Sharpening Leaders

Are you running on fumes, or do you have fresh wind in your sails as you approach these final days of 2022? Whatever your situation, it is important to make space to reflect with God on the year that is … Continued

So is it a good thing when a TikTok video focused on Jesus gets over 1,000,000 views? On a social platform saturated with endless cat videos, mind-numbing content and sexual references, a million people focused on Jesus—even for a minute—is … Continued

I wasn’t expecting this kind of request. During my meeting with an executive pastor at a large growing church, the pastor asked if I would help. He went on to share that he believes God has called their church to … Continued

What’s your next step in becoming a better communicator? Jesus was a master communicator. He was in a league of his own. He taught with authority. He leveraged the power of story. He could hold large crowds captive with his … Continued

Beyond deep rest and prayer, the third key to reset this summer is to reimagine. (If you haven’t read the previous posts, see step one Rest here, and step two Prayer here) In light of the current distress and all the chaos, … Continued

This summer isn’t just an important time to reset; it’s an essential time to reset. On many levels, it seems like our world is coming unglued. The level of chaos, complexity and disruptive change are beyond anything I have experienced … Continued

It’s easy to get worn down as a leader in a regular year. Since the last couple of years have been far from regular, many leaders are weary, depleted and even exhausted. As a result, a break this summer is … Continued

There is an epidemic of anxiety in our day, and leaders are not immune. In fact, the unique pressures and complexity facing leaders stir anxiety within leaders. And these same leaders must help other people navigate their anxiety. So how … Continued

The chaos increased by the hour. Uncertainty and fear took hold. Panicked people began to fend for themselves. Those sentences could easily be headlines describing events in our world today. They also vividly describe another time—the most significant event in … Continued

It’s easy to focus on the leader with the title, the public profile or the microphone in their hand. While the organizational leader’s role is critical, we shouldn’t forget about the importance of boards. Boards matter. They really do. Elder … Continued

I don’t have to tell you that decisions are getting more and more complex. Even picking out a box of cereal has gotten complicated. While it may seem fairly straightforward to pick up some Chex breakfast cereal at the grocery … Continued

(Part 3 of 3 Obstacles That Hold Leaders Back – and How to Overcome. Read Parts 1 and 2 by clicking here) Blind spots can be deadly when you are driving. A car can be almost right beside you, but you … Continued

( Part 2 of 3 Obstacles That Hold Leaders Back – and How to Overcome. Read Part 1 by clicking here) Winter is often a tough time for many pastors and Christian leaders. Beyond the very real everyday challenges, the … Continued

What’s holding you back? Elite runners regularly ask themselves this question. They watch endless videos to catch any movement that might be slowing them down. They seek out lighter running shoes and even sleep in oxygen tents to gain a … Continued

A few years ago, I tracked down a pastor who had participated in the very first class of the Arrow Leadership Program™ back in the mid 90s. I wanted to hear more about his Arrow journey. This pastor shared that … Continued

I have a love-hate relationship with Christmas music. I get uptight when I hear Christmas music in October. And I cringe when some songs are played over and over and over. However, I love many of the old carols. “O … Continued

It’s hard to describe 2021. Though we hoped for and maybe even expected easier paths for 2021, it has been a year of more chaos, change, complexity and challenge for many leaders. Whether you are running on fumes or have … Continued

Gallup’s research, StrengthsFinder and countless studies have validated the importance of strength-based leadership. It makes intuitive sense that a leader should focus on maximizing on her strengths while managing her weaknesses. This approach should lead to a leader’s greatest return … Continued

Please don’t get me wrong. I am a believer in the value of self-awareness. I agree that assessment tools and 360-degree feedback can be wonderfully helpful in growing greater self-awareness. This is why we use assessments extensively with the Arrow … Continued

Christian leadership isn’t an end in itself. Instead, it’s a means to the end of pointing more and leading more to Jesus. In the midst of tackling complex issues, navigating conflicts and persevering through COVID fatigue, it’s easy for leaders … Continued

Are you starting a new role? Do you know somebody who is? How you start is important. You only get to do it once. So here are seven practical tips to make your start a good one. 1. Finish Well … Continued

Writing about prayer can often be a quick and easy way to stir guilt. Personally, I want to pray more. But while I am making small strides in the right direction, there still seems to be a big gap between … Continued

