The Influence Experiment

It's one thing to say you have the strength to overcome difficulty, it's a completely different thing to actually overcome and come out stronger amidst adversity. When the bottom of life falls out from under us, we find out what kind of stuff we are truly made of. How do we deal with the plethora of emotions and the multiple negative ways we can respond to adversity? Is there a difference between self-inflicted and life-inflicted adversity? How do we grow as leaders through difficulty and how do we help others through adversity without being insensitive? It's topics like this where it is advantageous to have someone speak through their firsthand experience of adversity to give us needed perspective and to learn from their story. Lean in and listen to Lindsay Felker share her adverse journey through encephalitis.

This is very niche and nuanced topic, but is no small conversation when it comes to non-profit organizations. This is a crucial topic that involves much creativity, grit, determination, and ingenuity. At the same time, it also requires relational skills, relational equity, and the ability to inspire others. How does one fundraise and develop a donor base well? How do you handle disappointment and discouragement? What are the pitfalls to avoid? Why is it important to get facetime with your donors? What leadership lessons are gleaned from in donor development? All this and more will be answered by Carl Edwards who is the Director of Development at CrossNet Ministries in New Holland PA.

We would like to think in 2023 that “all things are equal”, but the fact of the matter is things are still not. We have made great strides toward equality, but there is still much work to be done. Education is one of those spheres that still requires much work. Steve Wilson is here to discuss with us how do we acknowledge the disparity in our racial educational equity and what can we do about it. We need to be informed on the pillars the of educational equity, about the difference between being “rich in equity” and “rich in diversity”, why our cultural context is crucial to understand, knowing the “opportunity gap” verse the “achievement gap”, and how possible educational inequity interacts with our faith in Jesus. In this conversation, ignorance is not bliss...so let's talk about it.

It doesn't take long to see that there are good coaches, bad coaches, great coaches, and terrible coaches. Coaching carries further than just sports…it goes into therapy, business, schools, churches, owning pets, teaching someone how to play chess, build a following on social media, how to cook, how to parent, sell real estate, run a café, referee a game, write a book, and the list goes on and on. There is an art to coaching an individual or a group towards a common skillset and goal. What does that art look like? What are challenges of coaching? How do you coach those that don't want to be taught? How do you handle your own self-esteem as a coach? To answer all these questions and more is Football and Baseball coach Jordan Butler.

In the leadership world, we would love to think that “all things are equal” between men and women, but the fact of the matter is, it is not. For as long as we can remember, women have been wrestling to be seen as competent and qualified leaders. Women deal with the tension of needing to not be too timid and not being too intense in their leadership. Women deal with the gap between where men want them to lead and where they think they should lead. There are stigmas for a woman aspiring toward leadership that need to be addressed and kindly corrected. Women have operated in a male-leadership-driven culture, and we all need to take a moment to pause and see things from their perspective with empathy, compassion, and empowerment. To help us in this inquisitive and learning journey is Leadership Coach and author Kadi Cole!

We all want to be leaders that are attentive to the heartbeat of our organization, team members, family members, friends, church etc. But if we are honest, it is really easy to pay more attention to our mind, thoughts, desires, plans over the thoughts, desires, plans of others. Deep down, we have a desire to show value, love, and worth to the people we lead or influence, but how do we do that well? Where does empathy play in? What are verbal and non-verbal active listening cues we can learn? What are techniques, tools, and tips we can implement? These are questions and luckily we have Counselor and listener extraordinaire Todd Henley

We all want to see the best behavior coming out of our teammates, friends, followers, family members etc. But as much as we want to, we cannot control someone else's attitude, actions, and habits. In leadership, the tension comes in trying to discern the line of where our responsibility ends and theirs begins. How do we coach those in our sphere of influence toward growth and behavioral excellence? What is the significance of asking the right questions, and leading them toward their goals and values without spoon-feeding it to them? How do we live in empowerment over enablement and how do we push people out of their comfort zone to overcome barriers in their life? How do we obtain desirable outcomes of our people without being controlling? All this and more will be answered by Behavioral Change Coach, Brittney Turpin!

Message from Tony Villafane on December 7, 2022

Whether you realize it or not, our world is tattered with post-modernism. Most of what you see and consume is byproduct of our post-modern culture and ideologies. So what does post-modernism mean and What are the implications of it? What does it mean to represent Jesus in a post-modern culture? How does the truth of God's Word hold up in era of moral relativism and What do we do with evangelism in a post-modern culture? All this and more will be answered by Gateway's Pastor of Mobilization, Dan O'Deens. 

