In this episode of the Unseen Leadership Podcast, Chandler Vannoy and Dan Iten are joined by Tod Bolsinger, who is a speaker, executive coach, former pastor, and author who serves as associate professor of leadership formation and senior fellow for the De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Seminary. In this episode, Bolsinger discusses his background in leadership roles, including his experience in pastoral ministry and the pivotal moment that changed his approach to leadership. They also discuss the importance of adaptive leadership and building trust with followers, while also prioritizing the mission of organizations over personal recognition and success. This episode provides insights into Bolsinger’s leadership journey and his approach to leading in a rapidly changing world.

QUOTES FROM EPISODE 78

“You need trust for transformation, but trust is not true transformation. You being a highly trusted leader doesn’t mean anybody’s being changed. As a matter of fact, sometimes it means they will let you be the proxy for their formation and what you must learn is how to figure out how to invest that trust in calling people toward genuine transformation. That’s what adaptive leadership is.” – Tod Bolsinger

“The most important thing about our fruitfulness is that we are faithful to our mission. So obviously, the mission always wins. It’s the mission, not the pastor, not the congregants, not the people the path the voices of the past, not the people. It’s the mission.” – Tod Bolsinger

“The hardest thing for me today is owning that the group is smarter than I am. But I’m not here to impress anybody. I’m here to express what God wants to do.” – Tod Bolsinger

When you’re experiencing conflict, what so many try to do is stop the conflict when what we need to do is learn from the conflict.” – Tod Bolsinger

“The most soul-sucking thing for most leaders is not the challenges of the world, it’s the resistance of your own people in your own congregation. It’s your own team.” – Tod Bolsinger

“Leaders are formed in the leading. So, if you’re having a challenge right now, it’s not that you messed up, missed a class, or didn’t read a book. This is normal. It’s normal for you because you became a leader right after you were good at something that was not leading.” – Tod Bolsinger

“You become a leader in the crisis of leadership and the crucible of leadership. You must develop honest, vulnerable self-reflection. If you are only defending yourself, you will never be able to be open enough to the shaping that God wants to do in your life.” – Tod Bolsinger

“A leader asking for loyalty is a sign of dysfunction almost every time.” – Tod Bolsinger

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change by Tod Bolsinger

Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory by Tod Bolsinger

Thriving through Ministry Conflict: A Parable on How Resistance Can Be Your Ally by James P. Osterhaus, Joseph M. Jurkowski, and Todd A. Hahn