Blog Posts by Courtney McBath

Happy New Year to you! I am excited about all the great work we will do together and individually in 2023. It will be a wonderful year as we work together to build our organization’s vision. We start by building and nurturing the right relationships.

The brilliant Stephen Covey once said when trust is low, change is slow and costly; when trust is high, change is faster and less expensive. This means as we plan toward all the positive things we want to achieve in the new year, we may want to consider taking time to build trust with our team members. People are more inclined to contribute to the vision if they trust you.

Let us start with making an assessment. Make a list of people you need to reach and measure how much they trust you based on your personal history. Then, where necessary, you can build on the existing trust or nurture trust with others. Anything that can be measured can be improved. This is the quickest way to nurture your vision and goals, which...

When we find ourselves in a limited place as leaders, with everyone looking up to you, we can get stuck dwelling on the past. When we feel trapped, static, or caught in a waiting posture, all kinds of thoughts can seep into our minds. We may start longing to go back to some relationship or season of life that God ended. We may spend hours meditating on the circumstances that landed us in our limitations. Before we know it, our hearts are filled with hurt, frustration, anger, sorrow, blame, condemnation, fear, or all of the above.

Paul wrote, “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, NASB). Forget what lies behind. Paul had to “forget” so he could “press on.” As long as you are holding on to what’s behind you, you are hindered in reaching forward.

As one of the first African American kids to...

If the past few months have taught us anything, it’s the value of relationships. In many ways, it feels like everything has shifted and remains in flux. Many of the norms we built our lives around are no longer considered normal or dependable.

However, there is one constant, when relationships are strong and resilient, they outlast injustice, questionable leadership at the highest levels, and a global pandemic. My real friends are still my real friends. Crisis has taught me the value of friendships and still, none of those friendships have been as valuable as my friendship with God.

Leaders who effectively understand that there are three things that our relationship with God provides for us that are impossible to find elsewhere. They are a moral compass, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. Leading is challenging, and without direction and emotional strength, it can be overwhelming.

As you expand your leadership effectiveness in the coming year, think beyond just the...