Building Trust: The Key to Effective Leadership with Robby Angle

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In this episode of the Seek Go Create podcast, Tim Winders interviews Robby Angle, the president of True Face, about trust, humility, and leadership transitions. Robby shares valuable insights on the importance of trust as an action word and a relational word, emphasizing the significance of trusting God and others to meet our needs. He also highlights the necessity of humility in a leader during a founder transition and the difference between being a steward and an owner. Robby's personal anecdotes and lessons learned from his own experiences in leadership roles add depth and authenticity to the conversation. This episode is a must-listen for leaders who are navigating leadership transitions and want to cultivate trust, humility, and stewardship in their organizations. Whether you're a current leader or aspiring to become one, this episode offers valuable insights and real-life examples that will inspire and empower you. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from Robby's wisdom and expertise in leadership.

"Relationships lead to growth, not groups. We are designed to grow and mature through the context of relationships. Jesus defines discipleship by the way you love one another." Robby Angle

Access all show and episode resources HERE

About Our Guest:

Robby Angle brings the topics of faith, trust, and leadership together. In his role as the President and CEO of True Face, Robby's commitment to the transformational power of grace, and building deeper relationships with God, translates into sustainable discipleship resources. He further refined his leadership skills during his seven-year journey at North Point Community Church, where he significantly contributed to creating enriching adult ministry environments. His key message? Leadership is synonymous with trust.

Reasons to Listen:

• Recognize the importance of trust in constructing influential leadership.
• Get insight into the impactful role of small group leaders in church environments.
• Delve into the process of cultivating grace-centred relationships.
• Equip yourself with effective tools and resources for promoting spiritual growth and discipleship.
• Distinguish the significance of pursuing relationships, fortified by determination and courage.

Episode Highlights:

00:00:00 - Introduction,

The episode begins with a discussion about the challenges of disciple making and the importance of knowing what to do and who to do it with.

00:01:06 - Robbie's Background and Role,

Robbie Angle introduces himself as the president and CEO of True Face, a ministry that develops grace-based relational discipleship resources. He also shares his personal identity as a follower of Jesus, a husband, and a father.

00:03:31 - What Do You Do?,

Robbie discusses the tension between societal expectations of defining oneself by their profession and the deeper longing for relational dynamics. He shares both his personal and professional descriptions, highlighting the importance of trust and following the way of Jesus.

00:06:12 - Identity and Language,

The conversation delves into the use of terms like "Christian" and "follower of Christ" in response to the politicization of faith. Robbie acknowledges the challenge of navigating the divisive nature of politics and emphasizes the need for detangling faith and politics.

00:12:24 - True Face and Dawsonville,

Robbie's role as the president and CEO of True Face is explored, and his location in Dawsonville, Georgia, is mentioned. The conversation briefly touches on the NASCAR history of Dawsonville and the connection to the Elliott family.

00:14:45 - The Origin of True Face,

True Face was founded 27-28 years ago by Bill Thrall and Bruce McNichol as Leadership Catalyst. The focus was on developing the core of a leader, rooted in their theology and identity. They wrote the book "The Ascent of a Leader" which discusses the competency and character ladders for leaders.

00:16:09 - The Allegorical Book "The Cure",

"The Cure" is an allegorical book written by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNichol, and John Lynch. It presents a fork in the road, with one path leading to pleasing God and the other to trusting God. Pleasing God is about right behavior, while trusting God is about humility and experiencing authentic community.

00:19:02 - True Face's Purpose and Resources,

True Face aims to help people deepen their relationships with God and others. They offer resources and tools for grace-based relational discipleship, including small group studies and one-on-one conversational frameworks. Their key offering is a nine-month group discipleship framework.

00:22:50 - Challenges and Blessings of Leadership Transition,

The transition into True Face has been challenging for Robbie Angle. He had to shift the focus of the ministry and disappoint donors. The lack of a clear strategic vision has been disorienting, but it has taught him to trust God in each step. The transition has been both difficult and humbling.

00:29:40 - Trust as an Action Word,

Trust is an action word that means to let God and others meet our needs. It requires humility and allows us to experience and practice love. Trusting others enables them to love us, and vice versa.

00:31:17 - Parenting and Trust,

Parenting and marriage provide opportunities to practice love, which is others-focused and sacrificial. Having multiple children can help us recognize our own selfishness and learn to trust and empower others.

