Author Archives

Garry Brackett

BA - Fort Wayne Bible College
MAR - Trinity Evangelical Divinity
D.Min - Grace Theological Seminary
Birkman Certified Coach
John Maxwell Certified Team Member
Myers/Briggs Certified
FIRO-B Certified
TKI Certified
25 Years Executive Coaching

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Team Culture

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When the culture of your Team is weak, you must bring in an abundance of heavy, precise rules, processes and systems. But a strong culture allows autonomy, empowerment, and development among your people. A strong culture equals TRUST. A weak culture equals DISTRUST!

The ultimate question is “How do we build a strong culture in our Team? Understand that a great team has many voices, but it only has one heart and one vision. Consider these 3 thoughts ….

•Vision goes from ME to WE

•People do what people see. 

•Leadership is highly visual. There is no such thing as an unseen an unheard Leader!

Culture is about having in place a strong team cycle. A journey is simply passing various markers without ever considering if we should stop or turn around. A cycle on the other hand is a repeatable process that adds strength over time. Consider these 5 aspects of a strong Team cycle.

Believe Abundantly – This means there is an abundance of belief in People, Product, & Purpose (Why we do what we do). Think about it this way – when was the last time you  expressed belief in your team? In a culture that believes abundantly, the leaders believes in the people, the people believe in each other, each person believes in themselves and the people places belief in their leader.

Appreciate Consistently – Silent gratitude doesn’t work. Coach John. Wooden stated, “The person who scores the bucket has 10 hands!”. Consider using the book “25 Ways To Win With People” by John Maxwell. Teach a chapter each week and then challenge your team to practice what you taught and then report back next for week’s meeting.

Develop Intentionally – If you are going to have a strong team culture you need to develop them intentionally all the time. Give your team members a standard to uphold. The highest calling of any leader is to develop their team. First, you must be intentional about your own growth! Give others a reputation to aspire to!

Listen Actively – People must be in an environment where they are heard. As a leader if you are not listening to your team, eventually your team members will not have anything to say. How do you do this? Ask them questions – what can I do for you? Support your team members. Let your team know you believe in them. When you do these things, you will bring our the best in your team members.

Live Repeatedly – Vision that is not repeated is soon forgotten. Vision leaks! Keep the culture in the eyes and hands of the Team.

KEY THOUGHT: This is a Cycle that is to be repeated, not a journey!

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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All In

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In order to live a life that is all in you need to think like a winner! One of the key differences between people who win in life and those who whine in life is those who win are all in! Those who whine in life are not committed. Understand this leadership fact; “Everything worthwhile is uphill!” 

If you are going to live all in, let me say now, that it takes incredible motivation! A tremendous amount of energy is needed to keep your team motivated. There are always team members who are unmotivated.

Here are 4 key aspects of “All In” leaders that keep their team and themselves motivated:

They love their people

The love their work

They love winning

They love success of the people around them

You need motivation to begin, but HABITS will keep you in the game! Consider these truths.

•Healthy habits are a result of the right mindset.Understand that everything worthwhile is uphill and you must give your best everyday.

•You do not choose your future, rather, you choose your habits. It is your habits that determines your future.

•When you are all in you demonstrate commitment .

•You cannot challenge people to follow you when you are not moving.

•Would my peers describe me as “ALL IN”?

Question: How do you stay in once you get in?

•Understand the 100% principle everyday – What you don’t do today is lost forever – John Wooden. You do not give 60% today with the thought I will make up the difference tomorrow. It never works that way in life. We only have 100% possibility daily not 140%!

•Give your best effort to your highest priorities – You must be 100% at key times of each day.

•Share with others what you are doing – make a verbal public declaration to others about what you are doing.

•If you are doing the right thing, your “all in” should increase!

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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6 Barriers To Adversity

Do You Allow Prejudice To Exist On Your Team?

YouTube Link: Healing Hearts: Rwanda 20 Years Later by World Vision

Winston Churchill masterfully led the United Kingdom during the difficulties of WWII. He brought in a political adversary, Clement Attlee into strategic meetings in London. The crisis facing Britain required extraordinary talent not just people that you agree with. Churchill invited diversity into the planning and embraced the new strategy that made a difference. Why don’t we see this type of leadership more often in our modern time? Perhaps leaders fail to deal with personal discomfort, and they have a difficult time overcoming common barriers to diversity.

This Podcast will focus on 6 Barriers to Diversity

Fear of Conflict

Patrick Lencioni stated that all great relationships that last over time require productive conflict in order to grow. Unfortunately, conflict is seen as TABOO in the business world. Notice the comparison chart.

