Justin Gottlieb is the executive pastor at Seven Mile Road, a family of churches across New England, where he uses Lead Honestly to coach his team.

We caught up with Justin to learn how Lead Honestly helps him advise and align the leadership team at Seven Mile Road and their churches.

How do you use Lead Honestly and coach your team?

Justin: In my role, I work with pastors and church planters in various roles and stages of life and ministry. I have regular Zoom calls to work with each person to help make sure that they have clarity on what’s most important for them to be working on, to think ahead, and to review the work that’s happening. Lead Honestly gives a clear, consistent format for myself and those being coached to process ahead of time what is important so that our time together can be most advantageous.

Lead Honestly gives a clear, consistent format for myself and those being coached to process ahead of time what is important so that our time together can be most advantageous.

What have you learned about your team that you likely wouldn’t have without Lead Honestly?

Justin: Because of the consistency that Lead Honestly provides, I notice patterns over the weeks that I might not otherwise. In particular, I have noticed specific tasks are more draining for some employees than others. Additionally, the process itself helps you learn where people are at with time, focus, and energy. If someone puts little effort into the preparation for our meeting, it lets me know that something is up.

By using Lead Honestly, where has your team grown and where do they continue to grow?

Justin: Wow, what a question. We’re such a work in progress. The consistency of Lead Honestly helps us keep working towards clear goals, being strategic about where we can make the most impact with our particular giftings. We don’t always nail this 100%, but I do feel like there has been increased clarity on big goals and how we are getting there within our crew.

What has been the greatest impact you’ve seen from Lead Honestly?

Justin: What is most important to our people is that our pastors and planters are healthy, holy, and focused. There’s always more work than we can actually get done, so we need to make sure that the things that don’t get done are the right ones to not get done. I know that’s wordy, but hope it makes sense. To say it another way, we have limited gifts, time, and resources. God has given us what we have for His purposes, though, and He has given us those in perfect ways and amounts. Our job is to steward all of that well for His kingdom. Lead Honestly gives us a tool to consistently and intentionally focus all of His gifts for His purposes.

The consistency of Lead Honestly helps us keep working towards clear goals, being strategic about where we can make the most impact.

How has Lead Honestly helped you personally grow as a leader and pastor?

Justin: Lead Honestly gives me a starting place, a page that isn’t blank, when it comes to connecting with the members of our team and the automation it provides helps keep me on track. What I get excited about is doing the best I can, with the gifts that God has given me, to help others be who God has made them to be and serve most effectively in the place he’s called them to. Lead Honestly helps me do that better.