Let me start with a disclaimer. Please know that I deeply long to see God’s purposes accomplished. I earnestly pray His Kingdom come and will be done. And I absolutely agree that all Christian leaders need to be good stewards … Continued

“Thirty Ways to Lead Different” celebrates Arrow Leadership’s 30th anniversary with a 30-week series providing insights and practical tools to help you lead with Jesus at the center.   At the start of every new class of the Arrow Leadership … Continued

“Thirty Ways to Lead Different” celebrates Arrow Leadership’s 30th anniversary with a 30-week series providing insights and practical tools to help you lead with Jesus at the center.   Vision matters! Having vision (or not) impacts how you live and … Continued

“Thirty Ways to Lead Different” celebrates Arrow Leadership’s 30th anniversary with a 30-week series providing insights and practical tools to help you lead with Jesus at the center. May this prayer bring you fresh focus and strength to live and … Continued

I like fresh starts. They bring a renewed energy to dream and imagine new possibilities. There’s also a redemptive side—a fresh start means I can try again. A fresh start is partly a mindset shift, but it can also be … Continued

Many Christian staffing and search firms are anticipating a disproportionate number of ministry leaders will leave their current assignments as we emerge from COVID-19. On the surface, this prediction makes some sense. Various ministry leaders may have intended to transition … Continued

We are turning the corner toward summer and, I pray, to the other side of COVID-19! While rest and recovery should be two key objectives for many leaders this summer, we can also begin to retool and refocus for the new … Continued

  Conversations matter! Over the last year, you have had many conversations you likely never expected to have with your team. Conversations about the urgent and important need of safety, adapting to new rules and keeping the ministry going in … Continued

 Dr. Steve Brown’s new book, Jesus Centered: Focusing on Jesus In A Distracted World  is now available to order! Place your order today and for a limited time sign-up below to receive a FREE discussion guide. We pray this … Continued

Dear Sharpening Leaders Subscriber, We have some exciting news to share! Jesus Centered: Focusing on Jesus In A Distracted World, Dr. Steve Brown’s new book releasing April 12, is now available for preorder! Place your order today and for a … Continued

This content has been adapted from Dr. Steve A. Brown’s upcoming book, Jesus Centered – Focusing on Jesus in a Distracted World launching April 12. I’ll never forget the time a painting made me realize how little I understood God’s … Continued

Dear Sharpening Leaders Subscriber, You are the first to hear! My new book, Jesus Centered – Focusing on Jesus in a Distracted World is set to launch April 12! Please watch this short video below to learn more about the … Continued

Tragically and sorrowfully, the list just keeps getting longer. I’m referring to the list of pastors and ministry leaders who fall to sexual sin. To the shock of many, the list now includes the name of the late apologist Ravi … Continued

Are you feeling content these days? Saying you are content isn’t easy on a normal day. All it takes for me to head toward discontentment is one piece of gravel in my shoe, slow Wi-Fi, getting stuck in the slow … Continued

It’s only been a few days since we said “good riddance” to 2020, but already this new year doesn’t feel like a fresh start. To be blunt, it feels like a fresh mess or at least continued darkness and difficulty. … Continued

It’s hard to believe! We are closing in on the end of 2020! This year has been long, unprecedented and difficult on so many levels. A few years back, I remember hearing about “2020 Vision” and “2020 Strategic Plans.” Vision … Continued

Every year at this time I share a free tool to help you reflect on the year. Taking time for reflection is a critical practice for leaders. Reflection fosters learning, stimulates growth, calls for course corrections, identifies priorities and renews … Continued

Faithfulness isn’t critical when a crisis erupts, because we usually jump in full of adrenaline. We instinctually do whatever it takes to survive during the initial period of a crisis. However, faithfulness becomes critical when a crisis moment turns into … Continued

Our world desperately needs Jesus-centered leaders! We trust this interview with Dr. Tim Tang (Arrow Class 20) will encourage and equip you to be led more by Jesus, lead more like Jesus and lead more to Jesus. Tim equips and … Continued

If you are a leader, you are a “go to.” Maybe you are the “go to” for your church, your team or your organization. People go to you for answers, for direction, for help, for care and for spiritual support. … Continued

Our world desperately needs Jesus-centered leaders! We trust this interview with Paul Turner (Arrow Class 41) who serves as International Director of Latin Link will encourage and equip you to be led more by Jesus, lead more like Jesus and … Continued

