Sometimes, you feel stuck. You see all the possibilities that lay ahead in your ministry, yet you feel held back by your position on the organizational chart. You start to feel stagnant, unimportant, and disgruntled.

But don’t lose heart: You can cultivate influence without authority and you can use your passion to gain influence with those you work with. In today’s episode of the Think Orange Podcast, we’re joined by Frank Bealer and Clay Scroggins who talk about the concept of leading up and how you can be a better leader right where you are.

Topic Timeline:

Dave introduces today’s guests, Frank Bealer, executive director of leadership development at Orange, CEO of the Phase Family Centers, and former family pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, and Clay Scroggins, lead pastor at North Point Community Church and author of How To Lead When You’re Not In Charge (1:22)

Frank gives five practical ways to lead up in a more powerful way (8:09)

One of the best ways you can ensure you don’t let down the next generation is improve the way you lead up (16:58)

Dave introduces Clay Scroggins (17:24)

Clay says the key to doing well in the role you’re in is to buy in like it’s the last job you’ll ever have, but be aware that it’s not (22:47)

How important is being a good follower to leading up? (25:24)

Why being a student of our bosses is important (26:40)

How can you be an effective follower with vision? (28:55)

Is there a difference between godly ambition and selfish ambition? (37:48)

Clay explains the motivation behind writing his book (42:08)

From a leader’s perspective, how does he/she want to see their team leading up? (44:50)

Clay gives advice to a person who doesn’t feel like they have the opportunity or authority to express themselves to their leaders (49:06)

Is being a leader the same as being in charge? (53:24)

Clay and Dave talk about how leading up happens in your family (57:49)

Dave and Kevin give closing remarks (1:04:17)