The LeadingSmart Podcast

Tim Stevens
  • 4.7 (9)
  • Christianity

Honest conversations. Practical insights. Smarter leadership. Hosted by Tim Stevens and Holly Tate, The LeadingSmart Podcast exists to equip church leaders who care deeply about leading with integrity, clarity, and wisdom—even when it’s hard. We are officially on Season 3! This season is about staying sharp in today’s rapidly changing environment. We’ll dive into the practical issues leaders are facing right now—from running effective executive team meetings to navigating crucial conversations to leading in moments when the playbook doesn’t exist yet. Holly and Tim are moving out of the studio into our offices, and they will be recording and posting in real time, responding to current events as they happen, sharing fresh insights from our work with leaders across North America.  Be sure to email us at tim@leadingsmart.com if there are specific topics you want us to cover! Enjoy! #LeadingSmartPodcast, #ChurchLeadership, #SuccessionPlanning, #LeadershipDevelopment, #ExecutivePastor, #LeadershipTools, #MinistryCoaching, #LeadershipPodcast

  1. 5d ago

    [S3EP42] Three Years of LeadingSmart: What Surprised Us Most

    What happens when a 15-year business plan moves much faster than expected? In this special anniversary episode, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate celebrate three years of LeadingSmart as a full-time organization. They look back at how LeadingSmart began more than 20 years ago as a personal blog and grew into a team serving churches through consulting, coaching, cohorts, Gatherings and practical resources. Tim shares three things that surprised him most about launching LeadingSmart full-time, while Holly reflects on what she has learned from working alongside him. In this episode, they discuss: Why decades of consistent work helped LeadingSmart grow quicklyThe value of building a team with people you know and trustWhy Tim unexpectedly loves being an entrepreneurMaking smart investments even when the outcome is uncertainPracticing generosity when resources feel tightLeading with an abundance mindset instead of viewing others as competitionStaying committed to your values when they are testedThey also share their appreciation for the churches and leaders who have trusted LeadingSmart over the past three years—and settle the important question of donuts versus bagels. 📱 Follow us for more insights and resources Instagram: @timstevens Facebook: @timstevens PREORDER The Healthy Church Board Masterclass: https://www.leadingsmart.com/church-board-masterclass 💻Visit LeadingSmart.com Need help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk 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 ...

  2. Sep 15

    [S3EP41] Part 2: A Healthy Executive Pastor & Lead Pastor Relationship (the Lead Pastor's Perspective)

    A healthy relationship between a lead pastor and executive pastor requires more than clearly defined roles. It requires trust, honesty, humility, and a willingness to have difficult conversations. In the previous episode, Tim Stevens, host of the LeadingSmart Podcast and former executive pastor, joined Holly Tate, Executive Coach & Senior Consultant, to discuss this leadership relationship from an executive pastor’s perspective. This week, Holly continues the conversation with David Whiting, Executive Coach & Senior Consultant, who brings the perspective of a former lead pastor. Together, they discuss the lead pastor’s responsibility in building a healthy, effective partnership with their executive pastor. David shares practical principles, including: Why a lead pastor cannot outsource organizational leadershipThe difference between giving an executive pastor real authority and borrowed influenceWhy public unity requires private honestyHow power dynamics can prevent leaders from sharing honest feedbackWhy triangulation undermines trust and delegated authorityHow lead pastors can identify the weaknesses their executive pastor helps coverThe importance of having the courage to ask for feedback and the humility to listenWhether you are a lead pastor, executive pastor, or second-chair leader, this conversation will help you evaluate your leadership relationships and build greater trust, clarity, and honesty. 📱 Follow us for more insights and resources Instagram: @timstevens Facebook: @timstevens PREORDER The Healthy Church Board Masterclass: https://www.leadingsmart.com/church-board-masterclass 💻Visit LeadingSmart.com Need help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk 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 ...

  3. Sep 8

    [S3EP40] Part 1: A Healthy Executive Pastor & Lead Pastor Relationship (the Executive Pastor's Perspective}]

    The relationship between a senior pastor and executive pastor can strengthen an entire church—or quietly hold it back. In this episode of Leading in Real Time, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate discuss what it takes to build a healthy partnership between these two leadership roles. Drawing from Tim’s experience serving as an executive pastor in churches ranging from a few hundred people to nearly 20,000, they unpack the importance of defining clear leadership lanes, building mutual respect, and stewarding influence without allowing personal ambition to get in the way. They also discuss how this relationship may need to change as a church grows—and how executive pastors can recognize when the structure that once worked is no longer what the organization needs. In this episode: Why senior pastors and executive pastors need clearly defined lanesHow an executive pastor can “put feet to the vision”The importance of mutual trust, respect, and personal connectionHow to steward influence when you have the senior pastor’s earWhat to do when that influence begins to shiftHow to recognize when your executive leadership structure needs to changeWhy the best structure for the church may require leaders to set aside personal preferencesTim and Holly also share a behind-the-scenes lesson from Jon Acuff about using humor to make difficult truths easier for an audience to receive. If you’re trying to strengthen the relationship between your senior pastor and executive pastor—or determine what your church needs in its next season—this conversation offers practical principles to help you move forward. Visit LeadingSmart.com and navigate to Resources → Downloads to access the free Are You More of an Executive or a Pastor? assessment. 📱 Follow us for more insights and resources Instagram: @timstevens Facebook: @timstevens PREORDER The Healthy Church Board Masterclass: https://www.leadingsmart.com/church-board-masterclass 💻Visit LeadingSmart.com Need help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk 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 ...

