Upward Together Podcast

As a leader you bring a unique contribution to those around you where you live, work, and play. Are the folks you influence vibrant and full of life? The guys talk about ways you can "flow with rivers of living water" to those you interact with.

Dave & Chris talk about a challenging topic for most of us leaders as well as for the teams we lead: how we might create a growth culture even if there is resistance to change. Growth is necessary to advance our mission. They offer some ideas to consider.

The guys conclude this series with some more ideas that may help you on this aspect of your journey. Staying on your mission is vital for a variety of reasons. They invite you to be intentional and practical as you navigate your job and your mission.

Dave & Chris conclude this series with a helpful topic of how we can live on mission when our job does not fulfill our calling. Sometimes our jobs only use a small percent of our gifts/God-given experiences. Their insights may help you stay on mission.

Dave & Chris talk about ways we can measure the positive impact of habits that we're practicing and see how they are moving us toward living our mission in greater ways. We all want to level up our influence and the metrics we use can assist us in this.

The guys talk about various aspects to healthy rhythms that can contribute to helping us stay more focused on our mission and our unique contribution to our organization.

The guys continue to discuss why focusing on your unique contribution to the organization is best for you AND the group you are serving. Focus is hard and there are many who would distract you from your primary contribution. Stay focused!

Dave & Chris are back! They discuss why there is a gap between episodes (Dave's cancer treatments) and some lessons learned from this experience. These lessons apply both to life & leadership.

The guys start a new series of discussions about the value and power of staying on our God-given mission. We desire to live impactful lives. Staying focused on what matters most will help us do this.

The guys talk about one of the most difficult things to give your team - the authentic you. Giving your team a glimpse into your growth and development seems risky. You'll be glad when your team joins you in growth & development as people and influencers.

The guys continue this topic of what we as leaders provide for our teams so that we can be more effective at our mission. This episode focuses on the challenges and power of having a growth culture. They also suggest a few action steps.

The guys talk about a significant element of multiplying our influence and productivity - empowerment of our team members. There are many upsides and a few tensions we must face as we resource and release our team to do their work.

Dave & Chris talk through some of the ways thorough communication can be a powerful tool to connect with your team. These are vital at all times and especially during chaotic and transitional times like now.

The guys chat about how powerful our presence is in the lives of our team especially when we are in times of chaos. The power and promise of God's presence is courage-building, so yours can be as well.

The guys continue the discussion about your influence on your team. This time they talk about hope. What it is and how it can impact your team. Hope influences how they are as people at work as well as how they perform their responsibilities.

Dave & Chris discuss some of the vital things your team needs from you as the leader. In seasons of chaos our team looks to us for direction and stability as we move forward together. On this podcast, let's begin with the end in mind.

Dave & Chris wrap up this discussion on keeping our inner self full of the good things we want to influence others with. They talk about things that can drain our buckets and ways to stop the leakage.

They guys talk about how people experience us is often the result of what fills our hearts & minds spilling out of us. They discuss how we can fill ourselves with the things that will lead to the kind of impact we want to have on those we encounter today.

The guys finish this series by talking about some ways your impact can endure. Understanding and seeking to bring your unique contribution to kingdom work is one way they suggest you make a long-term difference.

The guys continue to talk about how we can enhance our ability to finish well by "show and tell." Show in our lives how God's promises embolden us to take bold action and then tell folks the source of this courage.

They guys talk about some ways they think a godly character enhances our ability to finish well. And then they offer a couple of ways that, if habitualized, will unlock transformation into greater Christ-likeness.

Dave & Chris discuss what it looks like to empower someone through a mentoring relationship. They land with some vital ways mentoring helps us finish well as we walk with God and in our kingdom efforts.

The guys offer another vital practice that will help keep you on track to finish well as a leader and influencer. They suggest a practical process that will keep you engaged and motivated to maintain this learning posture.

Dave & Chris talk about how discipline is the path to freedom. There is no greater joy than to have the freedom to live out our calling from God with an attitude of playfulness. They suggest that disciplining our minds is a key practice to this end.

Dave & Chris continue their discussion on various habits that increase our ability to finish well. Today they talk about why renewing our inner life is vital to finishing well. They also suggest a couple of ways to level up our relationship with God.

The guys talk about the power of considering how God has been shaping us for this time of influence we are in. This can give us a long-term view of our ministry as well as bolster our courage as we understand how much He loves those we lead by growing us.

