Surface to Soul - Leading Well

Leading Well Community

Sabbath Rest

Worship | Rest | Recreation

Schedule Sabbath moments into every day.
Establish adequate margins for renewal.
Reclaim your interests and hobbies.
Do less and delegate more.

Collegial Support

Befriending | Encouraging | Crowd sourcing

Participate in a Live Well/Lead Well cohort.
Connect online via the LW Facebook Group.
Find a mentor to support your next steps.
Collaborate on projects with your colleagues.

Practical Learning

Rethink Assumptions | Reimagine Possibilities

Attend onsite & online Learning Retreats.
Join Master Classes and short-term cohorts.
Create an annual Reinvention Road Map.
Meet with coach to apply learnings to life.

Meet the Leading Well Planning Team.

Jim LaDoux

Rev. Matthew Short

Director of Coaching Services, Vibrant Faith Ministries

Assistant to the Bishop,
Greater Milwaukee Synod

Jim lives in Minneapolis, has been part of the Leading Well Leadership Team since 2005, and oversees the Leading Well initiative, cohort coaching, and the Siebert grant program. He finds Sabbath through journaling, listening to music and podcasts. He lives out his callings as a husband, a father, a coach, and a small group leader.

Matt lives in the Milwaukee area. He is being trained as a coach, serves as our technology guru, and oversees the Leading Well Facebook Group. Matt finds Sabbath rest through exercise, dwelling in the Word, and listening a variety of music.

Deacon Tammy Devine

Rev. John Weit

Coach,
Devine Coaching

Assistant to the Presiding Bishop, ELCA

Tammy lives in Bloomington, Minnesota. She is a Deacon, a certified coach, and works with Portico related to wholeness. She finds renewal walking, reading the Daily Text, and spending time at her cabin in northern Minnesota.

Deacon John oversees the work of the worship team within the Office of the Presiding Bishop and provides leadership on the bishop’s behalf in churchwide matters related to worship. This work includes developing and implementing strategies and resources that support worship in synods, congregations, and other local worship assemblies across the ELCA as well as planning and worship leadership for church-wide events. John has served as a musician for congregations in Pennsylvania and most recently as cantor to Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester,.

Who We Are

We are a collection of Christ-centered, Spirit-driven church leaders who strive to live and lead well in the midst of continuous change. We focus on what's present, what's possible, and what God is up to in our lives.

What We Do

We create in person and onsite venues for people to experience authentic relationships that spark collegial conversations around living and leading well, and God's dreams for the world.

What's Different

We believe in whole-life discipleship, the importance to tending to body, mind, and Spirit, and the need for becoming more agile leaders who anticipate and adjust to disruptive challenges.

LEADING WELL LEARNING RETREATS

Leading Well is planning to offer both an online retreat experience as well as an onsite learning event. Onsite retreats are held at Spirit in the Desert Conference Center, located in Carefree, Arizona.

November 15-18, 2022. | February 7-10, 2023
More details about upcoming retreats will be available February 10, 2022.

Join us for 30-minute "mini-retreats" during monthly Abiding Together events held the second Thursday of the month at 12:00 noon central.
February 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12
ZOOM
Call 408.638.0968 (ID: 541 252 9630)
Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5412529630

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

Short-term (4 session cohort groups
Becoming a Welcoming Church (Enroll Now)
(February 4, 10, 17 & 24 @ 10am central

Forming Vibrant Faith in Daily Life (Enroll Now!)
March 4/10, 17, & 24 @ 10am central

Growing Generous and Joyful Givers Enroll Now!
March 1, 8, 15, 22 @ 1pm central -
Leading Well through Living Well (PDF)
Ask Shannyn/Jennifer/) - Enroll Now!
Skills for Selecting and Supervising Staff (PDF)

Groups will be formed based on the # of people interested and people's time availability. You may also sign up to receive 1-3 hours of individual coaching related to the topics above if time constraints hinder a cohort from forming.

2 - Session Master Classes
A 2022 Winter/Spring MasterClass Season Pass offers you free access to all of the MasterClasses offered between January and June 2022. Use it for your own development and to encourage others from your church ministry volunteers or team to enhance their skills and understanding in their areas of responsibility. You will receive a promo code for your team to be able to register for courses without charge. This season of MasterClass offerings include:

January 19 & 26, 2022 |   Leadership by Jazz: Effective Ministry for a New Reality

January 20 & 27, 2022 |   Pivot: Now, Not Yet, or Never?

