Spiritual Life and Leadership

96. Crossing Leadership Thresholds, with Jeff Crosby, Publisher of InterVarsity Press

Mar 2, 2021

37:44

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Jeff Crosby, Publisher of InterVarsity Press, has learned the importance of discerning what he calls thresholds—those places and times in a leader's life when it becomes clear that a transition is about to take place. Jeff shares with us the way he has been able to discern how to navigate these leadership thresholds.

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Jeff Crosby is the Publisher of InterVarsity Press, and the Chairman of the Board for the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association).
When Jeff was in high school, he was given a Bible and a book titled, Me Be Like Jesus? by Leslie Flynn. This began his journey of faith.
Soon Jeff Crosby discovered authors like John Stott, Francis Schaeffer, James Sire, and Paul Little, all of whom were published by InterVarsity Press, the company for which Jeff has now been working for the past twenty-three years.
Jeff Crosby and his wife re-opened a Logos bookstore in 1983 near the Indiana University campus. Though this was a risk for a young couple, it was a calling.
Jeff and his wife continued running the bookstore until a competitor that branded itself as “The World’s Biggest Bookstore” came along. That competitor was Amazon.com.
Eventually, Jeff Crosby was invited to join InterVarsity Press.
In 2015, Jeff Crosby became the publisher of InterVarsity Press.
Jeff never aspired to be a chief executive of an organization. Originally, he wanted to be a truck driver!
Several people were instrumental in helping Jeff discern next steps:
- Jeff’s wife
- Mentors
- An informal “advisory council” of friends
Books have also provided guidance throughout his life.
As a natural peacemaker, one of Jeff’s greatest leadership challenges has been to recognize that the absence of conflict is not always possible or even desirable.
Jeff Crosby has grown in his ability to embrace mystery.
Jeff has found it is more important for leaders to be attentive listeners than polished presenters.
You can follow Jeff on Twitter at @jeffcrosby2. You can find out about InterVarsity Press at www.ivpress.com. And you are welcome to e-mail Jeff at jcrosby@ivpress.com.