We talk a big game of what leadership is, how to lead in confidence and competence,  and how we ought to be the best we can be for our teams, organizations, families, etc. Which all this is absolutely true. However, as we grow in our leadership, sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we are still called to be a follower. We lose sight of how we are supposed to keep learning, and even follow those who we manage from time to time. But what in the world does the followership of leadership look like? Principal and educator Heather Furlong is here to unpack this fascinating topic.

The concept of advocacy is an idea that can be thrown out often. But what does it really mean? What does it mean to advocate for someone or something? Is it just for a select group of people to pursue? What does God and the Bible have to say about it? Are there times when being an advocate can become an unhealthy pursuit? And how do we practically live out advocating for one another? All these questions and more will be covered with our special guest and family-based therapist Ashtyn Bouslog.

We continue on in the conversation of conflict resolution! If you missed part 1, go back and check it out before listening to part 2. This second installment covers questions like: how did Jesus model conflict resolution? What are healthy tactics to diffuse conflict? How does personality play into conflict? What if I have been hurt by someone and I am not ready to approach them or them to approach me? And more! Join us as we step back into this leadership dialogue with Doc Ayers.

Most of us if we are being honest feel incredibly uncomfortable with conflict. We would rather do most anything else than deal with conflict. And to make matters worse, when we decide to deal with conflict, we usually do not handle it well. Why are we so bad at conflict and confrontation? How is resolution possible when there has been deep hurt? What are the skills needed to traverse conflict discerningly? If conflict is an unescapable reality, how can we tactfully utilize it to aid us in our relationships, our leadership, our influence? All this and more and will processed with leadership coach Doc Ayers.

We are going to take look back in history where a shepherd boy name David lived in Israel. About 3,000 ago, this shepherd boy was anointed to be the next king of Israel and in an instant, his life was forever changed. Through the journey David went on, the highs and the lows, we are going to explore his life as a case study of what good and bad leadership looks like. There is much to glean from David's life; much to be impressed by and much to take caution from. Sight and Sound Theatres Producer Ryan Miller joins us once again to discuss his insight on this on 3,000 year old shepherd boy.

Vulnerability is a concept that is talked about a lot in leadership and church. It is expressed as a trait that can be helpful in building deeper relationships. It is very admirable when we see other people embody it. So if we relatively know it's a good trait, why are we so scared to pursue it? Why do we not like showing our true colors? What does shame have to do with vulnerability? Where is there freedom in vulnerability? There is great power in this 13-letter word, which is why licensed counselor Todd Henley has joined us today to talk about the Power of Vulnerability.

There is a need for every single one of us to be a critical thinker; to engage our world in a way that is intentional, intellectual, and investigative. Critically thinking is the ability to objectively analyze and evaluate an issue in order to form a judgement. But what in the world is Critical Consciousness? Is this a necessary form of thinking in our culture and in our leadership? What is its role in the Christian space? What's the difference between a biblical worldview and secular worldview in this conversation? Joining to help critically unpack this topic is educator Meghan Atwell.

Music is a beautiful art. With art, just like everything, comes the elements of the beautiful and not so beautiful, the redeemed and the fractured, the joyous and depressive, the moral and immoral, the hopeful and the hopeless, the secular and the Biblical. Music is so grafted deeply into our culture we cannot escape it. If we cannot (and aren't called to) escape culture, how do Jesus followers live within the depravity of culture, while still proclaiming Christ? What are the different ways someone could proclaim Jesus through their music? Join us as RnB artist and Chris Crosdale shares his insight and wisdom.

Due to the brokenness of our world, racial tension and injustice is something that's been a tragic reality for thousands of years. As more and more stories of injustice pour out, it is increasingly becoming a needed and vital conversation to address if we are to improve as a society, culture, and church. What is racial reconciliation? What is our part to play? We must be willing to come to the table and dialogue, no matter how uncomfortable it may get. This not meant to be all-encompassing, but more of an introductory conversation on racial reconciliation. Join us as Denise Truxler, a member of the Embrace Unity team at Gateway Church speaks toward the topic.

We live in a world where things are being created everyday….movies, magazines, food, blankets, songs, TikTok videos, planes, buildings, babies, candles, flowers, cell phones, sports balls, paintings, romantic novels, lawn mowers and much much more. Behind everything created, is a creative. Creatives innovate, invent, formulate, design, and develop. They trial and error until the product they are working on is complete and ready to be produced to the world. What is this creative design? Why is creativity important in our world? Are there things to avoid in creating? These questions and more will be answered by a creative master, Ryan Miller!

