How to Lead Communal Discernment Without Losing Trust

Leading With Hope When Communities Change

What happens after the decision is made and things still do not feel settled? In leadership, we often think the hard part is getting through the decision itself. But what happens when the decision changes the shape of the community? When people leave, relationships shift, or everyone is trying to figure out whether they still belong? In this episode, Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore what it means to lead faithfully after a major decision has already been made. Through stories from church leadership, organizational change, COVID, and their own experiences, they unpack the grief, anxiety, ambiguity, and relational tension that often emerge after seasons of discernment, and how leaders can respond with honesty and care. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why good decisions can still create grief, loss, and uncertainty in a community * How anxiety changes before and after a major decision, and why leaders need to pay attention to both * What it looks like to bless people, process change honestly, and lead without defensiveness when a community changes shape Show Notes * Who Moved My Cheese? [https://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-Amazing/dp/0399144463] by Spencer Johnson * Our Iceberg Is Melting [https://www.amazon.com/Our-Iceberg-Melting-Succeeding-Conditions/dp/0399563911] by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber * Colossians 3:15 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A15&version=NIV] — "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…" What do you think of Practicing Hope? We're always looking for ways to make the podcast more meaningful, encouraging, and useful to listeners. Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out this feedback form [https://colossianforum.activehosted.com/f/192]. If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum [https://colossianforum.org/], visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum [https://www.instagram.com/].

Don't Discern Alone: How to Build a Personal Board of Advisors

What if discernment isn't something you do alone, but something that takes shape in a relationship? In this episode, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore what it looks like to build a "personal board of advisors" — a circle of people who help you listen well, stay grounded, and move forward with clarity. Through stories, humor, and practical wisdom, they unpack how to recognize trustworthy voices, how to engage others without outsourcing your responsibility, and how discernment shapes who you're becoming over time. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why discernment requires both personal responsibility and shared wisdom * The kinds of people who bring clarity to your decisions * Practical ways to build and test a trusted circle of advisors in your life Show Notes: * Proverbs 15:22 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2015&version=NIV] (theme): "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed * Balcony vs. dance floor metaphor — learning to step back and see clearly * Leadership on the Line [https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Line-Staying-through-Dangers/dp/1578514371] by Ronald Heifetz & Marty Linsky If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum [https://colossianforum.org/], visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum [https://www.instagram.com/].

How to Lead Communal Discernment Without Losing Trust

What do you do when a decision impacts everyone, but not everyone agrees? Making decisions on your own is hard enough. But in leadership, decisions often have consequences for an entire community. The challenge is building a process people can trust, even when they don't get their way. In this episode, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore the real tension of communal discernment: how leaders can navigate complex decisions with clarity, honesty, and care. Through stories from church leadership, organizational life, and their own experiences, they unpack practical ways to involve people, reduce anxiety, and build trust that lasts beyond the decision itself. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why clarity about roles and decision-making authority builds trust — even when people disagree * How practices like "if-then thinking" and separating data gathering from decision-making reduce anxiety * What it looks like to care for people after a decision — especially those who feel like they lost Show Notes * Fair Process framework — honesty, transparency, and respect in decision-making * "If-Then" practice — naming fears and planning responses to reduce catastrophizing * Colossians 3:15 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians%203&version=NIV] — "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…" If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum [https://colossianforum.org/], visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum [https://www.instagram.com/].

Should I Say Something? Discerning When to Speak Hard Truth

Have you ever sat in a room where something needed to be said, but no one said it? In this episode, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore the challenge of naming hard truths with both courage and care. From "pointing to elephants" in the room to learning how to avoid dropping "verbal bombs," they reflect on the practices that help us discern when to speak, how to prepare our hearts, and how to stay connected even in difficult conversations. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why naming hard truths requires both courage and emotional maturity * How to discern your motivation before speaking, and why it matters * Practical ways to enter hard conversations with clarity, curiosity, and care Show Notes: * Colossians 4:6 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians%204%3A6&version=NIV] — "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt…" If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum [https://colossianforum.org/], visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum [https://www.instagram.com/].

Why We Delay Hard Decisions (and How to Move Forward)

Have you ever had a decision that just… lingers? A conversation you know you need to have. A leadership call that keeps getting pushed to the next meeting. You tell yourself you're "still discerning" — but you're not actually moving forward. In this episode, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore the tension between faithful discernment and avoidance — why decisions get stuck, how fear and uncertainty keep us spinning, and what it looks like to grow into leaders who can listen deeply and act when it's time. Drawing on stories from church leadership, parenting, and everyday life, they offer practical ways to recognize real progress, name what's underneath our hesitation, and move forward with courage and clarity. In this episode, you'll hear: * How to recognize the difference between real discernment and subtle avoidance * Why fear of consequences — not the decision itself — often keeps us stuck * Practical ways to move forward, including small decisions, play, and honest conversations Show Notes: * The Failure of Nerve [https://www.amazon.com/Failure-Nerve-Revised-Leadership-Quick/dp/1596272791] by Edwin Friedman * Leading with a Limp [https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Limp-Advantage-Powerful-Weakness/dp/1578569524] by Dan Allender * Holy Play [https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Play-Adventure-Unleashing-Purpose/dp/0787984523] by Kirk Byron Jones * The Book of Esther (referenced as a model of courageous decision-making) If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum [https://colossianforum.org/], visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum [https://www.instagram.com/].