The best leaders craft vision in a particular way. They draw on virtues that seem to be opposed to each other. On the one hand, they envision inspiring pictures of a preferred future. On the other hand, they confront the most brutal facts of current reality…
Thank you for making 2020 a great year for this site. Special thanks to everyone who shares my writing through their network and social media channels. It is a big help to get the word out there. You can follow me on Instagram here. You…
I wrote last week about how the Pandemic is holding up a mirror for the Church. Before COVID, everyone that was engaged in a parish attended Sunday Mass but not everyone attending was actually engaged. Parishes around the globe are recognizing how many parishioners were…
Most Catholic Dioceses track Sunday Mass attendance. This annual exercise has become discouraging for many Pastoral leaders. Year over year comparisons are tolerable, but the long-term trend is difficult to observe. Some dioceses have remained stable or increased attendance, largely because of immigration, not evangelization.…
Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. The start of a new liturgical year. Jesus’ message in the Gospel was simple and pointed, especially to leaders, “Be watchful!” Several years ago, I travelled to Africa. I stayed with a small community of priests at a…
The Catholic Church just celebrated a great feast: Christ, King of the Universe. Christ’s way of leading and influencing was quite the opposite of what people expected in the Messiah. They assumed He would come to save the people Israel as a military giant or political…
A couple of months into the Pandemic, Carey Nieuwhof, a popular Christian leadership blogger, wrote, “By now you’ve realized that the coronavirus pandemic is not an interruption, nearly as much as it is a disruption.” His words have been echoing in my mind ever since.…
I have been reading through Fr James Mallon’s book, Beyond the Parish. What a gift to the Church! Fr James takes an honest look at the current reality which at times is difficult to read because he exposes the sad decline in the Catholic Church.…
The best leaders are consistently humble but never insecure. Insecure leaders lead through the social mirror, fixing their self-worth to the praises and criticisms of others. This kind of approach can be very detrimental. Either the leader will be overwhelmed by an unhealthy emotional roller…
Success is about making an impact here and now primarily by what you do and what you accomplish. Significance is about creating a lasting legacy by who you are and the edifying presence you bring to others. I have met many leaders who have accomplished…
Thank you to all the new subscribers that signed up in August and September. I hope you find value in my weekly updates. Please share on social, post comments and send questions. Glad you are on-board. Every leader faces temptation. It is part of the…
