Most of us know that we need help to reach our full leadership potential. With the abundance of options available, where should you start and how can you make the most of your time?
I really enjoy listening to podcasts, particularly those related to the topic of leadership. I spend time commuting in my car on most of the days of the week so, for me, podcasts are a great way to maximize the driving time while simultaneously keeping my eyes on the road and my hands on the wheel.
Here are three of my current favorites on the subject of ministry leadership.
1. Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
I’ve been listening to this podcast for close to six months now. Carey is a Canadian church leader who pastors a growing church north of Toronto. On the podcast he interviews other leaders and engages in some really interesting conversations. I love the casual feel of these interviews and how the discussions really get into the nuts and bolts of day-to-day ministry leadership.
Another thing I really like about this podcast is that Carey interviews well-known, respected leaders like Ravi Zacharias, Andy Stanley, Perry Noble and Louis Giglio. At approximately one hour per episode, this podcast is the longest of the three I’m recommending, but it doesn’t feel unnecessarily long in the way that some podcasts do. It’s fun to listen to and rich with helpful content.
Recent Episode that I Recommend: Time Management and Practical Tech Hacks with Geek Pastor, Wayne Cordova
2. Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
This podcast just started a few weeks ago, so it’s really new. As soon as I found out about it’s existence I subscribed. Many Christian leaders will have heard Craig’s name before. Craig Groeschel leads LifeChurch.tv, a rapidly growing and extremely influential church. Among Life Church’s long list of innovations is the widely used YouVersion Bible App.
On this podcast Craig shares personal insights, things that he has learned over the course of his many years in leadership. He talks in a way that is direct and to the point (episodes are typically about 20 minutes), and his tone is simultaneously memorable and warm. While he certainly draws on his ministry experience, this podcast seems like it could really connect with anyone desiring to grow in the area of leadership, not just ministry leaders.
Recent Episode that I Recommend: It’s About Time, Part 1
3. Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
You’ve likely heard of Andy Stanley, who planted North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, and now leads North Point Ministries. Andy has been a well known ministry leader for over two decades. This podcast has been out for a few years, but if you’ve somehow missed this one until now, be sure to check it out. Every episode contains valuable nuggets of leadership gold.
Episodes are short and combine recordings of leadership thoughts that Andy has shared in other settings with some commentary about the leadership idea being discussed. One of my recent favorite episodes from this podcast addressed the topic of delegation (see link below). This is not an area of great strength for me, so it’s something I needed to hear and should probably listen to again. :-)
Recent Episode that I Recommend: Delegation Dilemma, Part 2