February 10 & 17, 2022. | Creating a Radical Welcoming Culture In Your Church

February 22, 2022 |   Self-Care for Ministry leaders

March 2 & 9, 2022 |   They’re Not Coming Back’: Embracing a Paradigm Shift In Ministry

March 2 & 9, 2022 |   Coaching Ministry Leaders Through Conflict

March 3 & 10, 2022. | Add

March. |. In a Perfect World: 5 Shifts That Will Fuel Faith-Formation at Home
March 24 & 31, 2022 |   Learning the Practice of Faith-Formation from Children

April 13 & 20, 2022 |   The Practices of Thriving Congregations

April 21 & 28, 2022 |   Helping People Struggling with Anxiety & Depression

May 4 & 11, 2022
Family Practices for Raising Faithful Children

Mar. | Creative Community Engagement

MAY | The Skills of Reconciling: Influencing Healthy Relational Environments
MAY | Building an Intimate Church Community
MAY | Teaching the Faith to Toddlers & Preschoolers

Year-long Cohort Coaching Program

(partially funded by the Siebert Foundation)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

10 monthly cohort sessions & 4 quarterly 1-on-1 sessions.
Assistance with developing a Reinvention Road Map.
Access to training videos and resources.
Access to Individual & congregational assessments.
Ongoing dialogue via Leading Well Facebook Group.
Access to 30-minute consulting sessions.

MONTHLY COACHING SESSIONS
Monthly sessions include time to:

Connect with and encourage each other (relate)
Pay attention to what's working, not working or changing in you (review),
Explore actions and approaches to a preferred future (rethink).
Receive support as you develop your ministry roadmap (reinvent).
Identify and access assets to support your intentions (resource).

Monthly Cohort Coaching Conversations

Meet via ZOOM Call 408.638.0968 (ID: 541 252 9630) | Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5412529630
Schedule a COACHING SESSION with Jim Schedule sessions @ https://calendly.com/jladoux
Participants are encouraged to read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, A Failure of Nerve, The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, and Crucial Conversations.
Participants are invited to join monthly book discussions, short-term cohort groups, and Master Classes sponsored by Vibrant Faith.

2022 Questions & Assignments

2023 Questions & Assignments

JANUARY | Be proactive

Review: How often do you let life happen to you?
Rethink: What are you currently tolerating? What's it costing you?
Reinvent: Create a 2022 roadmap. List the choices you make each day.

FEBRUARY | Begin with the end in mind

Review: What do you want for your family and Your church?
Rethink: How clear is your vision for your congregation?
Reinvent: Describe 3 ways you can inspire a shared vision this month.

MARCH | Put first things first

Review: What are your top 3 goals for today? This week? This month?
Rethink: How will you need to choose differently to fulfill your goals?
Refocus: List what you'll add to your schedule to support your next steps.

APRIL | Think win-win

Review: How often do you ask others about their hopes and values?
Rethink: What do you need to let go of to collaborate better?
Refocus: List a person/organize you'd like to collaborate with.

MAY | Seek to understand rather than be understood

Review: What does being a curious leader look like in a group?
Rethink: What causes you to feel understood by others?
Reinvent: List 3 questions you'd ask to better understand others.

JUNE | Synergize relationship, ministries, and systems

Review: What does interdependency look like in your settings?
Rethink: How do your gaps and gifts play a role in how you collaborate?
Reinvent: List 2 relationships or systems that benefit from synergy.

JULY | Team Training - "Sharpen the Saw"

AUGUST | Planting hope

Review: How often do you to lead from behind?
Rethink: How do you support/equip front-line leaders?
Reinvent: Strategies for leading from the second chair.

SEPTEMBER | Why change efforts fail

Review: Is your mission/vision statement captivating?
Rethink: How would you describe your church's vision in one sentence?
Reinvent: Write a personal mission statement; share it with 3 people.

OCTOBER | Change your culture

Review: Do your leaders have a bias for action?
Rethink: Share 3 reasons why great ideas to die on the vine?
Reinvent: List 3 actions you and/or your leaders will take to finish faster.

NOVEMBER | Change your conversations

Review: What do you like about your current culture? Dislike? Why?
Rethink: What would a culture of constructive candor look like?
Reinvent: List 2 ways you'll improve staff and church culture this month.

DECEMBER | Team Training - "Systems that Support Transformation"

JANUARY | Are you measuring what matters?

Review: In what ways are you living into your legacy?
Rethink: Shuffle steps toward transformation.
Reinvent: Create draft of this year's Reinvention Plan.

FEBRUARY | Which small habits lead to big results?

Review: What are some of your life-giving rituals?
Rethink: Which norms are working for your church?
Reinvent: Identify a new habits/norm to try-on this month .

