The Crucible: Real Leadership Is Learned in the Field, Not Just the Classroom

Traditional leadership programs often fall short, focusing more on theory than practical application. In the latest The Crucible newsletter, Tod Bolsinger of the Church Leadership Institute addresses this challenge with The Practicing Change Series, a set of books designed for real-time leadership learning. Additionally, this week marks the final chance to apply for the Business of Ministry Cohort, equipping ministry leaders with essential skills in administration and management. For those in Colorado Springs, a Fuller Seminary training event offers tools for rethinking church leadership. Learn more and register now!

Last year, Tod Bolsinger, Executive Director of the Church Leadership Institute, had a revealing conversation while returning from a speaking engagement in Bangkok. Despite widespread efforts in leadership training, many programs fail because they focus too much on theory and not enough on practice. Bolsinger’s insights echo a 2014 McKinsey study that found leadership development often doesn’t prepare leaders for real-life challenges.

Why? Too much focus on concepts over context and principles over practical application. Leaders memorize theories, but when faced with real-world stressors—deadlines, diminishing budgets, and organizational resistance—they fall back on old habits. The solution? Real-time learning in real-life leadership situations.

To address this, Bolsinger created The Practicing Change Series, a set of four small books designed to help leaders tackle specific challenges in real-time. Each book offers less than three hours of reading with immediate applications, serving as field guides for navigating leadership mistakes.

At the Church Leadership Institute, we offer resources like these that you can use right now, whether through courses, cohorts, podcasts, or books like Practicing Change. We want to equip ministry leaders with the tools to thrive in the midst of today’s messy reality.

In related news, the Business of Ministry Cohort, led by author Mike Bonem, is open for its final round of applications this week. If you struggle with the administrative side of ministry—finances, team management, or systems—this certificate program offers essential skills and peer support to better serve your congregation.

Additionally, ministry leaders in the Colorado Springs area can join a Fuller Seminary training event co-hosted with Compassion International. This event will provide practical approaches to rethinking church leadership in today’s challenging environment, with keynotes by Fuller President David Goatley and other renowned speakers.

Explore these resources to deepen your leadership skills and meet the demands of a changing world.

Register for the Business of Ministry Cohort or the Colorado Springs Training Event below:

• Business of Ministry Cohort: Join Now

• Colorado Springs Event: Register Here