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? by Spencer Johnson

• Our Iceberg Is Melting by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber

• Colossians 3:15 — "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…"

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If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum, visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum.

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 (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 by Ronald Heifetz & Marty Linsky

If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum, visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum.

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 — "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…"

If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum, visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum.