Greg Heeres | Craig T. Owens

April 2026
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Make Your People A Priority

February 29, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

If you are a leader in your organization, there are a couple of often overlooked actions that are sending clear signals to your teammates. The question is: Are those signals telling them how valuable they are to you and your organization?

Check out this short clip from The Craig And Greg Show where we discuss how performance reviews can be a great opportunity to move your team forward.

If you would like to watch the full Craig And Greg Show episode on performance reviews, check it out here.

You may also be interested in two previous blog posts where I unpack some ideas on how to improve all of the relationships that are meaningful to us—Missing Ingredient and Be All There.

My new book When Sheep Bite is available for pre-order!

Here are a bunch of ways to get in touch with me and follow along with other projects on which I am involved.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, leadership, priority, relationships, review, video. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: The Power Of A Coach

February 22, 2024 — 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.

Do you need to have a coach? If you answered “yes” then you’re already on the right track! If you said “no,” Greg and I would like to challenge you a little. Join us as they discuss how coaching isn’t just about correcting mistakes, it’s also about maximizing your existing skills to the highest level possible.

[0:52] Does everyone need a coach?
[2:10] Having a coach doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.
[3:48] There’s great fulfillment in helping someone reach greater success.
[5:13] Proactive coaching versus reactive coaching.
[7:19] A good coach won’t micro-manage, they will train you, and then “put you in” to play the game on your own.
[8:24] Coaches can deliver a 10,000-foot view to highlight your greatest areas of strength.
[10:14]] An outside coach approaches your situation with a fresh perspective.
[11:12] Greg discusses Michael Jordan’s best skill.
[12:38] Coaching isn’t about highlighting your negatives, it’s about maximizing your strengths.
[13:13] If a particular area makes you defensive you really need to be examining it further.
[13:55] Maximize can help coach you! Please reach out to us at Maximize Leadership.
[14:55] Greg discusses a psychology experiment.
[15:42] Not being coachable is a huge impediment for leaders.
[18:30] Good competition pushes everyone around you to be better.
[19:21] Greg shares advice from Rich Devos.
[21:45] Good coaching is proactive and reactive.
[23:13] A quote from Tom Landry on the job of a coach.
[24:17] Greg discusses the investments that were made in his life in his book Sage Advice.
[26:24] We don’t have all the answers, but we can help steer you in the right direction.

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, coaching, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, leadership, lifelong learner, Michael Jordan, podcast, proactive, strength zone, video. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: Reflect Excellence

February 8, 2024 — 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.

As leaders, we are called to set the example for our organization. As Greg and I discuss in this episode, the quickest way to make a positive change in your organization is to exhibit the traits you want to see. Do that with consistency, and your team will begin to reflect those traits back to you.

[0:00] Welcome to our new studio!
[1:06] The way a leader leads influences the way the team follows.
[3:03] A leaders team will reflect the attitude they exhibit.
[5:53] Leaders need to constantly be interacting with their team to “check the pulse.”
[7:13] Recognizing innovation in your team is a compliment to your leadership.
[9:10] If there’s a trait we want our team to embody we must exhibit it first.
[10:20] If you don’t recognize potential in teammates you will always hire low-potential individuals.
[13:04] Consistency is important to how a leader reflects values.
[15:13] Leadership vs Bossing
[17:10] Jesus set an example for us of servant leadership.
[18:26] At some point your team will test you to see if what you’re saying is real.
[20:10] I share some wisdom from my cousin’s book.
[21:11] Greg issues a challenge to leaders.
[22:06] If you’re going through a difficult time, a coach can help you navigate. We would love to help you!

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: attitude, consistency, Craig And Greg Show, example, Greg Heeres, influence, innovation, leadership, podcast, video. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: Setting Goals, Making Changes

January 25, 2024 — 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.

Goal-setting and change-making are integral parts of a leader’s job. However, it can often feel like actually accomplishing these tasks is one of the hardest parts of the job! In this episode, Greg and I dive into how to successfully set and accomplish goals, and how to strategically create change in a way that doesn’t disenfranchise your team.

[0:30] Why aren’t more people successful in their goal-setting?
[1:30] Focusing on too many things can paralyze a leader.
[3:48] Leaders—by definition—have a lot of things on their plates. How do we find the areas that are the most strategic for us to change?
[5:28] Leaders need to set a place of change that the entire team can stick to.
[7:02] Leaders must learn to trust their teammates to get tasks done.
[9:01] Changes are vital for us personally and organizationally, but we must choose those changes strategically and carefully.
[10:02] Celebrating accomplishments in meeting our goals is very important.
[12:08] How do leaders find the speed of change?
[13:39] Enlisting and energizing change agents in the organization will extend a leader’s influence.
[15:57] Leader’s shouldn’t make key decision when they are exhausted or distracted.
[19:12] Greg shares a helpful acrostic for F.O.C.U.S.
[21:29] A coach can be invaluable in helping you be successful in all of your change initiatives. This is where we can help you.

