Ron Edmondson

MARCH 27, 2023

It’s not unusual. In fact, it’s natural. New leaders often make rookie mistakes. I’ve been the new leader numerous times. In those seasons, I don’t know as much about the organization as many of the people I’m supposed to be leading. Each time a leader is new there will be new experiences that challenge everything the leader knows or has experienced previously.

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Long-term Delegation Edmondson Resistance 55

Ron Edmondson

MARCH 8, 2023

Often teams get in trouble by confusing activity with progress. This principle works in many areas of life. You’ll find it helpful in businesses, organizations, churches, relationships and in your personal life. Co nfusing activity with progress can be costly. I once wrote that growth covers over a multitude of problems. (Read that post HERE.) I know many organizations and people that mistakenly believe for a time (before it catches up with them) that busyness means things are moving in the r

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Short-term Long-term Objective Edmondson 58

Ron Edmondson

OCTOBER 19, 2022

A successful leader has likely developed certain habits which keep them leading well. I’m a student of leadership. I am consistently talking to and learning from successful leaders — regardless of their vocational field. If they have honorable intentions I can learn from them. (And learn what not to do if they don’t.). I’ve observed a few common habits that successful leaders have that may, in my opinion, separate them from less successful leaders.

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Succession Learning-by-Doing Edmondson Stress 65

Ron Edmondson

OCTOBER 18, 2022

I’ve learned over the years that if you want to have excellence on your team it will often come with quirks. I heard of a very well known band who demanded Skittles and M&M’s in their dressing room prior to the show. But there was always one color, which had to be removed. And the color consistently changed. If the band showed up and the requirement wasn’t fulfilled exactly as requested they would pitch a fit.

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Edmondson Learning-by-Doing Team Creativity 72

Ron Edmondson

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

In this episode of The Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast Ron and Chandler Vannoy discuss some good reasons for a leader to say no. Most leaders struggle at some point with overcommitment. We take on more than we can or should do and it impacts the quality of our leadership and personal life. Perhaps we simply need some good reasons to say no. In this episode, good reasons for a leader to say no.

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Edmondson Consultative Review Quality 67

Ron Edmondson

AUGUST 30, 2022

In this episode of The Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast Ron and Chandler Vannoy discuss how to create unity in the church. You simply can’t lead a disunited church. If a church is going to do all God calls it to do, there must be unity in the church. That doesn’t mean everyone agrees with everything. But everyone is in general agreement and support of the vision in the church.

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Ron Edmondson

AUGUST 23, 2022

Do you want to be a part of a healthy team? I have some phrases I use to indicate a healthy team. Do you like simple? This is really simple. In fact, perhaps we’ve made this more complicated than it has to be. I think there are values we can strive to attain which can help make our teams healthy. Let’s be honest, in team dynamics – just as in relationships – there are seasons when things are better than other times.

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Team Edmondson Diversity System 60

Ron Edmondson

AUGUST 2, 2022

Pastors and spouses can find true friends. Really, they can. Of course, people talk. People gossip. People love to share what they hear. And that’s true of what they hear from a pastor too. So, if the pastor talks about personal life, shares a concern – heaven forbid shares a sin or weakness – people will talk. I’ve personally been burned several times by trusting the wrong people with information.

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Travel Long-term Bond Edmondson 61

Ron Edmondson

AUGUST 4, 2022

As a result of planting two churches, I’ve spoken with dozens of people wrestling with a call to be a church planter. They want to discuss the biggest challenges they will face in planting. The challenges are the same almost every time. These are usually transferable to all church pastorates, but especially planters. 3 challenges for every church planter: Finances.

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Maturity Edmondson Budgeting Finance 58

Ron Edmondson

JUNE 22, 2022

In this episode of The Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast Ron and Chandler Vannoy share inexpensive development options any team can afford. Most leaders would agree that development is an important part of team improvement. Often the results you achieve are a direct result of the intentional effort to develop the team. But development can become expensive on already stretched budgets.

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Development Team Edmondson Budgeting 63

Ron Edmondson

MAY 31, 2022

Having participated in two church plants as a planter, and now working with church planters on a regular basis in a coaching capacity, I know first hand the fears associated with planting a church. It’s a leap of faith and one God is calling many to these days. My theory here is recognizing the fear and realizing their legitimacy is part of guarding our hearts against them.