Time to take a pause and look back at all the voices of The Influence Experiment in 2021. Many deep topics covered, many incredible leadership principles communicated, and still, so much more to glean from these leaders and influencers. As one clip is taken from each episode of this calendar year, be reminded of what convicted and encouraged you, be challenged for the first time, and maybe even be inspired to go back watch their whole episode. Time to join the medley!

When many of us think of the idea of disappointing others, a little piece of us dies inside immediately. While some others might think, “I don't care if I disappoint people at all”. Regardless, the art of skillfully receiving disappointment and disappointing others is one that many of us struggle to obtain. Since this a reality of life, is there way to tactfully receive and give disappointment? Is there a way to reject anxiety and apathy? Meredith Dahl joins the conversation to give incredibly valuable insight! You won't be disappointed!

If you know someone that is 11-26 years old, you know someone that is Generation Z. What are Gen Z's values? How do they think? How do you build trust with them? In this episode, Tony partners up with Axis a youth ministry organization and the National Network of Youth Ministry. The first half is David Eaton (president of Axis) and Jonathan Gonzalez (works with NNVM) talking about building trust with Gen Z, along with sharing resources that Axis wants to put in your hands. The second half is Tony getting to interview David on building trust. Join in for this crucial conversation.

If we are being honest, many of us don't run our schedules, our schedules run us. Why does everything seem so urgent and why am I always so busy? Sports, school, church, gardening, laundry, babies, jobs, holidays, social media, life goals, family, friends, putting out fires, cooking, financial book keeping, and so much more …am I doomed to a life that everything is urgent and never have a break from this tyranny? Or can I take back my schedule? This is a vital conversation for any leader or influencer, Deb Hinkel is back for round two of discussing soul-care!

Taking care of ourselves is something that many of us do not excel in, whether it's our emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, or relational health. It is easy for us to complete tasks, excel in our jobs, or even be a “super server”, while in the process neglecting the care of our soul. If we continue going without any form of rest, self-care, or margin, we will eventually burn out. How can we live more intentional lives around tending to our souls? Join the conversation as Deb Hinkel who is the Director of Spiritual Formation and Family Ministry at Hershey Free Church speaks into this needed conversation.

Most people would say they want to be successful in life. Successful in their jobs, families, ministries, personal goals, teams, and sphere of influence etc. But what does is it mean to be successful? What are healthy and realistic measures to put in place? It's pretty easy to identify success if it's quantifiable… but what about when it isn't? Does success always mean that you win? Join as Tony and Rob Mittuch unpack this abstract conversation.

As we continue the discussion of worldview, this portion will cover topics like: absolute truth, pitfalls to avoid, how do you tactfully challenge others in their worldview, how being a follow of Jesus impacts their worldview, how do you we better live in an age of moral relativism and more. If you missed part 1, please go back and check that episode out before hopping into this conversation! Dr. Randy Smith has much to say and much to soak in!

Whether we realize it or not, our lives are being shaped by general and specific worldviews. The way we view the world impacts everything we say, think, and do. But how do we understand our worldview as it seems like a very abstract concept? How do we do discern which worldviews to listen to and ascribe to? This is a conversation that warrants much attention, but usually isn't given much time. So let's talk about it in two episodes! Join us for part 1 as we dive headlong into this conversation with scholar Dr. Randy Smith.

It doesn't take long to look around and see how much of a lack of unity there is. Racial tension, political parties, church divisions, global warming, LGBTQ+ immigration, uses of technology, gentrification, and more. With so much turmoil, hurt and pain from polarization, is unity even possible? Bill Shaw at Life Transforming Ministries joins the Experiment to discuss his qualified perspective on this conversation.

What is the secret sauce to growth in our leadership and influence? What qualities and traits should we be pursuing to better combat the negative influences around us as well as the shadow side of who we are. Sherilyn Lapp eloquently speaks to 5 qualities that we must pursue to maximize our influence.

Living in a productive and healthy (1) work environment, (2) family, and (3) team seems harder and harder to come by. We live in a culture that is hyper-driven by technology, social media, growth goals, impatience, pursuit of individual fame, burnout, political unrest, etc. Is a healthy family, healthy work environment, and healthy individualism even realistic? Robert Crowder comes on to give challenging thoughts, perspectives, and hope on how to live in this tension well!