There’s a very real and destructive pandemic under way. I could be talking about COVID-19, but I’m not. I am talking about a pandemic I hear in almost daily coaching sessions with Christian leaders. This pandemic is called discouragement. Discouragement … Continued

Our world desperately needs Jesus-centered leaders! We trust this interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Jennifer Groves (Arrow Class 46) will encourage and equip you to be led more by Jesus, lead more like Jesus and lead more to Jesus. Jennifer serves as … Continued

Focus is hard right now. For starters, COVID fatigue is real. It’s hard to keep focused in the midst of what’s becoming a long-term grind. Just tuning out and ducking for cover in the increasingly ugly battles on social media … Continued

It was a warm summer evening when eight of us found ourselves sailing off the coast of Vancouver Island in the middle of the night. A group member took on the role of instructor and proceeded to show us how … Continued

Our world desperately needs Jesus-centered leaders! We trust this interview with Josh Stewart (Arrow Class 30), Lead Pastor at Bedford Community Church in Bedford Hills, New York will encourage and equip you to be led more by Jesus, lead more like … Continued

Perspective is critically important for leaders. It’s easy to lose sight of the forest when you are in the midst of the trees. A different perspective can change everything. I love drone-camera video of familiar sights. The view from above … Continued

Our world desperately needs Jesus-centered leaders! We trust this brief interview with Peter Lim (Arrow Class 22) who serves as lead pastor of 4Pointes Church of Atlanta will encourage and equip you to be led more by Jesus, lead more … Continued

The juxtaposition of two separate events—in the same week—is just mind-boggling. The first event took place on Monday, May 25, 2020. That Memorial Day evening George Floyd had his neck pinned to the ground by a police officer’s knee for … Continued

The last few months have been a hard grind for everyone. For some, the last few months have been brutal. Hard decisions, long hours, personal risk, job loss, financial ruin, loneliness, sickness and even death have been uncommonly common. In … Continued

Like it or not, meetings are prime time for leaders. Meetings matter. Meetings are where next steps are discerned and big decisions happen. The move to virtual meetings and dispersed teams has added new challenges at a time when the … Continued

Keeping your head clear is incredibly important. You need to think well to lead well, especially in times of crisis and challenge. Yet it’s really easy to find yourself frazzled and fatigued—and to find your headspace foggy—rather than focused. Despite … Continued

Times of crisis and uncertainty usually bring constraints. In the case of COVID-19, there are a many unprecedented constraints. Public gatherings and movement have been restricted. Staff and volunteers may be limited. The ability to physically meet with people is … Continued

Leadership is hard at the best of times. Add in a crisis and hard can go to a whole new level. Thankfully, there’s Someone who understands. Leading was even hard for Jesus. He faced incredible resistance. There were endless and … Continued

Adapted from a letter to our Arrow community.  The chaos increased by the hour. Uncertainty and fear took hold. Panicked people began to fend for themselves. Those sentences could easily be headlines describing these days of COVID-19. They could also … Continued

Wisdom. Do you need some as you live and lead this week? Wisdom is a critical need in uncertain times. It’s a pre-requisite and distinctive of leading different. Wisdom is also something we can seek and find. Here are five keys … Continued

Wisdom. Do you need some as you live and lead this week? Wisdom is a critical need in uncertain times. It’s a prerequisite and distinctive of leading differently. Wisdom is also something we can seek and find. The following is five … Continued

Good planning isn’t our idea, it’s God’s idea. Read through the Bible and it quickly becomes apparent God has a plan. God’s plan informs and guides salvation, the Church, the future and much more. So whether we face times of … Continued

What does it look like to communicate well and lead differently with your team in times of crisis? Here are three tips for crisis communication: 1. Accurately Assess and Convey Your Current Reality Because a crisis ushers in uncertainty, change, … Continued

Adapted from a letter to our Arrow community.  The chaos increased by the hour. Uncertainty and fear took hold. Panicked people began to fend for themselves. Those sentences could easily be headlines describing the early days of COVID-19. They could … Continued

Times of crisis and uncertainty usually bring constraints. In the case of COVID-19, there are a many unprecedented constraints. Public gatherings and movement have been restricted. Staff and volunteers may be limited. The ability to physically meet with people is … Continued

These days can be very overwhelming. No one expected to be leading in times like these or facing the challenges before us. Yet, here we are. During an early morning run last week, my mind was full, and my heart … Continued

