Podcast | Best Christian Workplaces

421: How Men and Women Lead Better Together for Kingdom Impact

Written by Best Christian Workplaces | December, 16 2024

What kind of leadership creates lasting Kingdom impact? In today’s episode, Tami Heim, president of the Christian Leadership Alliance, shares transformative insights on developing women leaders, fostering cross-gender collaboration, and embracing mentorship to inspire and empower others.

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In this episode:

Tami Heim's Leadership Journey

  • Mentorship Influence:
    • Emphasized the importance of mentors who believed in her potential and held her accountable. (04:02)
    • Key question from a 15-year mentor: "What is it about your leadership that's creating this outcome?" shaped her self-reflection and accountability as a leader. (04:42)
  • Career Path Highlights:
    • Started in retail, working her way up from entry-level roles to leadership positions. (09:13)
    • Joined Borders as a Territorial Executive Vice President, later becoming President during a time of significant disruption in the retail industry. (10:07)
    • Transitioned to Christian publishing, overseeing Bible projects and Christian content. (11:00)
    • Currently leads at Christian Leadership Alliance, utilizing her diverse experiences to equip leaders for Kingdom impact. (11:37)

Mentoring and Leadership Development

  • Mentorship Practices:
    • Advocates for a mentoring culture rather than rigid programs, allowing organic relationships to develop. (13:05)
    • Successful mentorship involves trust, shared values, and understanding mentees' perspectives. (13:38)
  • Best Practices for Developing Leaders:
    • Encourages leaders to ask reflective questions that promote accountability and self-awareness. (14:26)
    • Highlights the value of listening as a key skill in effective leadership and mentoring. (15:13)

Women's Retreats and Building Relationships

  • Tami shares about facilitating women's retreats:
    • Focused on creating environments that allow relationships to grow naturally. (18:26)
    • Gently guided, unlike structured retreats with lessons or tight schedules. (19:38)
    • Outcomes often include meaningful friendships and collaborations on Kingdom initiatives. (20:08)

Women’s Leadership Across Sectors

  • Differences between marketplace and faith-based sectors:
    • Success depends on individuals bringing their best to the situation. (20:58)
    • Emphasis on the biblical design of men and women complementing each other. (21:11)
    • Reference to Love & Respect principles on mutual submission and sacrifice in relationships and work. (21:22)
  • Importance of work as worship:
    • Inspired by Bill Hendricks' work highlighting the integration of faith and work. (21:39)
    • Collaboration between men and women accelerates when work is viewed as an act of worship. (22:50)

Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders

  • Growth in women-owned businesses and women-led ministries:
    • Driven by grit, passion, and a desire to address pain points. (24:13)
    • Women tend to pursue entrepreneurial paths when deeply called to make a difference. (24:45)
  • Example of increasing female leadership:
    • Christian Leadership Alliance saw growth from 15% women to nearly 50% over 20 years. (25:04)
    • Women gain leadership opportunities, excel, and are called to step into higher roles. (25:20)

Research on Women in Leadership

  • Tami highlights Deana Porterfield’s research on women leaders:
    • Examined common traits of women leading Christian organizations. (26:34)
    • Found eight universal characteristics shared by successful female leaders. (26:47)
    • Traits include being pursued into roles, having male sponsors, understanding institutional culture, and feeling deeply called to lead. (28:12)
  • Observations on women’s leadership tendencies:
    • Women often don’t actively pursue leadership roles but are invited into them. (27:47)
    • Leadership decisions are heavily influenced by prayer and discernment of God’s will. (29:14)

Broader Shifts in Christian Leadership

  • Both Tami and Al observe significant growth in female leadership within Christian organizations over the past 20 years. (29:42)
  • Al notes similar trends among top leaders across Christian organizations, reflecting broader cultural and institutional shifts. (30:05)

Global Perspective on Women Leaders

  • Global Trajectory and Observations:
    • Cultural contexts influence male-female dynamics globally, but biblical guidelines remain universal. (33:59)
    • Women in third-world countries often lead out of necessity to care for families in the absence of male support. (35:17)
    • Microlending organizations like Opportunity International show women’s leadership produces higher returns and creates sustainable environments. (35:25)
  • Encounters at Lausanne Congress (Seoul):
    • Engaged with women leaders from India, Cyprus, Jamaica, and the Congo. (34:42)
    • Women leaders exhibit resilience and embrace roles as shepherd-leaders, balancing provision, protection, and fostering God's presence. (36:35)
    • Personal transformation for leaders who reframe their roles through biblical principles. (37:02)

Generational Differences in Female Leaders

  • Young Female Leaders (Millennials and Gen Z):
    • Exhibit confidence in self-expression and engage in candid discussions. (38:52)
    • Navigate life stages such as professional growth, marriage, family, and faith ownership. (39:13)
    • Wrestle with universal questions of identity, purpose, and impact, while balancing life responsibilities. (39:53)
  • Similarities Across Generations:
    • Thriving in leadership is tied to confidence in God, spiritual discipline, and community support, transcending generation, gender, or ethnicity. (40:40)
    • Seasons of life remain constant, though timing and decisions may vary. (40:43)
  • Research Findings:
    • Study with Azusa Pacific University highlights spiritual practices that enable Christian leaders to thrive. (41:00)
    • Mentorship is crucial for younger leaders to avoid missteps and follow a straighter path to flourishing. (41:56)

Legacy and Opportunities for Women Leaders

  • Impact of Trailblazers:
    • Younger generations benefit from paths forged by earlier female leaders. (43:17)
  • Personal Reflections:
    • Tami's daughters reflect diverse paths, staying true to their gifts. (43:00)
    • Today’s women embrace various roles, from entrepreneurs to ministry leaders, supported by a growing network of female mentors. (43:53)
    • Options for women have expanded due to increased female leadership and mentorship opportunities. (44:06)

Final Encouragement

  • Importance of asking, "What is it about my leadership that caused that outcome?" (51:04)
  • Recognizing and learning from both successes and challenges. (51:16)
  • Highlighted the "three guides" framework: Wise Guide, Side Guide, Surprise Guide (developed by Dr. Teresa Moon). (51:22)
  • Embracing God’s design for men and women working together brings the Kingdom to Earth. (51:44)
  • Aligning leadership with God's good, perfect, and holy will. (52:00)

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