The guys talk about how powerful pictures of our former self and future self can be. They suggest that our past should be a launch pad toward our future. And they advocate for having a clear & compelling portrait of who you are working to become.

Dave & Chris discuss why courageous and bold action will move you to the next level as a person and a leader. Yes, it will be terrifying at times. All innovation and forward movement will push you to the limit... and that is where growth occurs.

The guys suggest that answering & acting on this question is vital to your growth: What if I can never achieve the transformation I desire outside of a few significant relationships? They then point you to key action steps to move to the next level.

The guys talk about resilience... some ways that it's countercultural as well as some ways to strengthen it. They suggest that resilience is like a muscle and that if we practice specific exercises we will strengthen our influence.

Dave & Chris talk about the importance of recognizing what our perspectives are since they are the lens through which we assign value and meaning to our experiences. Awareness of the lens through which we view life colors how we see self, others, and God.

The guys talk about how certain rhythms, when practiced consistently, help us experience personal growth and increased traction in the lives of those we seek to influence in our leadership roles.

The guys discuss how those who are most free from entanglements that slow them down are able to quickly respond to the impulses of God to serve others and live their kingdom calling. They offer some ideas to move toward greater freedom and joy.

Dave & Chris talk about how our creative output is an act of stewardship of the gifts and experiences God has given us. And as a result, this hard work of creating is a powerful tool to assist us in our quest to influence others for the cause of Christ.

The guys talk about the benefits of holding the perspective that life often does not go as we expect or plan. Near the top of this list are that we prepare appropriately and therefore are calm when others around us are otherwise.

Dave & Chris talk about how vital it is to see how all aspects of our lives are linked together. When one arena of our lives improves it helps the others. The reverse is also true.

Dave & Chris talk about some observations of life & leadership coming from some 35 years of leadership Dave has experienced. They believe that what unlocks growth is the transition from 'I need help' to 'I want help'.

The guys conclude this series by discussing a question that will help you assess whether a decision you get to make can be made quickly. Though there are other elements, answering this question will assist you in being more decisive in your leadership.

The guys talk about the power of a prophetic voice to increase the influence we have. They use 1 Cor. 14 as the basis for what this kind of voice does. They also suggest some ways to deepen relationships to open the door to this kind of impact.

The guys discuss how the leader sees or perceives things differently and usually before his or her followers. Being out in front often gives the leader a unique perspective. How do you utilize this point of view to enhance your influence?

Dave & Chris go back to square one when it comes to the foundation of consistent influence as leaders. They chat about why this is essential and offer suggestions to help you move forward in your self leadership.

Dave concludes his process of doing a quick check up. The big idea is this: What does success look like for you in this season of life? What about in the next season of life? Then create habits that will move you toward that description.

A little over a year after his move to CO, Dave takes some time to walk you through how he has processed where he is and where he wants to head towards. He will show you his thinking when it comes to the 3 steps of Reflect, Adjust, and Advance.

The guys talk about why and how we need to be aware of our inner voice and ways to corral it. This very personal conversation will have a powerful impact on our leadership and the level of courage we will muster as we seek to advance God's kingdom.

The guys talk about how lacking a game plan can have a negative impact on our leadership. Most of us have served under a leader with no strategy and know the frustration it can cause. Listen with the ears of one of your team members.

Dave & Chris bring up a touchy topic - feelings. We all have them. As an influencer what we do with our feelings has a significant role in how we impact our followers. Handle them well and bingo! Mishandle our feelings and watch out!

The guys talk about a phrase that so many of us use in normal conversations: "I try to...". They have a unique view on this utterance. What if saying this is often a cover for meaning, "I probably won't...". They invite you to try to not be challenged.

Dave & Chris talk about how small compromises can have a large impact on those we seek to influence for Christ. As leaders we probably want to be aware of where and how we are diluting our impact. What will it take for you to lead with no compromise?

The guys talk about the voices of the folks around you who can distract you from living all in on your high calling from God. They offer their viewpoints and some suggestions for filtering the potentially harmful talk coming your way.

The guys talk about what might be going on inside of us when we are distracted by the success of others. Along with looking at the heart of the matter, they also give a few antidote possibilities to help you with this distraction.

Dave & Chris launch this series discussing: What distracts us from the clear expression of our calling? They go to the heart of the matter. What's under our common frustration when we get pushback from our leading?