Purpose-Driven Leadership in Church Contexts

Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D. is a cutting-edge leadership development author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets. Ryan is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author of Success Mindsets: The Key to Unlocking Greater Success in Your Life, Work, & Leadership and The Elevated Leader: Leveling Up Your Leadership Through Vertical Development. He is also a leadership professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University-Fullerton. Links Part 2: What About Our Culture is Holding Us Back? | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson RyanGottfredson.com Is There a Correlation Between Losing Faith and Moving? | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson The Research Behind Becoming Christlike | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson Is Your Mindset Limiting Your Leadership? | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson What Every Leader Should Consider About Community in Their Ward | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson Ryan's articles at leadingsaints.org Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community Transcript coming soon Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights This is the first of a two-part podcast conversation on effective church leadership. Ryan shares his extensive experience in leadership research and consulting, highlighting the varying levels of leadership sophistication he encounters in organizations. He categorizes leaders into three levels: those focused on safety and belonging, those striving for advancement, and the most elevated leaders who prioritize contribution and value creation. Ryan discusses the significance of establishing a clear, inspirational, and stakeholder-centric purpose within church organizations, drawing parallels to successful leaders in the corporate world. He emphasizes that a well-defined purpose can help shift focus from individual concerns to a collective mission, fostering a more engaged and vibrant community. The conversation also touches on the importance of mission and vision statements, as well as the need for clear values that guide behavior in challenging situations. Ryan suggests that church leaders should conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify key groups impacted by their leadership and to ensure that their efforts create meaningful value for these stakeholders. Kurt and Ryan delve into the complexities of administering temple recommends, exploring the balance between behavior-focused and grace-centered discipleship. They consider the implications of current temple recommend questions and how they may inadvertently create a caste system within the church. The episode concludes with a thought-provoking examination of how church culture can either uplift or alienate members, emphasizing the need for leaders to cultivate an environment where all feel valued and included. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights for church leaders seeking to enhance their effectiveness and foster a more inclusive and purpose-driven community. 01:48 - Welcoming Ryan Gottfredson Back to the Podcast 02:30 - Discussion on Leadership Challenges in Church Settings 03:34 - Introduction to Leadership Concepts and Themes 05:15 - Ryan's Background and Current Roles 06:14 - Consulting Relationships and Leadership Development 08:08 - Common Issues in Organizations 09:12 - Levels of Leadership Sophistication 11:09 - The Importance of Cultivating Leadership Environments 12:07 - The Role of Character Development in Leadership 13:40 - The Balance Between Behavior and Grace in Discipleship 16:16 - Temple Recommend Questions and Their Implications 20:08 - The Concept of a Caste System in Church Leadership 22:38 - The Challenge of Creating Inclusive Church Communities 23:01 - Indicators of Effective Leadership in Organizations 24:05 - The Importance of Purpose in Leadership 27:28 - Engaging Stakeholders in Leadership