Unhealthy Vs. Healthy Conflict

Insufficient Personal Network

Most leaders enjoy spending time with others that are just like them. This does not open the door for diverse thought, ideas, opinions, and strategies to impact our leadership. Do your closest friends vote like you do, listen to the same music, and look like you? If so, you need to spend some time expanding your network.

Unwillingness To Deal With Prejudice

Opening yourself to diversity will expand your thoughts and your leadership ability. There is to our world beside vanilla ice-cream. It has been stated the world is like a hand and the people are its’ fingers. If you despise or hate one group of people you lose a finger. Also, you lessen your grip on the world.

Arrogance

Some leaders are so confident in their own genius that they cannot imagine other people adding value to their work. This breeds Uniformity! If you dismiss the ideas of others not like you, you will never reach your potential and never understand why.

Personal Insecurities

Insecurities is a very complex issue that may require a Mentor/Coach to help you. One of the best antidotes for personal insecurity is to think about helping other people and putting them first. If your insecurities are driven by other’s strengths or differences – start working on them or you and your team will suffer.

Failing To Be Inclusive

The biggest discussion to have in this point is about including Millennials into your leadership team. They believe that everyone should be at the table of discussion. This can cause real tension for you as a leader if you are not prepared to deal with this matter realistically. Face the fact that by 2025 75% of the workforce will be made up of Millennials. Currently they feel less included and connected with the people in the workplace than other generations. Stop thinking of diversity as gender, age, and race and start thinking about personality, values, and abilities. This is exactly how Millennials see their world.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

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Uniformity To Diversity

What Can Rwanda Teach Us?

YouTube Link: Healing Hearts: Rwanda 20 Years Later by World Vision

Historical Overview

•Belgium and German Colonialists favored the Tutsi Tribe over the Hutu Tribe. In turn this set up Tribal tension in the country.

•The Hutu revolution in 1959 forced over 300,000 Tutsi’s to flee. This would open the door for the Hutu’s to gain power by 1973 by means of a military coup which opened the door for a Hutu Leader.

•Racial and Tribal tensions only escalated. April 6, 1994 after the Hutu Leaders plane was shot down leaving no survivors, the Rwanda Genocide began.

•6 Men, Women, and Children were being killed every 10 minutes ending in close to one million killed in 100 days.

OBSERVATIONS

•The history of Rwanda leading up the fateful day of April 6, 1994 was filled with numerous warning signs. Tribal hatred was becoming part of the everyday dialogue and rhythm of life.

•At one point in this building hatred the length of one’s nose was used to determine whether you were a Tutsi of Hutu and if you had 10 head of cattle.

•Surrounding governments and agencies from Rwanda were fully aware of the growing hatred and tension, yet never expressed concerns.

•What is the pathway for healing and restoration for such a nation? Forgiveness is the only true pathway to rebuild after nearly one million people were killed.

•The John Maxwell Company has been invited into Rwanda to work with all levels of authority by establishing Servant Leadership, a message of openness, forgiveness, care, and adding value to other human beings.

•It is now required of graduating children to participate in a summer program of working with other Tribes to see their humanity, listen to their ideas and work together for solutions before you will be allowed higher education or career. Never allow hatred of the past to rob our future!

If we do not learn from history, we are destined to repeat it again. The question for modern day leaders in the non-profit, corporate, and civil arenas is, What areas in our organizations allows for  indiscriminate prejudice to be tolerated? As Leaders, we have a responsibility to call our misguided notion of uniformity and allow diversity on our Teams. This is to include not only ethnic diversity but diversity of thought and strategy to move your organizations vision forward.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

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Team Diversity

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Are You an Expander or Container?

So, what is an Expander and Container?

EXPANDER – They love action, thrive in chaos, and are out their 100% of the time.

CONTAINERS – They are detailed oriented, Like to keep on top of things, they do not like chaos, they love to create systems.

As a Leader, do not make everyone around you like yourself. If you are an Expander, Find a Container. If you are a Container, Find an Expander!

As you grow your enterprise, grow your circles of influence. These circles of influence will be uniquely different. Develop a Outer Circle and Inner Circle. How do we understand their unique function?

Outer Circle

•Consists of Expanders. These individuals will only be with you for a season.

•They can help with vision and perspective. They are your fresh eyes that ask “WHY” on everything. Sometimes you cannot see the picture because you are in the frame.

•They complement the weaknesses of Containers•The complement the strengths of Expanders

ILL. – George Barna told a group of leaders in 1999 that people will primarily consume content online within 10 years. Now that we are in 2021, I would say that Barna hit the mark as an Expander.

Inner Circle

•Made of Containers. These people are with you for the long haul. 

