The Mission Guys

In this episode, Nick and Rick discuss one of the worst forms of cancer in any organization and the need for immediate treatment of that cancer. Among the many challenges and pitfalls that all leaders, teams, and families may face, the one that cannot be tolerated is subversion, the deliberate or unconscious undermining of authority, mission, or vision. Join The Mission Guys as they share share insights to help leaders better understand, identify, prevent and address subversion when it appears. One thing is for certain, no leader, team, or family should ever allow it. ______   Connect with us! MissioInstitute.org Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

In this episode, Nick and Rick discuss Stephen M.R. Covey's book "The Speed of Trust" and its relevance to leadership within the church. They explore how trust serves as a foundational principle of leadership, emphasizing the importance of integrity, character, and the process of restoring broken trust. Additionally, they connect these concepts to Biblical teachings and encourage leaders to follow Jesus' example, leading at the speed of love. ______   Connect with us! MissioInstitute.org Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

In this episode, Nick and Rick discuss one of the best secular leadership books written in our lifetime. They kick around a few ideas that can both take advantage of this all time leadership classic and then take it even further in the Church to help you grow as a Kingdom Leader. ______   Connect with us! MissioInstitute.org Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

One of the most important responsibilities of a leader is to grow other leaders. However, too often in the Church, this is at best an underdeveloped leadership trait and at worst is often ignored — poor leadership is frequently tolerated. In this episode, Nick and Rick share their observations, insights, and practical advice for Church leaders to grow in developing other leaders, a must. ______   Connect with us! MissioInstitute.org Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

Did God design tomato plants so that we can be even better leaders? In this episode, Nick and Rick discuss why pruning even fruitful endeavors is necessary in order to feed and grow the most important aspects of our ministries. Pruning can be painful, and is often avoided, but is necessary for more abundant fruit.  This episode will help make pruning easier. ______   MissioInstitute.org Connect with us! Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

In this episode, The Mission Guys address the all too often habit of Church leaders who avoid conflict for the pseudo-virtue of being nice (aka Catholic nice). Instead, Nick and Rick offer a fresh perspective and practical methods for leaders and their teams to encourage and have good fights, resulting in better decisions, more creativity, increased clarity, and stronger relationships. ______   MissioInstitute.org Connect with us! Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

Transitions can provide great opportunities for intentional growth and reflection, but we often miss them as we chase the next task and responsibility. In this episode, we emphasize the importance of recharging and reflecting to become more effective. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, we discuss how leaders can manage transitions, prioritize prayer, and address personal wellness for better leadership. ______   MissioInstitute.org Connect with us! Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

Unfortunately, leaders in the Church too often buy this bad advice as they try to lead people as though they are running a business. That's not biblical. And it doesn't work well in the Church. So set down “Inc. Magazine” and “Harvard Business Review” for the length of this episode, and consider what the Bible and Jesus have to say about becoming a family on mission. You'll love it brothers and sisters! 

Goals. Focus. Energy.    The Mission Guys close out a mini-series for leaders on strategic planning. In this episode, they'll help you as leaders to think about how best to establish your organization's goals, in order to focus the energy of your team to achieve what it is the Lord has called you to achieve together.  

In this episode, Nick and Rick tackle one of the biggest challenges for leadership teams in the Church, which is to figure out how to assess and monitor the success of their organization (diocese, parish, school, apostolate, etc.). Metrics, indicators, measures, markers, KPIs, SMART objectives, and many more terms like those often get leaders in the Church especially agitated. Some insist that you can't measure results in the church, while others suggest that you should measure the Church just like a business…both extremes are wrong, but contain some valuable insights. ______   MissioInstitute.org Connect with us! Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

In this episode, the second part of a mini-series on strategic planning, Nick and Rick focus on the concept of 'mission', the definition, the often confused difference and relationship between mission and vision, why clarity of mission matters in the church (parish, diocese, school, family, your organization), and how to approach missional clarity.   Though vision and mission are critically linked and dependent on each other, it is vital for leaders to know the difference and the importance of providing clarity of both. So the “mission” of this episode is to help leaders become more comfortable and confident in discerning and effectively communicating their mission for the entire team/family.   Mission Challenge:  Prayer Sessions: Higher Level, longer-term mission. For example: What is our part of the Great Commission; what are you calling us to do?  How are we to arrive at the vision of success that you have shown us? Prayer Sessions: Deeper Dives, shorter term How will we succeed in your mission for us? What is most important right now? Who is to do what? What am I personally called to do in light of the larger mission here? ______   MissioInstitute.org Connect with us! Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

Strategic Planning Mini-Series: It All Starts with Vision Mission, Vision, Strategy, Plans, Goals, Metrics, KPIs, …Ugh! The Church is not a business! Do we need any of this? I'm confused.    In this mini-series on Strategic Planning in the Church, Nick and Rick simplify strategic planning for leaders in the Church, from a biblical perspective and always being docile to the Holy Spirit.    This episode focuses on the importance of Vision and how to go about discerning a common vision of success for your diocese, parish, school, apostolate, or family — one of the most fundamental and important responsibilities of leaders in the Church. ______   MissioInstitute.org Connect with us! Missionguys@missioinstitue.org  

