SORRY… THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.  Nicole was kind enough to offer us another book to giveaway since so many of you commented!  The two winners selected by random.org were Pam Bakker and Lesley Miller.  Congrats ladies!

I’m so excited that my dear friend Nicole Unice is releasing her new book!

I met Nicole a few years ago at the Catalyst Conf in Atlanta.  We coordinated our schedules to meet up during a break.  That 10 minute intention turned into a long conversation as we camped out on the concrete steps of the arena and shared our dreams and passions.  One of hers was the birth of this book.  I’m so proud of the journey she’s taken to share her heart and encourage women!

Nicole has contagious energy and infectious passion that is evident as you read She’s Got Issues: Seriously Good News for Stressed-Out, Secretly Scared Control Freaks Like Us.  She’ll kick you in the pants and have you laughing in the same breath.

Here are a few quotes that got my attention:

• Every woman becomes either beautiful or bitter by the time she’s forty.  Women either face their stuff or they don’t.
• Fear and pride are often the deeper motivators behind our control issues.
• Pride disguises itself as common sense and knowledge and hard work.
• The lie of your independence has left you lacking.
• As you give up your own control to manage life and others, you will discover that God gives you incredible influence.
• Insecurity is the recognition of an area of vulnerability, the general sense of dis-ease in one’s own skin.  Insecurity reveals those places where we feel exposed and inadequate.
• There is nothing that keeps us from living in freedom like the soul vacuum of self-focus.
• Comparisons become an escape, a way to avoid embracing the reality of our lives and of ourselves – just as they are.
• There’s nothing like comparison to keep us distracted from our own gifts.
• Acting on anxiety looks like a brooding thought life, a worrisome way of dealing with relationships, and a lack of vulnerability and openness with others.
• Resentment is closely related to the issue of control and often causes us to act out in manipulative ways.
• Almost every reason we get angry has to do with ourselves.

Ok, I realize that after I typed all of those that they’re pretty intense!  These were the statements that startled me and got my attention.  The beauty of Nicole’s book is that although she’s not afraid to tell you the truth about you, she also doesn’t hold back in telling you the truth about the hope we have in Christ to overcome our issues.  That’s the “seriously good news” she shares.

And here’s my good news…

I’ve got a copy of She’s Got Issues to giveaway!

Just leave a comment telling me why you want to read this book and I’ll pick a winner this Sunday, April 29th!

Last week I gave you an overview of our staff values at Cross Point.  Today I dive into our first staff value and share the heart and meaning behind it.

Cross Point Staff Value #1

Avoid Complacency – we are committed to being grateful; to not get comfortable; to allow God to keep us on our toes and ready for whatever He has.

It is so easy to get lulled into complacency.

For church staff, Sunday comes with annoying regularity and it’s easy to fall victim to a weekly routine that maintains the status quo.

There is a tension that exists between maintaining the standards and expectations for every Sunday while also creating space to dream and change things up… and dare I say allow God to speak to us.

But more than just becoming complacent to routine, the intention of this staff value is to zero in on our hearts.  We get to be a part of the amazing work God is doing through this place.  We get to give the best part of our day and earn our living by creating environments where people’s lives are changed!  That’s a big deal!

Keeping that perspective fresh for our team is important to our health as ministry leaders.  No matter how great the stories of life-change are, they can easily get lost among the numerous tasks that we have to accomplish every week.

One way that we attempt to keep this value in front of our team is to share “Sunday Stories” every week in our all staff meeting time.  Every Tuesday our staff gather for an informal lunch where we share the highlights of the week.  Everyone is encouraged to share a story that reminds us of how God is working through us to accomplish the vision He has for Cross Point.

How does your team help one another “avoid complacency”? 

Today I had the privilege of doing an interview with the the team at Vanderbloemen Search Group in their blog series “Excerpts from the Experts: Interviewing & Hiring Tips”.  I’m not sure I would consider myself an expert but I truly love building a great team and I take hiring very seriously.

You can check out my full interview with them here.

I wanted to expand for a minute on one part of the staffing equation.  One of the axioms that you often hear is “hire slow, fire fast.”

The sentiment is important.  Be thorough in your hiring so as not to make a poor hire resulting in a bad fit for the organization (I expound on that more in my interview), and fire fast is an encouragement to not keep someone in a role or on a staff where they are not thriving.

I’m usually resistant to the notion that management in ministry is drastically different from management in any other work context, however this is one area where I do think there are nuances that we as ministry leaders need to be aware of.

That’s why I subscribe to the axiom “hire slow, fire slow.”

