Canoeing the Mountains

When we consider this month’s focus on “Living in an Insane World”, it’s an appropriate time to look at Tod Bolsinger’s Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory.  As Bolsinger puts it, “Seminary didn’t prepare me for this!”

Consider a time when churches functioned primarily as vendors of religious services for a Christian culture.  At the time, the primary leadership toolbox was:

  • Teaching to provide Christian education
  • Liturgics for leading Christian services
  • Pastoral care for offering Christian counsel and support

In this changing world, we need to add a new set of leadership tools. And this applies equally well to Christians serving in leadership beyond the parish.

Using the story of Lewis and Clark’s expedition and applying the best insights from organizational leadership and missional theology, Bolsinger will help us learn together what it means for Christians to lead when the journey goes “off the map.”

Just as Lewis and Clark did, we will learn that if we can adapt and adventure, we can thrive.

Click here for more from Tod Bolsinger’s Canoeing the Mountains

Being the Boss

On February 27, 2023, I started a new role as Vice President of Human Resources for Space Center Houston—following a 30-year Federal career in Human Resources, mostly with NASA.  In honor of my first anniversary, I thought it was appropriate to summarize Linda Hill and Kent Lineback’s Being the Boss: The 3 Imperatives for Becoming a Great Leader.

If you were a high performer in your work before becoming a manager, you may find the journey into management particularly difficult. Because of previous success, stars are understandably reluctant to give up the attitudes and practices they think produced their success thus far, and they’re unwilling to change themselves.  But, as Marshall Goldsmith wrote, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

Too many leaders fail to live up to their potential. Why? Because they stop working on themselves. Leadership is about using yourself as an instrument to get things done. It can be learned, but only if you are willing and able to engage in serious self-development.

That’s one reason I continue with this blog.  It forces me to continue to learn about leadership and improve my own skills and perspective.

Click here to learn the 3 imperatives for becoming a great leader