Barnabas File

“ The best leaders don’t know just one style of leadership – they’re skilled at several and have the flexibility to switch between styles as the circumstances dictate.”—Daniel Goleman   Leadership style is a choice.  The approach the leader takes in working with their team impacts the leader, the team, and process outcomes.     Daniel Goleman is one of the foremost proponents of Emotional Intelligence, the concept of how effectively we manage our emotions and understand the emotions of others.  Of all his writings, I find his discussion of leadership types most challenging.   He suggests that there are six common leadership styles. In a recent  LinkedIn post , he revisits these styles.   Command--"Do What I Tell You"   The leader provides clear, decisive direction when it is felt essential, communicating certainty.   This style is essential in genuine crises—but overuse erodes morale and initiative.   I...

In our coach training program, we are currently conducting a survey of our students and former students to both evaluate their takeaways from training and how we can continue to support them in using their coaching skills.   One of the questions is, “What is the single most impactful concept, tool, or ‘aha moment’ you carry with you from your training?”  Here are some of the responses:   "The client owns their own choices/decisions."  “Realizing the wisdom comes from the client.” “I’m not responsible for fixing.” “Avoid being a problem solver.”   These responses show that these coaches have a keen awareness that the client is a responsible, knowledgeable, and has the potential for growth.  I often remind myself that when I engage with a new client in the coaching conversation, the individual brings these things to the table:   First, they have agency—the capacity the make their own choices.  Even in difficult situations, the client is re...

I n her new book   The Executive Code , strategic advisor Andrea Nicholas provides guidance for senior executives—how you get there and how you stay there.     Although I don’t buy into the idea of the pastor of a church as the “chief executive officer,” Nicholas does provide some ideas in her “Longevity Audit” that can be helpful to a clergy leader in staying the course.    Let me share the items with you and apply to a congregational setting.   First, does my calendar reflect my values—or just my obligations?  Where did your time go last month?  The allocation of your time shows where you place your personal and pastoral emphases.  If you think you are strong in caring for those in your congregation, how much time did you spend with individual members?  If family time is important, how much time did you spend with spouse and other family members?   Second, when was the last time I laughed—really? ...

You don’t need an MBA to read The Executive Code , but if you have one and seek to rise to an executive role in an organization—and stay there—this one’s for you.   In  The Executive Code , strategic advisor Andrea Nicholas reveals the unspoken rules of C-suite leadership.  The C-suite (or C-level) refers to a company's highest-ranking senior executives.   Although I have never held a C-suite position, I did once have a corner office in a large organization with a significant responsibility for programming, personnel, and resources.  I have had enough experience at that level to affirm several of the author’s key concepts.   First, personal and professional growth go together.  The most important item here is understanding and using your guiding compass—your values. These are clearly seen in your calendar—how you spend your time, who you meet, and priorities when demands conflict.  Values build personal credibili...

In a recent post, I shared a brief book review of  Project Maven , an account of a program  initiated within the Pentagon in 2017 to use AI not only for battlefield surveillance but to target people and resources.  The author points to the evolution of this project to the ultimate goal—removing humans from the decision-making process.   On May 25, Pope Leo XIV released  Magnifica Humanitas, or  “Magnificent Humanity,” the Catholic Church’s first major theological statement about artificial intelligence. No matter your tradition, this document deserves your close attention.   In response to the encyclical, Cameron Trimble, CEO of  Convergence , cited several key considerations, but here is one of special note:   “He [Pope Leo] declared ‘just war’ theory outdated, which is a major theological step. One of the encyclical’s most striking points is about AI in warfare. Leo says clearly that the Catholic Church’s centuries-old ‘just war’ ...

The publication of Katrin Manson’s book   Project Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare   came a month after the launch of Operation Epic Fury.     The operation targeted thousands of Iranian military and strategic assets. And made some tragic errors.     The identification and targeting of these sites were provided, in most cases, using artificial intelligence.    Manson’s thoroughly documented book recounts how that came to be.   Under the leadership of Marine Colonel Drew Cukor, an effort was initiated within the Pentagon in 2017 to use AI not only for battlefield surveillance but to target people and resources.  Manson also recounts the evolution of this project to the ultimate goal—removing humans from the decision-making process.   Project Maven is a military artificial intelligence platform developed by Palantir. Originally launched in 2017 to analyze drone and survei...