Durbin Leadership, LLC

You can’t fix what you won’t face.

The best leaders name the problem before they try to solve it. The underperformer they’ve been avoiding. The culture issue everyone feels but no one says out loud.

Acknowledgment isn’t the soft part of leadership, it’s the starting line.

Our team had the incredible opportunity to present at Calhoun Community College, where we explored the five leadership styles and how each one influences the way we lead, communicate, and inspire others. Through relatable examples and practical insights, we challenged participants to identify their own leadership style while encouraging them to grow into more effective and intentional leaders. It was exciting to see the group respond to a practical role modeling exercise that embodied the leadership concepts covered and how they can be applied in everyday situations.

“Don’t take yourself too seriously…”

I do not think that is really the problem in today’s world. I think most people do not take themselves (nor their calling) seriously enough.

One time I was dealing with a resentful executive who got passed over for a promotion. They were having a real pity party and letting everyone know about it.

I said to them, “You cannot dismiss yourself and then resent others when they dismiss you. They are just following your lead.”

I believe this executive was more focused on the immediate gratification of praise than their long term impact. They allowed what someone wanted / needed them to be right now take precedent over their best and highest contribution to the world.

We do not wrestle enough with the question of what is needed NOW vs what is needed MOST.

If we are going to work on what is needed most, we will have to RESPECT our calling, our purpose, ourselves.

What it means to respect ourselves:

— Focus on our calling and relentlessly serve those whom God has called us to serve.
— Focus on our personal development.
— Protecting our anointing by avoiding sins of omission and commission.
— Nurturing relationships that help us become and behave like the people we believe God is calling us to be.
— Fight for humility.

Who are you becoming?
To what should we be giving our energy?
-Dan Durbin

"I'm just not a decisive person" is often a story we've told ourselves for too long. The truth? Decisiveness can be learned. Every leader has the opportunity to strengthen this skill through practice, confidence, and action. The difference between those who do and those who don't is often simply that they decided to start.

We recently had the opportunity to spend two very productive days with leaders from CGI Federal Space Sector as they are walking through a leadership change as well as a merger of companies.

Through intentional conversations and strategic planning, we helped them understand each other as new team members, establish unity, examined their vision for the next year, aligned around key priorities, and identified tools and actionable steps to help achieve their mission.

Strong organizations are built through strong relationships, clear vision, shared ownership, and a commitment to continuous growth. It was a privilege to be part of that process.

Time Management…

Most leaders aren't bad at managing their time, they're just leading at a level their old system wasn't built for.

There comes a season where the margin disappears, the calendar runs you, and the work that actually moves things — the creative thinking, the strategic decisions — gets burned up by the fires that need you to put out.

That's not a discipline problem, it's a capacity problem.

And it quietly costs your team more than you realize. When you're stuck in reactive mode, so are they.

The good news: it doesn't have to stay this way!

The coaches at Durbin Leadership work specifically with leaders navigating this: bringing the tools, frameworks, and mindset shifts that match where you are now, not where you’ve been.

If your calendar has been running your leadership lately, it’s time to engage with a coach who specializes in navigating this challenge... [email protected]

Around our offices, you'll find stacks of books filled with ideas, lessons, and wisdom that help shape how we lead, coach, and serve others.

What's a book that has impacted your leadership journey?

One of our favorite moments from the 2026 Student Leadership Conference was hearing from EK Slaughter as he challenged students on adaptability and resilience.

We’re already looking forward to the 2027 Student Leadership Conference in February! If you’re passionate about investing in the next generation of leaders, stay tuned for more details. We can’t wait to gather students from across our community for another day of growth in leadership development.