Cheering for the Good Sr. Karen Lueck on Leadership, Purpose, and Finding Strength During COVID

Host Jack Socha interviews Sister Karen Lueck, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration and author of "Cheering for the Good: Leading When It Matters," about leading by recognizing goodness in oneself and others. Lueck shares stories from her high-school cheerleading and how it shaped her approach to uniting people’s energy toward shared purpose, emphasizing her belief that “there’s a leader in every chair.” Drawing on her background in pastoral counseling and a Doctor of Ministry focused on women’s psychology and theology, she discusses focusing on strengths, appreciative inquiry, and the difference between guilt and shame, especially as experienced by women and minorities. They reflect on how her pre-COVID message applies during the pandemic, highlighting neighborliness, essential workers, and community cooperation, alongside a brief COVID update on variants and improved masking.

00:00 Show Opens

00:29 Meet Sister Karen

01:53 Book Overview

02:48 Cheerleader Roots

03:31 Price Is Right Story

07:22 Leader In Every Chair

09:02 Faith And Counseling

11:27 COVID And Community

16:01 Goodness And Shame

21:40 Break And COVID Update

24:14 Cheerleading As Leadership

27:26 Purpose And Making Impact

29:11 Purpose Driven Leadership

30:00 Partners In Mission

31:15 Essential Workers And Vaccines

33:32 Panic And Cooperation Lessons

34:55 Using The Book In Groups

35:59 Everyday Power And Cookies

37:54 Diocese Support Message

39:59 Writing The Book Process

43:44 Optimism Shame And Growth

47:45 Divisiveness And Listening

49:19 Learning Across Cultures

51:25 Big Picture And Closing