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The LeadingSmart Podcast
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
The LeadingSmart Podcast
[S2EP1] 5 Lessons I Wish I Knew At 18 │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years
Welcome to Season 2 of LeadingSmart! In this special premiere episode, we're switching gears from pastoral succession to something deeply personal - Tim Stevens shares his 40-year ministry journey and the lessons he wishes he'd known starting out.
What this episiode will cover:
✅ Tim's unconventional path from 18-year-old gap year to ministry leader
✅ 9 years with Life Action Ministries (including how he met his wife!)
✅ 20 transformative years at Granger Community Church
✅ Building teams at Vanderbloemen Search Group
✅ The unexpected call to Willow Creek during COVID
✅ Launching Leading Smart full-time
5 Key Lessons from This Episode:
1. Everything builds toward the next (even when you can't see it)
2. Knowing when it's the right time to move
3. Understanding "push vs. pull" in career transitions
4. Recognizing the difference between a "calling" and the "next right move"
5. Never burn bridges when you leave
🔥 Tim's Passionate Reminder: "You don't have to say everything in order to be telling the truth."
This season features 10-12 episodes condensing 40 lessons, plus special interviews with Tim's wife Faith, his adult children, and the "Granger OGs."
Next Episode: "The Long Game" - Why longevity matters in ministry leadership
#theleadingsmartpodcast #leadershipodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #leadership #40years #lifelessons #lessonslearned #lessonslearnedinlife
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Facebook: @timstevens
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🎧 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
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