doing this to help you discover your one word, but also because ours has a lot to do with you!

Goals are like a magnet— they pull us onward and upward.  The stronger they are, the more purposeful they are, the more focused they are, the stronger they pull.  Everyone sets goals. They are called New Year's Resolutions! However, within a few weeks, those goals are often forgotten.  Everyone sets goals, but few follow through on them.  Make the next season a season of breakthrough growth as you finally learn to set goals that pull you forward. In this episode, Shawn Lovejoy walks you through the principles and process of setting goals that stick!

Why do high capacity leaders have high capacity teams around them? Because the most effective leaders posture themselves in ways that others want to follow. If you want to attract and lead teams of high-octane, high-capacity, experienced people, there are some ways you need to carry yourself. In this episode, join Shawn Lovejoy as he unpacks the first-class marks of a leader that the highest caliber people want to follow.

We are excited to share a recent conversation between Lauren Sisler and CourageToLead.com Founder & CEO Shawn Lovejoy with you on this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy! You've likely seen Lauren on the sidelines on Saturdays in the fall as she is an award-winning sports broadcaster working with ESPN, the SEC Network, and AL.com. In addition, Lauren is also one of our featured speakers at CourageToLead.LIVE! Lauren's energetic personality shines through in our conversation, but she also shares how her journey was not always full of victories and celebrations, how tragedy struck her world in unexpected ways, but how she found the courage to continue moving forward and find success. Enjoy this conversation with Lauren Sisler on Overcoming in Life & Leadership! ++++   Lauren Sisler is a multi national award-winning sports broadcaster working with ESPN, the SEC Network, and AL.com. Her journey was not always full of victories and celebrations. In 2003 as a freshman at Rutgers University, tragedy struck Lauren's world when she unexpectedly lost both of her parents to their concealed battle with addiction. Through her grief and despair, Lauren found the courage to continue moving forward and find success. Lauren now shares her story across the country in hopes of spreading awareness about the dangers of addiction and the devastation it can cause for those who abuse substances, their loved ones, and the community. ==================

Does what your team agrees on in meetings actually get done?  Do people do what they say they are going to do in your organization? Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing?  If someone is missing or out sick or on vacation, does everything go south quickly?  Are you frustrated with one or more members of your team?  If you answers trend to the negative, you likely need better systems. Don't stress, most of us actually need better systems. Period. So don't throw your hands up and don't throw in the towel. Just get better at your systems! Most people tensions are actually systems tensions in disguise! Join Shawn Lovejoy as he shares the solutions to accelerate your growth while bringing clarity to your team by focusing on these three areas in your organization.   

Too many organizations stay stuck because they presume on growth, but never prepare for growth.  Too many leaders have zero peace because every small decision and question lands in their lap every day.  Sound familiar?  Truth is, every organization is perfectly structured for the growth it's getting NOW.  The solution comes down to restructuring in a way that best positions your organization for growth and best positions you life for peace.  Making the courageous decision to restructure your team means you can adequately develop and care for people, lead people instead of manage them, and declutter communication. Join Shawn Lovejoy as he shares the solution and secrets to restructuring the right way.   

Do you believe in the power of positive inspiration to help you or others overcome challenges? Do you believe encouragement helps spur others on towards greatness and more purposeful impact? If so, then this episode is for you! Shawn sits down with his friend Jon Gordon, who helps create great organizations and great leaders through the power of inspiration, encouragement and positivity. Jon and Shawn get real about topics like guarding yourself from burnout, working with a sense of purpose, leading people in a way that helps them achieve greatness, a leader's role in shaping organizational culture and more. Jon covers so much in this episode. The first 15 minutes alone are pure gold, so tune in and start applying these strategies in your leadership. 

Healthy leaders grow healthy organizations, and health begins at home! That's why this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy is dedicated to helping nurture the relationship that matters most...your marriage! Enjoy part 2 of Shawn sharing some of the top lessons he's learned about marriage that have helped he and his wife Tricia remain strong for 26 years.  

