The Female Church Leaders Podcast

Kadi Cole

The Female Church Leaders Podcast with Kadi Cole offers practical tools and biblical insight for women leading in the local church. Each week, Kadi shares real stories, leadership strategies, and spiritual encouragement to help you grow in confidence, sharpen your skills, and lead with clarity. Whether you’re on staff, volunteering, building a ministry, or stepping into new levels of leadership, you’ll find wisdom, hope, and a community of female church leaders who get it - and are cheering you on!

  1. 1d ago

    FCLP 36 | How to Handle Yourself in a Leadership Meeting

    In this practical leadership episode of the Female Church Leaders Podcast, Kadi Cole explores an often-overlooked part of growing your influence: how you show up in the room with other leaders. She unpacks why what we intend to communicate and what others experience can be very different — especially when we're working hard to fit in or prove ourselves. You'll gain a simple READY framework for reading the room, engaging relationally, arriving prepared, delivering value, and supporting team decisions — so you can contribute as a mature, trusted member of the leadership team. TIMESTAMPS 00:47 – Why some strong female leaders get held back from promotion  06:05 – The 5-step READY framework overview  06:17 – R – Read the room  07:08 – E – Engage relationally  08:46 – A – Arrive prepared  09:43 – D – Deliver value  10:41 – Y – Yield to the decision Resources mentioned: The Competency Gap Quiz; thecompetencygapquiz.scoreapp.com Next Steps and Resources: Take the Quiz: Identify your growth gap with our Sticky Floor Quiz at femalechurchleaders.com.Join a Cohort: Be part of our next Closing the Leadership Gap cohort for guided coaching and monthly Q&A with Kadi. Visit closingtheleadershipgap.com to learn more.Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @femalechurchleaders for daily encouragement and leadership tools.Spread the Word: If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help us reach more female church leaders.Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity, strength, and joy. Your calling matters, and we're here to support you every step of the way!

  2. Aug 24

    FCLP 35 | You May Know How to Get Things Done. But Can You Cast Vision Yet?

    In this strategic leadership episode of the Female Church Leaders Podcast, Kadi Cole explores why the skills that make you effective at one level of leadership aren't always the ones you need for the next. For many female church leaders, implementation is a well-developed muscle — but growing influence also requires the ability to cast compelling vision. You'll gain a practical framework for communicating the WHAT and WHY, learn to distinguish vision from strategy, and strengthen your ability to help people see a preferred future they want to help create. TIMESTAMPS 00:50 - Two leadership muscles: implementation vs. vision casting  01:46 - Why you need both working together  03:07 - The multi-site trap: mistaking strategy for vision  04:50 - Start with Why: connecting to purpose  05:59 - The past-present-future framework  08:58 - Nehemiah's vision cast in scripture Resources mentioned: The Competency Gap Quiz; thecompetencygapquiz.scoreapp.com Next Steps and Resources: Take the Quiz: Identify your growth gap with our Sticky Floor Quiz at femalechurchleaders.com.Join a Cohort: Be part of our next Closing the Leadership Gap cohort for guided coaching and monthly Q&A with Kadi. Visit closingtheleadershipgap.com to learn more.Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @femalechurchleaders for daily encouragement and leadership tools.Spread the Word: If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help us reach more female church leaders.Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity, strength, and joy. Your calling matters, and we're here to support you every step of the way!

  3. Aug 17

    FCLP 34 | Leading Moms Series: 4 Strategies for the New School Year

    In this timely leadership episode of the Female Church Leaders Podcast, Kadi Cole returns to the Leading Moms series with four practical strategies for navigating the transition into a new school and ministry year. Drawing from her own experience as a working mom and ministry leader, she shares lessons that shaped how she approached this demanding season. You'll gain practical ideas for planning around what matters most, adjusting family responsibilities as seasons change, and creating space to embrace both motherhood and leadership as important parts of God's transforming work in your life. TIMESTAMPS 00:48 - Leading Moms series: back-to-school edition  02:02 - Lessons from the Gifted to Lead conference  04:16 - Strategy 1: School calendar as a "big rock"  08:02 - Strategy 2: Ask your kids what matters most  09:47 - Strategy 3: Rethink outsourcing this year  12:05 - Strategy 4: Reset from summer to school-year mode Resources mentioned: The Competency Gap Quiz; thecompetencygapquiz.scoreapp.com Next Steps and Resources: Take the Quiz: Identify your growth gap with our Sticky Floor Quiz at femalechurchleaders.com.Join a Cohort: Be part of our next Closing the Leadership Gap cohort for guided coaching and monthly Q&A with Kadi. Visit closingtheleadershipgap.com to learn more.Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @femalechurchleaders for daily encouragement and leadership tools.Spread the Word: If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help us reach more female church leaders.Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity, strength, and joy. Your calling matters, and we're here to support you every step of the way!

