Charles Stone - Brain-Savvy Leaders: The Science of Significant Ministry

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Brain-Savvy

Leaders

Endorsements

Praise for Brain-Savvy Leaders

Dr. Stone has created an engaging and fun read thats also insightful, informative, and practical. It is written with a beautiful personal touch that at times made me laugh out loud and at times moved me to tears. This book is an original and thoughtful analysis of the consistencies between neuroscientific and biblical perspectives on the human mind, and it will be a valuable resource for spiritual leaders as well as for literary scholars of the Old and New Testaments.

Golnaz Tabibnia, PhD, Neuroscientist and Assistant Professor, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

This is the best book I have read to date on the brain science of healthy thinking and effective leadership. Dr. Stone has done an incredible job of balancing modern brain science with biblical truth, making complex ideas simple to understand and providing practical tools to enhance mental performance.

Timothy R. Jennings, MD, DFAPA; President, Tennessee Psychiatric Association; Vice President, Southern Psychiatric Association; author, The God Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life

Charles Stones Brain-Savvy Leaders is a fascinating book that helps us understand how neuroscience is applied to the art of Christian leadership. Stone delivers significant research on human brain function while remaining faithful to Gods order of creation and biblical teachings. This insightful book will help you with emotional regulation, personal productivity, team collaboration, and change management. Its a winner!

Dan Reiland, Executive Pastor, 12Stone Church, Lawrenceville, GA; author, Amplified Leadership

Productivity. Wow! I need more of that. As a pastor, there never seem to be enough hours in my day. I write consistently about how to be more effective in my work, but honestly, I need help too. I love reading Charless work. Hes an excellent leader, a pastors pastor, and a master of practicality. In this book, he shares helpful tips on how to master the success of leadership in the church. I needed this book. Thanks for the rescue, Charles.

Ron Edmondson, Senior Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Lexington, KY

Brain science can help you take your church to the next level and better align your leadership with Gods desires. Brain-Savvy Leaders uses up-to-date research in easy-to-understand language to achieve this. It will help you achieve greater focus and design more cohesive and collaborative teams. I highly recommend it.

Jeffrey M. Schwartz, MD; author, You Are Not Your Brain and Brain Lock

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Copyright

brain-savvy leaders:

the science of significant ministry

Copyright 2015 by Abingdon Press

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Permissions, Abingdon Press, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988 or permissions@umpublishing.org.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Stone, Charles, 1954

Brain-savvy leaders : the science of significant ministry / Charles Stone.First [edition].

1 online resource.

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4267-9834-4 (epub)ISBN 978-1-4267-9833-7 (binding: soft back : alk. paper) 1. Christian leadership. 2. BrainReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV652.1

253dc23

2015007655

Scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com.

Material on pp. 11519 was taken and adapted from People-Pleasing Pastors by Charles Stone 2014 by Charles Stone. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. www.ivpress.com.

MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Contents

Why You Might Want to Read This Book

Section I: Why the Brain and the Bible?

Brain Science and the Bible: Uneasy Bedfellows?

The Agonizing Journey: Brain Science Becomes Personal

The Brain-Savvy Leader: Why You Should Become One

Section II: Meet Your Brain

Meet Your Brains Parts

Meet Your Brains Players

Section III: Brain-Based Leadership Competencies

Using Your Brain to Stop the Emotional Freight Train

Brain-Savvy Personal Productivity

Brain-Friendly Tools That Build High-Performing Teams

Sticky Change and the Brain

Three Brain-Friendly Skills Easily Overlooked

Section IV: Going Forward

Final Thoughts

Team Development Plan

Acknowledgments

T his book would not have been possible without the influence of many special people.

First of all, the unending support my wife, Sherryl, has given me has helped me persevere when the words simply wouldnt come. My three children, Heather, Josh, and Tiffany, have made my life and writing much richer. Tiffany has especially influenced this book as our family has journeyed together with her through almost three decades of fighting the effects of her brain tumor.

Tiffanys neurologist at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, Dr. Marvin Rossi, not only has provided superb medical care for Tiffany but also has inspired me to delve deeper into my journey to understand the brain. Tiffanys good health today is a living example of both Gods power and good stewardship of Gods gift to us of wise neuroscience practitioners.

My initial editor, Dr. Kathy Armistead, and my editor who finished out the project, Constance Stella, both encouraged me with their excitement about this work and their wise direction to help craft the book into its finished product. Special thanks also to Kelsey Spinnato, my production editor, who skillfully guided me through the final editing and production process.

The neuroscientists at the NeuroLeadership Institute have taught me well through my executive masters degree in the neuroscience of leadership. Special thanks goes to Dr. Golnaz Tabibnia, my primary professor, and Dr. Grace Y. Chang, who edited the book for scientific accuracy.

Special thanks goes to Dr. David Rock, founder of the NeuroLeadership Institute, whose writings first introduced me to how the brain impacts life and leadership. The work at the NeuroLeadership Institute has spurred my passion to learn more about the brain, Gods gift to us.

My agent, Steve Laube, has consistently guided me through my writing career with his sage advice. This being my fourth book, he has helped me navigate the challenges of writing and publishing.

I must include the gracious people in London, Ontario, at the church where I pastor, West Park Church. They have allowed me to weave brain insight into my teaching and my leadership.

And, finally, I want to thank my savior, Jesus, who paid the ultimate price for me through his sacrificial work on the cross.