Global Leadership Summit Live Blog – 56 Leadership Quotes From Craig Groeschel’s Opening Session On 5 Organizational Cycles and Change

For the next two days I will be live blogging the Global Leadership Summit.  This is a special moment as the Summit will be celebrating its 25th year of investing in leaders.  As we prepare to learn from this year’s speaker lineup, I want to take a look back at last year’s best leadership quotes.

I also would like to invite you to join myself, Rick Warren, Nona Jones, Bob Goff, Carey Nieuwhof, Mark Patterson and over 100 of today’s top Christian thinkers for the upcoming Navigating A New Season First Impressions Conference.  This digital event will take place from November 4th through 6th.  Nothing will prepare your church or organization to be effective in 2021 more than this event. Click the image to learn more or HERE to sign-up today. Use the code DODD to save $10!

The event’s opening speaker was Craig Groeschel.  Craig is the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, an innovative church meeting in multiple U.S. locations and globally online. Known for its missional approach utilizing the latest technology, Life.Church is the creator of the YouVersion Bible App—downloaded in every country worldwide. Groeschel was named in the top 10 U.S. CEO’s for small and midsize companies by Glassdoor.

The following are 56 Leadership Quotes From Craig Groeschel’s Opening Session on the 5 Organizational Cycles and Change:

1. Everyone wins when the leader gets better.
2. Leadership always matters.
3. Our world needs humble, confident, bold and integrity-infused leadership.
4. We feel the indescribable weight and burden in leadership.
5. Leading is never easy but leadership is always important.
6. Leadership is influence. It’s never about title or position.  It’s always about trust and influence.
7. Leaders can learn from anyone.
8. Life is a big cycle.
9. 5 Organizational Cycles – Birth to Growth to Maturity/Prime to Decline/Rut/Treadmill to Death
10. Between Maturity and Decline, most leaders think they just need to work harder and better. As leaders we must recognize the world has changed.  Therefore, we as leaders we must change.
11. Every major crisis creates unexpected problems.
12. Every major crisis also creates unprecedented opportunities if you have eyes to see.
13. Leaders would be wise to see new opportunities and pivot.
14. Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.
15. Another stage of the life cycle could be reinvention or overhaul and recreate into a new season of growth and impact.
16. You must have the courage to lead through The Dip.
17. No matter what you lead, there will come a time when you must have the courage to lead through The Dip.
18. Change How We Think About Change.
19. People don’t hate change. They hate the way we try to change them.
20. It’s our responsibility to lead change.
21. Great leaders never cast blame. Great leaders take responsibility.
22. You can make excuses or you can make progress. But you can’t make both.
23. If you ignore the changes around you, your desire to hold the fort may cause you to lose the war.
24. Don’t fight to guard the old way when perhaps you can find a better way.
25. How The Courage To Unmake Promises
26. If you’re not careful, your boldest declarations could become your greatest limitations.
27. New opportunities demand a change of thinking.
28. When an old mindset is limiting your future, have the courage to unmake a promise.
29. You cannot correct what you will not confront.
30. Obsess Over They Why
31. There are only two reasons why people change – Desperation (have to) and Inspiration (want to).
32. It’s easier to change on your terms than when you are in big trouble.
33. Three reactions to change – Critics, Bystanders, Advocates.
34. Critics will arm themselves and always be the loudest. The loudest boos come from the cheapest seats.
35. Just because they’re the loudest, doesn’t mean they’re the most. Give them The Why.
36. The Why disarms the Critics, educates the Bystanders, and empowers the Advocates.
37. 80% of the people in organizations are Bystanders. The Why may move them to Advocates.
38. The Why gives Advocates data, statistics, and language.
39. We can tolerate the pain as long as we know there is a purpose.
40. Lead With Confident Uncertainty
41. You are most vulnerable when you are most confident.
42. I have no clue where we are going. I am confident I am around the right people.
43. Great leaders will find a way to lead.
44. Our goal is to limit the length and depth of the dip.
45. We are going to fail quickly and adapt immediately.
46. You will feel afraid. Feel the fear and lead anyway.
47. I’m comfortable when I’m unsure because that’s when leadership is needed.
48. The pathway to your greatest potential is often straight through your greatest fear.
49. Ask yourself what is no longer working and needs to be changed?
50. Ask yourself what is one promise you need to unmake?
51. Ask yourself what is one risk you need to take even if you feel afraid?
52. We don’t just feel, we do. We’re afraid.
53. We find value. We create value.
54. We reach people. We make disciples.  We preach the Gospel.  We’re leaders.  We lead.
55. I serve a Leader who knows how to lead through The Dip. He have His life and three days later He rose from the dead.
56. Leaders lead.

What an amazing way to start the event!  The next speaker is Beth Comstock.  Make sure you check back regularly for live blog updates.

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