Tim Ahlman welcomes Rev. Dr. Michael Eckelkamp, who shares transformative leadership insights from his experience as Senior Executive Director at Christ Lincoln Church and Schools and mentor to countless leaders.

• Two early mentors shaped Michael's approach to leadership: his third-grade teacher who helped him learn to read, and a man named Herbie who invited him to weekly dinners
• Understanding leadership and self-deception requires recognizing when we're "in the box" toward others, justifying our behavior by blaming them
• Trust operates like deposits in a bank account—consistent small investments create a reserve that allows relationships to weather occasional withdrawals
• Every congregation asks two questions about a new leader: "Will he love me?" and "Will he let me love him?"
• Young leaders need mentorship to develop character at the same rate as content knowledge
• Creating healthy rhythms (Michael swims at 4 am daily) provides capacity to handle leadership challenges
• High invitation coupled with high challenge creates environments where people grow spiritually and emotionally
• Curiosity (from Latin "cur" meaning heart) keeps us humble and open to what God is doing
• Leadership requires incremental 1% improvements in physical, emotional, spiritual and familial dimensions

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