Recently, my wife Tricia and I celebrated twenty-six years of marriage. I love her more than ever! Our relationship is better than ever. We enjoy oneness more than ever. We have come so far. I have learned so much! In this episode, the first of a two-part podcast series, I list some of the top lessons I have learned about marriage. This list has no particular order, and as you can imagine, it's not exhaustive! I have learned so much more! At CourageToLead.com we coach leaders towards health and growth. We know that healthy leaders grow healthy organizations and teams. Since health begins at home, this podcast episode is designed to help you nurture the relationship that matters most!

Drama. It's everywhere. Drama at work. Drama among staff. Drama in the small group. Drama at home. Drama at school. Drama in the neighborhood. Drama at the ball field. Drama in our nation + world! While conflict is inevitable, drama is a choice! How we handle conflict has a lot to do with building a healthy culture! When we don't resolve it the right way, guess what we get? Drama. Join Shawn Lovejoy and learn what part YOU can play in eliminating drama in your culture!

Leadership cannot happen without courage! ​Courage is not something needed only by superheroes in the movies! Courage is needed in the real world! Courage is perhaps most needed in LEADERSHIP. CourageToLead.com exists because leadership requires COURAGE! It literally takes courage to lead.  Join Shawn Lovejoy as he gives courageous leaders the tools necessary to take the next mountain! 

When things aren't going as we want, it's easy to take on a VICTIM mentality and begin to think that we are solely a product of our place, position, environment, or circumstances. When we do, we don't realize it, but unconsciously this is just a way to excuse ourselves from taking personal responsibility for our actions, environment, or our progress. In this episode of the CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, Shawn shows you how to go from trapped in a victim mindset to a life that Stops Making Excuses!  It's a great day in our life and leadership when we stop focusing on what you don't have and what we can't do, and start focusing on what we do have and what we can do!

There's a difference between being productive & being busy. Most people define themselves as “busy”...but few self-identify as productive. On this episode of The CourageToLead Podcast with Shawn Lovejoy, Shawn explores 10 Ways to Escape Overwhelm. These incredibly practical and easily actionable steps will lead you to a place few leaders find themselves...productive and at peace!

One of the top questions we are asked by leaders is, “How do I keep a sense of urgency among my team?" And, "What are some steps to keep the levels of passion high?” The simple answer is: Create a Culture of Passion + Urgency. Don't just treat it when it's lacking, fuse it into the life-blood of your DNA. In this episode, Shawn Lovejoy walks you through HOW to ensure your culture is one filled with passion + urgency.

Change is inevitable. You are either responding to changing variables around you or you are initiating change within the organization you lead. While it's necessary, don't get me wrong, change is hard! Most people don't like change. I've seen leaders fumble the process of leading this for years. In this episode Shawn sits down with close friend, and CourageToLead.com Coach, George Davis. In this conversation, they highlight how to institute change in a healthy way.  Along with his wife, April, George lives in Jacksonville, FL where he leads twelve Impact Church locations across the East coast, Texas, and PERU. During a period of plateaued growth, George led Impact Church through major strategic and stylistic change resulting in exponential growth. Today Shawn talks with George about navigating changes while keeping the organization healthy and keeping himself sane, centered and married!

Honor is not accidental. Honor is intentional. When there is a culture of honor in your organization, ministry, family, marriage and relationships...people are valued and everyone thrives.  Join Shawn Lovejoy as he encourages you to build a culture that believes the best in people, communicates in positive ways and adds value to anyone who encounters it.

Why do organizations get stuck and stop growing? It's either the place you work (the culture)... Or the people at that place (the team)... Or the processes you use / don't use (the systems). Shawn Lovejoy highlights the three reasons-- culture, team, systems-- organizations stop growing... and gives you the tools to get unstuck in each one.

Why do leaders stop growing? Shawn Lovejoy highlights one of the most overlooked areas among leaders...personal leadership! Join Shawn as he gives you a plan to develop your life and leadership.