The LeadingSmart Podcast

Welcome back to episode 16! Tim and Holly reflect on a year of unexpected transitions, courageous leadership, and the lessons that often only come through real-time experience.
As Holly approaches the one-year mark of relaunching The Ready Network, she shares a reflection called “12 Lessons in 12 Months.” What began as a simple exercise in reflection turned into a meaningful conversation about leadership, resilience, and what it takes to move forward when the future isn’t fully clear.
Together, Tim and Holly unpack several of the lessons that shaped the past year—from navigating uncertainty to leading with greater clarity and courage.
In this conversation, they discuss:
Why working with people you love and trust often matters more than the work itself
How cultivating a mindset of gratitude can change how you lead through uncertainty
Why doing things scared is often the fastest path to growth
The difference between managing time and managing energy
How leaders can get stuck in discernment loops and unintentionally stall momentum
Why clarity creates momentum for teams and organizations
How the rise of AI may actually increase the need for human connection
Plus, Tim and Holly share a few of their favorite newsletters, introduce new members of the LeadingSmart team, and continue the ongoing conversation about what it looks like to lead in real time.
If you're navigating change, building something new, or simply trying to grow as a leader, this episode offers practical insight and encouragement for the journey ahead.
Resources mentioned in today's episode:
Hollys book recommendation:https://www.amazon.com/Pit-Lion-Snowy-Day-Opportunity/dp/1601429290
Subscribe to the ready network:  https://www.thereadynetwork.com/
Hollys Favorite Newsletters: 
https://seths.blog/
https://fs.blog/check-your-email/
Tim's Favorite Newsletters: 
https://unbiasedjordan.substack.com/
https://sherwood.news/subscribe/
https://usafacts.org/
📱 Follow us for more insights and resources
Instagram: @timstevens
Facebook: @timstevens
💻Visit LeadingSmart.com
Listen to Leading In Real Time Podcast Series
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ2wnxRYYqm_ThAiSPBwjH7vQH5i3H3aK
Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
https://www.leadingsmart.com/podcast
Download The Simply Strategic Show
https://www.leadingsmart.com/books-2
📩 Have questions or want to connect?
https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk
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Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadingsmart-podcast/id1813933962
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Welcome back to Episode 15! 
What happens when you stop telling church leaders what to talk about — and actually ask them? In this episode of The LeadingSmart Podcast, hosts Tim and Holly Tate recap three back-to-back gatherings held in Palm Springs and Clearwater, Florida, sharing the raw, unfiltered topics that rose to the top when executive pastors and lead pastors were given the mic.
In this episode, you'll hear:
How they used ChatGPT and AI tools to analyze open-ended survey responses — and what surprising topics surfaced that never appeared on a preset list
Why meeting structure and meeting culture became one of the hottest topics among church leaders in 2026
How burnout and unsustainable pace showed up across both lead pastor and executive pastor groups
What an org chart exercise with 20+ church leaders revealed about structure, staffing, and what's actually working
Why pastoral succession is quietly front-of-mind for 20–25% of executive pastors — even when no transition is announced
What made one attendee call this gathering "one of the best experiences in the last eight years"
Whether you're a lead pastor, executive pastor, or church operations leader, this episode is a window into the conversations happening in rooms across the country — and a reminder that you're not navigating these challenges alone.
Mentioned in this episode:
LeadingSmart Gatherings (Palm Springs & Clearwater, FL)
Upcoming Large Church Gathering (10,000+ attendance) — Registration opens next month
Next Winter Gatherings launching in June
Free eBook: Simply Strategic — available at leadingsmart.com/resources
Subscribe + get notified when June gathering dates go live → leadingsmart.com 
📱 Follow us for more insights and resources
Instagram: @timstevens
Facebook: @timstevens
💻Visit LeadingSmart.com
Listen to Leading In Real Time Podcast Series
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ2wnxRYYqm_ThAiSPBwjH7vQH5i3H3aK
Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
https://www.leadingsmart.com/podcast
Download The Simply Strategic Show
https://www.leadingsmart.com/books-2
📩 Have questions or want to connect?
https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk
🔔 Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadingsmart-podcast/id1813933962
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1IqLLXtvtZBEgRsM2gOXpO?si=8b6cc3d0a1124bdc

