Crucifying Performance to Lead Like a Human Being with Sheila Wise Rowe and Nicholas Rowe

Leaders are expected to meet increasingly high standards, but many are silently suffering under the pressure of constantly needing to perform. But God never called us to perform—He called us to be relational people.

In this episode of The Disrupters, host Nicole Martin is joined by Sheila Wise Rowe and Dr. Nicholas Rowe, co-authors of Healing Leadership Trauma, spiritual formation mentors, and longtime leaders in ministry and education. Sheila Wise Rowe is an award-winning author and counselor who has spent over 30 years walking alongside abuse and trauma survivors. Dr. Nicholas Rowe is the Hansen Associate Professor of Leadership at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, with decades of experience in leadership, reconciliation, and formation. Together, they offer not only practical wisdom but a deep well of spiritual insight.

Through honest reflection, they unpack how unhealed trauma fuels performance-based leadership and how many Christian leaders carry the past, present, and future like a crushing weight. They discuss how early wounds, fear of failure, and pressure to succeed can disconnect leaders from their core identity in Jesus. But when you crucify performance, what rises is something far more powerful: character rooted in truth, leadership grounded in rest, and a witness that’s not built on performance, but presence.

Tune in now to discover how surrendering performance can allow you to lead as a “human being,” not a “human doing.”

This episode highlights the following themes:

✅ Crucifying performance and recovering authenticity
✅ Healing leadership trauma across past, present, and future
✅ Leading others by being rooted in your identity in Christ

Links from the episode:

✅ Learn more about Sheila Wise Rowe (www.ivpress.com/sheila-wise-rowe) and Dr. Nicholas Rowe (www.ivpress.com/nicholas-rowe)
✅ Check out their book: Healing Leadership Trauma (www.ivpress.com/healing-leadership-trauma)
✅ Learn more about Nicole Martin (www.ivpress.com/nicole-massie-martin)
✅ Read Nicole Martin's book: Nailing It (www.ivpress.com/nailing-it)
✅ Read the transcript here (drive.google.com/file/d/1rrOXD1wfyW0YuUgRFa2OK-q2c6XhquaS/view)

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com (ivpress.com) and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.
✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton
✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee
✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts (honestpodcasts.com/)
✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble
✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo
✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard
✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

=== Time Stamps ===

00:00 – Introduction
02:33 – Meet Dr. Nicolas Rowe and Sheila Wise Rowe
07:44 – How Performance Replaces Calling in Leadership
10:41 – Why Performance Addiction Thrives in the Church
15:19 – Carrying the Past, Present, and Future as a Leader
18:12 – Doing vs. Being
22:11 – Leadership Must Be Relational, Not Transactional
26:11 – The Hidden Cost of Performance-Driven Leadership
31:06 – Confusing Charisma with Character
39:39 – When Low Moments Lead to Lasting Transformation
44:33 – How to Lead Differently

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.