If you want to establish a culture of discipleship, it is essential to begin with your leadership team. In this episode, we provide personal examples and discuss the practical components necessary for your leadership team to develop and live as a discipleship community. Link to the FOCUS discipleship roadmap www.MissioInstitute.org Connect with us! Missionguys@missioinstitue.org

"Your organization will never outgrow your leadership team." This truth emphasizes the importance of leaders in the Church committing to their discipleship journey together if they wish to see it flourish in their parish. In this episode, we offer some valuable insights for leaders to contemplate as they strive to transform their culture.   Connect with us! MissionGuys@MissioInstitute.org  

Envy is a deadly sin, and it has a sneaky way of showing up in our lives. In this episode, the guys discuss how envy in leadership roles harms progress and the prescribed antidotes given to us through the Church.   Contact us! MissionGuys@MissioInstitute.org

Have you ever said this to yourself? "I know I should talk to her about that, but I really don't want to.” "I know the team is suffering, but I don't want to hurt his feelings by bringing up such a potentially sensitive topic.” "I'm not very good at having those kinds of difficult conversations." Or how about this? “Wow, that went better than I thought; I should have done that a long time ago.” “What a relief! It's like weight has been lifted from all of our shoulders.” We hear all of these kinds of statements way too often. So this episode is intended to inspire and help you to have those critical conversations now, to be effective in having them, and to feel positive and confident in doing so.

Big changes are happening with the Mission Guys! Listen to this episode to hear about the launch of a new apostolate, Missio, dedicated to equipping leaders to fulfill their God-given mission.    Contact us! MissionGuys@MissioInstitute.org

Our first guest! Brenda Cannella, CFO of the Archdiocese of Denver, joins Rick and Nick to discuss how pride in leadership can often be hidden. And when pride in leadership goes undetected and unaddressed, the “root of all sin” becomes the root of bad leadership. It is an honor for The Mission Guys to have this great leader, parent, friend, and disciple of Jesus join the podcast and share her experiences, inspirational insights, and practical advice. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

One of the most fundamental aspects of leadership to be able to effectively delegate work and authority. And yet, for many of us as leaders, delegation feels like a bad word! We often feel guilty about delegating; we feel frustrated about not delegating; we feel inadequate when delegating poorly; and so on. So in this episode, Nick and Rick first reflect on the biblical roots of delegation and what scripture can teach or remind us about this critical aspect of leadership. Then the mission guys talk about practical ways of enhancing your ability as a leader to delegate authority and to leverage delegation to grow leaders on your team/family. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

We all know that leadership entails many different aspects, and is especially challenging in the Church these days. But one particular aspect of leadership that often gets shortchanged, and is foundational to all other elements of individual and team performance, is the critical importance of the clarity of the mission, for both the team and for every individual on the team. And the traditional approach to job descriptions just doesn't cut it. So in this episode, Nick and Rick dig deeper into establishing mission clarity in light of the three essential principles of transformation in the Church — and throw out traditional “job description” thinking. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

In this episode, Nick and Rick discuss the call to show one another honor to others (Romans 12:10) and taking the time to celebrate what the Lord is doing in mission. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

Yes, God has a unique mission for all of us and, yes, He is in control. So does that mean leaders in His Church should not plan? No. In this episode, Nick and Rick discuss the sweet spot between having little or no plan on one side and the common human desire for clear plans that do not change on the other. Through constant deliberate prayerful docility to the Holy Spirit, Church leaders are able to effectively plan and easily change plans when inspired to do so, all while effectively leading others. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

“We had a great offsite! But have since lost momentum and are back in the same place as before.” “We all agreed to do XYZ, but we never followed through.” If you or your teams have said anything like that, and especially if you're saying that now, listen to Nick and Rick talk about being more intentional to n your leadership. Intentional Leadership is another common leadership principle that becomes even more useful when considering its biblical underpinnings, guidance, and examples. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

In this episode, Nick and Rick discuss the power of emotional intelligence from a biblical worldview, continuing their series on "Why business tools don't work in the Church." ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

Patrick Lencioni's “Five Dysfunctions of a Team” is a modern classic leadership book and practical tool. Not only does it have the potential to be effective for leaders in the Church to grow team health, it SHOULD be even more effective in the Church when leaders press into it's biblical roots. Listen to Nick and Rick explain why and how. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

Nick and Rick work with leaders in the Church who are often well schooled in theology, business, leadership tools, ecclesiology, church structures and authority, and so on. And yet, they often run into problems in applying all of this knowledge and experience in leading the Church. Why might this be? This is the first in a series of how these tools and experiences may in fact be highly effective in the Church. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

Just as suffering is a part of life, dealing with adversity is a given part of leadership. But just as “it's not enough to be a staff,” it's also not enough for great leaders to simply deal with adversity. Leaders in the Church must become masterful in handling the inevitable challenges that will come their way. Nick and Rick share helpful observations and advice to help make this possible for apostolic leaders. Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

