Category Archives: leadership

Thoughts on leadership

Back to basics: The Triangle 2

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Israel Galindo

We continue the series on basic concepts in Bowen Family Systems Theory. Today’s question: What are common triangles in a church and organizational life? The list can be almost endless:

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Back to basics: The Triangle 1

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Israel Galindo

A story is told of legendary Packers football coach Vince Lombardi, whose toughness and demand for excellence turned the losing Green Bay football team into a championship organization. The story goes that after a particularly dismal practice he halted the … Continue reading →

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Can you see triangles?

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Israel Galindo

A couple of times in my past I’ve gotten hit on the head hard enough to see spots. One time, blindsided by two linesmen in a game of football who came at me from either side, I saw swirling spots. … Continue reading →

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Five just plain wrong notions about leadership

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Israel Galindo

On occasion I find myself startled at hearing a persistent wrong notion that just won’t go away. These notions are sometimes overheard in informal conversation, but sometimes they are offered in lectures or presentations. I don’t doubt that the people … Continue reading →

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Differentiation and emotional maturity

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Israel Galindo

A friend has been working on his differentiation of self for some time now. He is a curious learner, has done responsible self-work (reading, seeing a therapist, using a coach, working on his family of origin relationships), and he asks … Continue reading →

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How to deal with a wall

Posted on March 17, 2009 by Israel Galindo

One of the first dollars I made for a job was knocking through a wall in a New York City brownstone. I used a sledgehammer and it took me an entire day. I was paid a dollar, but in the … Continue reading →

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Congregations during pastoral transitions

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Israel Galindo

Pastoral transitions can be anxiety-ridden times for congregations. Congregations that go through an interim period without pastoral leadership need to navigate transition without an organization’s chief resource: its leader. That transition involves many challenges, including, disruption of homeostasis, a shift … Continue reading →

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When is a cutoff not a cutoff?

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Israel Galindo

At a recent workshop with clergy on Bowen Family Systems Theory and congregational leadership one lingering question came up. When dealing with the concept of cutoffs among clergy, it has become inevitable that someone will bring up the matter of … Continue reading →

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Traits of the well-defined leader

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Israel Galindo

I came across some notes from a presentation by my friend Ken Hurto (who recently pleasantly surprised me by finding me on Facebook). Ken’s presentation on leadership was titled “Being a Lighthouse and Not a Bulldozer.” In it he used … Continue reading →

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Easier said than done

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Israel Galindo

The concept of the self-differentiated leader is attractive. And those who work toward being a self-differentiated leader strive toward a high goal. But while the concept is relatively easy to define, it’s easier said than done when it comes to … Continue reading →

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