SUMMARY
What does leading through grief really look like for leaders? How do leaders balance practically the demands of leadership with obligations to family and friends? In 2021, the world of teaching pastor and leader Megan Marshman was turned upside down when her husband Randy passed away suddenly. In this very real, gut-level conversation with GLS host Paula Faris, Megan shares her hard-won learnings from tragedy, including how she weighs new commitments and invitations, how to foster a supportive community in her time of need, and how she continues to lead even as she continues to heal.
KEY MOMENTS IN THIS EPISODE
04:42 EVERY “YES” IS A “NO,” AND EVERY “NO” IS A “YES.” Be aware of how you evaluate what you commit too, because every commitment means you are sacrificing something.
10:48 HOW WE TALK ABOUT OUR WORK TO OUR KIDS MATTERS. Our children are learning about the role of work from us, and the way we present it to them. You can present work as opportunities for growth and opportunity, or as something to be endured.
12:16 EMBRACE THE ROLE OF LEARNING FROM OTHERS. When we decide to become someone who ask questions, rather than being the one with the answers, we empower others and preserve our own curiosity.
14:30 “MAKE THE CALL”—PAYING THE PRICE FOR BETTER FRIENDSHIPS. Most of us would say that we desire better and deeper friendships, but deeper relationships only come from sacrifice.
19:30 SHALLOW GRIEF = SHALLOW JOY. If you are going through something, don’t be afraid to open up the dark places and name the hurt. If we don’t grieve thoroughly, our joy may be shallow and circumstantial.
20:30 TWO WAYS THAT COMMUNITY HELPS WITH THE PAIN. For Megan, her community (a) helped her open up the deep places of pain in her, and (b) helped her remember things like hope and love.
22:57 LEADING IN THE MIDST OF GRIEF. Realize that pain—and weakness—is relatable, which means that your impact may actually be greater.
29:02 PERSONAL PAIN IMPACTS LEADERSHIP. For Megan, she advocates that leaders (a) not lead alone, (b) embrace discipline and structure, and (c) use “triggers” in positive ways (e.g., to remember to slow down or pray).
31:54 A WANDERING MIND CAN TELL US WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. During prayer or silence, our wandering minds can actually indicate what’s really on our hearts, and what we should really bring to God.
37:28 Host reflection and takeaways.
RELEVANT RESOURCES / LINKS
Megan Marshman
Hume Lake Christian Camps
Megan’s Author Page on Amazon.com
Paula Faris on the Global Leadership Podcast
Global Leadership Network
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Go further with this episode by discussing the following questions with your team, or engaging in some personal reflection:
Megan says that deep friendships require sacrifice, and encourages us to “make the call” to reach out to people around us.
Is there anyone in your circle of relationships with whom you’d like to develop a deeper friendship? Write their name here.
Write down a date by which you could call them and get some meaningful time together.
Moving Forward: What could you do differently as a result of this podcast?
Paula Faris
Founder | CARRY Media™Megan Fate Marshman
Pastor, Speaker, AuthorEp 127: Real Talk About Leading Through Busy-Ness and Grief
TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST
Leading YourselfWhat does leading through grief really look like for leaders? How do leaders balance practically the demands of leadership with obligations to family and friends? In 2021, the world of teaching pastor and leader Megan Marshman was turned upside down when her husband Randy passed away suddenly. In this very real, gut-level conversation with GLS host Paula Faris, Megan shares her hard-won learnings from tragedy, including how she weighs new commitments and invitations, how to foster a supportive community in her time of need, and how she continues to lead even as she continues to heal.
On This Podcast
Paula Faris
CARRY Media™
Paula Faris is an Emmy-Award winning journalist, speaker, best-selling author of Called Out: Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs For A Life Of True Calling, and host of the Paula Faris Faith & Calling podcast, where she talks to inspirational people about what they're called to do and who they're called to be. Faris spent the last nine years at ABC news, during which she was co-anchor of Good Morning America weekend edition and co-host of The View. While at the network she reported on everything from politics, news and entertainment to sports and faith. In 2022, Faris launched CARRY Media™ with the desire to champion, advocate and celebrate working mothers across America.
