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How do mentors and sponsors impact our leadership and how do we find them? Listen in to hear how Jo and Steph’s leadership has been helped by mentors and sponsors and what we can all do to open the doors for others.
Discussion questions:
- Who could you sponsor right now? Where do you have influence? Is there someone who you can open a door for who is a different gender or background than you?
- Are you praying about finding a mentor/sponsor? Are you meant to take a next step in approaching someone or keep sowing in prayer right now?
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
www.leadstoriesmedia.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Lead Stories resources at: www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources
Today on this Lead Voices episode of The Lead Stories Podcast Jo and Steph talk with Natalie Manual Lee - Executive Producer and host of Now with Natalie on the Hillsong Channel.
Follow Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliemanuellee/
Do you have a tribe? Join Jo and Steph as they talk about the why and hows of maximising your tribe and the barriers to them.
Things that hinder us from being part of a tribe:
- Feeling you need to / should do something on your own
- Feeling we are in competition with others
- Idolising the nuclear family
‘Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.’ Ephesians 2:10 - Message translation.
Target image:
Click here to get the target image that Steph mentioned
Discussion questions:
- Do you desire to have an ‘oikos’ - an extended family that is committed to you? Have you prayed about it? What is God saying about the next step?
- Do you feel a spirit of competition or a spirit of helping others when it comes to available opportunities?
- What opportunities are available to you right now for building community that you could step towards courageously?
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
www.leadstoriesmedia.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Lead Stories resources at: www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources
Listen in today (and be moved!) as Steph shares about her recent trip to Uganda and what she encountered regarding the celebration of leadership and women there. Listen in also to hear an introduction to the new Lead Stories series - ‘Maximizing your leadership’.
Resources:
Graham Hill - Global Church Project
https://theglobalchurchproject.com/
Discussion questions:
- How would you feel if someone celebrated and literally danced when hearing your calling? Read Zephaniah 3:17 and reflect.
- When you think about your leadership, what things help you be most effective?
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
www.leadstoriesmedia.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Lead Stories resources at: www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources
This episode originally aired in the Lead On series in November 2017.
When you lead you will be criticized. So how can we lead on in the midst of criticism? Jo and Steph talk from personal experience about how they have received criticism and how to filter negative feedback without getting bitter or discouraged.
Discussion questions:
- What have you not done for the Kingdom because of the fear of rejection or criticism?
- What inner critique do you have of other leaders that you haven’t processed yet?
- What is at stake if you don’t lead on in the midst of criticism or potential criticism?
Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Read more at http://leadstoriespodcast.com/2017/11#bi0ZxOyFRZ2rtSj1.99
Journey with Pastor Steph and experience the moment when a community gets fresh water for the first time!
To help the O'Briens fund a well for a community just like the one featured in this podcast head to:
You can also see photos of what you are hearing!
The group they traveled with is FieldsOfLife.org
Spring Break Replay during the month of March! Enjoy these previously published favorites! Also, check out this link to download a copy of "Lead On: A Resource for Leading in the Midst of Anxious Times"
We need practical tools to help us thrive in a world of comparison and competition, which so often begins with our minds!
This week Jo and Steph talk about internal and external struggles with comparison and competition and how we can practically face them head on, changing our mindsets, practice and culture.
Discussion questions:
1. Where is your biggest struggle with comparison and competitivity right now? Internally or externally?
2. How easy do you find it to affirm and encourage others who are doing what you want to be doing? Who can you encourage today?
3. How clear are you on your vision and what God has called you to do? You could start by writing out a list of the things you are clear on - your gifts, calling etc. Knowing what we are called and gifted to do can help us not to compare so much with others.
4. Jo said: “In a competitive mindset, you have just given others something God has given you, but in a God-given mindset you have just multiplied”. Jesus desired his disciples to go further and do more than he did. How do you feel about discipling others who may do more and go further than you will? Is there a mindset you need to repent of? What practical things can you do going forward to encourage, release and celebrate your disciples?
Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Spring Break Replay during the month of March! Enjoy these previously published favorites! Also, check out this link to download a copy of "Lead On: A Resource for Leading in the Midst of Anxious Times"
Comparison and competition are as old as Cain and Abel. Rachel and Leah struggled with it and the disciples too. This week Jo and Steph discuss the difference between a scarcity and an abundance mindset and ask how we can create cultures where people can flourish rather than strive or withdraw.
Discussion questions:
1. Can you think of a time when you compared yourself to someone else and then gave up or withdrew from a situation? Where did you have a scarcity mindset?
2. Can you think of a time when you compared yourself to someone else and it made you want to strive to compete and be the best? What suffered as a result?
3. As a leader do you prepare for abundance or fear scarcity? Can you give some specific examples?
Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at: www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at: www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Spring Break Replay during the month of March! Enjoy these previously published favorites! Also, check out this link to download a copy of "Lead On: A Resource for Leading in the Midst of Anxious Times"
Last week Jo and Steph discussed the Imposter Syndrome and this week they show you how to overcome it!
Using the letter A (because Jo has loved Sesame Street since childhood) they are going to discuss 8 points which use the letter A.
1) Admit this a problem and begin to address it.
2) Assess your strengths and your weaknesses
3) Asking for feedback
4) Awareness of spiritual warfare
5) Accept an accurate view of yourself.
6) Acquiring a healthy community
7) Acknowledging that you are a work in progress
8) It is not about arriving - it never was.
Discussion questions:
1) Where can you identify the Imposter Syndrome influencing your ability to move forward?
2) Which of the steps above do you feel God is highlighting to you to focus on as you take Imposter Syndrome on?
3) Do you regularly take time to assess your strengths and weaknesses and make a plan moving forward? Is there someone else you can invite into this journey to do together?
Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at: www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at: www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Spring Break Replay during the month of March! Enjoy these previously published favorites! Also, check out this link to download a copy of "Lead On: A Resource for Leading in the Midst of Anxious Times"
Jo and Steph discuss the ‘Imposter syndrome’ today, the feeling that many people have, even high achievers, that they just got lucky and are not as able as it appears. ‘Imposter syndrome’ is an internal insecurity and a fear that eventually they will be figured out and exposed for who they really are. It can cause anxiety, depression and fear.
Listen in to hear Jo and Steph share their personal struggles with the imposter syndrome, and how important language is to help us own the callings God has given us.
Parable of the Sower - Luke 8
Song by The Brand New Heavies, ‘Fake’:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nMvh0LLt5G8
Articles on the Imposter syndrome:
https://www.thecut.com/2017/01/25-famous-women-on-impostor-syndrome-and-self-doubt.html
http://www.paulineroseclance.com/pdf/ip_high_achieving_women.pdf
Discussion questions:
1) Where have you felt the imposter syndrome present in your life?
2) Where have you held back in a meeting or pursing the vision God has given you because you don’t feel worthy yet?
3) Can you accept a compliment by saying ‘thank you’ rather than dismissing it?
4) What words are you afraid to use to apply to what God has called you to step into (I’m a pastor, leader, teacher, writer, mother,…)
Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Join international speaker Pastor Laurel Bunker as she chats healthy and unhealthy sacrifices with Jo and Steph. Listen in to this passionate conversation to hear how she responds positively to the sacrifices of being a black female leader and what she does to sustain God’s call on her life without making unhealthy sacrifices.
Discussion questions:
- Can you name some positive sacrifices you have made in your leadership?
- Can you identify some negative sacrifices you have made in your leadership?
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
www.leadstoriesmedia.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Lead Stories resources at: www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources
Pastor Steph grew up with parents who understood the sacrifice of leadership in full-time ministry. Listen in as Jo interviews her about what her early understandings of leadership and sacrifice were and what being a leader has cost her as a woman and as someone who breaks many different stereotypes.