•They can help in the day-to-day operation and implementation.

•Can complement the weaknesses of Expanders.

•Complements the strengths of Containers.

KEY THOUGHT: Expanders and Containers are not enough individually. Together they complement each other so that expansion of the enterprise occurs. Heathy tension is a good thing on diverse teams!

What are some lessons that both Expanders and Containers need to learn?•Containers and Expanders should both be appreciated

•Containers and Expanders should serve each other

•Containers and Expanders truly need each other

•The differences between Containers and Expanders should create a healthy tension. You cannot charge ahead full force without someone getting your attention to ask serious questions at this moment. Is this the right thing to do and it is this best price to pay?

•The differences between Containers and Expanders need to complement each other. Only then can you move from Uniformity to Diversity

Here is quick exercise that I did monthly with each of my Team Members. This exercise accomplished a number things; staying on track with the overall vision, encouraging diversity, recognizing accomplishment, and mutual support to each other. Perhaps this could help your Team and your leadership.

1.What progress have you made on the goals previously discussed?

2.What is causing you the biggest problem right now?

3.What are you planning/dreaming that we have not discussed?

4.What decisions are you waiting on me to make so that you can move forward?

5.Rank your personal happiness – 1=Very depressed   100=Extreme Joy

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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4 Biblical Metaphors on Leadership

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What Can The Apostle Paul Teach Us?

While leading the church at Thessalonica, Paul gives us 4 Metaphors that can be used to gain a clearer perspective of what Leadership should look like and its impact upon the Leadership vacuum that is exists. 

STEWARD – 1 Thessalonians 2:4; “But just as we have been approvedby God to be entrusted with the Gospel so we speak not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” Paul suggests that leadership is born from something that is bigger than ourselves and our immediate gratification. This Stewarding concept is more of an infinite-minded approach to leadership. This would imply the end goal is not winners and losers. Rather it is about the perpetuation of our work beyond the scope of our life. The metrics are not what we have done and how much we have made. Rather what decisions have been made that will allow our idea and initiatives to live well past my life span. For this to even have a chance, you must focus on people and their success.

MOTHER – 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8; “But we were gentle among you like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So being affectionatelydesirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves because you had become very dear to us.” Do you hear the words of endearment in Paul’s expression? What we can learn about leadership from the metaphor of motherhood is that leadership carries a basic instinct of care for others first. It is not about the words of endearment so much as it is demonstrating the care for others by means of our actions. More now than ever, people are asking 3 key questions from their leaders: Do you know me? Can you help me? Can I trust you? A negative response to any of these 3 questions will result in the departure of that team member. If leadership does not reveal a tender concern for others, that environment becomes toxic and unproductive.

FATHER – 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12; “For you know how like a Father with his children we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” Paul instructs more from a fatherly metaphor at this point. Fathers are to be the care-takers of the family name and family industry that marks the family signet. Through the fatherhood role we learn work ethic and discipline. It is not about getting just a paycheck but about building, creating something of value and worth for others. There is discipline and encouragement wrapped up the life work we choose. Do your work with integrity and honor for the family name.

Herald – 1 Thessalonians 2:13; “And we also thank God constantly for this that when you received the word of God that you received from us you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God which is at work in you believers.” The Herald metaphor of Paul at this point is more about accuracy of speech and reporting. If there was ever a day that accuracy of speech and reporting was needed it is NOW! Unfortunately, what we are witnessing in far too many places of leadership is manipulation of the narratives to persuade in a different manner and outcome. Truth is stubborn – it always surfaces so the public can see clearly. If our message as leaders is massaged in a manner to convince people of our products and purpose that cannot support its own weight, we become hucksters and shysters. Our mission must be pure, and our products must be accurately presented. History is filled with leaders that attempted to manipulate the masses. Historical outcomes have not been kind to these leaders. 

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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Being Jesus For Another

Practicing Missional Presence

In his 1948 book, The Seven Storey Mountain: An Autobiography of Faith, author Thomas Merton recounts a conversation with a Hindu man who was living a monastic lifestyle. The Hindu discussed the minimal impact of Christian missionaries in that region. There were many reasons, but Merton recounts one particular reason, “The Hindus are not looking for us to send men who would build schools and hospitals, although these were badly needed at the time and were very useful. The Hindu continued; the locals want to know if you have any “saints” that you can send us!” (p. 197). Keep in mind the context is 1948, however, there is something about that statement that draws us into reflection about being Jesus in a COVID world.

The Hindu’s question is really a question that speaks to the real priority of the call of God. Engaging in our world begins not with activity, but with a life in God. A deeply formed missional life is first about who we are becoming before what we are doing. Let’s face the truth, a vaccine is not going to cure hatred, racial prejudice, and sin. 

