Leadership expert Kadi Cole joins Steve Cuss to discuss gender dynamics in the workplace, women's confidence in job applications, power dynamics in the church, and the importance of authentic leadership influenced by her background in nursing. They also talk about Cole's initiative to mentor young leaders in the marketplace.
Embrace personal authenticity despite societal pressures for true connection.
Inclusivity starts with leaders valuing and respecting diverse cultural backgrounds.
Challenge misconceptions about work to empower people in their careers.
Intergenerational mentorship programs bridge church and marketplace to enrich leadership.
Foster self-awareness, humility, and transparency for healthy organizational cultures and leadership.
Deep dives
Disconnecting from Connection
When individuals become bigger or smaller than human-sized, they face challenges in connecting with themselves, others, and God. Becoming larger than human-sized leads to a self-centered attitude that displaces awareness of others and God, while shrinking to less than human-sized results in self-protection that hinders the experience of God's presence and disrupts relationships. The key lies in maintaining a human-sized perspective to freely give and receive love and connect with God, preventing disconnection from oneself and others.
Navigating Unfamiliar Spaces
Entering a room where one is the only representative of their kind, especially when a woman among men, can trigger feelings of not belonging and intimidation. The experience of being the sole woman in a male-dominated space can lead to self-doubt, a desire to prove oneself, and varying treatment from others. Addressing such challenges requires rooting one's identity in God, trusting in personal gifts, and practicing self-assurance, irrespective of societal biases.
Intersectionality in Power Dynamics
The intersectionality of race and gender brings unique challenges where minority status layers amplify impacts exponentially. Women of color often compromise personal identity to conform to societal expectations, affecting everything from name changes to clothing choices. This 'camouflaging' behavior, driven by societal pressures, can be mentally and emotionally exhausting, highlighting the complexities of power dynamics and individual authenticity in diverse settings.
Empowering Inclusivity in Leadership
Leaders, particularly in majority cultures, play a vital role in fostering inclusivity and making minority individuals feel seen and valued. Personal engagement and genuine interest in understanding individuals' backgrounds and experiences can enhance a sense of belonging and boost confidence. Taking the time to acknowledge and respect cultural differences, such as using correct names, can significantly impact individuals' confidence and sense of identity within a community.
Redeeming Misconceptions about Work
Promoting a healthy theology of work and challenging misconceptions is crucial, especially for the 90% of individuals not called to full-time vocational ministry. Encouraging a holistic view of work, understanding work as a form of worship, and dispelling false beliefs about success and retirement foster a more purposeful and fulfilling approach to career. By equipping individuals with a deeper understanding of work's spiritual significance and value outside traditional ministry roles, churches can empower diverse forms of service and Kingdom impact.
Facilitating Mentorship and Holistic Leadership
Creating mentorship programs that pair young individuals with seasoned marketplace leaders in local churches enhances spiritual growth, career development, and relational connections. Intergenerational mentoring models not only bolster faith retention among young adults but also empower marketplace leaders to contribute authentically to ministry contexts. By bridging the gap between traditional vocational ministry and secular career paths, these initiatives foster holistic leadership development and enrich both individuals and congregations.
The Power of Exposure and Accountability
Acknowledging sin and fostering a culture of accountability are essential in addressing leadership failings and promoting genuine repentance and growth. Exposing harmful behaviors and fostering transparency, particularly in Christian leadership settings, can prevent hidden sins from perpetuating and detrimental power dynamics from harming individuals and communities. By adopting a proactive approach to confronting sin, leaders can cultivate a culture of humility, restoration, and genuine spiritual transformation.
Nurturing Authentic Leadership and Relational Healing
Encouraging authentic leadership rooted in self-awareness, humility, and relational authenticity is critical in fostering healthy organizational cultures and confronting toxic power dynamics. Understanding the impact of childhood wounds, personal insecurities, and hidden sins can guide leaders in cultivating self-awareness, humility, and vulnerability in their leadership approaches. By addressing destructive shadow sides, nurturing healthy relational dynamics, and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, organizations can promote genuine healing, growth, and relational restoration.
Cultivating Holistic Wellness and Spiritual Connection
Prioritizing daily routines that center on spiritual practices, restorative activities, and intentional self-care can enhance personal wellness and nurture spiritual connection. Engaging in mindful practices like morning quiet time, nature walks, and Scripture recitation can deepen spiritual grounding and promote a sense of peace and presence with God. Embracing holistic wellness practices and integrating spiritual disciplines into daily routines facilitate relaxation, inner peace, and emotional well-being, fostering a deeper connection with God and promoting overall wellness.
What to do when you’re the only one of your kind in the room.
The power dynamics and damage of the #MeToo and #ChurchToo scandals.
These are some of the heavy topics that Steve Cuss and his guest, leadership development expert Kadi Cole, consider on this episode of Being Human. Their conversation draws upon Cole’s years spent developing women leaders and working with diverse teams as one of the world’s foremost leaders in helping organizations navigate healthy gender dynamics.
Cuss and Cole talk about the ways people camouflage themselves to fit into a group, how men and women handle inner confidence differently, and what it looks like to be ourselves in Christ. Their discussion covers how leaders can cultivate safe environments that allow people to show up as they are, the effects of powerful leaders with unaddressed childhood wounds, and how Cole’s background as a nurse prepared her to engage executive leadership with a holistic perspective.
They also talk about Momentum Marketplace, Cole’s new initiative to help young, kingdom-minded leaders be mentored in the marketplace.
