Increase your leadership effectiveness by becoming more transparent in your mentoring relationships. Learn how to build trust and vulnerability with your mentor, and the benefits of being open and honest in a safe space.

In this article I explore ways to build trust and transparency in mentorship and professional supervision. I’m sharing the 4 key steps that help to do this, including listening, responding, patience and clarity of purpose. Read more to find out how to foster an environment of trust and safety.

Explore the reasons why engaging a mentor or professional supervisor is important. It’s best practice, helps us to thrive, and fulfills God’s mission. Learn more about why it’s so beneficial to have these supports in my latest article.

I recently attended a conference at Duke University in North Carolina on congregational and clergy health in the church. It was an inspiring experience to be surrounded by so many people of different denominations and backgrounds, all united by the common goal of strengthening and healing the clergy and congregations in their care. The conference made me think about the importance of community and mentorship, and how working alone can feel isolating and futile when faced with the massive changes that need to be made. The story of Elijah in the Bible reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles, and that God cares for his leaders and is doing something beautiful for his church. Click through to read more about my reflections from the conference.

As a mentor and professional supervisor, I have found that providing a safe space for leaders to discuss their thoughts and emotions can be incredibly beneficial. Recently, I was supervising a young pastor who was struggling with a difficult situation involving a team member. By reflecting on how Jesus responded to similar situations, we were able to find new ways of thinking and responding for my supervisee. It’s important to consider not only the supervisee in a presenting issue, but also to guide them in considering Jesus’ responses to all those involved. Remember that Jesus suffered and endured every test and temptation, so that he can help us every time we pass through the ordeals of life.

Focusing on the clients This perspective focuses on the sort of third party involved. For a mentor or coach talking with a Professional Supervisor, this person would be their client. With a school Principal talking with a Professional Supervisor, the third party would be their teachers, the students or the parents of the students. For a pastor in the same

Seven Eyes Model of Supervision If you have been in leadership, and have had to supervise coworkers and employees for more than a few years, it’s likely you have heard of the seven-eyes model of supervision. This is a method of supervision developed by Peter Hawkins. It is designed to help practitioners grow in their professional development, particularly to understand

The way we interact with the world around us has everything to do with how we choose to perceive the world. If we wake up each morning, and roll out of bed dreading the worst parts of our day, imagining worst-case scenarios, feeling like we can’t change the aspects of our life we don’t enjoy or that life feels empty

In any relationship there are mistakes made on both sides. As human beings we aren’t perfect; we can let our insecurities, fears, irritations and anger get the better of us at some point or another, causing hurt to others. Inevitably, the people around us will harm us and we will harm them. Since there is no going back in time,