  4. Aug 10

    FCLP 33 | The Difference Between Evaluating People and Evaluating Ministry

    In this encouraging leadership episode of the Female Church Leaders Podcast, Kadi Cole explores one of the most overlooked skills in healthy ministry: evaluation. Drawing from two very different ministry cultures, she unpacks why many leaders either avoid honest evaluation or unintentionally create fear around it, and how both extremes limit long-term ministry health. You'll gain practical insight into separating people from programs, creating a culture that celebrates and evaluates well, and using honest feedback to strengthen your ministry without discouraging the people who serve in it. TIMESTAMPS 01:02 - Two unhealthy ministry cultures: fear of critique vs. denial through over-celebration 02:33 - The importance of healthy, honest evaluation (not personal feedback) 02:54 - Challenges of evaluation with volunteer teams 05:39 - Distinguishing between celebration (morale) and evaluation (effectiveness) 06:47 - Practical steps: Separate meetings for celebration and evaluation 06:59 - Key questions for celebration and evaluation meetings Resources mentioned: The Competency Gap Quiz: thecompetencygapquiz.scoreapp.com Next Steps and Resources: Take the Quiz: Identify your growth gap with our Sticky Floor Quiz at femalechurchleaders.com.Join a Cohort: Be part of our next Closing the Leadership Gap cohort for guided coaching and monthly Q&A with Kadi. Visit closingtheleadershipgap.com to learn more.Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @femalechurchleaders for daily encouragement and leadership tools.Spread the Word: If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help us reach more female church leaders.Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity, strength, and joy. Your calling matters, and we're here to support you every step of the way!

  5. Aug 3

    FCLP 32 | The 3 Biggest Mistakes Leaders Make with Spiritual Gifts

    In this strategic leadership episode of the Female Church Leaders Podcast, Kadi Cole concludes the Spiritual Gifts Summer Series by highlighting three common mistakes that can unintentionally limit both people and ministry. Rather than simply filling roles, this episode reframes leadership as the intentional work of discovering, developing, and stewarding the gifts God has placed within His people. You'll gain practical insight into how spiritual gifts differ from personality and talent, how to recognize gifts in unexpected people, and how small leadership shifts can create a culture where both people and the Kingdom flourish. TIMESTAMPS 02:12 - The purpose of ministry: using ministry to build people, not just fill roles 02:35 - Leadership Mistake #1: Prioritizing personality assessments over spiritual gifts 03:56 - Leadership Mistake #2: Confusing natural talents with spiritual gifts 06:14 - Leadership Mistake #3: Overlooking spiritual gifts in unexpected people 09:35 - Practical action steps: discovering and developing spiritual gifts in yourself and your team Resources mentioned: The Spiritual Gifts Leadership Toolkit: kadicole.com/spiritualgifts Next Steps and Resources: Take the Quiz: Identify your growth gap with our Sticky Floor Quiz at femalechurchleaders.com.Join a Cohort: Be part of our next Closing the Leadership Gap cohort for guided coaching and monthly Q&A with Kadi. Visit closingtheleadershipgap.com to learn more.Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @femalechurchleaders for daily encouragement and leadership tools.Spread the Word: If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help us reach more female church leaders.Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity, strength, and joy. Your calling matters, and we're here to support you every step of the way!

  6. Jul 27

    FCLP 31 | When Trying Harder Isn't Always the Answer (Spiritual Gifts: Tongues, Interpretation & Wisdom)

