- ‘Listening to understand, rather than to respond’ — and, at times, even having wide, formal and structured listening processes
- Affirming continuities with a previous era, rather than rushing into discontinuity
- ‘Leading without Power’ (Max duPree), in the sense of displays of power
- Keeping promises, especially the little ones
- Absorbing criticism inaudibly and spreading credit audibly
- Being truthful, in speech and life
- Targeting consensus, even if it takes more time
- Empathizing with others, especially with the ‘suffering-with’ brand of compassion
- Attending to the marginal voice, dismantling hierarchies and patterns of exclusivity
- Information really is power — sharing it early, fully and in writing (a disempowering act)
- Avoid hiding behind ‘confidentiality’, if it is not absolutely necessary
- Inverting top-down organisational structures, on paper and in reality
- Focusing more on growing the people in the organisation, rather than the organisation itself
- Facilitating vision in others, working to make other peoples’ dreams happen
- ‘The first task of leadership is to say thank-you’ — so doing it frequently, creatively, meaningfully
About Me

the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Just when I thought that it could not be possible to have another first-hand account of the impact of John Stott’s life (d. 2011), along comes this book by his close friend, John Wyatt. I am always ready to learn more about John Stott, but also about friendship. It fascinates me. It keeps coming up…
Reading stories to grandchildren over Christmas reminded me again of how powerful they can be. They are so compact and simple in presentation, and yet so clever in construction. There are just so many features at work in an effective story. It is some years since I taught narrative preaching, but when I did I’d…
Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…