Tim Stevens brings a rare vantage point to this conversation: over 40 years across five ministry organizations, including executive pastor roles at Granger Community Church and Willow Creek, and now founder of Leading Smart, where he coaches, advises, and gathers executive pastors nationwide. James Forrest talks with him about how the XP role has grown more complex over the past 25 years — from the rise of multi-site churches to the speed at which crises, scandals, and social media pile-ons now unfold compared to a generation ago.

Tim gets specific about how he led Willow Creek through a fragile post-scandal, mid-COVID season — including a striking story about extending grace to a staff member who anonymously trashed leadership on a Zoom call, and a generous, judgment-free "resignation window" that let over 100 people self-select out of an organization that needed a reset, without turning it into a purge. He also breaks down a blind spot common to leaders at every level: information flows downhill, not uphill, meaning executives are often the last to hear the full truth about their own culture — and why getting out of your office and building real feedback loops matters more than any survey.

The conversation moves through practical territory that will resonate with any XP: how to distinguish performance problems from culture problems (and why high performers with poor culture fit are often the most dangerous to ignore), how to develop the next generation of leaders by deliberately handing off pieces of your role, and why succession planning shouldn't be reserved for the lead pastor alone. Tim closes with reflections on leaving organizations without burning bridges, the two years he stayed too long in one role, and his own non-negotiable habit for sustainability: fanatical calendar blocking — treating time with his wife, kids, and health with the same seriousness as any meeting.