MARCH | Are you filling slots or fulfilling callings?

Review: What's your process for inviting & equipping people to serve?
Rethink: If you could wave a magic wand, what would you do different?
Refocus: Write a proposal for improving how you'd share the ministry.

APRIL | What's your plan and pipeline for developing leaders?

Review: What criteria was used to select past and present leaders?
Rethink: What do leaders need to know and be able do to lead well?
Refocus: List 3-5 leaders you plan to intentionally develop.

MAY | Are you positioning people for maximum Impact?

Review: Do you have a process for selecting and assessing leaders?
Rethink: Who needs to get off the bus? Why?
Reinvent: List two leaders who need to find a different seat.

JUNE | Do you know how to delegate and share the ministry?

Review: In what ways have your leaders grown?
Rethink: How long is your leadership prospect list?
Reinvent: Making plans for building capacities.

JULY | Team Training - "Build Better Leaders and Teams"

AUGUST | Lead From the Second Chair

Review: How often do you to lead from behind?
Rethink: How do you support/equip front-line leaders?
Reinvent: Strategies for leading from the second chair.

SEPTEMBER | Are you inspiring a shared vision among leaders?

Review: Is your mission/vision statement captivating?
Rethink: How would you describe your church's vision in one sentence?
Reinvent: Write a personal mission statement; share it with 3 people.

OCTOBER | What prevents your ideas from being implemented?

Review: Do your leaders have a bias for action?
Rethink: Share 3 reasons why great ideas to die on the vine?
Reinvent: List 3 actions you and/or your leaders will take to finish faster.

NOVEMBER | What are you doing to change your culture?

Review: What do you like about your current culture? Dislike? Why?
Rethink: What would a culture of constructive candor look like?
Reinvent: List 2 ways you'll improve staff and church culture this month.

DECEMBER | Team Training - "Strategies to End Well; Start Strong"

Jim's Past & Present Living Well Road Maps

2021 Reinvention Plans

FAITH Intentions

Q1: Schedule quarterly Sabbath retreats - CO, FL, OR and AZ.
Q1: Participate in Thursday morning Men's Bible study.
Q3: Watch Introduction to the New Testament via Wondrium.
Q2: Discern who God has entrusted me to invest this year.
Q4: Attend Leading Well Retreat in Carefree, AZ

2022 Reinvention Plans

FAITH Intentions

Q1: Schedule quarterly Sabbath retreats - Belize, FL, CA, and AZ.
Q1: Embed journaling & Daily Examen into morning routine.
Q3: Watch Introduction to the Old Testament via Wondrium.
Q4: Attend Leading Well Retreat in Carefree, AZ.
Q4: Finish listening to the New Testament (Message Version).

FUN WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY Intentions

Q2: Go skiing at A-Basin with friends from Colorado.
Q2: Update lower level space for gaming, exercising , watching movies.
Q3: Take rail trip via Empire Builder to Portland to visit nephew, Ben.
Q3: Go to Barcelona with son, Brett to bike, sail, and hike.
Q3-4: Attend 3 family weddings.

FUN WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY Intentions

Q1: Go skiing at Telluride with friends from Colorado.
Q1: Spend spring break in Naples/Ft. Myers Beach with Gina & friends.
Q3: Hike Joshua Tree & kayak in LaJolla with son, Brett.
Q3: Attend Ben's wedding at Ranch Bernardo Inn in July.
Q4: Hike Sedona and Grand Canyon with Gina.

FINANCE Intentions

Q1: Increase giving to Prince of Peace's general fund by $100/month.
Q2: Add. $6000 to retirement IRAs.
Q2: Increase FICO to 800+; apply for pre-approved mortgage.
Q3: Replace deck overlooking the pond; replace bathroom vanities.
Q4: Increase retirement contributions to Portico by 1 percent.

FINANCE Intentions

Q1: Begin saving $250/month to buy bedroom & stairway carpeting.
Q1: Budget $2000 for start up costs related to new Coaching podcast.
Q1: Budget $1500 for editing and setup costs for book, Surface to Soul.
Q2: Enroll in the Reinvention Academy certification program.
Q2: Refinish garage flooring with Perfect Epoxy.

FITNESS Intentions

Q2: Begin practicing intermittent fasting 2-4 days a week.
Q3: Start averaging 5000 steps/day (35,000/week).
Q3: Schedule ablation surgery.
Q4: Weigh self daily; lose 20# by end of year (reach 180#).
Q3: Continue physical therapy session to strengthen shoulder.