  4. Sep 1

    [S3EP39] Why We Created the Healthy Church Board Masterclass

    It’s officially here! After more than two years of conversations, planning, and development, the Healthy Church Board MasterClass is now live. In this special launch episode of the LeadingSmart Podcast, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate share why they created this resource and how it can help churches of every size build healthier, clearer church board governance. Many churches are not held back by a lack of vision—they’re held back by unclear board roles, slow decision-making, unnecessary complexity, and tension between the board and lead pastor. This MasterClass gives church boards a practical way to clarify responsibilities, strengthen their relationship with the pastor, and focus more fully on the church’s mission. Tim and Holly also share everything included in the MasterClass: nine core video lessons, a facilitator guide, reflection questions, a workbook, practical governance tools, a bonus Q&A, and a 30-minute consultation with the LeadingSmart team. Whether your board completes one lesson during each meeting or works through the content during a board retreat, the Healthy Church Board MasterClass was designed to help your church move forward with greater health, peace, and clarity. You’ll also learn how the free Church Board Health Assessment can help your board identify areas of strength, surface misalignment, and begin more productive conversations about governance. We hope you enjoy this resource!  Learn more, enroll in the MasterClass, and take the free Church Board Health Assessment at healthychurchboard.com. 📱 Follow us for more insights and resources Instagram: @timstevens Facebook: @timstevens PREORDER The Healthy Church Board Masterclass: https://www.leadingsmart.com/church-board-masterclass 💻Visit LeadingSmart.com Need help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk 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 ...

  5. Aug 25

    [S3EP38] From Stuck to Stewarding: Wellspring Church's Board Transformation

    What happens when a growing church has a big vision—but its systems and board structure keep slowing it down? In this episode, Holly Tate visits Wellspring Church (formerly Southwest Church) in Indian Wells, California, to hear from Senior Pastor Ricky Jenkins and Executive Pastor Natalie Dawson about the governance challenges their church faced as it continued to grow. Their board was filled with good people who loved the church, but unclear decision-making, complicated processes, and pain from the church’s past were creating friction and limiting their ability to move forward. Ricky and Natalie share how LeadingSmart helped their staff and board build trust, clarify roles, transition from a managing board to a governing board, and create a shared playbook for the future. Today, Wellspring Church is experiencing significant growth, greater alignment, and a healthier relationship between its board and executive leadership. Their story is a powerful reminder that many leadership challenges are not people problems—they are clarity, systems, and infrastructure problems. The work Wellspring completed with LeadingSmart is also at the heart of the Healthy Church Board Masterclass. This digital experience gives your board practical teaching, reflection questions, and a comprehensive workbook to help clarify roles, strengthen accountability, and move from over-management toward healthy governance. Your board can complete the content during a retreat or work through one lesson at a time during monthly meetings. Every purchase also includes lifetime access and a 30-minute consultation with a LeadingSmart team member to help your church identify its best next step. Learn more at healthychurchboard.com. 📱 Follow us for more insights and resources Instagram: @timstevens Facebook: @timstevens PREORDER The Healthy Church Board Masterclass: https://www.leadingsmart.com/church-board-masterclass 💻Visit LeadingSmart.com Need help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk 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 ...

  6. Aug 18

    [S3EP37] Church Board Governance: 3 Shifts from a Founder Board to a Governing Board

    Every founding pastor eventually hands the church to someone else — and the church board structure that worked for a founder often breaks down for whoever leads next. In this episode of the LeadingSmart Podcast, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate break down church board governance and the three key shifts every board needs to make to move from a founder board to a healthy governing board. Tim and Holly cover: - Why founder boards form the way they do, and why that church leadership structure has a shelf life as a church grows - Shift #1: relational authority to role authority — clear board terms, rotations, and decision rights instead of relying on trust alone - Shift #2: informal accountability to formal lead pastor evaluation — including a real example of a board evaluating the wrong thing entirely - Shift #3: personality-driven unity to covenant-driven unity — why boards need to write down who they are instead of assuming it If you're a lead pastor, executive pastor, or church board member navigating leadership transition, succession planning, or board health, this episode gives practical, experience-based language for building governance that outlasts any one leader. Resources mentioned: Take the free Healthy Church Board Assessment at healthychurchboard.com. The Healthy Church Board Masterclass — 11 video lessons plus a full workbook — is available for pre-order now through September 1st using code BOARDPODCAST for $500 off. Questions? Reach out at tim@leadingsmart.com or holly@leadingsmart.com 📱 Follow us for more insights and resources Instagram: @timstevens Facebook: @timstevens PREORDER The Healthy Church Board Masterclass: https://www.leadingsmart.com/church-board-masterclass 💻Visit LeadingSmart.com Need help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk 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 ...