Megan Fate Marshman
As an international speaker at churches, conferences and university chapels, Megan Fate Marshman is a leading voice to this generation. She has devoted her life to loving God and overflowing His transformative love to others. Megan is currently a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church and the Director of Women’s Ministries at Hume Lake Christian Camps. She also shepherds women at her home church, Arbor Road. She enjoys adventuring all over the globe with her boys as she speaks and shares the love of Jesus. She authored the books Meant for Good and SelfLess, and co-wrote the book, 7 Family Ministry Essentials, with Dr. Michelle Anthony. Megan also served as the Director of Student Resources for David C Cook Publishers, where she led a team in creating TruIdentity, a spiritually forming, Christ centered, and family empowered youth ministry curriculum.
Show Notes
SUMMARY
What does leading through grief really look like for leaders? How do leaders balance practically the demands of leadership with obligations to family and friends? In 2021, the world of teaching pastor and leader Megan Marshman was turned upside down when her husband Randy passed away suddenly. In this very real, gut-level conversation with GLS host Paula Faris, Megan shares her hard-won learnings from tragedy, including how she weighs new commitments and invitations, how to foster a supportive community in her time of need, and how she continues to lead even as she continues to heal.
KEY MOMENTS IN THIS EPISODE
04:42 EVERY “YES” IS A “NO,” AND EVERY “NO” IS A “YES.” Be aware of how you evaluate what you commit too, because every commitment means you are sacrificing something.
10:48 HOW WE TALK ABOUT OUR WORK TO OUR KIDS MATTERS. Our children are learning about the role of work from us, and the way we present it to them. You can present work as opportunities for growth and opportunity, or as something to be endured.
12:16 EMBRACE THE ROLE OF LEARNING FROM OTHERS. When we decide to become someone who ask questions, rather than being the one with the answers, we empower others and preserve our own curiosity.
14:30 “MAKE THE CALL”—PAYING THE PRICE FOR BETTER FRIENDSHIPS. Most of us would say that we desire better and deeper friendships, but deeper relationships only come from sacrifice.
19:30 SHALLOW GRIEF = SHALLOW JOY. If you are going through something, don’t be afraid to open up the dark places and name the hurt. If we don’t grieve thoroughly, our joy may be shallow and circumstantial.
20:30 TWO WAYS THAT COMMUNITY HELPS WITH THE PAIN. For Megan, her community (a) helped her open up the deep places of pain in her, and (b) helped her remember things like hope and love.
22:57 LEADING IN THE MIDST OF GRIEF. Realize that pain—and weakness—is relatable, which means that your impact may actually be greater.
29:02 PERSONAL PAIN IMPACTS LEADERSHIP. For Megan, she advocates that leaders (a) not lead alone, (b) embrace discipline and structure, and (c) use “triggers” in positive ways (e.g., to remember to slow down or pray).
31:54 A WANDERING MIND CAN TELL US WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. During prayer or silence, our wandering minds can actually indicate what’s really on our hearts, and what we should really bring to God.
37:28 Host reflection and takeaways.
RELEVANT RESOURCES / LINKS
Megan Marshman
Hume Lake Christian Camps
Megan’s Author Page on Amazon.com
Paula Faris on the Global Leadership Podcast
Global Leadership Network
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Go further with this episode by discussing the following questions with your team, or engaging in some personal reflection:
Megan says that deep friendships require sacrifice, and encourages us to “make the call” to reach out to people around us.
Is there anyone in your circle of relationships with whom you’d like to develop a deeper friendship? Write their name here.
Write down a date by which you could call them and get some meaningful time together.
Moving Forward: What could you do differently as a result of this podcast?
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