Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!

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In this episode...

How to Have the Hard Conversations You Dread

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-have-the-hard-conversations-you-dread

Not every discussion is easy to have. Episode 132 of Faithful on the Clock combines psychology and Scripture to get you through even the hardest conversations.

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:37] - Difficult conversations for redemption and clarification

[02:00] - Speaking the truth ais kindness; the benefit of reframing hard conversations as opportunities

[04:14] - Active listening as a key tool for navigating difficult conversations; giving sufficient space to the conversation and the role of prefrontal cortex load

[06:54] - Anchoring bias as a conversation tone setter

[07:54] - The illusion of transparency and the need to be explicit about our feelings and intentions.

[08:40] - The SCARF model (introduction)

[09:36] - The SCARF model (real-world application)

[11:11] - Kingdom communication and its intentionality defined

[12:48] - Call to action: Pray for your posture.

[13:14] - Prayer

[13:59] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• Hard conversations can pave a positive path. — Difficult conversations might challenge us, but they can be redemptive and clarifying.
• Truth is protection and kindness. — Even though you might dread them, honest conversations that deliver truth in love can guard others and everything you’ve built. Reframing transforms hard conversations from moments of confrontation into opportunities to build trust and clarity.
• Regulate the tone early. — Because of anchoring bias, whatever you lead with sets the emotional tone for everything that follows. Lead with compassion and shared purpose.
• Be explicit. — The illusion of transparency means people don’t automatically know your intent. Say what you mean clearly.
• Use active listening with enough space. — Slow down, ask questions, and allow time for feelings. It helps keep everyone calm and prevents miscommunication. If emotions are running hot, step back. Don’t force a conversation when someone’s prefrontal cortex is offline due to stress.
• Apply the SCARF model. — People resist what doesn’t feel safe. Addressing the core social needs of status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness helps make a tough conversation more digestible. If someone is especially sensitive to one SCARF domain (e.g., fairness),...

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!

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Leadership, Meaning, and Making Space for Questions

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/leadership-meaning-and-making-space-for-questions

Ever feel scared to ask a question? Episode 131 of Faithful on the Clock welcomes Catherine Cowell to help you see the freedom and power of reclaiming inquiry.

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:47] - Catherine’s welcome and bio

[01:50] - How Catherine came to work in communication and leadership

[05:54] - Catherine’s involvement with initial question groups

[14:23] - The need for guidelines in groups designed for question facilitation

[18:31] - Types of questions people brought to Catherine’s groups

[20:23] - Confronting the idea that questions mean weak faith or that you’re just starting your Christian journey

[29:28] - The importance of learning to consider your core passions and of asking other people about theirs

[35:50] - Catherine’s definition of leadership; the importance of holding space to help people find their gifts

[46:44] - Catherine’s two guiding philosophies

[49:47] - How to connect with Catherine

[50:38] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• In leadership and communication, how you listen is more key than how you get your message across.
• People can have all kinds of questions they’re afraid to ask. Modeling true vulnerability gives them permission to engage in full, authentic exploration — people are motivated to open up when they know we will sit in the space we create with them.
• As people begin to explore the questions they have, it can be helpful to establish guidelines around values. It reduces the mismatch of expectations — and subsequent uncomfortable situations — that can sometimes happen as people make inquiries.
• Questions can happen at any point of life, not just when you are just beginning your Christian journey. Having them doesn’t mean your faith is weak.
• People often hesitate to ask questions if they feel others will find them lacking for it. There’s a tendency to squash feelings down, believing we ought to be able to bring them under the authority of Scripture. This can leave us stunted, because we never really work through what’s in our hearts.
• God understands we are going to have questions on our faith journey. There’s nothing we could ask that could put us outside of His love.
• Asking questions helps us to become more settled as human beings because we stop hiding ourselves and don’t worry about our image so much.
• People often don’t...

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!

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In this episode...

