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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
[S3EP15] What Church Leaders Are Really Struggling With Right Now/ LeadingSmart Gatherings Recap
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Welcome back to Episode 15!
What happens when you stop telling church leaders what to talk about — and actually ask them? In this episode of The LeadingSmart Podcast, hosts Tim and Holly Tate recap three back-to-back gatherings held in Palm Springs and Clearwater, Florida, sharing the raw, unfiltered topics that rose to the top when executive pastors and lead pastors were given the mic.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How they used ChatGPT and AI tools to analyze open-ended survey responses — and what surprising topics surfaced that never appeared on a preset list
- Why meeting structure and meeting culture became one of the hottest topics among church leaders in 2026
- How burnout and unsustainable pace showed up across both lead pastor and executive pastor groups
- What an org chart exercise with 20+ church leaders revealed about structure, staffing, and what's actually working
- Why pastoral succession is quietly front-of-mind for 20–25% of executive pastors — even when no transition is announced
- What made one attendee call this gathering "one of the best experiences in the last eight years"
Whether you're a lead pastor, executive pastor, or church operations leader, this episode is a window into the conversations happening in rooms across the country — and a reminder that you're not navigating these challenges alone.
Mentioned in this episode:
- LeadingSmart Gatherings (Palm Springs & Clearwater, FL)
- Upcoming Large Church Gathering (10,000+ attendance) — Registration opens next month
- Next Winter Gatherings launching in June
- Free eBook: Simply Strategic — available at leadingsmart.com/resources
Subscribe + get notified when June gathering dates go live → leadingsmart.com
📱 Follow us for more insights and resources
Instagram: @timstevens
Facebook: @timstevens
💻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
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📲 Enjoying th...
