What’s your brand?

In my former job I spent the majority of my time developing brand identities for artists.  I worked hard to determine the unique characteristics of the individual musician/band/singer and then figured out how to market that to set them apart from the rest of their competitors.  It was a fascinating, sometimes frustrating and yet, a very rewarding experience… especially when I felt like I captured the heart of the individual and got to share that with the world.

As much as the word “branding” sounds all-business, cold and impersonal, I really believe in the power of a brand.  More importantly I believe in the power of understanding your unique brand.

My personal definition of branding is: authentically being who you are and portraying that consistently.

Each one of us has been uniquely gifted by God with certain strengths, talents, gifts, passions, etc.  And this unique combination makes up your personal brand.

I believe there is great power in understanding who you are and who God has uniquely made you to be.  Some of us have learned this well.  Others of us have allowed life/people/circumstances to shadow our innate interests and desires… sometimes to such a degree that it takes years for us to dig up what’s been buried so deep.

So, who are you?

What makes you uniquely you?

How would others describe you?

Better yet, how would you describe the real you?

What’s your brand and are you living it with passion?

If these questions stump you, frustrate you or paralyze you, I would challenge you to go on a journey to understand who God has created you to be.  Here are a few things I would recommend to get you started:

1. Take a spiritual gifts assessment. This is a great tool to begin to help you unpack spiritual gifts as they are outlined in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4.  Here are a couple of free online tests: Church Growth.org and First Baptist Huntsville
2. Understand your strengths. Read Now, Discover Your Strengths or Strengths Finder 2.0 and take the Strengths Finder assessment.
3. Develop a relationship with a mentor who can provide candid feedback, offer encouragement and coach you in your growth.
4. Journal your thoughts and feelings… especially the moments where you feel alive and thriving.
5. Pray for God to give you clarity, insight and passion for the purpose He has for your life.

One of my favorite passages of scripture is in Galatians 6 from The Message:

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.  Don’t be impressed with yourself.  Don’t compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Be uniquely you!!

Are you ready to get started?

Today’s post comes from friend and fellow leader Trisha Davis. Thoughts and insights on leading from the Second Chair.

I am so blessed and excited to be a guest writer on Jenni’s blog today! Jenni and I met 8 years ago when my husband Justin was on staff at the church she attended. We have recently reconnected as my husband took a job at Cross Point Church where Jenni serves as the Executive Director.

One thing that Jenni and I have in common is our passion for leadership. Each time we get together we enjoy deep discussions about how to be better leaders, how to help others be better leaders and what leaders are currently impacting our lives.

So you may be wondering what do I do for a living? What is my title…. Are you ready? Well sorry to disappoint you but I don’t have a title. I have always led from the SECOND CHAIR. Let me further explain. Justin has been a pastor for 13 yrs (you can read our story HERE). I have not only been his #2 leader at certain times in ministry, I have played that role for many other leaders without a title or pay. I have had offers and opportunities but for the past 13 years my primary focus has been being a full-time stay-at-home mom to my three awesome boys and a part-time/full-time leader from the second chair. So I am sure your are asking yourself… “then what does this chick know about leadership?”

Webster’s defines a leader as “Someone who leads.” Leadership is not defined by a title or the number of people you are leading. I have met many people that have big dreams or feel as if they don’t have a big enough dream that are either waiting for a title or a belief in themselves to make those dreams a reality. While they wait, they see others who are less gifted to lead take off in pursuit of their dreams. Often, frustration and defeat sets in and the once big dream has now turned into bitterness and resentment. While I don’t believe that all of us are wired to be CEOs or Executive Directors, I do believe that God has given all of us the gift to lead from the second chair!

Leading from the second chair for me has been birthed from two passions and three principles. I have a passion to help people find their way back to God AND to help them discover God’s purpose and plan for their lives. In order to make these passions a reality from the second chair, I have lived by these three principles:

1. Leadership is about influence and using that influence to spur others toward a common goal.
2. Leading from the second chair eventually requires you to learn to lead from the first chair or to submit to someone else’s leadership.
3. A GOOD leader leads… a GREAT leader teaches others to lead.

I have had the privilege to see first hand three women who lead from the second chair although there are many more I could write about! Angie has taken her pain of loss and grief and turned into a website and soon to be book. Although she is not counseling every person that’s on a similar journey, from the second chair she has provided encouragement, affirmation and hope! She and her best friend  Jessica also started a book club to provide further encouragement! My dear friend Brandi’s second chair leadership has MANY different facets, but one of my favorites is her blog. She uses her second chair to inspire, encourage and just make people laugh, that yes, even pastors’ families aren’t perfect.

Any further insights or experience you have had in leading from the second chair?

I’m excited to announce that one week from today I’m launching something that has been on my heart for years.

I’ve shared with you before that I feel like God has called and gifted me to lead leaders, however I feel that he’s also given me a responsibility to specifically encourage, support and empower other women leaders.  Honestly, I’ve battled that second part for some time now.  Pridefully I’ve wanted to be known as a great leader, not just a great female leader… so much so that I’ve been reluctant to niche myself specifically to females in leadership.

After continually battling this with God and then getting a swift kick in the pants from my sister who said “just do it already!”, I’m launching Cultivate Her.

Cultivate Her is a leadership environment where women are inspired, challenged and encouraged in their leadership growth.  No matter what your leadership influence looks like, your gifts will be cultivated to encourage you to embrace our motto “wherever you lead, lead well”!

Cultivate Her will be a monthly gathering in Nashville.  Our first event is:

Friday, September 11th

7:00-8:30 AM

The Cafe at Cross Point

If you are interested in joining us, you can RSVP HERE!

I need to say a BIG THANKS in advance to the Cultivate Her planning team that has toiled with me for months over this event.  Lindsey, Ashley, Hilda, Trisha, Sarah, Eve & Kat – I love you guys and am blessed to lead beside you!

**Logo design by TexaSUS Design.  Go check out her work – she’s amazing!

PS – The Cultivate Her website is still under construction.  I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s officially launched.

I’m a chick in church leadership.

Yep, there I said it.  Kinda stating the obvious I know, but I’ve been dragging my feet about really engaging this topic.

I have such a passion for gender to not be the polarizing issue that it tends to be in the church and yet I’ve been afraid to really engage it.  If I’m honest I’m fearful that I’ll get pegged as the “church leader chick” and I won’t earn credibility with my male counterparts.  I’m afraid that I’ll ruffle some of your feathers because I have pretty strong, passionate views on the issue.  I’m afraid that some of you won’t take me seriously because I’m a woman and you’ll think I’m just trying to promote an agenda.  My list of excuses and fears goes on and on…

But…

I can’t seem to escape it.

More and more young women in leadership reach out to me to talk about my role and how I navigate it as a woman.  More frequently I’m talking to male leaders who are trying to figure out how to involve women more effectively in leadership positions.  And every day my beliefs, passions and convictions grow, forcing me to evaluate how I’m supposed to use this influence.

I believe I am called to lead leaders (regardless of gender), but I also feel that I have a responsibility to encourage, support and champion female leaders.  I sense that God has given me this role of influence to use wisely in helping to pave the way for leaders who will come after me.  (And just to make sure I got the message, God strategically used my own Pastor to reinforce this with his message on Esther a couple of weeks ago.)

So, I’m really praying and seeking God about what this means.  I have some ideas brewing and am having strategic conversations with peers, friends and mentors.  But I would love to know from you:

What do you believe is the most pressing issue for women in church leadership?