Loose Leash Leadership

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/loose-leash-leadership

What does a well-trained dog who’s able to walk with a loose leash teach you about leadership? TONS! Episode 130 uses that picture to explain why obedience is a gift that’s earned.

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:30] - Observations of dogs and handlers in the park

[01:33] - What makes dogs stay by their handlers with a loose leash; concepts of negative and positive reinforcement

[03:24] - Obedience as a response to feeling safe and taken care of

[04:49] - Training people to stay next to you; example of my friend offering consistent kindness

[06:25] - Importance of asking if your rewards are appropriate for the situation; goal of building expectation of reliability and consistency in how you show up

[07:09] - The connection between training, trust, and being led into new tasks or circumstances

[8:07] - The need to see God’s full story to understand how He disciplines; why He is worthy of trust

[11:45] - God as a consistent, ever-present trainer; the need to show up every day for those you lead and to be patient within appropriate expectations

[15:15] - Summary of key concepts

[15:38] - Prayer

[16:00] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• Dog handlers can use either negative reinforcement (e.g., hitting with a stick) or positive reinforcement (e.g., offering a treat) as they train their dogs. A loose leash combined with a confident posture from the dog as they stay next to the handler is a sign that the dog is choosing to stay and obey because they trust the handler.
• The training principle for dogs applies even to people — if you try to force people to follow, they might stay, but only out of fear, not a sense of safety and loyalty.
• To earn obedience from others at work, you need to discover what reward is appropriate for the situation and build the expectation that you will be reliable and consistent in how you show up.
• When people learn that they are safe with a good leader, they will follow them even into new situations and tasks, just like dogs who enter different courses and spaces in competitions.
• We need to look at the entirety of the Bible to understand God’s complete character and the way he consistently and appropriately disciplines and rewards us. His discipline is not random and is always protective.
• All of us are in training. But as a leader, we have to be an ever-present help and keep showing up to reinforce what people

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!

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In this episode...

Finding Your Tribe for Maximum Influence

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/finding-your-tribe-for-maximum-influence

Episode 129 of Faithful on the Clock explores what finding your tribe means in the Christian context, and how finding your people as you work can help you feel seen, known, and valued.

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:36] - “Finding your tribe” defined

[01:49] - The 12 tribes of Israel would have understood the modern idea of finding a tribe in terms of fitting into a certain place.

[02:42] - Finding a tribe isn’t just about fit — it’s also about function and calling.

[03:45] - When you think about finding your tribe, think about collective mission and how you and your tribe contribute to the bigger picture.

[05:22] - Once you figure out your calling, ask yourself who else is called like you are.

[05:54] - We’re wired for meaningful connection, not just collaboration. Finding a tribe is about placement, not just validation or getting a sense of safety.

[06:33] - What finding your tribe feels like

[07:45] - The difference between the Biblical application of finding a tribe and how most organizations function

[09:35] - Calls to action

[10:19] - Prayer

[11:04] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• “Finding your tribe” is a positive phrase related to a deep sense of purpose, community, and belonging.
• The 12 tribes of Israel demonstrate having a feeling of fitting into a certain place. But they also each had their own focus or calling. Finding your tribe is not just about fit — it’s also about where you function spiritually, emotionally, and communally.
• Instead of focusing on who is like you, focus on what you and your tribe contribute to the bigger picture and where your gifts are welcome. Then concentrate on finding people who are wired with the same spiritual DNA.
• Finding a tribe in the Christian context is not about popularity, validation, or safety. It’s about knowing where God has placed you to serve and what unique elements you bring to the table.
• The feeling of finding your tribe is visceral — you’ll know it when it happens!
• Most of us don’t work in a tribe because companies are focused and organized around profit-driven goals, not spiritual identity or calling. The question thus is how to refocus and reorganize to honor the need people have to be known and contribute meaningfully.

CTAs:

• Pray about your placement so God will show you where

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!

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In this episode...

