Making Church Approachable | A How I Lead Interview with Shawn Edwards

Shawn Edwards has spent nearly 25 years in brand marketing,
including roles at Kraft, Clorox, and Microsoft. He currently
manages a marketing consulting firm he founded in 2012. His work
with both small and Fortune 500 companies alike has helped him find
his love for a good brand, a good logo, and a good t-shirt. Shawn
currently serves as a bishop and has previously served as bishopric
counselor, stake high counselor, elders quorum president, and ward
mission leader, among others. He has been trying to be called as a
Primary teacher for over 30 years, but that remains elusive. Shawn
currently resides just outside of Denver, Colorado, with his better
half, Carrie, and their three children. He loves to wakeboard,
snowboard, and has never met a pint of Haagen Dazs he didn’t like.
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Highlights 2:40 Introduction to Shawn Edwards, bishop of his ward
in Colorado. He grew up in Sandy, Utah, but didn’t grow up in the
Church. It wasn’t till college that he got active in the Church.
6:00 Getting called as bishop right as we were getting out of the
covid pandemic. Shawn decided to focus on unity during that time.
7:40 Creating unity in the ward with branding. Shawn even designed
a logo and t-shirt for his ward. Shawn teaches the importance of
brands and how it is about creating new thoughts and perceptions in
the ward. It was about creating a mental shift with the members.
11:30 How to establish a brand in your ward. Ways to reinforce your
brand. 12:50 Keeping your brand and message alive in the ward.
13:45 An initiative to help his ward focus more on Christ was
creating a 90-day challenge to read the Book of Mormon together.
It's a movement to help everyone come together. 15:00 As a way to
drive temple attendance they created "Faith Fridays". 15:40
Engaging the presidencies in the ward. Shawn likes to focus on
empowerment instead of dictating what they do. 16:20 The concept of
WE not I. Approach a situation in order to support the ‘’we.’’
18:50 Servant leadership is about bringing out the best performance
as they do what they need to do. 20:30 Making the bishop’s office
approachable. 23:45 Other ways the Shawn has made church more
approachable. For example, wearing more casual clothes to
activities and firesides. Keeping things lighthearted. 27:00 As a
leader we bring out the best in others as they come unto Christ.
Just like a good coach we have to do the same in order to help
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