Leadership Insights: Week 2 - Life.Church

Leading Up: How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge (Leadership Podcast w/ Craig Groeschel – Part 1)

Main Topics

• Life.Church updates: July “At the Movies” series (in-person/Church Online only)
• Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast – Part 1 of “How Do I Lead When I’m Not in Charge?”
• Listener Q&A: the value of journaling; coaching assistants vs. players
• Two core principles for “leading up”: Honor and Timing
• Upcoming events: Catalyst Conference, Oct 6-7 in Atlanta

Key Information

• Five benefits of a 5-year journal

1. Capture special moments
2. Reflect on learning (“a book a week”)
3. Track goals – Peter Drucker: “What’s measured improves.”
4. Store theories/ideas
5. Gain perspective on past problems

• Coaching advice: “If you have six strong coaches you’ll build a great team; coach the coaches for exponential impact.”

• Leading-Up Principles (Part 1)

1. Honor matters – “Honor publicly results in influence privately.” (Andy Stanley)
   – Respect is earned; honor is given.
2. Timing matters – study your leader’s weekly rhythms; present ideas when they can listen.
   – Be prepared, concise, and respect the clock.

• Two reasons leading up is essential

1. “No organization will ever be what it could be without honest upward communication.”
2. “Your ability to lead up now will help determine your ability to move up later.”

• Biggest leadership myth: “You have to be in charge to lead.” Personal influence (trust, care, results) often outweighs positional power.

Detailed Summary

Craig opens by thanking listeners who rate and share the podcast and notes his Catalyst Conference appearance. He answers two listener questions:

1. Journaling: After years of inconsistency, a five-year journal helped Craig remember moments, reflect on learning, monitor goals, capture ideas, and keep perspective.
2. High-school baseball coach dilemma: Craig recommends investing primarily in assistant coaches; strong coaches multiply leadership to players.

Main Lesson – Leading Up
Craig recalls persuading Pastor Nick Harris to hire him full-time at age 22 by linking salary to church growth, unintentionally “leading up.” He stresses that frontline staff see problems leaders miss and must communicate them. Leadership today relies more on personal than positional power; people “follow a leader with a heart faster than a leader with a title.”

Part 1 covers two of five essentials:

1. Honor: Always support and speak well of leaders. If you can’t honor, consider moving on.
2. Timing: Good ideas die when presented at bad moments. Know your leader’s schedule and come prepared (written agenda, time limit).

He offers three application questions: • How can you increase personal influence in your organization?
• Name three concrete ways to honor and serve your direct leader.
• (For point leaders) List three ways to invite upward feedback from your team.

Craig warns point leaders: if you “don’t care what they think,” either the team is wrong or you are.

Part 2, covering the remaining three principles, arrives next month.

Action Items / Insights

• Start or streamline a journaling habit (consider a 5-year format).
• Coaches/leaders: prioritize developing those who multiply your influence.
• Identify your leader’s optimal listening times; schedule idea-pitches then.
• Draft three practical acts of honor for your supervisor this week.
• Point leaders: create structures (surveys, open-door blocks, roundtables) that encourage honest upward communication.

Conclusion

Effective “leading up” begins with genuine honor and strategic timing, proving you don’t need a title to drive positive change. Model these two habits now, and you’ll expand both current impact and future opportunity. Part 2 will explore the next three principles.