Whether you struggle with mental health, you don't struggle, or you know someone who does, we would all be better off being more informed around the topic of understanding mental health. In this introductory conversation, Jennifer Grubb tactfully speaks from her life and experiences of navigating the challenges, stigmas, coping strategies, and offers practical tips on how to engage well with yourself and others on this topic.

Change is a a 5-letter word that many of us don't like. Change is rarely a fun process but is inevitable as we go through the course of our lives. With its inevitability, we want to have conversation around leading through change and disruption. In this episode Tony has a dialogue with Keith Minier who through much experience brings to the table necessary challenges, guidance, and encouragements on how to tactfully lead in tumultuous situations.

Experiences are shaped by your past, impact your present, and set you on a trajectory for your future. Good and bad experiences help shape your character, hone your abilities and influence your desires. Our most powerful stories and lessons learned can come from our experiences. In this episode Kate Quaintance speaks from the depth, hurt, joy, and wonder of her experiences. Kate beautifully articulates principles leaders ought to know as they seek to invest their experiences within their influence to the glory of God.

Episode 11—S.H.A.P.E. You are created with a unique temperament. Your personality reflects how you relate to others, how you make decisions, how you respond to others, what fills and drains you, how you are called to serve etc. In this episode Susan Pacella shares the wonder and specificities that is our unique personalities and temperaments. She helps unpack crucial questions about self-awareness and how utilizing self-assessment tools can aid us in maximizing our influence.

Episode 10—S.H.A.P.E. Everyone has natural abilities and talents. Within our abilities and skills, there is a need for both competence and confidence. Knowing your strengths in relation to working with others and accomplishing goals is crucial. In this episode Tony interviews Anthony Williams who wears multiple different hats due to vast number of abilities he has! This is a must listen to episode as Anthony gives a wealth of knowledge and wisdom on how to lead and influence others well through our abilities.

Episode 9—S.H.A.P.E. Everyone has a heartbeat that quickens to different things. We tend to focus our energies on activities, people, and causes we most deeply care about and love to do. Youth volunteer and landscaper Justin Stefanosky helps unpack the second letter which is Heart. Justin eloquently speaks to the passions and motivations of our heart, how do we navigate our passions, how to avoid certain pitfalls, and living with a passion that is unmatched.

As we begin to unpack S.H.A.P.E., we start with the letter S which is Spiritual Gifts. A spiritual gift can be defined as: “an expression of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers which empowers them to serve in the body of Christ, the church” (Gene Wilkes). In this introductory conversation to spiritual gifts, Tony interviews Renee Marshall who is the Coordinator of Worship Arts & Communications Administrator at Gateway Church. Renee tactfully unpacks what spiritual gifts are, how we can better understand our unique wiring given by God, and gives practical steps to on how to maximize your spiritual gifts better.

We are called to be learners. Being a learner through pursuing self-awareness is a key ingredient to effective leadership. In this episode the founding Pastor of Gateway Church, Dan O'Deens share with us his insight and passion for the S.H.A.P.E. assessment tool built to strengthen your self-awareness and influence.

Effective leaders walk the talk. They align their actions with their intentions. This establishes trust and credibility. It also has a tremendous impact on the culture the leader is trying to create. In this episode Tony interviews Jonny Damon, the Director of Operations at Gateway Church. With past personal experiences and relevant examples, Jonny tactfully speaks towards the necessity of embodying values as an influencer and leader.

The best leaders understand the inherent tension between results and relationships and manage that tension well. They know that success lies in having both quality results and relationships. In this episode, Tony interviews Mary Edwards, Director of KidMin at Gateway Church. Mary provides deep and wise insight on how to value both relationships and results not just in the workplace, but outside as well.

Progress is usually proceeded by change. A key to influencing well is having an eye to improve yourself as well as the systems and processes around you. To reinvent continuously is to have a healthy disrespect for the status quo. In this episode Tony interviews Cory Williams who is the Director of Weekend Experiences at Gateway Church. Cory provides valuable insights on how to reinvent continuously no matter what type of influence you have.

Leaders and influencers must be willing to be present with others and bring out the best in them. In this episode Tony interviews Jon Damon who is the Pastor of Care and Engagement. Pastor Jon describes what does it look like to engage others well in your sphere of influence. They dialogue over strategies on how to tactfully develop others no matter what type of influence you have.