Don’t Take my Word for it

Tag Archive - growth

Don’t Take my Word for it

Sunday, June 8, 2014

A couple of weeks ago I shared that my next Leadership Coaching Network will be beginning in October. I’m currently receiving applications and the network will probably fill up before the end of summer.

I understand that it’s one thing for me to share all the details and benefits from participating, but why take my word for it? That’s why I recently caught up with a couple of past participants to get their input on their experience with the network.

“The coaching and leadership conversations we had over six months with Paul elevated my leadership in the church as much as any experience I’ve had. I gained valuable tools and strategies for developing the leaders under my care. Additionally our discussions provided a strong foundation for understanding why healthy churches grow, and the time to personalize theory to our specific ministry situation. Paul’s personal ministry and leadership experience and wisdom ensured each coaching session was a valuable experience!”
Micah Hutchison, Executive Pastor at Harvest Community Church in Mesa, AZ

“This coaching network with Paul was one of the most beneficial experiences of my ministry life. The network gatherings were fun, challenging, and full of leadership exercises that provided me with tools to lead more effectively and move people towards a focused goal. I highly recommend this experience!”
Ira Towns, Executive Pastor at Atlantic Shores Bible Church in Virginia Beach, VA

“The coaching network with Paul strengthened my understanding of team leadership, personal development, and organizational health! This experience has been a huge help to me in my role as a leader within the local church!”
Caleb Cambell, Executive Pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ

Interested in Joining Us?
Here are all the details about the leadership coaching network in Phoenix. My teammate at The Unstuck Group, Tony Morgan, is facilitating a similar network in Atlanta

Complete the coaching network application and pay your initial deposit to hold your space. The deposit will be your first month’s fees. The next Phoenix and Atlanta networks will start in October 2014. The deadline for your application is August 15, 2014.

Posted in Leadership

4 Reasons Why People Don’t Change

Sunday, March 16, 2014

People always want to change their circumstances, but they never want to change their lives. But everything gets better when we get better. Families get better when fathers and mothers get better. Students get better when educators get better. Organizations get better when leaders get better. And churches get better when church leaders get better. But change is painful. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. It’s always easier and more comfortable to stay where you are than to change and move forward. But if you want to grow at some point you’ve got to stop doing what’s easy and start doing what’s right. Here are 4 traps that people fall into that prevent them from changing.

Biting off More Than You Can Chew

The key to lasting change isn’t to work up an overly sophisticated development plan but simply make a few decisions and manage them daily. After all it was legendary coach John Wooden that said, “You make the choice and then the choice makes you.”

Waiting for a Mentor

Leaders aren’t going around looking for someone to mentor, they’re too busy leading. If you want a mentor then you’ve got to chase after someone who has something you want until you catch them. Leaders press into people who press into them.

Hoping for a Miracle

Many people make the mistake of sitting around hoping for their “ship to come in,” some pivotal magic moment that’s going to change everything. What’s missed in all of this waiting and hoping is that the secret of growing and changing is doing a little every day. The change in your life is determined by your daily agenda.

Abdication of Responsibility

People don’t change because they mistakenly think that change is something that happens to them instead of something that happens in them. The change in your life is no one’s responsibility but your own. You get to choose if you are going to grow and change or not.

Posted in Leadership, Spiritual Formation

Breaking Through Your Leadership Lid

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

If you lead long enough, eventually you’re going to hit a leadership lid. It happens when you reach your capacity in a particular area, and the good news is there may be a solution. But what you do next has the potential to make or break your leadership future. Ignore it, deny it, make excuses about it, or refuse to acknowledge and deal with it and you’ll undermine your impact. Face reality and you’ll create a window of opportunity to grow.

You know you’ve hit a leadership lid when…

The ministry you’re leading has stagnated or is declining.
The other ministries in the church are growing at a faster pace than the area you are responsible for.
You’re experiencing a marked increase in conflict.
Protecting the past trumps creating the future
There is a revolving door of participants or volunteers in your ministry
You’re experiencing long-term personal spiritual stagnation
You’re experiencing mission creep and redefining success as you go

This week at our monthly staff leadership gathering at Sun Valley Scott Ridout, one of the Lead Pastors at Sun Valley, walked the staff from all three of our campuses through 9 Common Leadership Lids that Ministry Leaders face. Here are some of my notes from that conversation:

Posted in Leadership

Apply for a Leadership Coaching Network Before the End of February

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

The deadline for the next round of my leadership coaching network is right around the corner. The network launches in April and the deadline for applications is next Friday, February the 28th.

You can read my original post sharing the reasons why you should consider joining these leadership coaching gatherings. Or you can check out all the nitty-gritty details.

I hope you’ll join the other leaders who have already committed to this next season of mentoring, training and networking. Have questions? Contact me here!

Posted in Leadership

New Leadership Coaching Network Starting Soon!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

A couple of weeks ago, we opened applications for the new leadership coaching networks that will begin this Spring with The UnStuck Group. The deadline for applications is February 28, but applications have already been coming in and these new coaching networks will probably fill up before then.

Still on the fence about whether or not to participate? Here’s what others have said:

“Paul Alexander is a natural leader and a great coach. He’s strategic, constantly learning, and has been very helpful to me in my ministry leadership and management.”
– Mike Work, Vice President of Operations at Youth Specialties

“When I have a leadership question Paul is always one of my first calls. He is a gifted leader and strategist. Paul knows how to ask the right questions to properly diagnosis current systems, and the unique capacity to help teams formulate a plan that is both practical and attainable. Working with Paul has been an encouragement and has stirred in me the desire to be a better leader.”
– Aaron McRae, Senior Pastor of Hillside Community Church in Alta Loma, CA

“Paul Alexander is simply brilliant when it comes to helping pastors and churches get laser-focused on their purpose, process and values. I believe he is one of the top strategic thinkers in the church today. After connecting with him, you will be encouraged, inspired and equipped.”
– Kyle Wall, Senior Pastor of Atlantic Shores Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA

“Paul is a very talented leader who knows how to form and implement strategic plans, while encouraging and building leaders in the process. He is methodical in planning his approach, and builds his processes to include appropriate goals, steps, budgets, and measurement for completion. During my time working with Paul, he demonstrated how to focus on projects and refocus when scope changed or obstacles rose up. While learning from Paul, he made things “reproducible” which has allowed me to keep my teams on task and lead them to do the same.”
– Kerry Dodd, CFO of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA

You can get more details about the next Coaching Network on my website.

What’s next?

Complete the Coaching Network Application. The Phoenix Leadership Coaching Network that I’m leading will be limited to no more than 12 leaders and begins in April 2014. I’d like you to consider joining us. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2014.

Questions? Contact me

Posted in Leadership