By Owen Phelps, Ph.D. Director, Yeshua Institute A Jesus-like Leader is an S3 Leader – a Servant, Steward and Shepherd. But before we get caught up in some abstract concept of optimal leadership, let’s put the whole idea in a very concrete context. Do you make the development of those you lead a primary part of your mission as a leader? That question is a great litmus test of your sincere commitment to be a Jesus-like Leader – a true Servant, Steward and Shepherd. Parenting obvious The answer to this question for those in parenting leadership roles should be as easy as it is obvious. Of ...

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The vital leadership challenge of Engaging Hearts and Minds in Your Parish is the title of the second in an 8-part series of free webinars offered by the Yeshua Institute. In the series, Dr. Dan Ebener focuses on the insights of his newest book, Pastoral Leadership: Best Practices for Church Leaders, published by Paulist Press. The book is targeted to everyone involved in parish leadership at any level – from pastor to active volunteer. Ebener is author of four books and dozens of articles on leadership – and teaches in the Master of Organizational Leadership Program at St. Ambrose University in Davenport...

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The Yeshua Institute has released an 8-part series of free webinars with the theme Better Leaders, Better Parishes. The Yeshua Institute has offered several single webinars in the past six months, but the release of this collection of webinars marks the first time that the institute has offered a complete series of programs on a single topic. Presented by Dr. Dan Ebener, the series’ content is based on Dan’s new book, Pastoral Leadership: Best Practices for Church Leaders. “We’re really excited to make this series so accessible for people in parish ministry all over the world,” says D...

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There are four things you can do to build healthy relationships on the job – and to help yourself grow from being regarded as a taskmaster to being considered a genuine leader. The difference? When dealing with taskmasters, we’re inclined to focus on and achieve minimums. With a leader, we tend to commit ourselves to doing our best. Over the long haul that’s a huge difference – so large it could be the difference between success and failure, or profit and loss. Joel Garfinkle, author of seven books, says the four key drivers in building healthy leader relationships are: Enhance trust ...

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Learn how to manage – even master -- conflict in all of your relationships during a free webinar Monday, April 29, at 1 p.m. Central Time, provided by the Yeshua Institute. Keith Borchers, founder and president of Evangelium Consulting Group, will share his knowledge and experience about how to use spirituality and trust to turn conflict into an asset instead of a liability in every relationship and organization -- from a friendship to a family, from a parish to a multinational corporation. Stomach pains? “For many people, just the mention of the word conflict can cause stomach pains,” Keith says...

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By Owen Phelps, Ph.D. Director, Yeshua Institute A couple of years ago I was sharing the Catholic Vision for Leading Like Jesus with a Ministry Formation class when someone asked me: “What is the most difficult thing about helping people to become Jesus-like Leaders?” My brain told me I needed a moment to think about that. But my mouth blurted out an answer. “Getting people to realize and appreciate that God really does love them unconditionally.” And there it was. Out in front of God and everybody – or at least the 25 or so people in the room. I didn’t so much answer t...

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The Yeshua Institute is offering a free webinar that lay ministers and volunteers won’t want to miss. Called “You Are the Face of the Church: Ten Guidelines for Effective Ministry,” it will be webcast live Wednesday, April 10, at 1 p.m. CT. It will be presented by Ken Ogorek, a well-known speaker who also serves as Director of Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and is a consultant at Evangelium Consulting Group. Ken also served as recent president of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL). He will provide participants with 10 guidelines for effective ministry and t...

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A Catholic Vision for Leading Like Jesus Encounter is scheduled Saturday, April 27, in Hendersonville, NC. “Everyone is a leader some of the time,” says Dr. Owen Phelps, Director of the Yeshua Institute. “S³ Leadership Encounters are exciting opportunities to grow as a leader at home, at work, in your parish and in your communities while integrating your faith with your everyday life. The workshops have drawn praise from Catholic leaders and members around the world. In an Encounter, participants are introduced to the S³ Leading Like Jesus approach with a compelling mix of dramatic vide...

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By Owen Phelps, Ph.D. Director, Yeshua Institute At this point in Lent, with Easter coming quickly, it’s a good time to consider the challenge of letting go. It could be any number of things: Giving your children a little more independence and/or responsibility; Delegating some things to others at work who could be ready … or maybe not; Moving from your own home into a condo or assisted living arrangements because chores are getting to be too much. Whatever the circumstances, letting go is nearly always a challenge. So imagine what Jesus was feeling as his time to leave his disciple...

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One of our principles in The Catholic Vision for Leading Like Jesus is “all of us are smarter than any of us.” And just to prove our principle, we have to tell you that it isn’t original with us. We borrowed it from Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager and co-founder of the Lead Like Jesus Movement. Thanks, Ken. Now we’d like to apply that principle to pastoral leadership – but we need your help to do it. Specifically, we need you to contribute best practices from your parish that we can share with the rest of our readership. If there is something that you or someone els...

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