I have a list of pastors who get a monthly email on four links, 1 quote, and 1 freebie. Occasionally, I rerun it for you here in this space as well.
Here are the best-clicked articles from 2023 for your perusal. Call it the 7-2-1 for this month.
1.
From Arnold Kling – an economist and his newsletter.
There are a lot of church leaders and team members that could use this thought:
“In business, an employee’s serenity prayer would be:
Give me the serenity not to whine about problems that are difficult for my organization to fix, the courage to propose constructive solutions for problems that are easy for my organization to fix, and the wisdom to know the difference.
A manager’s serenity prayer would be:
Give me the serenity not to get defensive when an employee points out something that we in management are doing wrong, the courage to get rid of an employee who does nothing but whine, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
2.
From Sahil Bloom’s Curiosity Chronicle:
“I recently read From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks—one of my favorite writers—and was struck by one particular concept covered in the book:
The two types of intelligence: Fluid vs. Crystallized.
The theory of Fluid vs. Crystallized Intelligence was created by psychologist Raymond Cattell in the 1970s.
· Fluid Intelligence is marked by an ability to think creatively and abstractly, learn new things, draw flexible connections, and reason across domains.
· Crystallized Intelligence is marked by an ability to leverage accumulated knowledge, experience, skill, and insights.
In the book, Dr. Brooks makes the important point that the two types of intelligence map to two discrete curves in your life.
Fluid Intelligence is the intelligence of youth. It peaks in your early career years—generally your 20s and 30s—and begins to decline thereafter. The greatest innovations are largely a result of Fluid Intelligence, which is the reason that the vast majority of these breakthroughs are made by people in their early career years.
Crystallized Intelligence is the intelligence of experience. It begins to rise as Fluid Intelligence declines—the compounding accumulation accelerates in these later career years.
Dr. Brooks argues that a lot of unhappiness in later career years comes as a result of the human tendency to fight the curves. It's difficult for the once famed innovator to accept that their innovation muscle is deteriorating. We've seen this story play out over and over again throughout history—the fading star unwilling to accept their new role.
The solution: Accept the natural, biological shift and embrace the tremendous value that your compounding Crystallized Intelligence can bring to your company, teams, and endeavors. Position yourself such that your Crystallized Intelligence is an asset to those around you and outsource Fluid Intelligence to others who are in the prime of that curve.”
Dave note: This is especially true as Senior Pastors move from Warrior to Sage season in a Succession Process. The church was built with great “fluid intelligence,” but now the need as the church has matured is for “crystallized intelligence.” How can your future role be more in that vein while giving primary leadership roles to younger leaders to help build for the next generation? That’s what I help churches do in the Senior Pastor Smart Succession Process.
3.
And this one came from Facebook but is a chart that Pete Scazzero uses in his work.
“Scazzero’s Emotionally UN healthy Spirituality
1. Using God to run from God.
2. Ignoring anger, sadness, and fear.
3. Dying to the wrong things.
4. Denying the past.
5. Dividing life into the secular & sacred.
6. Doing for God instead of being with God.
7. Spiritualizing away conflict.
8. Covering over brokenness, weakness, and failure.
9. Living without limits. (Acknowledge your limits, like time, $, emotional limits, energy, etc.)
10. Judging other people’s spiritual journeys.”
See Pete’s books Emotionally Healthy Spirituality and Emotionally Healthy Leadership, or go here for more information.
Full disclosure: Pete and New Life Church were a client in the past for pastor succession, and Emotionally Healthy Discipleship has also been a client.
4.
(This references an article previously published in Church Leader Insider)
Jim Sheppard wrote about the timing of your next major generosity initiative in the Church Leader Insider newsletter. “Charles Dickens and the Timing Of Your Next Major Giving Initiative.”
While I work with Generis, I don’t do generosity initiatives, but my colleagues do.
If you haven’t done any generosity initiative since COVID, it’s time in my view. Everything has reset. Time to reset attender mindsets on generosity.
Let me know if I can hook you up with one of the team for a conversation.
5.
The economy – not bad
From Axios – “Americans are not happy with the economy. Which is weird, given that it is doing just fine.”
That says it all. The story link here – shows that individuals feel good about their personal position, but feel the nation is bad. 73% say – “my finances are fine”, but only 18% say the same for the economy.
Takeaway for church leaders – Yes, prices for some goods are up, but most folks are doing well in your church. Continue to move forward.
Long-time readers will know this is part of the continuing K-shape phenomenon I harp on.
Additionally – “ Driving the news: Nonprofit think tank The Conference Board yesterday said its consumer confidence index surged to 109.7 in June, up from 102.5 in May, to its highest level since January 2022.
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index showed a similarly strong surge earlier in June.”
(from Axios Markets 6/28/2023 edition)
My experience is that consumer confidence tends to be reflected in church giving.
6.
This comes from from Henry Mintzberg
“Leadership is generally exercised on three different levels. At the individual level, leaders mentor, coach, and motivate. At the group level, they build teams and resolve conflicts; at the organizational level, leaders build culture. In most organizations, these three levels are discrete and easily identifiable.”
Dave notes – that it is really important that Senior Leaders recognize that leadership looks different at different levels. You can’t just focus on one level. I think that is the best summary I have seen.
(That is a subscription wall, but your local public library can get you to the article here - Covert Leadership: Notes on Managing Professionals by Henry Mintzberg)
7.
Benj Miller writes a five-day-a-week email over at The 261. (for business types)
I read it almost every day. Here’s a quote from the September 19 edition:
“Three important takeaways from talking with them over the last several months (that we all need reminding of):
1. On the other side of pain and challenge, everything becomes an opportunity. You get to control your perspective.
2. Imposter syndrome never goes away. Learn how to turn down the volume on it.
3. Being a leader at a high level naturally invites chaos. Leading is rarely about eliminating chaos, but learning how to operate at the high-level no matter what circumstances are in play.”
I think that’s true of pastors as well.
2 Quotes
From May
1. “Guidelines for Bureaucrats: (1) When in charge, ponder. (2) When in trouble, delegate. (3) When in doubt, mumble.” James H. Boren
I mention this quote because sometimes, as Senior Pastors, we tend to make decisions too quickly, feel we must have all the answers when there is trouble, and feel the need to give clarity all the time.
At times, a strategic time to ponder and think is most needed.
I am a sucker for formulas like this one Arnold Kling pointed out to me from Paul Dobransky:
“Friendship = Consistency + Mutuality + Sharing + Positive Emotion
If you were to solve the “friendship crisis” at least for yourself, you’d work on these four in yourself and look to find all four in others.”
The full post is here, but it is long and involved.
1 Freebie
I saw the galleys for the new book last week, which will soon be published.
33 Basic Statements about Senior Pastor Succession Every Church Should Know.
If you are U.S.-based and want a free copy shipped, email Linda.Stanley@generis.com.
It’s an attractive, four-color, less than 90-page booklet you can read in less than an hour.