Extending the Ward Council | A How I Lead Interview with Ben Thatcher

Ben Thatcher is a life-long church member, having grown up in small wards and branches across Texas. He served in the France Paris mission and has degrees in Mass Communication (University of Utah) and Public Administration (University of North Texas). Ben has worked in local government in several cities across Texas and currently is the city manager of Boerne (pronounced Burn-nee), Texas, northwest of San Antonio. He currently serves as bishop of his ward and has also served as an executive secretary, ward clerk, Sunday School president, bishopric counselor, and high councilor. When he is not at city hall or church, Ben can often be found coaching youth baseball in his spare time. He and his wife, Summer, have been married for over 23 years and have four sons.

Highlights

02:50 Introduction and background of Ben Thatcher

08:30 What it’s like working as a city manager

11:30 Ninety percent of the time our problems can be solved by going and having a conversation with someone.

12:30 Tips for having tough conversations on direction of leadership

18:50 The principle of focus

Focus on fewer things
Understand your role from the handbook and focus on that

27:10 Ben explains extended ward councils: a yearly, 90-minute council in a new environment

30:30 The engagement principle

Applying principles used with employees at church with ward council
How to support your ward council
Give the ward council a framework

36:00 Are you talking to your members about their progress and how they are personally?

39:15 The importance of personal talents and strengths

42:20 Ben shares an experience he had with Elder Dunn of the seventy and what he was able to learn from him to help him as a new bishop.

44:30 Ben had a rough first year as bishop but he explains how he was able to turn it around and get more help from the ward to help with the youth.

49:30 Ben applies what he has learned as a city manager in his service in the Church.

53:40 Ben’s final thoughts on leadership

Links

12: The Elements of Great Managing
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Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 600 episodes.