    In this grounding leadership episode of the Female Church Leaders Podcast, Kadi Cole concludes the Spiritual Gifts Summer Series by exploring three gifts that remind us leadership isn't only about strategy and stewardship—it's also about dependence on the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Tongues, and Interpretation. This episode offers a thoughtful framework for recognizing when faithful leadership has done all it can do and it's time to seek God's direction in a deeper way. You'll gain practical insight into how these gifts function, why they matter for healthy ministry, and how they help leaders discern when a challenge requires more than simply trying harder. TIMESTAMPS 01:15 - When leadership requires more than better strategy  01:28 - Don't spiritualize manageable things  02:27 - The gift of wisdom explained  03:29 - Where the gift of wisdom shows up in ministry  05:11 - Developing people with the gift of wisdom  05:56 - The gifts of tongues and interpretation introduced  Resources mentioned: The Spiritual Gifts Leadership Toolkit: kadicole.com/spiritualgifts Next Steps and Resources: Take the Quiz: Identify your growth gap with our Sticky Floor Quiz at femalechurchleaders.com.Join a Cohort: Be part of our next Closing the Leadership Gap cohort for guided coaching and monthly Q&A with Kadi. Visit closingtheleadershipgap.com to learn more.Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @femalechurchleaders for daily encouragement and leadership tools.Spread the Word: If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help us reach more female church leaders.Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity, strength, and joy. Your calling matters, and we're here to support you every step of the way!

  7. Jul 20

    FCLP 30 | Why Great Communicators Aren't Necessarily Great Teachers (Spiritual Gifts: Prophecy & Teaching)

    In this clarifying leadership episode of the Female Church Leaders Podcast, Kadi Cole continues the Spiritual Gifts Summer Series by exploring two gifts that shape how God's truth transforms people: Teaching and Prophecy. This episode unpacks the difference between communicating well, helping people truly learn, and leading others to respond faithfully to God's truth. You'll gain practical insight into how these gifts function, why they're often misunderstood, and how to develop people who strengthen both biblical understanding and spiritual discernment within your ministry. TIMESTAMPS 01:58 - Understanding the spiritual gift of teaching  03:34 - Teaching vs. transferring information - what really matters  04:23 - Women and teaching in different church contexts  06:04 - Introduction to the gift of prophecy  07:06 - Prophecy as a spectrum of truth-telling  07:48 - Characteristics of people with the gift of prophecy Resources mentioned: The Spiritual Gifts Leadership Toolkit: kadicole.com/spiritualgifts Next Steps and Resources: Take the Quiz: Identify your growth gap with our Sticky Floor Quiz at femalechurchleaders.com.Join a Cohort: Be part of our next Closing the Leadership Gap cohort for guided coaching and monthly Q&A with Kadi. Visit closingtheleadershipgap.com to learn more.Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @femalechurchleaders for daily encouragement and leadership tools.Spread the Word: If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help us reach more female church leaders.Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity, strength, and joy. Your calling matters, and we're here to support you every step of the way!

  8. Jul 13

    FCLP 29 | Why People Can Attend for Years and Still Feel Unknown (Spiritual Gifts: Mercy & Shepherding)

    In this thoughtful leadership episode of the Female Church Leaders Podcast, Kadi Cole explores two spiritual gifts that quietly shape the health of every ministry: Mercy and Shepherding. While these gifts often work behind the scenes, they play a vital role in helping people feel seen, cared for, connected, and supported over time. This episode helps female church leaders recognize the difference between caring for tasks and caring for people. You'll learn how to identify these gifts on your team, why they are often undervalued, and how developing them can strengthen discipleship, belonging, and long-term ministry health. TIMESTAMPS 1:58 - Understanding the gift of mercy  2:58 - How mercy reflects the heart of Jesus  3:26 - Challenges of measuring mercy ministry  5:11 - Supporting those with the gift of mercy  5:52 - Understanding the gift of pastor/shepherd  6:32 - Biblical imagery of shepherding Resources mentioned: The Spiritual Gifts Leadership Toolkit: kadicole.com/spiritualgifts Next Steps and Resources: Take the Quiz: Identify your growth gap with our Sticky Floor Quiz at femalechurchleaders.com.Join a Cohort: Be part of our next Closing the Leadership Gap cohort for guided coaching and monthly Q&A with Kadi. Visit closingtheleadershipgap.com to learn more.Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @femalechurchleaders for daily encouragement and leadership tools.Spread the Word: If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help us reach more female church leaders.Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity, strength, and joy. Your calling matters, and we're here to support you every step of the way!

5
out of 5
64 Ratings

About

The Female Church Leaders Podcast with Kadi Cole offers practical tools and biblical insight for women leading in the local church. Each week, Kadi shares real stories, leadership strategies, and spiritual encouragement to help you grow in confidence, sharpen your skills, and lead with clarity. Whether you’re on staff, volunteering, building a ministry, or stepping into new levels of leadership, you’ll find wisdom, hope, and a community of female church leaders who get it - and are cheering you on!

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