This is a special SharpeningLeaders post in response to COVID-19 Regular, everyday leadership challenges can be really stretching. When we add in the chaos, confusion and complexity of something like COVID-19, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. So how should Jesus-centered … Continued

Fishing lures fascinate me. From a human perspective, they look ridiculous. It makes no sense that something so big, flashy, shiny and laced with sharp hooks would be inviting to a fish. But if you are a hungry fish looking … Continued

The right business practices tend to maximize revenue, keep costs low and ensure the impact and profitability of a company. Demonstrating love for your fellow man is a foundational ‘right’ practice for Christian entrepreneurs. So, how can you infuse your … Continued

Chick Fil-A is one of the most successful and recognizable, Christian-owned brands in the world. Founded in 1946 by devout Southern Baptist, S. Truett Cathy, Chick Fil-A went through several iterations before rebranding as Chick Fil-A in 1967 and setting … Continued

Remember all those new year’s resolutions made just six weeks ago? As we started a new year and decade, many people had high hopes for making significant changes in their life and leadership. However, repeated studies show that over 80% … Continued

Growing your business is challenging and fun. But growth means working with more people, and that requires close attention to whom you invite to work in your company. Whether it’s a new partner, supplier, or employee, new people create complexity … Continued

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know just how much things have changed over the past few years in our business, political and economic worlds regarding people’s relationship with the truth. The current atmosphere of “fake news” and … Continued

It seems that no matter how you plan the unexpected happens, and the uncertainty of business can certainly cause stress and frustration, when you’re the one that the buck stops with. Market values fluctuate, customer behaviors change, and your wins … Continued

I love these kind of days. Over the course of twenty-four hours I spent time with three alumni from the Arrow Leadership Program. Each one left me inspired, encouraged and energized. Let me briefly introduce you to each one of … Continued

Last week we discussed the life and faith of Strive Masiyiwa, the billionaire founder of Econet Wireless, Africa’s largest cellular service provider. Strive’s life is a truly impressive testament to the power of faith and love, and, as an outspoken … Continued

A new year and new decade are around the corner! Have you taken any time to reflect on what will help you “run with perseverance the race marked out” for you in 2020? Here are six questions designed to help … Continued

Prayer is often a guilt area for Christian leaders. We want to help you move from guilt to growth and to Lead Different. Here are ten practical ideas to turn the temperature up on prayer, particularly prayer for people who … Continued

Leadership matters. Great leaders are a strategic leverage point for personal, business and organizational influence and transformation. There are now literally hundreds of interpretations of what constitutes great leadership. Too often the focus is on position, power, or charisma. Images … Continued

A few years ago my family and I were visiting a church for the first time. We had almost reached the front door, when a man abruptly pushed past us. It was odd and it wasn’t a friendly welcome for … Continued

Imagine you’re on an airplane and the pilot announces, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, pardon the interruption, but I need to let you know our flight pattern is one degree off today, and we’ll be landing in Chicago instead of New York. … Continued

Who’s the hero in your business? Hopefully you said, ‘the customer, of course!’ Now, take a look at your website and your promotional materials. Is the customer the hero there? Most marketing materials shout about all the amazing things the … Continued

Do you know where to find your potential customers? Where they hang out physically, what groups do belong to, what restaurants they frequent? And where are they digitally? What online groups, news channels or websites do they frequent? These are … Continued

Why does your company exist? In his now-famous TEDTalk, Simon Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do (make or build), they buy why you do it.” Do you know why you do what you do? Why are you running … Continued

Have you ever been hiking and come across a sign that read “Stay Back From The Edge”? At first glance, these kinds of signs seem ridiculous. After all, who would get so close to the edge that they’d go over? … Continued

Much has been written and spoken of Jesus’ finely-tuned storytelling and teaching skills, but one of the most overlooked parts of his ministry was how much he embodied the most potent, powerful parts of targeted marketing. It may seem strange … Continued

Have you ever experienced bad customer service? Sure, you have. Now, how many times have you told that story? I bet when you share that story, the emotion of the experience comes flooding back. Stories are compelling; people relate to … Continued

  How often have you heard yourself saying, ‘If I only had more (fill in the blank), then I could (fill in the blank)?’ If I had more funds, then I could do more marketing. If I had more staff, then we could scale faster. If I had more … Continued