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, goal setting, goals, Greg Heeres, leadership, motivation, podcast, resolution, video. 2 Comments »

Using Your Leadership Power To Serve Others

January 18, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

Godly leaders are always striving to use their leadership power to serve others. What exactly does this look like? On a recent Craig And Greg Show episode, Greg and I discussed this important leadership tension.

Check out the full Craig And Greg Show episode here.
I talked about this confident-humble tension in much greater detail in this interview on the Thriving in Ministry podcast.
Check out the video of my superhero Plungerman.
And you can also read more in my book Shepherd Leadership.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: confidence, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, humility, Plungerman, power, servant-leadership, servanthood, shepherd leadership, tension, video. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: The Responsibility Of Power

January 11, 2024 — 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.

It goes without saying, but leadership positions confer a level of power to the people who occupy them. This power is necessary for us as leaders to do our job effectively, but if we’re not very careful it can begin to corrupt us and poison our leadership. Tune in as Greg and I tackle this tricky issue.

[0:22] Leaders need both enough power to get things done, but not too much that they crush people.
[1:44] Power can corrupt us if we are unaccountable in the use of our power.
[3:12] We should always be thinking in terms of how our use of power can empower others.
[5:16] A leader’s power should always be linked to responsibility.
[6:27] We earn our power—we don’t grab it form others—to better serve.
[9:32] Greg says, “Leadership should be dangerous!”
[12:40] Sometimes we must use our power to protect those around us.
[16:00] Greg steps into “you know what”!
[16:27] Are power and serving compatible?
[18:25] What do powerful leaders not want to do?
[20:26] When it comes right down to it, the use of leadership really comes down to influence.
[22:02] Our coaching services can help you use your power more effectively.

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, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, leadership, podcast, power, responsibility, video. 2 Comments »

Self-Talk During Fearful Times

January 3, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

When fear seems to be griping a leader’s heart, how can that leader respond in a way that benefits both themself and their team? One important strategy is paying attention to how we talk to ourselves during our battles with fear.

On the Craig And Greg Show, Greg and I discussed this important leadership skill.

Check out the full Craig And Greg Show episode here.
Two of my related blog posts on this topic are Try Reverse Thinking and Good For What?

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Craig And Greg Show, fear, Greg Heeres, self-talk, video. 1 Comment »

Book Reviews From 2023

January 2, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

I love reading, and I love sharing my love of good books with others! Here is a list of the books I read and reviewed in 2023. Click on a title to be taken to that review.

A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, And A Great War

Opportunity Leadership

Proverbs: Amplified and Applied

Sage Advice

Here are my book reviews for 2011.

Here are my book reviews for 2012.

Here are my book reviews for 2013.

Here are my book reviews for 2014.

Here are my book reviews for 2015.

Here are my book reviews for 2016.

Here are my book reviews for 2017.

Here are my book reviews for 2018.

Here are my book reviews for 2019.

Here are my book reviews for 2020.

Here are my book reviews for 2021.

Here are my book reviews for 2022.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: autobiography, Bible study, biography, book review, C.S. Lewis, Christianity, Dick Brogden, fiction, Greg Heeres, history, J.R.R. Tolkien, leadership, memoir, proverbs, theology. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: Christmas Traditions

December 7, 2023 — 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.

Christmas seems to be the one time of year when everyone loves to share their traditions, both in their families and in their organizations. As leaders we should embrace organizational traditions, and use them to show our team the culture of our organization. We also need to be aware that the personal traditions of our team members might make their lives a bit more hectic, and understanding and flexibility on our part will go a long way for them.

Books make great Christmas gifts! Pick up a copy of my and Greg’s new books to give to the leader in your life. Greg wrote Sage Advice and I wrote Shepherd Leadership.

[0:22] Christmas has more traditions than probably any other holiday—both in our families and in our organizations.
[2:22] Organizational culture isn’t written down, so holiday traditions can help us convey the culture to our teammates.
[3:28] I share one of my family Christmas traditions.
[6:00] What does generosity have to do with traditions?
[7:14] Greg shares one of his Christmas traditions with his family.
[9:02] Traditions bring comfort in uncertain times, but we can still adapt them as some situations change.
[12:25] Leaders need to be aware of the stress our teammates may feel during the holidays.
[15:17] Leader should be especially aware of our staff members’ needs during this time of year.
[18:00] Greg shares a mistake that his organization made that generated a lot of stress, and how they corrected it.
[21:18] We both share some fun stores about Christmas.
[24:23] Leader need to really leverage what Christmas really means.

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: Christmas, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, healing, holiday, leadership, peace, podcast, stress, tradition, video. 2 Comments »

Take A Breath

November 28, 2023 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

Leaders earn some of their credibility when they lead through difficult or chaotic times. But it is also during these times that a leader can un-do all of the good things that he had already accomplished.

On a recent episode of The Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres and I discussed how leaders can learn to control their reaction. In this clip, I share one simple strategy that has been so helpful for my leadership growth.