Adam McLane

Tag: leadership

  • 5 Ways to Encourage Your Church Staff

    One thing I learned when I was on church staff— rarely does a person really want what they are presenting what they want. In other words, when a parent wants to come in and talk with you about some ideas for the summer youth group schedule, that’s only the presenting issue. I know that with…

  • 5 Ways to Fight Loneliness in Leadership

    It’s lonely at the top. For those who work in the church, we all know it. Those who make it for the long haul either succumb to a lifetime of loneliness and don’t have any real friends or we learn to adapt and find deep connection outside the walls of the church. But loneliness doesn’t…

  • Have you declared independence?

    There is something in our DNA as Americans which is completely antithetical to the life Jesus calls us to live. It is our staunch, stubborn, streak for independence. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking the time to celebrate our nations independence from England. But let’s not get too caught up in it. As followers of…

  • Listen to the Right People

    Focus on transforming the people you have. The people in your church already have access to the people you want to reach. A popular speaker says, “You need to focus more on reaching than keeping.” That phrase shocks me. It sounds brilliant but is incredibly rude. Do you want to go to that church? I…

  • Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, But

    I’m always amazed how little leading most leaders actually do. If a leader takes someone where they would otherwise not go on their own— the fact is that most people we label as leaders are just people who talk about leading. On a good day they are administrators. On an average day, they are do-nothings…

  • 5 Things Leaders Do

    Drive people around them nuts Piss off critics Take you places you would/could never go on your own Care deeply about the goal, but even more about the people under care Celebrate victories I think the opposite it true, as well. I know someone isn’t really a leader if they… Are laid back about their…

  • Example

    I define a leader as a person who takes others where they would otherwise not be willing to go. In my view, this is why some leaders do great things for God and why others just talk about leading but never actually see something materialize. To lead others to where they would otherwise not be…

  • Affirm One Another in Christ

    We live in divided times. In particular, those of us who love Jesus are more divided than ever. A trip to the “church” section of the yellow pages or Google is heart-breaking. The church is polarized today. This is contrary, of course, to what the Bible teaches. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor…

  • So, you want to be great?

    “I aspire greatness with my life.” When I say that, almost universally people’s head will cock just a little bit to the side. American society, especially American Christian society, is so self-deprecating that you almost never hear a grown man say that. The truth is I am shocked how few people aspire greatness with their…

  • Hey youth workers… do you believe?

    Here’s the deal. Dirty little secret time. I think a lot of youth pastors, youth ministers, youth directors don’t believe in the power of adolescents to flip their world on its head. Adults think they can do it all. And they backfill that belief with anecdotal information to make themselves feel better. They think kids…