Sidecar Leader Podcast

In this conversation, Chris shares why relationships are not just a leadership strength, but a leadership responsibility. From planting a church in small-town Ohio to building a culture where people feel seen, he breaks down how to scale connection beyond the charismatic leader and into the whole team. You will also hear a simple, freeing definition of excellence: doing the best with what and who you have, not chasing someone else's highlight reel. The guys talk about feedback rhythms, wins and praises, and the real fight of letting go so others can grow, even when it dips at first. Plus: Skyline Chili, Ohio food wars, and the legendary "Krispy Kreme with a C" story that somehow turns into an evangelism illustration. Key Takeaways Relationships scale through stories. You build a culture of connection by repeatedly telling "the one" stories that remind everyone what matters. Evaluate ministries by fruit. If you cannot name real transformation stories, it may be time to rethink the program, not just push it harder. Excellence is stewardship, not comparison. Doing the best with what you have is a standard that keeps teams healthy and moving forward. Feedback stays normal when leaders model it. If the point leader can own misses, it creates safety for everyone else to learn and improve. Releasing leaders is a fight. Growth requires letting others carry responsibility, even if it is only 80 percent of your way at first. Excellence serves formation. When excellence becomes more important than developing people, the team misses the mark. Timestamps 00:00 Intro and food talk 00:19 Five Guys vs In-N-Out, chilaquiles, and Ohio takes 01:15 Skyline Chili explained and why it is not "regular chili" 04:22 The "Krispy Kreme with a C" origin story 07:20 Laryngitis, leadership life, and a donut evangelism illustration 09:27 Sidecar Leader masterclass ad 10:02 Relationships and building culture that scales 14:09 Making connection a team value, not just a leader strength 16:50 Wins and praises and building story rhythms into meetings 18:20 Coaching ad 18:53 Heritage, planting Center Point, and navigating criticism 21:42 The Coldplay blog post and the town hall meeting 24:12 Patience with resistant people and fruit over frustration 24:59 Starting in a movie theater and earning trust in a small town 28:37 "If this is all I give you, will you steward it well?" 29:56 Team coaching ad 30:51 Excellence redefined as doing the best with what you have 40:32 When excellence becomes an excuse to not develop others 41:06 Releasing leaders after COVID and the risk of letting go 43:42 The 80 percent rule: preference versus standard 45:02 "Equipped with a dip" and creating safe places to grow 48:36 Excellence as a vehicle to serve and formation over perfection 49:11 Give Skyline Chili a chance, outro About Sidecar Leader Sidecar Leader is committed to helping church leaders move further, faster, without going alone. Through strategic coaching, creative services, and a proven three-phase process — Discover, Design, Deliver — Sidecar partners with pastors and leadership teams to clarify their vision, overcome challenges, and execute with purpose. Whether you are scaling your church, shifting your strategy, or simply need clarity for your next step, Sidecar helps you lead with confidence. Learn more at sidecarleader.com Contact: info@sidecarleader.com Follow on Instagram: @sidecarleader