Currently 50% of faith leaders find it difficult to have a devotional life. Only 21% of faith leaders are satisfied with the time they spend on themselves. 52% of faith leaders practice weekly solitude. 55% of faith leaders read their bible weekly including sermon preparation. The Psalmist 27:4 (ESV) states; One thing of the Lord I have asked, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. There are two key terms to examine.

  • GAZE – This term occurs 51x in the Old Testament. The primary meaning of the word is to fix your line of sight upon God and also to attune your ears to the prophecy regarding God.
  • INQUIRE – This term occurs only 7x in the Old Testament. The dominate aspect of this term is diligently go after understanding and comprehension of God.

Spiritual and intellectual formation are tied together in the Psalmists words. Being precedes doing! Our world is upside down in ways that we could not have imagined 24-months ago. We are very distracted and disengaged currently. We need only look at the disciples in John 20. Christ was crucified and the disciples had failed. Despondent and discouraged, Jesus showed up and showed them his hands and side and stated; “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me even so I am sending you. And when He had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit…..” Instead of Jesus pointing out their mistakes, He instead sends them on a mission. 

The words of the Hindu in 1948 ring true today, “Do you have any saints that you can send to us?” Our COVID world is not looking for a program to attend, they are searching for someone who can connect them to the spiritual longing of their heart and a Jesus they seek!

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Mental Emotional Health of Pastors and Congregations

There Is Trauma In America

Slide Deck for – Mental-Emotional-Health-of-Pastors-and-CongregationsDownload

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

*** Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

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Conversations On The State of The Church

Where is the Church Headed?

9 Insights that have been discovered during our COVID journey.

  1. 1-in-3 Practicing Christians Have Stopped Attending The Church
  2. White Christians Have Become Even Less Motivated To Address Racial Injustice
  3. Signs of Decline and Hope Among Key Metrics of Faith
  4. The New Sunday Morning For Practicing Christians Online
  5. Why Millennials Are not Watching Your Worship Services
  6. Trends That Define American’s Relationship To The Church
  7. Generational Needs
  8. Pastor’s Concerns For The Christian Church U.S.
  9. Importance of Weekly Faith Practices Generations

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

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7 Church Trends in 2021

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Barna Group is a premier research company that has been involved in studying trends in the faith community for many years. They have been able to add the prior 20 years of research to the impact of our COVID journey to give us a powerful image of trends. Understand that data trends in your location may be different from the national snapshot. The important thing to remember is this is not a race for first place in returning to what we had pre-covid. We are attempting to understand trends over the long view of life and the possible outcomes of what we all have experienced.

Tony Morgan has contributed much to the national discussion on church trends as we move through this pandemic. The culmination of his research coupled with the Barna Group I want to give 7 trends that have emerged in the national dialogue about church direction into 2021.

•From Analogue To Digital – This trend is to move away from facility only church option. The digital  age is upon us in full force, Most church attenders engage the digital world as part of their family routine for work and home. It is time for the church to offer a digital presence beside merely streaming a facility-based style service.

•From Teaching To Equipping – For so many years church presentations centered around a teaching lesson with a challenge to alter a life-style behavior. The need to EQUIP has grown large in recent months. Equipping is more about  skill development than random lessons. The goal is to equip church attendees to become self-feeders. This allows the ability to thrive instead of just surviving. This moves people from becoming consumers of religious goods and services to qualified leaders that are fully capable of standing alone.

•From Gathering To Connection – This pandemic has awakened a strong need for connection that is more than just acquaintances. We are searching for meaningful relationships. We are searching for more than attending religious events.

•From Global To Local – Do not misinterpret this trend. It is not suggesting that global initiatives are no longer of importance. It is suggesting that local initiatives have taken on a stronger focus. Being quarantined has created a renewed sense of what is missing within the local community. It has also awakened the church to have an even greater voice within the community they exist. When life slows down for whatever reason we tend to see our local community and its needs more clearly.

•From Spending To Generosity – This is more about investing in equipping leaders versus the headcount of staff in each organization. It is reported that declining church’s have 35% more staff than is necessary. Instead adding salaries, invest in equipping others to be self-feeders.

•From Complexity To Simplicity – Busyness is not necessarily making you more like Jesus. The greater the complexity the more it reveals your decline as an organization. Agility is to be preferred!

•From Counting Attendance To Measuring Engagement – Measuring viewership is the incorrect metric. The correct metric is to make disciples. Leaders should be developing leaders. Engagement is more than viewership.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “Servant Leadership Questions” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Birkman Assessment

Leadershift by John Maxwell

Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!