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Ron Edmondson

MAY 24, 2022

I have learned and observed there is one common thing every pastor needs to be successful. I see it modeled in Scripture. Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

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Ron Edmondson

MAY 4, 2022

One tough reality of being a pastor is when people you thought were supportive of your ministry leave the church. For a variety of reasons, people will leave a church. Yes, it often hurts. (Of course, it is not “your” church it is God’s church. For those who are going to correct me.). Like when I was in the business world and lost a good customer it is hard not to take it personal.

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Ron Edmondson

MAY 3, 2022

In this episode of The Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast Ron and Chandler Vannoy are unpacking 5T Leadership. This may seem to be a self-serving podcast – and in some ways it probably is, but in this episode, I share more about the model of consulting and coaching I am doing these days. I actually think unpacking this might spur some needed conversations in your organization.

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Edmondson Leadership Consultative Review 60

Ron Edmondson

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

Ever wonder the secret to being a more thankful person ? I believe the secret to being thankful is in learning to be more content. We give thanks out of a heart overflowing with gratefulness. A full heart naturally produces gratitude. When we are content with where God has allowed us to be our heart will be more thankful. How do we do that? The Apostle Paul told us he had learned the secret to being content.

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Ron Edmondson

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

In this episode of The Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast Ron and Chandler Vannoy talk about how to change an already established culture. Change is hard in any context. Any level of change involves people. And every change brings an emotional response to change. The only way a leader can “keep the peace” in the realm of change management is simply to offer no change.

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Ron Edmondson

NOVEMBER 1, 2021

Years ago, I read an article by Raymond P. Rood’s entitled “ How Then Should Organizations Live ”. (I can’t find a link for the article now. ) Rood made the point that every organization has three basic needs. This philosophy resonated with me and, based on my experience, I can see how it relates to the churches, businesses, and non-profits I have led. 3 things every organization needs to thrive: Growth.

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Organization Maturity Bureaucracy Edmondson 62

Ron Edmondson

OCTOBER 11, 2021

The beginning days are critical in leadership transitions. I’ve learned the impressions created in the initial days – positive or negative – are often hard to overcome. The momentum a new leader should have can be jeopardized by the environment created during the opening days of his or her leadership tenure. Therefore, I make three requests of teams I lead in the opening days of my leadership transition.

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Leadership Learning-by-Doing Bottom-up Team 60

Ron Edmondson

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

If I could give one secret to leaders who want success in leadership it would be this: Learn people. I know it sounds too simple, but until you learn the people you are trying to lead you simply can’t lead them well. How they think. What they value? How they are uniquely wired. the way they respond to situations/change/trauma. Their unique interests and dreams.

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Succession Leadership Edmondson Tools 54

Ron Edmondson

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Leader, if it is “ driving you crazy” (Which is a phrase I often hear leaders say about their organization, their team members, or things that are impacting them at the time.) . Whether it’s a systems issue, a personnel issue, or an issue with the progress (or lack thereof) from your team, there are not many options. You can boil them down to a couple of main decisions. .

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Ron Edmondson

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Want to “shoot yourself in the foot” as a pastor? Hopefully, through this blog and my conference speaking I have established myself as someone that loves pastors. I came into vocational ministry mid-career and it gave me a unique perspective on the role. I want pastors to succeed. Of course, no one would intentionally cripple their ministry, but I have seen some ways pastors get into trouble if they aren’t careful.

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Edmondson Conference Motivation Career 69

Ron Edmondson

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Let me introduce you to something I’ve been working on for years, but formalized over the last few weeks. Introducing 5T Leadership. In my previous post , I shared that we were in another life transition. Here’s part of what’s next. 5TLeadership. Ron (and his strategic partners) coach and consult churches, organizations and leaders in 5 critical areas of leadership.

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Leadership Restructuring Team Building Edmondson 76

Ron Edmondson

AUGUST 12, 2021

There is one hard truth about leadership every leader must understand, but is difficult to receive by some leaders. The probability is good you won’t like this truth either. The one hard truth of leadership: Not everyone will agree with you – or even like you – if you are a leader. That’s hard, isn’t it? All of us – at a certain level – like to be liked.

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Leadership Edmondson Energy Organization 78

Ron Edmondson

JULY 19, 2021

Most leaders will have occasions of worry. Worry is an emotion. You can know all the principles of leadership and still struggle with occasional worry. I would love to offer some encouragements for worried leaders. . I’ve talked to some who say at least one day a week they are consumed with anxiety and fear. It’s the kind of frustration which, left unchecked, makes them almost want to quit.

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Edmondson Learning-by-Doing Positioning Definition 75

Ron Edmondson

JULY 15, 2021

Change has changed. Have you noticed? Of course, you have. It’s all around us. You might not have thought about it, but you’ve certainly experienced the result of the way change has changed. I first wrote these thoughts 9 years ago, and they are truer today. Change is constant. Always has been. But, in my opinion, it appears change is unique these days.

