Leading With Hope When Communities Change
What happens after the decision is made and things still do not feel settled? In leadership, we often think the hard part is getting through the decision itself. But what happens when the decision changes the shape of the community?…
Don’t Discern Alone: How to Build a Personal Board of Advisors
What if discernment isn’t something you do alone, but something that takes shape in a relationship? In this episode, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore what it looks like to build a “personal board of advisors” —…
How to Lead Communal Discernment Without Losing Trust
What do you do when a decision impacts everyone, but not everyone agrees? Making decisions on your own is hard enough. But in leadership, decisions often have consequences for an entire community. The challenge is building a process people can…
Should I Say Something? Discerning When to Speak Hard Truth
Have you ever sat in a room where something needed to be said, but no one said it? In this episode, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore the challenge of naming hard truths with both courage and…
Why We Delay Hard Decisions (and How to Move Forward)
Have you ever had a decision that just… lingers? A conversation you know you need to have. A leadership call that keeps getting pushed to the next meeting. You tell yourself you’re “still discerning” — but you’re not actually moving…
How to Follow Through on a Hard Decision Without Shrinking Yourself or Burning Bridges
Have you ever made a hard decision — only to realize the real challenge comes after? Maybe you’re in a church, workplace, or community where there’s real disagreement. You’ve wrestled with whether to stay or leave, and you’ve made your…
What to Do When Your Community Makes a Decision You Disagree With
Have you ever wished there were a simple formula for knowing when it’s time to move on, especially after your community makes a decision you wouldn’t have chosen? Sometimes the hardest decisions aren’t about starting something new — they’re about…
Why certainty feels good (and might be shutting down the conversation)
When tension rises, certainty can feel like safety. We’ve all been in a room where strong conviction takes over and starts to sound like control, self-protection, and avoidance. In leadership, certainty is often rewarded. It feels decisive and strong. But…
Don’t Let Fear Drive Your Decisions
Have you ever carried a decision that felt heavy? Leadership often puts us in moments where there’s no obvious right answer — just responsibility, consequence, and the hope that we don’t cause harm. What if discernment isn’t about finding certainty,…
You Don’t Have to Fix It: Loving People in Pain
Have you ever had someone trust you with something heavy, and suddenly you’re not sure what to say? A friend tells you their marriage is falling apart. A volunteer quietly admits they’re exhausted and thinking about stepping away. You want…