Culture is either getting better or getting worse — there's no neutral. And yet so many churches wait until something breaks before they pay attention to it. So how do you build a staff culture that's truly healthy, deeply owned, and actually lasts beyond a leadership transition or a hard season?
In this episode, Holly and Tim walk through the five practical steps LeadingSmart uses with churches of every size — from well-resourced megachurches to small church plants — to assess, define, and sustain a thriving team culture:
See it — Before anything can change, you have to know where you actually are. Take an honest, structured assessment of your current culture — and don't make the mistake of surveying your team and never sharing the results.
Say it — Define your values collaboratively, not top-down. This isn't a job for ChatGPT or a leadership offsite without the team. Real buy-in requires real weigh-in from the people who have to live it out every day.
Saturate it — Say the values so often you think you might vomit — and then keep going. Culture doesn't stick from a one-time announcement. It has to show up in every meeting, every conversation, and every decision.
Systematize it — Build the values into the regular rhythms of your organization. Monthly spotlights, staff newsletters, team meeting questions — if it's not in the system, it won't survive.
Spotlight it — What gets recognized gets repeated. Celebrate the people who are living out your values, and make sure you're celebrating the value itself, not just the person.
Tim also shares an unforgettable story from his time at Willow Creek — a typo on a stress cube that accidentally became the most powerful culture moment of the entire year, and a vivid reminder that how you handle the small moments says everything about who you really are as an organization.
If you're a church leader who wants to stop reacting to culture and start intentionally shaping it, this episode will give you a clear framework and the inspiration to get started.
📱 Follow us for more insights and resources
Instagram: @timstevens
Facebook: @timstevens
💻Visit LeadingSmart.com
Listen to Leading In Real Time Podcast Series
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ2wnxRYYqm_ThAiSPBwjH7vQH5i3H3aK
Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
https://www.leadingsmart.com/podcast
Download The Simply Strategic Show
https://www.leadingsmart.com/books-2
📩 Have questions or want to connect?
https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk
🔔 Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadingsmart-podcast/id1813933962
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1IqLLXtvtZBEgRsM2gOXpO?si=8b6cc3d0a1124bdc

What are the biggest legal risks churches are facing right now?
In this episode of the Leading Smart Podcast, we sit down with church attorney Keith Richardson from Michael Best to unpack the top five legal issues impacting churches in 2026 — and what executive pastors, senior leaders, and boards must proactively address.
Keith and his team work with over 400 churches nationwide, giving him a front-row seat to the real challenges pastors are navigating today.
We cover:
Child protection policies & abuse prevention – How to safeguard your church and properly respond to allegations
Religious freedom & First Amendment rights – What churches need to know about the right to worship and protestors
Church leadership transitions – How to avoid messy senior pastor exits and public fallout
Church bylaws & board governance – Why outdated governing documents create personal liability for leaders
AI in ministry – How artificial intelligence is reshaping church operations, sermon prep, and risk management
Whether you’re a lead pastor, executive pastor, board member, or church administrator, this episode will help you protect your church, steward your leadership well, and prepare for what’s ahead.
If you’ve ever wondered:
Do our child safety policies actually protect us?
Could our board be personally liable?
Are we legally prepared for a pastoral transition?
Should we have an AI policy for our staff?
What are our constitutional rights as a church?
This conversation is essential listening.
🎧 Subscribe for practical leadership insights, church governance strategy, and real-time guidance for leading in today’s changing legal and cultural landscape.
Get in touch with Keith Richardson at MichaelBest 
https://www.michaelbest.com/people/keith-richardson/ 
Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow us for more insights and resources
Instagram: @timstevens
Facebook: @timstevens
💻Visit LeadingSmart.com
Listen to Leading In Real Time Podcast Series
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ2wnxRYYqm_ThAiSPBwjH7vQH5i3H3aK
Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
https://www.leadingsmart.com/podcast
Download The Simply Strategic Show
https://www.leadingsmart.com/books-2
📩 Have questions or want to connect?
https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk
🔔 Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadingsmart-podcast/id1813933962
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1IqLLXtvtZBEgRsM2gOXpO?si=8b6cc3d0a1124bdc

Are you navigating the transition from a founder-led church to a more sustainable governance model? In this episode, Tim and Holly break down the seven essential shifts every church board must make when moving from founder-led to governing board structures.
Drawing from real client experiences and decades of church consulting, they explore:
How founder boards differ from governing boards and why both serve important purposes
The shift from loyalty to the founder to loyalty to the mission
Moving from operational involvement to strategic governance
Implementing formal evaluation processes and succession planning
Creating covenant-driven unity that outlasts any single leader
Whether you're a founding pastor preparing for succession, a church board member, or a senior leader thinking about long-term sustainability, this episode offers practical insights for building governance structures that will serve your church for generations to come.
📱 Follow us for more insights and resources
Instagram: @timstevens
Facebook: @timstevens
💻Visit LeadingSmart.com
Listen to Leading In Real Time Podcast Series
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ2wnxRYYqm_ThAiSPBwjH7vQH5i3H3aK
Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
https://www.leadingsmart.com/podcast
Download The Simply Strategic Show
https://www.leadingsmart.com/books-2
📩 Have questions or want to connect?
https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk
🔔 Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadingsmart-podcast/id1813933962
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1IqLLXtvtZBEgRsM2gOXpO?si=8b6cc3d0a1124bdc