The Discerning Leader Podcast Nicholas and Sheila Rowe | Discerning God’s Invitations, Episode 3
Sep 18, 2025
Nicholas Rowe, a seasoned professor in leadership with a focus on reconciliation, and Sheila Wise Rowe, a counselor and author dedicated to trauma healing, delve into the intricacies of leadership trauma. They discuss the emotional burdens leaders face and the importance of spiritual discernment in navigating these challenges. Listeners are introduced to concepts like big-T and small-t trauma, gospel-centered conflict resolution, and practical steps for healing and racial reconciliation, offering hope and tools for transformative leadership.
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Leadership Requires Inner Formation
- Many leaders enter roles without internal preparation, leaving hidden wounds unattended.
- Unaddressed interior issues make leadership relationally damaging over time.
Trauma Is Both Big And Cumulative
- Trauma includes both big-T events and cumulative small-T injuries like microaggressions.
- The authors refuse to judge another's trauma and prioritize personal experience and healing.
Attachment Shapes Leadership Relating
- Early attachment wounds shape leaders' ability to relate and trust others.
- Leaders who use relationships to fill unmet needs will create relational dysfunction in leadership.