  7. Aug 11

    [S3EP36] How Should a Church Board Measure Success? | Church Governance

    How does a church board know whether the church is actually accomplishing its mission? In this episode of Leading in Real Time, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate explain how an “ends statement” helps a church define the outcomes it is working toward. They discuss the difference between a mission, an end, and an annual goal—and how boards can evaluate ministry effectiveness without reducing spiritual growth to a collection of numbers. Tim and Holly also cover: The three essential parts of an ends statementHow to connect ministry outcomes to measurable indicatorsThe board’s role in defining successHow an ends statement supports lead-pastor accountabilityThe difference between bylaws and a governance policy manualWhy healthy churches should improve governance before a crisis occursHow stronger governance can prepare a church for leadership successionWhether you are a senior pastor, executive pastor, elder, or church board member, this conversation will help your leadership team establish greater clarity around where your church is going and how you will know when you are making meaningful progress. The Healthy Church Board Masterclass includes 11 lessons designed to help senior pastors, executive pastors, elders, and board members recognize governance challenges, establish a healthy governance framework, and practice effective church governance over time. In this episode 00:00 Welcome and introduction 02:10 Why church board governance is top of mind 03:30 What is an ends statement? 04:00 How a church board defines success 05:45 Ends statements versus annual goals 08:30 A practical church ends-statement example 10:40 The three parts of an ends statement 11:45 Bylaws versus a governance policy manual 13:00 Why ends are central to healthy church governance 15:20 Improving governance before a crisis 17:40 Preparing a church board for pastoral succession 18:50 The Healthy Church Board Masterclass 23:00 Tim and Holly’s New York versus Los Angeles debate Subscribe for practical conversations about church leadership, board governance, organizational health, pastoral succession, and leading in real time. 📱 Follow us for more insights and resources Instagram: @timstevens Facebook: @timstevens PREORDER The Healthy Church Board Masterclass: https://www.leadingsmart.com/church-board-masterclass 💻Visit LeadingSmart.com Need help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk 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 ...

  8. Aug 4

    [S3EP35] The Multiple Hats of a Church Board Member: Knowing Which Role You’re In

    Church board members carry more than one role. They may also be small group leaders, ministry volunteers, longtime members, friends, or family—and knowing which “hat” they are wearing in each situation matters. In this episode of the LeadingSmart Podcast, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate discuss the multiple hats of a church board member and why board members need to clearly communicate when they are—and are not—speaking with board authority. They unpack how a casual question or idea can unintentionally feel like a directive to church staff, how to respond when church members bring operational concerns to the board, and why a church board should only exercise its authority collectively—not through individual board members outside the boardroom. In this conversation: Why a board member’s words carry extra weightWhen to take off your “board member hat”How to offer a perspective without making it sound like a directiveWhat to do when church members ask the board to fix operational issuesHow pastors can bring clarity to church board roles and responsibilitiesWhy church leadership involves uniquely complex relationshipsHow clearer roles help create a healthier relationship between the pastor, staff, and boardTim and Holly also share more about the new Healthy Church Board Masterclass, created to help church boards clarify their roles, establish a healthy governance framework, and practice healthy governance over time. 00:00 The influence board members carry 05:12 Why church board roles become confusing 08:25 When to wear your board member hat 09:45 How board authority affects church staff 12:02 What a church board should—and should not—handle 14:05 Navigating multiple leadership roles 15:35 Why church leadership is uniquely complex 19:08 When a church board starts micromanaging 20:15 Helping a board move from managing to governing 21:30 Introducing the Healthy Church Board Masterclass 24:18 Building a healthy governance framework 26:15 Resources and discounts for churches Subscribe to the LeadingSmart Podcast for practical conversations about church leadership, church governance, organizational health, leadership teams, culture, and succession planning. 📱 Follow us for more insights and resources Instagram: @timstevens Facebook: @timstevens PREORDER The Healthy Church Board Masterclass: https://www.leadingsmart.com/church-board-masterclass 💻Visit LeadingSmart.com Need help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk 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 ...

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Honest conversations. Practical insights. Smarter leadership. Hosted by Tim Stevens and Holly Tate, The LeadingSmart Podcast exists to equip church leaders who care deeply about leading with integrity, clarity, and wisdom—even when it’s hard. We are officially on Season 3! This season is about staying sharp in today’s rapidly changing environment. We’ll dive into the practical issues leaders are facing right now—from running effective executive team meetings to navigating crucial conversations to leading in moments when the playbook doesn’t exist yet. Holly and Tim are moving out of the studio into our offices, and they will be recording and posting in real time, responding to current events as they happen, sharing fresh insights from our work with leaders across North America.  Be sure to email us at tim@leadingsmart.com if there are specific topics you want us to cover! Enjoy! #LeadingSmartPodcast, #ChurchLeadership, #SuccessionPlanning, #LeadershipDevelopment, #ExecutivePastor, #LeadershipTools, #MinistryCoaching, #LeadershipPodcast

Information

  • Creator
    Tim Stevens
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The LeadingSmart Podcast
  • Show Website
    The LeadingSmart Podcast

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