The post The Home Crowd appeared first on Mark Conner.

Are you passionate about a particular cause? Do you want to make a difference in the world? Then you could use some money. It’s commendable to have a vision for a better future but without provision not a lot happens. But asking for money is not for the faint-hearted.… Read the rest

The post My Top Ten Fund-Raising Tips appeared first on Mark Conner.

A few years ago, TIME magazine published an article stating that distraction was the pre-eminent condition of our time. Not only are we busy, we are pulled in multiple directions constantly by distractions of all kinds. The antidote? Mindfulness.

Mindfulness is about taking time to be still, to reflect, to meditate, to contemplate, to be quiet, and to think.… Read the rest

The post Learning to Retreat appeared first on Mark Conner.

… Read the rest

The post Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap appeared first on Mark Conner.

My first encounter with burnout was back in 2002. I experienced what I would call an ‘emotional valley’ that lasted for about 6 months. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me but it took everything within me just to make it through the next meeting, the next appointment or the next project.… Read the rest

The post My Experience with Burnout appeared first on Mark Conner.

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The post The Art of Coaching (Part 3) appeared first on Mark Conner.

The coaching process involves two aspects: (1) raising awareness and (2) building responsibility.

Creating awareness is all about helping the individual see themselves ("self-awareness") and their situation (what is happening around them) accurately. People can only deal with what they are aware of.… Read the rest

The post The Art of Coaching (Part 2) appeared first on Mark Conner.

In many ways, all of us are leaders. We influence others – family, friends, neighbours and school or work associates. It may be formally or informally, but it happens. We get to choose whether that influence is positive or negative, helpful or unhelpful. … Read the rest

The post The Art of Coaching (Part 1) appeared first on Mark Conner.

The post Pass the Baton: Successful Leadership Transition appeared first on Mark Conner.

In biblical times, we have a record of parting words from people such as Jacob (Genesis 49:1-33), Joseph (Genesis 50:24-26), Moses (Deuteronomy 31:1 – 32:47), Joshua (Joshua 24:22-28), David (1Chronicles 29:10-20), Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20 and John 13-17) and Paul (Acts 20:18-25).… Read the rest

The post My Farewell Address: The Meaning of Life appeared first on Mark Conner.

I would never suggest that pastors and church leaders work harder than other people … but church work has its unique challenges and pressures.

Here are five of them:

1. Ministry work is never done. It is open ended. There is never full closure.… Read the rest

The post The Stresses of Church Work appeared first on Mark Conner.

The role of a leader includes many tasks, including vision-casting, planning, directing, building teams, communication, training, problem solving and coaching people.

The primary means of leadership development in the Bible is through mentoring and coaching. Think of Jethro and Moses, Moses and Joshua, Samuel and Saul then David, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and his disciples, and Barnabas and Saul.… Read the rest

The post The Art of Coaching appeared first on Mark Conner.

Luke 5:16. As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer. The Message Bible

This is an amazing description of how Jesus lived and did ministry.

• He loved solitude - by the sea or in the country, on a boat or in a garden. 

… Read the rest

The post Your Home Base appeared first on Mark Conner.

Life can be very rewarding and fulfilling. It can also be very difficult at times. Two of the hardest things to do are handling criticism and confronting people, not that we should love confronting people (!) but learning how to do so in a loving manner.… Read the rest

The post The Art of Loving Confrontation appeared first on Mark Conner.

Win/Win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all situations, agreements and solutions.… Read the rest

The post Think Win/Win appeared first on Mark Conner.