Craig And Greg Show | Craig T. Owens

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The Craig And Greg Show: Assessments Are A Powerful Tool

October 18, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

On this episode of “The Craig And Greg Show” we talk about:

[0:38] We prefer preventative care both physically and in our leadership health
[1:40] When should we use assessments?
[3:10] Assessments can help leaders get an objective perspective on themselves and their team members
[4:36] We need windows of insight into ourselves first before we start working with our teammates
[5:40] What’s the goal of assessments?
[7:40] There are no “wrong answers” in assessment results
[9:39] How do leaders share the results of assessments with the whole team?
[13:31] When we have insight about our teammates, it helps us grow and understand each other
[15:34] Intuition and assessments work really well together
[17:01] What if an assessment appears to raise a warning flag?
[18:02] Leaders should use their assessments to setup their teammates for consistent success
[19:35] Assessments allow leaders to craft a complete team
[20:37] An outside coach can help your organization know what assessments to use and how to implement the results of any assessments

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: assessment, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, leadership, podcast, video, YouTube. Leave a Comment »

Links & Quotes

October 15, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

Premier athletes know the value of flexibility for keeping them in the game. I think we would be wise to practice flexibility in our relationships too—this is definitely a game-changing move! Check out my weekly Monday Motivation videos on my YouTube channel.

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger like, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” —Thucydides

This week we remember Columbus Day. You probably remember the rhyme: In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Many people have thought Columbus set out to prove the world was round, but the History Channel has a mini-biography that debunks this claim.

One of my YouVersion friends (Nikki) commented a great reminder: “God can do way more with my surrender than with my striving.”

Thomas Zimmerman was an influential leader in the early days of the Assembly of God fellowship’s history. “Over a 50-year period, Thomas F. Zimmerman (1912-1991) served the Assemblies of God as pastor, district official, department leader, assistant general superintendent, and general superintendent. His leadership greatly increased the influence of the Pentecostal movement in the evangelical world, as well as in the broader American religious landscape.”

I post quality content nearly every day. If you don’t have time to read all that I share, please let me read it for you. The Craig T. Owens Audio Blog is just like this blog, except you get to hear me read my blog posts. Check it out my podcast on Spotify, Apple, and even Audible.

“The word ‘hell’ is used in the New Testament fourteen times, twelve times by Jesus Himself. It is not a myth created by dismal and angry preachers. It is a solemn warning from the Son of God who died to deliver sinners from its curse. We ignore it at great risk.” —John Piper

Christian apologist and cold-case detective J. Warner Wallace wrote, “the battleground on the abortion issue is beginning to shift, and this shift is going to cause us to rethink our approach to the debate.” Pro-life advocates need to check out Wallace’s post Justifying Homicide: The Future Battleground In The Abortion Debate.

Responsibility isn’t supposed to be fatal! Exceptional leaders accept and promote appropriate responsibility, while weak leaders play the blame game. But accepting responsibility doesn’t mean “falling on your sword”! You can check out the rest of this conversation I had with my podcast partner Greg Heeres on The Craig And Greg Show leadership podcast.

The Craig And Greg Show: Leaders Are Readers

October 3, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

On this episode of “The Craig And Greg Show” we talk about:

[0:27] Leaders are readers
[1:16] High-level leaders read more than just what’s in their industry
[1:42] A challenge all leaders face: Finding time to read
[2:33] What benefits come to leaders who read widely?
[4:20] What kinds of books should leaders choose?
[7:25] Don’t get stuck in a rut with our reading selections
[10:13] Leaders need to keep a learner’s mindset
[11:00] Where does reading play into our leadership development?
[12:52] Greg shares a quote from Dr. Seuss about reading
[13:36] What am I currently reading? The books I mention in the podcast are Calvin Coolidge’s autobiography, Hank Greenberg’s life story, Who’s Pushing Your Buttons, and one of my most recent books of poetry.
[16:40] What is Greg currently reading?
[18:22] Leaders should be “book givers”
[19:25] What can we do with the notes from the books that we read?
[21:53] Greg has a new book coming out soon. Stay tuned for Sage Advice

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: books, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, leadership, lifelong learner, podcast, video, YouTube. 1 Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: Motivated Leadership

September 20, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

On this episode of “The Craig And Greg Show” we talk about:

