Churches today may have as many as five generations among their members. Differences between people of different ages can be a source of friction and also an opportunity for growth. Bigstock/Nosnibor137
In churches, as in the workplace, generational differences are a challenge. Understanding those differences helps congregations ask the right questions, says the author of two books on generational issues.
Many times institutions have traditions -- such as the Sunday service time -- that are preserved without a reason for doing so.
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Leaders must be able to articulate why an institution does what it does. Is it a matter of history, or is there a reason? writes the executive director of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.
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The practice of Nonviolent Communication begins with self-empathy and enables empathy and honesty that demonstrate love for God and neighbor, writes the associate dean of diversity and cultural competency at Western Theological Seminary.
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Social entrepreneurs have to understand the world they want to change. To do this, they must abhor the ills of the status quo and appreciate the system that produces them, writes a managing director of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.
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An organization with a clear identity will be able to narrate fully who it is, what key factors have shaped its identity in the past, where it ought to be heading, and why, writes the theologian.
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The stories we tell about ourselves and our institutions form us, as well as future generations. What core values do they convey? wonders a managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.
The church needs leaders who are theologians and CEOs. And seminaries and denominations should prepare pastors to be both, writes an elected member of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board.
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Frequent trips for work or pleasure have a cost, writes the director of the Duke Youth Academy. The greatest is our ability to nurture relationships.
Would proper training have been enough to have saved the life of Dr. McDreamy? Photo courtesy of ABC Studios
To adapt in a rapidly changing world, leaders must have skills as well as the wisdom to know when and how to use them, writes a managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.
Leaders in complex situations should think of themselves as gardeners who create the conditions to address the challenges they face. They should ask: What has to be true for an idea to blossom and grow?
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This question, suggested by business strategist Roger Martin, helps leaders and their teams turn an idea into an action plan.
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