What role does creativity play in leadership? What should you do when you feel discouraged in your creative work? And can your business also be your ministry? In this episode, I talk with Jenny Randle, wife, mom, business owner, entrepreneur, and author about how God created each of us to create, how to fight for our creative nature, and how she handles being multi-passionate. Whether or not you believe you’re creative, this is an episode you will not want to miss.
Jenny’s Leadership Journey: Jenny’s first memory of leadership is when she ran for student council in the fourth grade, but didn’t vote for herself. Her parents reminded her that she needed to believe in herself enough to vote for herself. They raised her as a leader and gave her “gold nuggets of wisdom” along the way.
In 10th grade, she went on a leadership weekend, which was the first time a teacher actively poured into her life. Her senior year, her field hockey coach wanted her to be the captain even though she was “terrible.”
She held leadership positions in high school, ministry, and now she runs her own businesses. Currently, she’s discipling her two children daily. She and her husband Matt run a digital marketing agency where she does the creative strategy and casts the vision while her husband handles the logistics. She runs a ministry called “Freedom Creatives.”
Jenny’s Mentors Jenny has had several mentors through the years. Dr. Webster of Spirit and Word Ministry has been an encouragement to her as a leader in ministry. Her parents are mentors to her as well: her dad as an example and her mom as she lives out being a strong woman.
She also has a friend who consistently encourages her and tells her to stop over-analyzing. And she loves how her church in New York has created space for people to use their gifts.
How Jenny Embraced her Wiring as a Leader: On the DISC Profile, she’s a DI. She also loves the Fivefold Ministry Survey and the Heights Spiritual Gifts Survey.
Her mentor, Dr. Webster walked her through how God wired her and it was life changing to hear that affirmation. She often felt like she was “too much” and should step back, but God designed her to do what she’s doing.
How Faith has Impacted Jenny’s Leadership Faith is the lens through which Jenny views everything. She prays over projects. The Holy Spirit is actively moving and wants to be a part of the work.
Jenny’s Advice for Younger Leaders: Titles don’t define you. Be flexible in how God is moving. Our giftings build on each other.
Creativity + Leadership It’s important to realize that we’re all created to be creative. Two helpful questions to ask when you’re struggling with creativity:
What does that look like? How can I fight for my God-given creative nature? Doubt, perfectionism, a performance-mentality, and comparison can stifle our creativity. Jenny believes that as Christians, we are meant to be influencers and leaders.
Three Practical Steps to Fight for your Creativity: Acknowledge that you were created to be creative. Invite the Holy Spirit into your process. Ask God what He’s doing and if there’s an idea that He wants you to do. See creativity in others and ask God how you can cultivate skills in them. Why Creativity is Important for Believers Creativity is how we influence the world. Jenny encourages us to go into the mainstream spaces, influence the people there, and glorify God with your work.
Jenny believes that our creative calling isn’t always for what we’re producing but who we’re producing with and who we get to influence.
It’s important to know how God wired you and lead people well so people can see God.
Vulnerability and Dealing with Criticism as a Creator: Creativity calls for vulnerability. We have the opportunity to create from pain AND from pain that we’ve processed through and seen God work through. Jenny recommends the second option, because we’re in a healthier space to deal with criticism when it comes.
When you get negative reviews or feedback as a creator and you’ve processed through the pain, you’re already secure in the outcome and you hold on to your identity. You don’t let other people define you.
Practical Ways to Practice Creativity Jenny defines creativity as “making stuff” so anytime you make stuff, you’re creating. This could look like engineering, teaching, developing business strategy, cooking, or gardening. Notice where you’re already creating and expand on areas you already have a natural interest. Practice creativity with your team. You get better results because you’re not limiting the space of your team. You’re trusting your team to show up and give space to the process. Champion your team and empower them to try. Be silent and get outside. Silence boosts creative input by 60% so go outside without your earbuds and bring a notebook to write down ideas. God...
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