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Edmondson Resistance Magazine Quality 82

Ron Edmondson

JUNE 28, 2021

There are some bad reasons to plant a church. Please understand, I love church planting. When I moved back into church revitalization, part of the concern I had was I might not have a foot into church planting. That would be tough for me. After two successful plants and having worked with literally hundreds of planters, I think it’s in my blood.

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Edmondson Conference Energy Follow-up 68

Ron Edmondson

MAY 20, 2021

There has been a major communication barrier on every team I have led. It is huge, and yet often overlooked. Most effective teams at some point will do a personality assessment of team members. I work a lot with Myers Briggs, but there are certainly other great ones. At one time have probably taken most of them, All of them can be helpful at some level.

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Team Edmondson Definition Course 59

Ron Edmondson

MARCH 11, 2021

In this episode of The Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast with Ron and Nate , Ron shares how leaders create capacity. Capacity can be defined as the ability or power to do, experience, or understand something. We all need more capacity. A leader can only do so much. The team can only do so much. Capacity helps us do more. Great leaders know the more capacity the organization has the more potential it has to accomplish its mission.

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Edmondson Review Power Organization 80

Ron Edmondson

DECEMBER 20, 2020

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. As the song goes, “ it’s the most wonderful time of the year “ But Christmas can be a time of loss – where people face the reality of what they do not have – or have any more. Losing a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, or even a loss of income or health, can be another reminder of what someone no longer has.

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Comparison Learning-by-Doing Edmondson Uncertainty 92

Ron Edmondson

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

Clarity is often king in organizational dynamics. Words do matter and clear communication is vital for healthy teams. As hard as it is for me to zero in on one idea, I know a huge part of my job as a leader is to help people understand our vision and where we are going next to try to realize it (as well as I know at the time). At the same time, there will be a certain fuzziness on a healthy team. .

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Team Edmondson Bureaucracy Resistance 53

Ron Edmondson

NOVEMBER 10, 2020

Even a potential control freak leader like me knows healthy delegating actually improves the organization. Healthy delegation is critical to effective leadership, but I know so many leaders who struggle to delegate. I think simple works, so I years ago I identified four easy steps to healthy delegation. . Perhaps you are wondering how you could delegate when the church holds you responsible for getting things done.

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Delegation Follow-up Edmondson Learning-by-Doing 74

Ron Edmondson

OCTOBER 21, 2020

My story is simple. While enjoying starting a church , my established home church was struggling. It caused me to question what would become of all the established churches. That burning question in my heart lined with a church in need of revitalization. I agreed to be their pastor. The rest is my history. We have help start two churches and helped revitalize three others.

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Long-term Edmondson Energy Review 83

Ron Edmondson

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

Welcome to The Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast , a podcast of practical, actionable tips from real-life stories in leadership and ministry. The Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast is a podcast featuring Ron Edmondson and his son, Nate Edmondson. In each episode, Ron and Nate, both pastors, walk through a unique leadership challenge and discuss practical tips and counsel to address the situation.

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Ron Edmondson

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

I have learned over the years – many times when I’m not up to par in my leadership or life – it’s simply because I’m tired. Recognizing this is paramount to maintaining productivity and for preventing burnout. This has been truer in 2020 than any time in my career. When I’m tired: I become irrational about the flaws in others, There is difficulty concentrating.

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Edmondson Energy Operations Motivation 51

Ron Edmondson

AUGUST 18, 2020

You’re familiar with the common scenario where someone half-jokingly asks for advise for a “friend” Everyone knows the “friend” is actually the person asking the question. Well, that scenario happens in leadership all the time. I call it: The question behind the question. The question behind the question may be the more important question.

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Ron Edmondson

JULY 6, 2020

I spend a good amount of my ministry investing in younger leaders and I love it, because it fuels me to know something I’ve learned – often through trial and error – might help another leader avoid my mistakes. This is one of those type posts. Here are 5 nuggets of wisdom, young leaders: The more specific you are the more other people can help you.

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Edmondson Learning-by-Doing Advice Succession 57

Ron Edmondson

JUNE 18, 2020

Do you believe in prayer? And do you love your marriage? Well here are some suggestions for praying for your marriage. 10 Prayers For Marriages: Dear Lord, Grow our love for You daily. Help us to love each other unconditionally. Allow us to respect one another in an empowering way. Teach us how to complete each other, building us into one unit You design.

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