230. The Power of an 8-word Mission Statement, with Tod Bolsinger

Spiritual Life and Leadership

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Tod Bolsinger, Executive director of the Church Leadership Institute, discusses how to maintain a commitment to your mission even in the face of resistance. He also unpacks the importance of trust in leadership, as well as how to craft and use a powerful mission statement guide you in your church’s or organization’s decision-making.
THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Tod Bolsinger introduces the "Disagree and commit" concept, highlighting its importance in leadership.
• Leaders need to earn trust for effective mission adherence.
• Trust alone isn't transformation, but foundational for it.
• Tod Bolsinger emphasizes the necessity of investing in transformation over merely relying on trust.
• Trust and transformation are connected; transformation involves investing trust.
• Tod Bolsinger discusses his series of four books on ministry leadership, addressing common leadership mistakes.
• The first book, "How Not to Waste a Crisis," tackles the mistake of outworking the changing world.
• Markus Watson shares his church's challenge in pleasing crucial stakeholders during change.
• Tod Bolsinger stresses that organizations should thrive in crises, not just survive.
• Tod Bolsinger explains the "disagree and commit" approach as essential for leadership teams.
• Mission statements should be rooted in the church's context and community.
• Clear, 8-word mission statements with verb, target, and impact are vital for decision-making.
• Tod Bolsinger explains the significance of verbs, targets, and impacts in mission statements.
• Good leaders rally stakeholders together for a bigger cause, but can fall into the trap of making decisions to keep everyone happy.
• Mission statements should be tools for making decisions, not just taglines.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Tod Bolsinger:
  • Church Leadership Institute
  • Fuller Theological Seminary
• Books mentioned:
  • How Not to Waste a Crisis: Quit Trying Harder, by Tod Bolsinger
  • Invest in Transformation: Quit Relying on Trust, by Tod Bolsinger
  • Leading Through Resistance: Quit Pushing Back, by Tod Bolsinger
  • The Mission Always Wins: Quit Appeasing Stakeholders, by Tod Bolsinger
• Related episodes:
  • Canoeing the Mountains, with Tod Bolsinger
  • Disorientation and Spiritual Leadership, with Tod Bolsinger
  • The Spiritual Life of a Leader, with Tod Bolsinger
  • Forming Leadership Resilience, with Tod Bolsinger

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