The Comparison Trap: Working With Confidence in Your Calling

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/the-comparison-trap-working-with-confidence-in-your-calling

Comparison can be a huge stumbling block as you try to serve God. Episode 128 of Faithful on the Clock explains the value of not comparing as you find and step into your calling.

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:41] - How our business environment and culture sets us up for comparison

[01:57] - How comparison functions as a measure of safety and security

[04:27] - Comparison distracts you from your calling. It makes you put value and attention on what doesn’t matter and doubt your own worth.

[05:00] - Joseph, Mary’s husband, as an example of someone who resisted comparison

[06:49] - The Bible shows that great things happen when you defy expectations. If you compare all the time, you prepare for what’s not even relevant.

[09:03] - David as an example who, instead of comparing himself to others, only compared the job to do to his previous experience

[10:59] - How to get clarity about your calling

[14:30] - Safety and security come from God

[15:01] - Prayer

[15:38] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• Comparison can happen on multiple levels, such as within a culture and then within an industry. We often do it as a way to be reasonable in setting tasks and objectives.
• On top of having a pragmatic purpose, comparison also helps us gauge our sense of safety. We compare to make sure we haven’t deviated too far from expected norms, which would harm our chances of survival. Going after wealth is a way to answer the question of safety and, if desired, gain the power to alter the norms that are in place.
• Comparison is detrimental to us as Christians because it distracts us from the calling God has for us. It can cause us to devalue who we are and think we’re not capable of effective service.
• Joseph, Mary’s husband, serves as an example of someone who went against norms to serve God. Many stories of the Bible show that good things happen when people are willing to stop comparing and respond to God in a way that defies worldly expectations.
• The story of David and Goliath shows the confidence and success that can come when we focus on the training we have and the job to be done, rather than what the expectations of others are.
• You can get clarity about your calling (which helps you stop comparing) by just asking God for direction. But it often comes as a “slow burn” of...

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!

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In this episode...

Procrastination, Precrastination, and Ditching Anxiety

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/procrastination-precrastination-and-ditching-anxiety

Procrastination and precrastination might seem like they’ve got nothing in common, but they’re two sides of the same anxiety coin. Episode 127 helps you refocus on God, conquer them, and find some peace.

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:42] - Why both procrastination and precrastination are problematic

[01:54] - How procrastination and precrastination both tie to anxiety; the underlying fears and rationales

[03:14] - Tactic #1 — Pause and refocus

[05:10] - Tactic #2 — Lean on God’s understanding and control

[07:38] - Tactic #3 — Focus on progress and break things down

[09:55] - Tactic #4 — Release the shame that comes from pacing poorly

[11:12] - Tactic #5 — Ask why you are doing the work and who you are doing it for.

[12:50] - Personal story of procrastination/precrastination conflict

[15:32] - Prayer

[16:19] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• Procrastination gets most of the attention in business because of the way it can slow operations down and negatively influence the speed necessary to compete. But precrastination can be just as damaging and poses an equal threat to mental health and confidence.
• Procrastination and precrastination are both coping strategies for anxiety. In both cases, the goal is to feel safer and more comfortable — procrastinators feel safer through avoidance, while precrastinators feel safer through action.
• Tactic #1 — Pause before you react and refocus on God’s truth over your emotion.
• Tactic #2 — Lean on God’s understanding and control instead of your own.
• Tactic #3 — Accept that God looks for progress rather than perfection and break down what has to be done into smaller, manageable steps.
• Tactic #4 — Release the shame that comes from pacing poorly, knowing that in Christ, you don’t have to carry it.
• Tactic #5 — Ask why you are doing the work and who you are doing it for. Make sure you are giving authority to God and let Him help you.
• When procrastinators and precrastinators come up against each other, there can be serious conflict. But you can resolve this conflict by reminding yourself that the other person has the same problem you do. In empathy, seek to discover why they are anxious and deliver what they need.

CTAs:

• Reflect on whether your overall tendency is to...