“I love our performance review process,” said nobody ever in the Church. Seriously, if you like your current performance review process, then don't listen to this podcast. If, on the other hand, you'd like to transform your current process to an ongoing experience of growing a culture of celebrating accomplishments, progress, and growth while continually getting even better (like 99+% of the leaders in the Church we work with would prefer) then give this episode a listen. Nick and Rick offer some suggestions for you to think and pray about in case these recommendations may fit your needs and environment, in order cultivate your own culture of high performance, as a family on mission. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

Having just returned from experiencing a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and reflecting on other meaningful trips to Rome and Gettysburg, Rick and Nick reflect on the multidimensional power of having leadership team experiences together in order to grow as individuals and as a team/family on mission. The benefits of deliberate experiences, be they a pilgrimage or simply attending a targeted conference together, are not only those which are planned, but most often come in the way the Lord works through the unexpected. ====== Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us! Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.)

Meetings are often thought of as penitential suffering or a necessary evil, but what if a different mindset made meetings impactful? As leaders, we need to see our meetings as 'game-day' and one of the key opportunities for changing the culture in our organizations. In this episode, Nick and Rick discuss a new approach and mindset for the way teams meet. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

Is your team stuck? Do you harbor resentment against a teammate, perhaps the leader? Is your team unable to become a healthy family on Mission because of an issue from the past? Do you see one person, maybe even yourself, as the stumbling block preventing the entire team from getting healthier, but nobody is addressing the situation? If so, then this episode is for you. Anchored with helpful scripture passages and with several recent real-life examples, The Mission Guys share insights and prayer that will enable you to break through your challenges and get on the road to a healthier team/family on Mission. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

There is no shortage of problems for a Church leadership team to manage. However, too often, leaders unwillingly spend an inordinate amount of time on one (or several) problems, resulting in little attention being paid to transformational leadership. The tyranny of the urgent can prevent well-meaning leaders from properly focusing on the important -- that which God wills. ====== Seeking to be even more encouraged and inspired? Follow our online streaming channel (https://watch.actsxxix.org). Visit us at our online site (https://www.actsxxix.org). Subscribe to "Thoughts from the Trailer", our weekly article (https://www.actsxxix.org/subscribe.) Have a comment about this podcast? Contact us!

When we are busy, overworked, and running from moment to moment, we often find ourselves treating each other as mere transactions. In this episode, Nick and Rick share from their recent experience how easy it is to become functional in relationships at home, work, and in mission. Creating margin in our daily lives is one practical remedy that can help us all be more present to what the Holy Spirit is doing in our relationships. Visit actsxxix.org to learn more!

Leaders in ministry often find that the groups, teams, and committees in their care struggle to find clarity on whatthey are supposed to do and how they are supposed to do it. This lack of clarity and understanding causes frustration, stress, and adds to the tendency for good people to expereince burnout. Nick and Rick discuss simple and effective ways to solve this common and simple (but challenging!) problem. Visit actsxxix.org to learn more!

Many of us have a sense of when we feel overwhelmed in life, but few of us take the time do anything about it. Slowing down to think, pray, and evaluate our lives and choices can bring clarity and relief to the busyness of our lives. In this episode, we discuss a practical process we recently went through that is providing abundant fruit in our own lives and can in yours as well.

It is often the case that leaders in ministry pray for their work. However, the concept and practice of praying in order to know what to do is much less common in leaders of ministry. In this episode, Rick and Nick discuss the different ways a team can pray together and testify to the powerful fruit that can be born from doing so. Visit www.actsxxix.org to learn more!

None of us were made to lead alone and this is especially true in the Church! In this episode Nick and Rick discuss the importance of, and challenges to, building leadership teams. Taking wisdom from the way Moses and Jesus led in their time, we too can employ biblical principles of leadership to our organizations.

This is the third of a three-part mini-series of a leadership deep dive into the 3 Essential Principles for Transformation in the Church. In this episode, Nick and Rick help leaders to not rely on their own understanding, intelligence, or skills to develop their own plans, but instead to rely fundamentally on praying, individually and together as a missional family, in order to know and to follow God's plan.

This is the 2nd of a 3 part mini-series of a leadership deep dive into the 3 Essential Principles for Transformation in the Church. In this episode, Nick and Rick share practical, immediate, and impactful application of the second principle, It's Not Enough to be a Staff, for you as a leader and for your leadership teams.

This is the first of a 3 part mini-series of a leadership deep dive into the 3 Essential Principles for Transformation in the Church. In this episode, Nick and Rick share practical, immediate, and impactful application of the first principle, Reacquiring a Biblical Worldview, for you as a leader and for your leadership teams.

In this episode, Nick and Rick unpack a recent conversation with a leader who was questioning if transformation of his team and culture were even possible given all the challenges they faced.

There are millions of podcasts, so why listen to this one? Nick and Rick unpack the reason they are starting this podcast, some of their story, and offer a biblical mission challenge to listeners.