Let me explain…

Hire slow is the easy part.  As I shared in my interview, hiring managers wield a lot of power in the hiring process.  You need to be sure for your sake and theirs that you’ve thoroughly vetted them and they have thoroughly vetted you and your organization to be sure there are no surprises.  I have never had a situation where a slow hire resulted in a poor fit.

But let’s talk about firing slow.  First of all, I don’t mean being slow to address problems.  You must address challenges immediately in a kind and respectful way.  If someone is not working out, you have to open the discussion immediately.

Choosing to let them go must be a decision that is thoroughly processed and prayed over.

The nuance that makes this part of management different for ministry is that people’s lives and entire community are usually connected to the church where they serve.  Not only is it their source of employment, but their entire family is a part of the organization.  Their friends are here.  Their community group or serving teams are here.  Their kid’s friends are here.  The church is our community and when someone is no longer a fit as an employee it has ramifications beyond just where they spend their time M-F from 9-5.  A pink slip feels more like divorce papers.

This is why churches are so bad at letting people go.  It’s painful.  We’re a community and a family and we’d rather sweep our dysfunction under the carpet than work through it.

That’s why the first part of the axiom is so important.  Hire slow!

When you interview and hire with this whole perspective in mind, you will feel the weight of your hiring decisions with greater intensity.  You’ll be more patient in the process and you’ll find yourself praying more sincerely for God’s discernment and direction.

I believe staffing is one of the greatest stewardship responsibilities we have as a leader.  Steward it well!

Ok, I’m finally doing it!  A coaching group for women leaders!

There is something really special and really valuable about getting to work out our leadership learnings with a small group of peers who find themselves wrestling with the challenges of daily life as a high capacity leader.  I’m looking for 6-12 women to join me for an 6-month leadership journey together.  We’ll meet 2 times for 2 days each face-to-face and we’ll add in some other times for connectivity in between.

This will require some commitment so I want to challenge you to pray about it and apply as God leads you to.  If you know a woman leader who you think may benefit from something like this, please pass this along.

All the details:

What: Coaching Group for Women in Ministry & Non-profit Leadership
When: October 2012-March 2013
Facilitated by: Jenni Catron

Who:

• Women who serve in a high level leadership role in a church or ministry-related non-profit organization
• Leaders who are in a season of challenging growth or transition that would benefit from the intensive discussion of a small, focused group
• Leaders who are committed to the hard work of personal development that will result in growth for yourself and those you lead
• Leaders who are willing to make the time and financial commitment

What you get:

• Four days of coaching sessions in Nashville, TN
• Special guests for relevant topics
• The opportunity for transparent and honest discussion with other women who think and lead like you
• Focused attention on your key issues or challenges and a committed group to share that growth journey with you
• Two one-on-one coaching calls with me
• A free copy of my upcoming book for women in leadership (you’ll be the first to get a copy )
• Electronic files of all coaching notes and supporting documents
• Additional books and curriculum

What you invest:

• Commit to participate in 2 face-to-face coaching sessions in Nashville, TN
• $750 per person (includes all materials and books, lunch on training days, special guest costs and more) + travel expenses
• Time to prepare and participate fully

A few more details:
You are responsible for your travel and lodging however we’ll get you info on hotel rates and help carpool as much as possible
Dates of coaching sessions in Nashville: Oct 25-26, 2012 & March 21-22, 2013

Ok, I think that about covers it.  I’m praying specifically for those of you who will be a part of this group.  I love encouraging and investing in other leaders and I can’t wait to start this journey!

You can download the application here.  Application deadline is May 15, 2012.

For the next several weeks I thought I would share a little mini-series about staff values.

Team culture and dynamics are such critical elements that we as leaders need to care take.  At Cross Point, we have 7 staff values that are core to how we interact and treat one another.  Any given day you can hear someone from our team referencing these values.  They are our guiding principles for how we love, respect and work with one another.

Here’s the quick list.  I’ll unpack these one-by-one over the next several weeks.

1. Avoid Complacency – we are committed to being grateful; to not get comfortable; to allow God to keep us on our toes and ready for whatever He has.

2. Give Ministry Back – we are passionate about the development and empowerment of volunteers.

3. Exponential Innovation – we believe in doing whatever it takes.  Limited resources + increasing passion = exponential innovation.

4. Believe the Best – we are intentional about protecting our relationships with one another.

5. Own It – we are serious about understanding our passion and purpose and living that out everyday.  Galatians 6:4-5

6. Use Your Blinker (Collaborative Communication) – we are committed to the power of honest, intentional communication

7. Audacious Faith – we are believing in God to do something we can not do on our own!

Does your staff have written or unwritten staff values?  What are they?  Do they capture the most important values you want your team to hold to?