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!

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In this episode...

The Difference in David

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/the-difference-in-david

There are leaders, and then there are leaders. King David proved himself to be the best of the best. Episode 126 highlights his key differentiator.

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:46] - Characteristic #1 — repentance

[03:43] - Characteristic #2 — humility

[06:37] - Characteristic #3 — appropriate application

[08:38] - Characteristic #4 — compassion

[10:55] - Key differentiation — David’s posture was to seek glory for God, not himself, and to intentionally keep pursuing Him no matter how many times he made mistakes.

[14:03] - Prayer

[14:51] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• David showed a remarkable ability to repent — he felt regret deeply when he sinned against God, and that genuine emotion led him to seek God’s forgiveness and keep trying to do better.
• David was humble. He was able to use humility as both brakes and gas, showing restraint and speed with an understanding that God held the ultimate authority.
• David was able to take previous practice and apply it to new, “similar enough” situations or environments. Leaders often have to do this as their companies and markets change. Leaning on and trusting in the ways God has previously prepared you can help you replace fear with confidence.
• David showed extreme compassion, asserting that it was the gentleness of God — not his own skill as a warrior — that made him great. His kindness reminds us to do our best to imitate the heart God has as we lead.
• All of the above points are the result of David’s key differentiator — his posture in front of God. He always led for the glory of God and pursued Him with a true desire for a deep, personal relationship. He never stopped seeking God’s direction no matter how many times he got into the weeds.

CTAs:

Identify one way in which you can more deeply pursue God as a consistent, practical habit, whether it’s more prayer, seeking counsel from other believers, reading scripture, or studying what He’s made.

What’s coming up next:

Procrastination and pre-crastination might seem like totally different animals, but they’re often two faces of the same coin — anxiety. Episode 127 of Faithful on the Clock looks at how addressing your fears can help you ditch both bad habits to be more effective and successful.

Visit the...

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!

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In this episode...

Stop Achieving, Start Accomplishing

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/stop-achieving-start-accomplishing

What’s the difference between achievement and accomplishment? The world probably has you conditioned toward achievement, but Episode 125 of Faithful on the Clock shows that it’s accomplishment that really counts.

Timestamps:

[00:05] - Intro

[00:35] - Story about my 4th grade teacher, Mr. Lang introducing the achievement concept through showing off spelling bee trophies

[01:19] - Influence toward achievement starts early and sets us up to orient ourselves around it in work.

[03:14] - Martin Moran differentiates between achievement and accomplishment, noting that accomplishment is based on the external and tangible, while accomplishment is based on the internal and resilience. Olga Khazan notes that people are hiring coaches to achieve more because they don’t think normal is OK. They’re also letting coaches stand in for friends.

[04:49] - People are connecting based on achievement, rather than forming more intimate relationships.

[05:47] - Why a focus on achievement is dangerous

[07:20] - My personal differentiation of achievement and accomplishment — achievement is pragmatic and you-focused, accomplishment is visionary and God-focused.

[9:17] - Focusing on accomplishment naturally will lead to achievement.

[9:45] - Prayer

[10:29] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• Conditioning toward achievement rather than accomplishment starts very early and is common within the school system. It sets us up to work in a way that prioritizes leveling up and getting personal rewards.
• Achievement is associated with tangible outcomes and external validation. Accomplishment is more about intrinsic reward and personal development.
• Today’s culture is seeing a massive growth in the coaching industry. This is symptomatic of a malfunctioning looking glass self and the fact people are focused on achievement as a substitute for the connection they’re not getting.
• Focusing on achievement rather than accomplishment is dangerous because it convinces you that you can grow, save, or protect yourself by your own merit. It tempts you to stop looking to Jesus for help and guidance and makes loving your neighbor and glorifying God more difficult.
• Your aim should be to accomplish and live a life full of purpose that God will be proud of you for.
• The more you try to accomplish, the more you naturally will achieve.