Of all the leaders I work with, religious leaders are often the most reluctant to have the one conversation that would actually change something. Not because they lack courage — many of them counsel others through the hardest moments of their lives without flinching. But when the hard conversation is with their own staff, about underperformance, a values conflict, or a working relationship that's quietly gone wrong, something in them stalls. Congregational culture prizes grace, patience, and...

There's a particular kind of guilt that shows up in July. The calendar slows down, the office empties out a little, and instead of feeling grateful, a lot of leaders feel exposed. If the pace can slacken and nothing breaks, what does that say about how necessary we were the rest of the year? I've felt that exact discomfort. A few summers ago, I took eighteen days away — no laptop, a view of the water, a stack of books I didn't finish. I came back a little anxious that I'd enjoyed it too much....

Imagine reading an applicant’s cover letter for a senior-level position (maybe executive director, CEO, bishop or senior pastor) that...