00:32:23 - Principles of Founder Transition,

When transitioning leadership, humility is crucial. The leader must be willing to entrust and empower the next generation, even if they have a different vision. It's important to distinguish between wanting someone to manage the existing organization versus someone who can reimagine it.

00:37:49 - Stewardship vs. Ownership,

Leaders should approach their roles as stewards, rather than owners. Stewardship involves taking care of something and returning it in a better condition than when received. This mindset helps prevent the need for protection and allows for trust and empowerment.

00:41:47 - The Pitfalls of Ownership,

When leaders shift from a mindset of pureness to protection, they can fall into the trap of protecting what they perceive to own. This can lead to pride, fear, control, and anxiety. Stewardship, on the other hand, focuses on the present and fosters trust and humility.

00:45:12 - The Importance of Equipping for Discipleship,

The guest shares his experience of advocating for tools to help followers of Jesus experience community and discipleship. He emphasizes the need for practical resources and describes the True Face Journey, a nine-month program designed to help individuals make disciples effectively.

00:46:11 - Moving Away from Prescriptive Discipleship,

The guest criticizes prescriptive discipleship models that focus on right behavior and filling in the blanks. He highlights the importance of authentic community and intentional gatherings that foster growth and transformation.

00:47:26 - Tools for Processing Truths in Relationships,

The guest introduces a tool called True Face Conversation, which provides a conversational framework for deepening relationships with God and others. He emphasizes the importance of intentional and meaningful conversations in the discipleship journey.

00:49:40 - Skepticism Towards Small Groups,

The host raises skepticism about the effectiveness of small groups in churches. The guest explains that while relationships are crucial for growth, most small groups lack the necessary principles and practices for transformation. He suggests reading "The Cure for Groups" and emphasizes the importance of healthy leaders in facilitating impactful small groups.

00:53:57 - Applying Best Practices for Transformational Groups,

The guest highlights the importance of investing in quality leaders and developing future leaders within the church. He also discusses the significance of clarifying expectations in small groups to bridge the gap between expectations and reality. He encourages verbalizing and agreeing on the purpose and goals of the group

01:00:02 - The Importance of Building Trust,

Building trust is crucial for a mature and successful group. Virtual or physical, if trust is established, good things will happen.

01:00:15 - Audience and Purpose of the Discussion,

This discussion is specifically for small group leaders in a church or similar setting. The focus is on principles of leadership and team leading.

01:00:45 - The Cure for Groups,

"The Cure" is a teaching of theological ideas and is meant for small group leaders. "Arc" is a study guide for the entire small group, providing foundational components and helping determine goals and expectations.

01:01:09 - Where to Find More Information,

Additional information can be found on the True Face podcast or at Trueface.org. These are the best resources for further exploration.

01:01:46 - Embracing Creativity and Intentionality,

The word "create" resonates as it encourages leaders to have the courage to pursue and invest in others. Intentionality and vulnerability are key in building meaningful relationships. Yourself and Defining Success,

Key Lessons:

From this episode, some key lessons are:

1. Effective small group leadership requires knowledge and best practices. The book "The Cure for Groups" provides principles for effective group leadership.

2. The health, theology, and identity of the leader greatly impact the success of a group. 60% of group success is connected to these factors.

3. Prioritize discipleship and developing a depth of understanding before stepping into group leadership.

4. Investing in developing future leaders is crucial for the growth and sustainability of the church.

5. Clarifying expectations and determining the destination of a small group is important to bridge the gap between expectations and reality.

6. Stewardship is more important than ownership mentality. A steward takes care of something and returns it in a better condition than when they received it.

7. Trust in God and others is essential for experiencing love and authentic relationships.

8. Leaders should trust and empower the next generation, even if they don't fully understand or agree with their plans.

9. Redefining success to focus on deepening relationships and facilitating authentic community is important.

10. Tools and resources like the True Face Journey and True Face Conversation can help individuals experience deeper truths and authentic community.

Resources & Action Steps:

• Check out True Face, an organization that develops grace-based relational discipleship resources. Visit their website for more information.
• Read The Cure for Groups by Robby Angle, available on their website or on popular book-selling platforms.
• Discover the companion study guide for The Cure for Groups called Embark. This guide is designed to enhance your understanding and application of the book's principles.
• Consider joining or starting a discipleship group in your church or community. Seek out resources and support from True Face to help you in this process.
• Reflect on your understanding of identity and how it relates to your faith journey.

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