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Five tests to see if you are a good Plan B leader
I was a starter on a state champion high school basketball team. That sentence likely prompts one of two reactions. If you don't know me well, you could assume that I was bragging—that my …- Thom Rainer -
Seven keys to preventing pastoral burnout
I have the incredible opportunity to interact with pastors regularly. Among these ongoing discussions in recent times: an informal survey in which I posed two questions. First I asked, "Have you ever …- Thom Rainer -
Six considerations for leaders who are not Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs casts a long shadow. Indeed, it is hard to believe that it has been 18 months have since his death. The passing of the noted Apple co-founder engendered a plethora of articles …- Thom Rainer -
A day in the life of a pastor
Every pastor can recognize the truth of the following anecdote. The story is true; only the names have changed. Yet I wonder: How many of your church members are aware of the pressures the typical …- Thom Rainer -
Simple Leadership
Nearly seven years ago, Eric Geiger and I released Simple Church, whose updated edition made its debut in 2011. We were both surprised at the response to this book. It became one of the bestselling …- Thom Rainer -
Ten warning signs of an inwardly obsessed church
In recent months I have devoted my blogs in this space to the general topic of leadership. Today I am focusing specifically on church leadership. Any pastors or other church leaders who recognize …- Thom Rainer -
Four keys to long-haul leadership
He was once regarded as one of the best business leaders in the world. At the end of his career, he was disgraced and, by some measures, considered one of the worst business leaders of all time. Al …- Thom Rainer -
Leadership and Entitlement
With all the talk in recent months of our nation's fiscal cliff, which some in Congress attribute to excessive "entitlement" programs, it seems like a good time to address the latter. Not in an …- Thom Rainer -
The five C's of a healthy vision statement
There is no shortage of literature about leadership. Similarly, there is a plethora of material of why leaders must have a vision. It is with some reticence, then, that I attempt to add a meaningful …- Thom Rainer -
The power of the negative
I often turn to Brad Waggoner for leadership advice and wisdom. The executive vice president of LifeWay Christian Resources, he previously served as the dean of a graduate school of leadership. He …- Thom Rainer -
I am a leader
I am a leader. My first and foremost priority is to do what is right. I have an obligation to my God and to those whom I lead to do the right things first. I cannot put my own career or my own future …- Thom Rainer -
Leadership and emotional IQ
What distinguishes good leaders from great leaders? Why does one person excel in an area while another languishes, even though they possess similar competencies and intellect? According to about 20 …- Thom Rainer -
Five principles for leaders who eat elephants
In 1994 I wrote a book entitled Eating the Elephant. It reviewed change—or more precisely, the pace of change—in an organization. As you might suspect, the title originated with the well …- Thom Rainer -
Endings and leadership
It may be the toughest part of leadership. It would at least seem to be toughest part of leadership because it is often the area leaders most avoid. Many leaders avoid endings. This may stem from …- Thom Rainer -
7 ways leaders regain their drive
In my last post, I shared insights from our organization's interviews with leaders who, at some point in their careers, lost their drive. I summarized the reasons behind their diminishing drive in …- Thom Rainer -
8 reasons leaders lose their drive
I love listening to leaders. Most of them offer great insights and practical advice. Over the past year, our organization has been asking leaders a series of open-end questions. Though my methodology …- Thom Rainer -
7 Personality traits of effective leaders
Several articles and books have enumerated the leadership characteristics of effective leaders. Indeed, I have taken on that task on a few occasions in this blog. But I want to look at some traits of …- Thom Rainer -
Five ways leadership is changing
There are some facets of leadership that are constant. Character and integrity are vital. You must have willing followers. And you must be courageous. Those were some of the key components of …- Thom Rainer -
Ten leaders who influenced me
I owe so much to so many. Countless men and women have influenced me over my 56 years of life. Though I have known some well, I never met most of them. Still, all have impacted my life in some way …- Thom Rainer -
How to lead when your leader is not leading well
In any church, organization or business, the scenario is common: A leader becomes frustrated by inept leadership at a higher level. This is especially true when the aggravated leader is the number …- Thom Rainer
Latest posts by Thom Rainer
Thom Rainer
Thom Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. He is also a former pastor, seminary dean, and leader of a church and denominational consulting firm. Rainer is the author or co-author of 22 books, including his latest, Transformational Church.
| Bob Russell tells the church to take a stand against culture | |
 | "Young leaders, the world and your peers will pressure you to soften your message. We need you to be loving, but we need you to be bolder." (From NACC 2012) |
| The power of consensus decision-making | |
| Aubrey Malphurs explains how group decisions can cause breakthroughs in a declining church. (From church consultant training taught by Aubrey Malphurs - www.churchconsultation.org) |
| A fired-up new vision for the church | |
| "It will not be stylish worship services. It will not be innovative programs." Jerry Taylor brings it home in this fiery climax to his message! (courtesy of NACC 2012) |
| The dynamics of church patriarchs and matriarchs | |
| In just about every church, someone other than the pastor holds the keys to change. (From church consultant training taught by Aubrey Malphurs - www.churchconsultation.org) |
| Are you letting fear derail your ministry? | |
| "How do you know when fear is motivating you?" asks Rick Warren. "You have an intense desire to run." (Courtesy of NACC 2012) |
| What is missional discipleship? | |
| We've confused evangelism with discipleship, says Alan Hirsch. "Every disciple is an agent of the king and ought to be released as such." (From NACC 2012) |
| Ignite your church with fresh thinking at Turnaround 20/20 | |
| Last year's inaugural 20/20 conference exceeded all our expectations, both in number of attendees (more than 200) and the quality of the speakers. The format is the same this year - 20 speakers, 20 minutes each, giving their best advice on how … |
| Save your sanity (and your ministry) by saying no | |
| "If you try to care about everything," says Pastor Todd Clark, "you'll soon find out you don't have the bandwidth to care about anything." (Courtesy of NACC) |