Discussion questions:
- How are you different from other people? What is your leadership ‘flavor’?
- Where do you particularly find it difficult to disappoint others?
- What things have you had to give us as a leader?
You can pre-order Steph’s book which releases in the fall now! It’s called: ‘Stay Curious - How questions and Doubts can strengthen your faith.’
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
www.leadstoriesmedia.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Lead Stories resources at: www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources
Steph interviews Jo on the role of sacrifice in her leadership journey. Listen in to hear Jo discuss the sacrifices she has faced since her earliest leadership, as a single in her twenties and as a woman and mother leader as well as some of the sacrifices universal to us all.
Discussion questions:
- Can you identify a time in your life when you make a healthy sacrifice in leadership and a time when you made an unhealthy sacrifice? What is the difference in your opinion?
- Think about your leadership journey. What have been the greatest sacrifices? What have been the breakthroughs that have come as a result?
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
www.leadstoriesmedia.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Lead Stories resources at: www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources
What are some of the sacrifices of leadership that you can think of? Join Jo and Steph as they share some of the sometimes necessary sacrifices of leadership and also how we can approach them so that they don’t come as a surprise to us.
Discussion questions:
- Which of the sacrifices that Jo and Steph mentioned can you most identify with? Did it come as a surprise to you?
- Where might you be sacrificing where God is not actually asking you to?
- Where might there be a reluctance to sacrifice where God is asking you to?
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Lead Stories resources at: www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources
Embrace the positive and avoid the negative ways to engage with personality and strengths assessments as a leader. Listen in as Jo and Steph share how they can be helpful tools for leading and working as a team, with a particular focus on how to get the best out of Myers Briggs, Strengths Finder and Enneagram.
Resources:
Myers Briggs
Strengths Finder
Enneagram
Book: The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher L. Heuertz
Ian Cron’s Typology podcast: https://www.typologypodcast.com/
Listen in to the end to hear about the new upcoming series!
Discussion questions:
- Which personality / strengths assessments tests have you found helpful? In what ways?
- Which of the negative ways these tools have been used can you identify with?
- What is your next step to engage with what God may be saying to you through these tools?
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Lead Stories resources at: www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources
Whether you want to find out how Jo says ‘aluminium’ or whether you would like to fine-tune your personal wellbeing this year, you are encouraged to listen in to today’s tool of the trade: the Personal Development Plan. (Click here or go to leadstoriesmedia.com/resources to get your free personal pdf download.)
Check out Christine Osgood’s wellbeing resources at: www.theurbanretreat.info
Discussion questions:
- Which of the 6 areas (spiritual, cognitive, relational, meaning, physical, emotional) do you want to make goals with for the next three months?
- Who are the people who can hold you accountable or join you in reaching your goals?
Connect with Lead Stories and Jo and Steph:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Enjoy this new episode of Lead Voices, the companion podcast to Lead Stories, featuring our friends who will inspire, challenge, stretch and encourage you. Today's guest is Jessica Honegger, Founder and co-CEO of Noonday Collection, author of Imperfect Courage, brand-new podcaster, and mom to three littles. She is passionate about encouraging others to leave comfort, go scared, and step into a life of impact.
- Leave perfect behind and embrace risk
- Lift each other up and celebrate the success of others
- Connect to community, both at home and worldwide
- Make a meaningful impact on the world around you
Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
www.leadstoriesmedia.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Enjoy this new episode of Lead Voices, the companion podcast to Lead Stories, featuring our friends who will inspire, challenge, stretch and encourage you. Today's guest is Jessica Turner author and blogger who lives with her husband, Matthew in Nashville, with their silly 6-year-old son Elias, spunky 3-year-old daughter, Adeline, and newborn son, Ezra. Jessica talks today with Jo and Stephanie about the challenges of juggling a full schedule of work, family, and friends.
