Building More Productive Relationships with Ryan Franklin

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In this episode, host Mike welcomes Assistant Pastor Ryan Franklin from the Pentecostals of Alexandria (POA) and host of the *Christian Leader Made Simple* podcast. They dive into building more productive relationships, an essential segment of Ryan's *Christian Leader Blueprint*. Ryan shares insights on developing relational skills for effective leadership and discusses his work as an executive coach, helping leaders find balance, growth, and relational health in ministry.

### Key Points:

1. **The Role of Executive Coaching**:
   - Ryan explains the difference between a pastor and an executive coach, noting that while pastors offer spiritual guidance, executive coaches focus on personal growth, leadership development, and helping leaders maximize their effectiveness. 
   - He also introduces his coaching community, which includes courses, forums, and "hot seat" coaching sessions to provide leaders with practical support.

2. **Gifts vs. Fruit of the Spirit**:
   - Ryan shares the difference between the gifts of the Spirit, which are often visible and celebrated, and the fruit of the Spirit, which reflects spiritual maturity and develops over time (Galatians 5:22-23). Leaders must prioritize cultivating the fruit, such as love, joy, and patience, to grow their ministry.

3. **Christian Leader Blueprint**:
   - Ryan introduces his *Christian Leader Blueprint* model, which consists of four key sections:
     1. **Establish a Better Rhythm of Life**: Balancing personal life and ministry.
     2. **See Yourself More Clearly**: Understanding strengths, blind spots, and motivations.
     3. **Leverage Your Strengths**: Developing leadership skills like communication and conflict resolution.
     4. **Build More Productive Relationships**: The focus of this episode, emphasizing the importance of relational health in leadership.

4. **Building More Productive Relationships**:
   - **Increase Social Intelligence**: Understanding and managing interactions with others, being aware of emotions, and listening effectively.
   - **Increase Self-Regulation**: Controlling emotions like anger or depression to avoid negatively impacting relationships (Matthew 7:16).
   - **Expand Empathy**: Developing empathy to connect with others on a deeper level, essential for building trust and fostering growth.
   - **Grow Your Personal Support Team**: Creating a close circle of trusted individuals who provide relational nutrients like validation, comfort, and encouragement. Leaders should intentionally seek support to avoid burnout and isolation.

5. **Personal Reflections and Vulnerability**:
   - Mike and Ryan discuss the importance of vulnerability and the challenge of allowing others to help, especially in leadership roles where isolation can be common. Ryan emphasizes that even Jesus had a support team and that leaders should not shy away from seeking relational support.

### Reflection:
This episode underscores the importance of relational intelligence in leadership, emphasizing the need for self-awareness, empathy, and intentional community. Ryan’s insights offer practical steps for leaders looking to grow their influence while maintaining personal and spiritual health.

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