Resources to Lead Different
To become a Jesus-centered leader who lives and leads well, you need to regularly refresh and refocus your head, heart and hands. Arrow Leadership’s blog, Sharpening Leaders, is written to support you on your journey. Each month we provide spiritually nourishing, biblically challenging and practically helpful posts to help you fulfill your calling and lead different.
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
To engage this exercise: Set aside an hour. Find a quiet space. Bring a journal or paper. Pray. Reflect. To learn more about how to reset and reflect about 2020 visit: https://www.arrowleadership.org/blog/general-leadership/three-key-areas-to-reflect-reset-after-2020/ Click here to download Guide for End of … 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
Watch this video! Whether you are a veteran communicator or gearing up to share your first Sunday school lesson, I trust these lessons will have a takeaway or two. To watch, click on the image above. Click Here to Download “Tips For … 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
Watch this short video for a practical tool to help you leverage your impact and make the greatest contribution to God’s mission. To view, click on the image above. Click Here to Download “Tic-Tac-Toe Tool” Cheering you on to Lead … 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
Click Here to Download 8 Tips to Maximize Meetings Cheering you on to Lead Different, Dr. Steve Brown President, Arrow Leadership steveb@arrowleadership.org
Click Here to Download Six Tips for Effective Delegation Cheering you on to Lead Different, Dr. Steve Brown President, Arrow Leadership steveb@arrowleadership.org
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
Click Here and Download 150 Encouraging Words Cheering you on to Lead Different, Dr. Steve Brown President, Arrow Leadership steveb@arrowleadership.org
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
Relentlessly pounding the pavement, responding to customer demands and trying to stay ahead of the competition can be daunting. Feeling like the only one who really sees the potential of your business is lonely, and shouldering the full weight of … 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
Who’s Asking You Great Questions? Jesus was masterful at asking questions. His questions enlightened, challenged and drilled into people’s deepest places. His subject matter was often surprising and sometimes perplexing, but for those willing to engage, his questions were … Continued
If you knew you had three years left in your role, what would be your top priorities? I love this question. It requires careful reflection, and it forces you to identify big-picture long-term priorities. It gets to the question, “When … Continued