I’m sitting in my sun room staring at a blank screen trying to drum up some profound words.  But I keep getting distracted.  I find my mind wandering.  Thinking just feels like hard work today.

I stare out the window watching my neighbor manicure her flower beds and I envy her.

Today I need to just do instead of think.

Ever have one of those days?

Don’t worry.  This isn’t a plea of desperation, near burn-out or extreme fatigue.  This is just one of those days where I’m a little too tired to think.  Doing something productive but simple (like pulling weeds) sounds immensely gratifying.

As leaders, our pace of life can be structured in such a way that we’re constantly doing activities that require deep thinking.  And while most of the time that is good and responsible stewardship, sometimes you also need to realize the times where you just need a simple activity to do.  Not to think.  To simply do.  Something that is mindless yet gives your mind space.

Some yard work.

A long run or walk.

Painting.

The irony is that sometimes in the simple mindless doing is when I have my most profound thoughts.

Some of my best ideas come when I’m not trying to think at all.

Can you relate?

It was just over 7 years ago when God spoke to me with one of the most clear directives I’ve ever heard from him.

I was contemplating quitting my job as an Artist Development Manager for the leading Christian record label to come and work for Cross Point Church, a still relatively small unknown church west of Nashville.  As I volunteered as Program Director that Sunday morning, the decision was weighing on me.  So much good I was leaving behind.  So much potential ahead.

It was the usual busy morning for a church that meets in a school.  A set-up volunteer or two didn’t show, rehearsal went a bit long and so I finally took a big sigh as Pete got on stage and began his message.

I still don’t recall the message he spoke that morning, but I will always remember the message God had for me.

As Pete spoke to a crowd of a couple of hundred in a dingy school cafeteria, I sensed God telling me that I needed to indeed take this job and put all of my weight into supporting the work God was doing through Pete and Cross Point.  God was going to do big things through Pete Wilson.  I understood that message with more clarity than I have in most things.

7 years, 5,000 regular attendees, 5 campuses and 2 books later, there is no doubt that I heard God correctly.  And I kind of think this is still just the beginning.

God has gifted this man in remarkable ways and he doesn’t take his responsibility lightly.  I have seen thousands challenged and changed by the words he speaks and writes.

Today, his new book Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You’re Believing releases.

In this book Pete explores the empty promises that we’re all tempted to chase including the seduction of achievement, addiction to approval, attraction of wealth, perils of power, idolatry of religion, obsession of beauty and chasing of a dream.

Will you join me in celebrating my pastor today?

Go pick up a copy of Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You’re Believing.

This post is specifically for the guys.  We need your help!

The wonderful Sherry Surratt and I are writing a book for women leaders.  I know that doesn’t sound like  it’s for you, but stay with me…

One of the chapters in the book is about leading men.  We want to coach and equip women to be better leaders when they need to provide leadership to you.  Even if you’ve never been led by a woman per the organizational chart, odds are that you have been a part of a project, team or committee that a woman was responsible for.

While I hope you’ve had some great experiences being led by women, odds are you’ve had some bad ones too.

So don’t hold back!*

Tell me what you wish women knew about leading men well.

Okay GO!

*Cross Point guys.  Feel free to unload too.  I’ll do my best to not take it personal.   (That’s probably the first lesson I need to write about isn’t it?)

I’ve had the privilege of writing at a few other sites in the last week or so.

I’d love for you to check out these posts and jump into the conversations with some other great leaders!

“In-the-Trenches Leaders” shared on Ed Stetzer‘s blog.

“Leading the 4 Types of Creatives” at SundayMag.tv.

“The Top 3 Ways Men and Women Leaders ‘Miss’ Each Other” at Michael Warden‘s newly redesigned blog.

“You’re Not a Circus Act” in the Wednesdays are for Women series at ChurchPlanters.com and Tricia Lovejoy‘s blog.

Comparison rocks our identity and robs our contentment.

And most of us give into it every day.

We envy someone with significant influence while they’re at home overwhelmed by all the responsibility, envying your simpler life.

We covet the marriage that seems so easy, but the couple that never fights envies your passion and commitment to one another.

The single long for marriage while the married wish for less responsibility and accountability.

Parents compare their kids performance, looks and behavior while the parent-less long for children to love.

The high achiever gets all the opportunities at work while what she really wants is a break from all the pressure.

How do we find contentment in a world where more is never enough?

We fall victim to the cliche day after day that the grass is greener in someone else’s world, but it just never is.

Make your grass green.  Find joy, peace and contentment in the life that God has given you.

Nurture the blessings that you have – family, health, possessions, friendships, influence – and quit looking over the fence.

What do you need to choose to be content with today?