Contact: jessicanicoleturner@gmail.com
http://www.themomcreative.com/
Books:
Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter and Thrive
Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
www.leadstoriesmedia.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
The Learning Circle is today’s Tool of the Trade. Join Jo and Steph to learn how you can engage with God and respond and learn from life’s ups and downs.
Video of this podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kie_en4YA58&t=
Mark 1:14-15
Kairos moment: an ‘aha moment’ or an event in our lives we want to learn from.
3 parts to repentance (a change in your mind):
- Observe
- Reflect
- Discuss
3 parts to believe (step into response):
- Plan
- Account
- Act
Learning Circle developed by Mike Breen and 3DMovements:
Book: Building a Discipleship Culture - Mike Breen
Description: https://3dmovements.com/learning-to-hear-gods-voice/
Discussion questions:
- Can you identify a kairos moment in your life right now that you would like to learn from?
- Who can help you do the ‘discuss’ and ‘account’ part of the learning circle?
- Can you think of a kairos moment in your life that you didn’t process and one that you did? What difference did processing make?
Want to go deeper with the tools of the trade? Jo and Steph are holding a private SWOT Analysis training for 15 people. Sunday, January 27th, 7-8pm CST $44 Go to www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources to sign up!
We interrupt your regularly scheduled day to let you know there are 11 new Crafted Coaching 5 week groups open for registration until January 16th!
Get your spot: www.craftedcoachingandconsulting.com
Welcome to season 6! In this series ‘Tools of the Trade’ - there will be some tools to help with the ‘how’ of leadership.
Today’s tool: SWOT Analysis: which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It is a diagnostics tool to help us examine our lives and be intentional going forward.
You can see this episode as a video (with whiteboard explanation) at: https://youtu.be/jCJ-O1nCYyk
SWOT axis:
Battles: Internal strength but external frustrations
Failures: Internal and external weaknesses.
Frustrations: External strength but internal weaknesses.
Breakthroughs: Where we are in a place of strength internally and externally.
How about getting together with another friend or two and doing this tool together? You can ask those hard questions and keep one another accountable!
Discussion questions:
1) Looking at your SWOT analysis, what is God’s invitation in order to more towards breakthrough in any given area?
2) How do you approach failure? Are you able to detach your identity from them and see them objectively? Are you able to take them to the cross and allow God to resurrect them?
3) Steph talked about breakthroughs starting with a breaking. Where have you been broken in the past season that you can, with faith, look for God to bring breakthrough in this season?
Want to go deeper? Jo and Steph are holding a SWOT Analysis training for 15 people.
Sunday, January 27th, 7-8pm CST $44 Go to www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources to sign up!
Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo:
Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox
Instagram: @LeadStoriesPodcast
Facebook: LeadStoriesPodcast
Connect with Jo at www.josaxton.com @josaxton
Connect with Steph at www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph
Subscribe on iTunes to have the podcast automatically download to your device every week or listen at www.leadstoriespodcast.com
Don’t forget to check out Lead Stories Community at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/community
Today's episode is a re-broadcast of an Advent sermon preached by Stephanie's Co-Pastor Michael Binder this December entitled "The Light of the World Radiates".
The entire Advent series from Mill City Church can be found HERE
Going into 2019, Jo and Steph are looking to equip leaders of teams and give them tools for leadership through the podcast and the online resources at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources.
Today's episode is a re-broadcast of an Advent sermon Stephanie preached this December entitled "The Light of the World Orients".
The entire Advent series from Mill City Church can be found HERE
Going into 2019, Jo and Steph are looking to equip leaders of teams and give them tools for leadership through the podcast and the online resources at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources.
Today's episode is a re-broadcast of an Advent sermon Jo preached this December entitled "The Light of the World Exposes".
The entire Advent series from Mill City Church can be found HERE
Going into 2019, Jo and Steph are looking to equip leaders of teams and give them tools for leadership through the podcast and the online resources at www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources.