Recent Articles
Transform Your Presentations: From Data Dumps to Dynamic Dialogues
by Jon Plotner | February 27, 2025 | Main | 0 Comments
Effective presentations go beyond merely delivering information; they require dynamic engagement and interaction. Preparation is key, involving understanding the audience and clearly defining objectives. Presenters should be adaptable, reading audience reactions and encouraging active participation. Clarity, authenticity, and storytelling enhance communication, transforming lectures into conversations. Ultimately, an impactful presentation inspires action and leaves audiences with actionable takeaways. By focusing on connection rather than content alone, presentations can become dynamic dialogues.
How to Lead with Calm in a World Full of Chaos
by Jon Plotner | September 23, 2024 | Main | 0 Comments
In a world full of noise and uncertainty, effective leaders know the power of staying calm. Leading with a non-anxious presence helps create stability, boosts team confidence, and drives better decision-making. Learn how to cultivate inner calm and lead your team through chaos with clarity and resilience.
Transforming Teams: Essential Culture Rebuilding Strategies
by Jon Plotner | September 11, 2024 | Main | 1 Comment
The Dynamic Duo: Why Your Church Needs Both a Website and an App
by Jon Plotner | May 13, 2024 | Main | 0 Comments
In the digital era, churches must utilize both websites and apps to effectively reach and engage their congregations. Websites act as a welcoming front door, providing new visitors with an overview and access to services and information. Apps, conversely, deepen engagement for established church members, offering tailored content and resources for community involvement and spiritual growth. Together, these platforms create a vital, integrated system for newcomers and returning visitors alike, supporting a seamless transition from curiosity to committed involvement.
Unpacking Accountability vs. Ownership: Fostering an Ownership Culture in Your Workplace
by Jon Plotner | April 6, 2024 | Main | 0 Comments
Taking insights from leaders like Scott Cochrane, it’s clear that real ownership in a business goes beyond accountability. Owners foster culture, spend wisely, and act unified as “us” not “them.” They’re proactive, driving results without waiting for direction. To cultivate ownership, leaders must grant authority, allowing teams to make decisions and truly invest in the company’s success.
The Ripple Effect of Contagious Positivity in Teams
by Jon Plotner | March 24, 2024 | Main | 0 Comments
Some people possess a remarkable ability to emanate contagious positivity, uplifting their environment even amidst adversity. These ‘positive energizers’ enhance team dynamics with virtues like kindness and gratitude. Conversely, ‘de-energizers’ drain energy and morale. Successful leaders cultivate positivity, recognizing its pervasive benefits across professional and personal spheres, improving well-being, relationships, and productivity. Harvard research underscores the transformative impact of these individuals on organizational culture and resilience, advocating for leaders to nurture such an environment for greater success and fulfillment.
Unlocking Success: Investing in Your Own Growth and Development
by Jon Plotner | March 5, 2024 | Main | 0 Comments
No More Shrinking from Success — Spread Your Wings and Fly
by Jon Plotner | December 31, 2022 | Main | 0 Comments
If You Can’t Be Honest, Are You Really Loyal?
by Jon Plotner | February 4, 2022 | Main | 0 Comments
What Meteorology, Fog, And The Kingdom Have In Common
by Jon Plotner | January 27, 2022 | Main | 1 Comment
How To Guarantee Happy Teams And Create An Amazing Culture
by Jon Plotner | July 15, 2021 | Main | 0 Comments
My Hatred for Mistakes and My Struggle to Love Them
by Jon Plotner | December 19, 2020 | Main | 0 Comments
Following a Life of Generosity
by Jon Plotner | November 23, 2020 | Main | 1 Comment
Leadership & the Enneagram
by Jon Plotner | April 22, 2020 | Main | 0 Comments
Work and Life Free of Lanes
by Jon Plotner | April 4, 2020 | Main | 3 Comments
Bravery in the Midst of Change
by Jon Plotner | December 31, 2019 | Main | 2 Comments
When you’re told “you suck” … with a smile
by Jon Plotner | November 8, 2019 | Main | 0 Comments
Life Update: We’re Moving!
by Jon Plotner | May 11, 2019 | Main | 6 Comments
Punching Fear in the Face
by Jon Plotner | January 28, 2019 | Main | 8 Comments
Are You a Leader Others Will Follow?
by Jon Plotner | December 23, 2018 | Main | 0 Comments
The One Thing I Hate to Admit
by Jon Plotner | September 18, 2018 | Main | 0 Comments
Take a Moment and Smell the Coffee
by Jon Plotner | June 16, 2017 | Main | 1 Comment
Our First Ever Commercial!
by Jon Plotner | April 8, 2017 | Main | 3 Comments
Ten Reasons I Love My Church
by Jon Plotner | January 15, 2017 | Main | 0 Comments
If I Were to Assign a New Year’s Resolution
by Jon Plotner | January 3, 2017 | Main | 0 Comments
Big Givers 2016
by Jon Plotner | November 28, 2016 | Main | 0 Comments
A Few Thoughts about “Anti-Social” Media
by Jon Plotner | November 10, 2016 | Main | 0 Comments
When It Just Doesn’t Go Your Way
by Jon Plotner | November 4, 2016 | Main | 1 Comment
Flawed and Imperfect . . . but Beautiful
by Jon Plotner | August 21, 2016 | Main | 1 Comment
What Happens When You’re Finally Alone?
by Jon Plotner | July 13, 2016 | Main | 0 Comments
Better Together: A Reflection After a Week at Kids Camp
by Jon Plotner | July 3, 2016 | Main | 0 Comments
Setting Priorities in the Midst of Chaos
by Jon Plotner | March 14, 2016 | Main | 1 Comment
Ski Slopes, Snow Days, and Facing Fear
by Jon Plotner | March 11, 2016 | Main | 0 Comments
Christmas Letter 2015
by Jon Plotner | December 25, 2015 | Main | 2 Comments
The Game Changer in Creating Community
by Jon Plotner | April 17, 2015 | Main | 0 Comments
The Power of a Great Question
by Jon Plotner | December 31, 2014 | Main | 2 Comments
What Can the Church Leader Learn from Apple?
by Jon Plotner | December 4, 2014 | Main | 1 Comment
Every Meeting Ever
by Jon Plotner | November 5, 2014 | Main | 0 Comments
How Millennial Are You?
by Jon Plotner | October 16, 2014 | Main | 2 Comments
Let’s Take a Journey — Are You Ready?
by Jon Plotner | September 12, 2014 | Main | 0 Comments
Are you chasing that . . . SQUIRREL!
by Jon Plotner | August 29, 2014 | Main | 0 Comments
Thirty-Some Years Later
by Jon Plotner | August 18, 2014 | Main | 3 Comments
Are You Too Busy?
by Jon Plotner | July 30, 2014 | Main | 0 Comments
Did that Worship Leader Really Say “LECHOR?”
by Jon Plotner | February 23, 2014 | Main | 1 Comment
What I Did for Myself in 2014
by Jon Plotner | February 14, 2014 | Main | 8 Comments
Just When You Thought You Weren’t a Leader
by Jon Plotner | February 14, 2014 | Main | 0 Comments
A Conference Call
by Jon Plotner | January 26, 2014 | Main | 0 Comments
Let Them Do It Wrong
by Jon Plotner | February 25, 2013 | Main | 0 Comments
Maybe It’s Time to Layoff a Few Circus Jugglers
by Jon Plotner | February 16, 2013 | Main | 4 Comments
My Character is More Important than my Capability
by Jon Plotner | February 8, 2013 | Main | 3 Comments
I’m a Good Kid — Really I Am
by Jon Plotner | January 24, 2013 | Main | 3 Comments
Leading is Letting Go
by Jon Plotner | December 22, 2012 | Main | 0 Comments
We Already Do That
by Jon Plotner | October 3, 2012 | Main | 1 Comment
Really . . . I’m Out of Control
by Jon Plotner | April 28, 2012 | Main | 1 Comment
It Just Doesn’t Come Knocking on Your Door
by Jon Plotner | April 5, 2012 | Main | 0 Comments
Changing Seasons (repost)
by Jon Plotner | March 11, 2012 | Main | 0 Comments
Out of The Big Box
by Jon Plotner | March 8, 2012 | Main | 3 Comments
Are You Kidding Me?
by Jon Plotner | January 19, 2012 | Main | 4 Comments
The Leadership Laboratory
by Jon Plotner | January 17, 2012 | Main | 2 Comments
How To Guarantee Happy Teams And Create An Amazing Culture
Jul 15, 2021
If you haven’t already figured it out, leaders wear lot of hats. Sometimes it’s difficult to determine which hat we should be wearing and which is the most important in the moment. Due to several team transitions, I’ve spent a lot of time recently wearing the “hiring...
Leadership & the Enneagram
Apr 22, 2020
ENNEAGRAM + LEADERSHIPAPRIL 24, 2020 • 12PM PDT How do you lead others well? Especially when they are not motivated the same as you? Join us as we dive into leading with the Enneagram. Register to join us and get the Zoom link HERE.
When you’re told “you suck” … with a smile
Nov 8, 2019
Working in the customer service industry is one of the most challenging and most rewarding experiences. While I’ve had a lot of different roles throughout my career — from education to pastoral ministry to software and technology — they’ve all had this thread of...
Are You a Leader Others Will Follow?
Dec 23, 2018
“Our ability to be daring leaders will never be greater than our capacity for vulnerability.”Brene Brown, Dare to Lead Vulnerability … that feeling of being exposed; none of us really like it. Without vulnerability, we hold back. We protect parts of ourselves so that...
My Hatred for Mistakes and My Struggle to Love Them
Dec 19, 2020
I have a love / hate relationship with mistake making ... errors ... failures. I try to teach others that mistake making is the only way we truly learn. Yet, I still hate making mistakes. Worse yet, I hate to admit them. But I have tried to remind myself how important...
Work and Life Free of Lanes
Apr 4, 2020
Over the years I’ve heard the phrase “stay in your lane” a few times. The first time was as I first sitting in the driver’s seat of my dad’s truck as he was teaching me to drive. More recently, I’ve heard it said when I’ve taught my daughters to drive ... and in the...
Life Update: We’re Moving!
May 11, 2019
Time for another LIFE UPDATE. If you’ve stayed up to date with the Plotner Happenings, you know that I quit my job at the end of 2018 not knowing quite what the future would look like. Yet, I was confident there was something promising ahead. I was totally surprised...
Following a Life of Generosity
Nov 23, 2020
Thanksgiving was my dad’s favorite holiday. While the rest of the family favored Christmas, he always loved Thanksgiving. One of those reasons was likely rooted in his profession as a farmer, and Thanksgiving was the natural culmination of his year-long efforts. Many...
Bravery in the Midst of Change
Dec 31, 2019
As I end 2019, I am reminded of my word for 2019 — “be brave.” Little did I know that I would need that word throughout the year .... little did I know that I would pack my family and move a little further west. Little did I know that a few steps of bravery would lead...
Punching Fear in the Face
Jan 28, 2019
I was walking into the building as fear gripped me like it often has. In that moment of panic, deep within my soul, I heard this phrase . . . “Be strong and courageous.” If you’ve read the Bible you might recognize that as as scripture from the book of Joshua, Chapter...