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The end of the year is a natural time to look back and take stock on what we’ve done and how far we’ve come. In honor of that, GLN VP of Marketing and Communication Whitney Putnam sat down with President and CEO David Ashcraft to get his thoughts on reflection and celebration.
INTHIS EPISODE
0:00 Intro
02:35 What is December like for most pastors? Isthere any space for reflection?
04:30 Finding smaller pockets of time to pause andreflect.
06:15 Why is it important for leaders to balanceaction with taking time to ask, “What’s working and what’s not working?”
09:30 Dealing with distractions.
13:10 What is one leadership lesson that stands outfrom 2025?
15:50 How does owning mistakes connect withreflection and celebration?
17:50 Some impactful ways to celebrate teammates.
25:00 Outro
LISTEN
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
STANDOUTSAND TAKEAWAYS
- Sometimesinstantly reflecting on an event or situation can be very helpful.
- Short-termreflection is more natural for leaders; the longer-term is a challenge.
- Having4-5 hours of unstructured time creates space for idea generation.
- Sometimeswe need to press pause on taking in information (podcasts, etc.) and allow forspace to be quiet.
- Enjoythe moment while you can but keep moving ahead: there will always be somethingyou can work on.
- Beintentional about creating space to be idle, because it will not happennaturally.
- Whena mistake happens, if you work hard to correct it, it is possible to generate agreater positive response than if the mistake hadn’t happened.
LINKSMENTIONED
- Website: Team365
- Website: 2026 GlobalLeadership Summit
Related
Ep 208: Leading When the Plan Falls Apart with Craig Groeschel
In this episode, David Ashcraft talks with Craig Groeschel, founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, about how leaders can respond when leadership does not go as planned. Craig reflects on failed ideas, organizational pivots, team conflict, and the ongoing discipline of letting go as leadership expands. He also shares how humility, preparation, prayerfulness, candor and trust have shaped the way he leads through uncertainty.
Ep 207: Leading Through Leadership Hijacks with Edgar Sandoval
In this episode, GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talks with Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, about navigating what David calls “leadership hijacks”: unexpected events that reshape both leadership and life.
Ep 205: Our Favorite Moments, Winter 2026 — Lessons on Resilience, Presence, and Perspective (with Whitney Putnam and Eric Case)
This episode highlights key moments from recent conversations to help you stay grounded in those seasons. You’ll hear insights on perseverance from Walker Hayes, practical wisdom on resilience from David Ashcraft, and a timely reminder from John Maxwell about embracing the season you’re in. Whitney and Eric also share personal leadership challenges and what helped them keep going.
Leadership That Lasts
Team365 isn’t just a platform. It’s a commitment to grow, lead and live with purpose — every single day. Whether you’re here for content, community or clarity, you’re in the right place. Your leadership matters. Let’s keep going.