[0:48] What does the dictionary say about motivation? What do we say about motivation?
[2:03] Motivation comes in “different packages”
[3:48] How can we individualize motivation?
[5:53] How does coachability mesh with motivation?
[7:20] Is 100% self-motivation possible?
[7:49] Greg’s story about a leader’s frustration with unmotivated people
[9:44] Does yelling ever motivate people?
[12:52] A teammate’s love language can give you insight into how to motivate them.
[13:56] How do leaders “call out” what’s in our team members?
[16:01] A leader’s self-assessment is key to how well we motivate others.
[18:23] Are company-wide benefits demotivating? How can we switch this up?
[20:30] Does the carrot-or-stick method of motivation actually work?
[21:10] Greg shares a quote about how dreams can help motivation.
[22:51] Great leaders don’t assume, but they ask important questions.
[23:53] Our coaching huddles can help you individualize your leadership motivational skills and practices.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: coachability, Craig And Greg Show, encouragement, Greg Heeres, leadership, love language, motivation, podcast, relationships, shepherd leadership, teammates, teamwork, video, YouTube. Leave a Comment »

Links & Quotes

September 10, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

I co-host a leadership podcast with my good friend of 30+ years Greg Heeres. In an episode that came out last week, we were discussing the importance of friendships for leaders. All of us need friends that are investing in our lives. You may check out the rest of the conversation Greg and I had by clicking here.

Jonathan Woodward writes, “The right use of authority or power can make people glad. In our age, however, power is often immediately viewed with skepticism or outright disdain.” He also talks about our responsibility to the incorrect use of leadership authority: “It’s absolutely necessary to identify, challenge, and rebuke sinful leadership. It ensures that people are cared for and God is honored.” Check out The Power to Bless: Six Dimensions of Good Leadership.

More and more scientists are dissatisfied with the lack of evidence supporting the theory of evolution. ICR reports, “Indiana University Biologist Armin Moczek told The Guardian, ‘We still do not have a good answer. This classic idea of gradual change, one happy accident at a time, has so far fallen flat.’”

The churches in my hometown of Cedar Springs, MI, have partnered together to make sure students who are food insecure on the weekend are supplied with nutritious food to carry them through the weekend. If you would like to know more, or if you would like to help us, please check out the Cedar Springs Ministerial Association website.

“Because we love something else other than this world, we love even this world better than those who know no other.” —C.S. Lewis

This is one of the best interviews I have done. I so enjoyed this! And the good news is this is only part 1. We had such a good conversation that the hosts asked me to stick around to record another episode with them. Here is the first session…

“Here’s the deal: the better you get, the harder you have to work.” —Albert King, speaking to Stevie Ray Vaughan

Here is a brief clip from a teaching I did for some ministry interns. You can check out more of this by clicking here.

The Craig And Greg Show: Leaders Need Friends

September 6, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

On this episode of “The Craig And Greg Show” we talk about:

[0:31] Can a leader have friends at work?
[1:22] Can a leader mix work friendship and personal relationships?
[2:25] You can’t be friends with everyone.
[3:21] How many true friends can you maintain?
[4:47] Bringing someone into your confidence can be a challenge.
[6:01] Tell people their story, not someone else’s.
[7:45] Greg talks about getting naked with your team.
[8:58] I explain why you need a Paul and a Barnabas in your life.
[10:01] Leaders need play time to recharge and refresh.
[11:08] I make the case for “sabbathing” to be a verb in my book Shepherd Leadership.
[11:55] We discuss being intentional about how you spend your time.
[14:31] I describe the qualities I look for in a strong leadership friend.
[16:45] We discuss how a “yes man” isn’t a true friend.
[18:12] Leaders need to be careful not to end up on an island.
[21:52] How do you navigate friendships through organizational groups and silos?
[23:20] I shares a humorous note Greg left me to illustrate the friendship tradeoff.
[24:22] Greg says you need a trusted friend to help you monitor your energy level.
[25:30] I say it’s important to thank friends for paying attention to you.
[26:14] We use Jesus’ relationships with His disciples to model their own friendships.
[27:40] We would love to be your leadership friend in our coaching huddles.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Craig And Greg Show, friendship, Greg Heeres, leadership, podcast, relationships, sabbathing, shepherd leadership, teammates, teamwork, video, YouTube. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: Responsibility Starts At The Top

August 24, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

On this episode of “The Craig And Greg Show” we talk about:

[0:55] What’s one of the biggest attributes that sets leaders apart from their peers?
[1:56] Check out why Stephen Covey’s definition of responsibility is so important in our discussion
[3:02] Why do people like to play “the blame game”?
[4:18] Accountability must be a partner with healthy responsibility
[4:52] Greg learned the blame game early on with his younger sister
[5:57] I worked in an unhealthy organization where the senior leader never accepted personal responsibility
[8:04] How do leaders “own it” in a healthy way?
[9:22] Exemplary leaders demonstrate how to accept consequences in a healthy way
[10:34] Responsibility and coachability strengthen a team and unleash greater potential
[11:27] Blame is “so dang easy” and makes the blamer a laughingstock
[13:27] What things contribute to blaming?
[14:14] How Greg handled the compliments and complaints from his clients
[15:11] Blaming is a spreading cancer in your organization
[15:44] Being a control freak isn’t the same thing as taking responsibility
[17:01] There is a balance for leaders so they don’t “fall on their swords”
[18:49] Team sports give us a good analogy of what shared responsibility looks like
[21:07] What’s on the other side of responsibility and blame?
[21:47] Leaders can enhance the benefits of responsibility through self-reflection
[23:51] Greg has a memorable and disarming way of helping people accept responsibility
[24:27] Our coaching huddles can help you learn to enhance the benefits of responsibility in your personal leadership

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: accountability, coaching, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, leadership, podcast, responsibility, teammates, teamwork, video, YouTube. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: Abundance Is A Mindset

August 9, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

On this episode of “The Craig And Greg Show” we talk about:

[0:50] What does it mean to look at things with an abundance vs. scarcity mindset?
[1:45] Greg talks about his keynote on abundance mindset
[2:50] Abundance mindset is key to making halftime adjustments
[4:04] What kind of situation is a leader seeing when they decide to have Greg come speak?
[4:53] It doesn’t take much for one scarcity mindset person to change a culture
[5:58] People are naturally inclined to talk about negative experiences more than positive ones
[6:42] Sometimes it takes a caring outside observer to point out tough problems in the organization
[7:15] Abundance encourages creativity, but scarcity stifles it
[8:08] I talk about the growing pains of changing an organization’s mindset
[9:16] We talk about change agents
[10:53] Greg talks about meeting a “business pastor”
[11:28] Why is scarcity so easy?
[13:26] How can we get positivity back?
[16:20] Greg discusses the balance of considering scarcity without becoming consumed by it
[17:00] Are the people around you in a scarcity mindset?
[18:15] Create boundaries for your mindset
[19:17] You don’t have it all, so don’t act like it!
[19:43] Greg would love to help your organization develop an abundance mindset.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: abundance, coaching, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, growth mindset, leadership, paradigm, podcast, scarcity, teammates, video, YouTube. Leave a Comment »

Links & Quotes

July 29, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

T.M. Moore wrote to pastors, “Effective ministry and fruitful Christian living are not automatic. They don’t just happen. Each requires that we receive the gifts of God, develop them according to His Word, and put them to proper use day by day. We must work out our salvation and work at our calling with focus and vigor.” Check out the rest of his post.

Speaking of pastors: In order for us pastors to be at our peak, we need to take care of ourselves. Here is a short video where I talk about the principle of sabbathing (a topic I explore in-depth in my book Shepherd Leadership: The Metrics That Really Matter).

This study from PennMedicine tells us that our brains can continue to learn new things until the day we die. So apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks!

My friend Greg and I have always tried to combine work and play. We’ve found that fun can really help leadership lessons stick. Check out this clip from a recent Craig And Greg Show leadership podcast.

Some really fast-moving stars in our Milky Way galaxy have further called into question the dating of our universe. These stars seem to indicate a universe that was created by God recently.

“When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.” —Walter Payton

How does the word of man become the Word of God? Great teaching from John Piper in his “Look at the Book” series.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: confidence, Craig And Greg Show, humility, John Piper, leadership, lifelong learner, neurons, neuroplasticity, pastors, quotes, sabbathing, shepherd leadership, T.M. Moore, video. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: When Craig Met Greg

July 19, 2022 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

On this episode of “The Craig And Greg Show” we talk about:

[0:40] Who are we and how did we meet?
[2:00] A little bit of Greg’s biography as he headed to college
[4:10] A little bit of my biography as I headed to college
[5:40] How Greg tweaked his major while at Hope College
[6:57] I added an additional major while at Oral Roberts University
[7:28] Greg was drafted by two professional sports teams
[9:14] Transitions are important for leaders
[10:29] Self-reflection + coach ability = superpower
[11:02] Greg’s first business venture was only an entry point to his career
[13:37] Another decision further refined Greg’s niche in business
[15:03] The unforeseen changes that brought me to West Michigan where I met Greg
[15:59] One of the first ministries that we worked on together
[20:00] A leadership lesson we tried to teach to the students at an urban youth center
[20:40] The dream list for us going forward
[22:40] What do we do as consultants?
[24:02] Greg has some cool keynote addresses that he presents
[25:53] How we can help you grow your leadership capacity

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.