FITNESS Intentions

Q1: Average 7500 steps/day (52,500/week) via rebounder or walking.
Q1: Reduce weight to 165# through increased walking & exercise.
Q2: Make decisions about the need for shoulder surgery.
Q2: Participate in a sleep study; focus on better sleeping habits.
Q2: Develop weight-free exercise routine for home & travel use.

FUTURE Intentions

Q4: Populate Surface to Soul Youtube channel for Coaching School.
Q4: Update format and content of all Coaching School tools.
Q4: Update team coaching/marketing chapters in coaching manual.
Q4: Develop 30 Leading Well tools based on book curations.

FUTURE Intentions

Q1: Update format and content of all Leading Well tools and resources.
Q1-2: Learn Final Cut Pro; use to edit work-related Youtube videos.
Q3: Submit coaching hours log; apply for PCC-level ICF certificate.
Q3: Create Udemy-style online learning modules for Coaching School.

FORM CONSISTENT HABITS that help me live and lead well
Review monthly; rank consistency (0=never; 5-Almost always)

5: Regularly arise at 5am; go to bed by 10:30pm.
3: Average 7500+ steps a day and 50,000+ steps a week.
2: Schedule 2-hour content creation time blocks.
4: Read at least one book a week; summarize takeaways.
5: Monitor FICO score; maintain scores within a 780-820 range.

FORM BETTER HABITS Intentions (1=rarely; 5=most of the time)
Review monthly; rank consistency (0=never; 5-Almost always)

0: Create and post 3 blogs a week.
0: Create 2 Youtube videos per week for clients and Coaching School.
5: Drink 64 oz of water before 8am; Continue plank & kettlebell routine.
2: Connect with 2 friends by phone every week.
2: Maintain zero inbox every day; process emails 3 times a day.

MONTHLY GOAL for Each 2021 Leading Well Theme

JAN: Measure what matters - create personal financial scorecard.
FEB: Develop small habits - build on 3-hour morning routine.
MAR: Fulfill callings - help sons discover and deploy their callings.
APR: Develop people - help VF coaches become ICF-certified.
MAY: Place people in the right seat -
JUN: Delegate/share the ministry -
JUL: Build better leaders/teams - create coaching teams module.
AUG: Lead from second chair - propose changes in VF systems.
SEP: Inspire a shared vision - reframe the use of VF's website.
OCT: Implementing your ideas - create better tracking system.
NOV: Change your culture - launch Planner to increase collaboration.
DEC: End well; start strong - use week before New Year's to reinvent.

MONTHLY GOAL for Each 2022 Leading Well Theme

JAN: Be proactive - create 2022 roadmaps that shape a preferred future.
FEB: Begin with the end in mind - list clear, compelling goals for February.
MAR: Put first things first - prioritize time spend with wife/children.
APR: Think win-win - research 3 ministry partnerships.
MAY: Seek to understand - interview current VF coaches about hopes/goals.
JUN: Synergise - improve coordination between program and admin staff.
JUL: Sharpen the saw - use July as mini-sabbatical for creating new content.
AUG: Planting hope - journal about ways to help others be more hopeful.
SEP: Why change efforts fail - list what I need to be more urgent about.
OCT: Changing your culture - address ways to discuss difficult conversations.
NOV: Change your conversations - develop 3-5-year goals for self/VFM.
DEC: Change your systems - create a 90-day content posting schedule.

Jim's 10 Observations/Insights from 2021

I need to focus as much on the journey as I do on the destination.
I struggle using systems that I didn't help create.
Clutter distracts and depresses me. I need to remove the clutter.
Don't organize items that should be discarded.
Keep only what delights you or serves you well.
Listening to current affairs and news drains my energy.
Small things, consistently repeated, result in major results.
I over estimate time involved in completing short-term goals.
I underestimate how much I can accomplish long-term.
I need to review, at least hourly, today's most pressing goals.

Jim's 10 Monthly Experiments for 2022

Plan tomorrow the night before to ensure a strong morning start (JAN).
Give away 3 things a day to Good Will (FEB).
Don't eat after 8pm for 1 month (MAR).
Don't buy anything unessential (APR).
Give up brewing and drinking coffee (MAY).
Read 1 book a day (JUL).
Seek to add an affirmation to every email I send to people (AUG).
Write in my gratitude journal every day (SEP).
Take and share a picture everyday via email, text, blog or social media. (OCT).
Call one friend or relative every day (NOV).

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Leading Well has a very active Facebook Group where church leaders learn form, pray for, and encourage others. Click below to check out the site!