Authentic Life & Leadership
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What Pushing in a Chair Taught Me About Consideration and Character
In the past few weeks I came across an article that got my attention on LinkedIn. It was titled, People Who Push Their Chair Back in When They Leave a Table Usually Display These 8 Unique Qualities, by Jitendra Patel. I was immediately attracted to read it because I...
On Trying to Not Cross a Bridge
Before You Come to It….
There's an old saying, "Don't cross the bridge until you come to it," or "You can cross that bridge when you come to it," or variations of that phrase. My mom always said this to me when I was growing up. I've always wanted to cross bridges before I come to them, and...
3 Ways I’m Addressing Burnout
I've been trying to address stress and burnout in my life, and wrote this post about it two weeks ago. I wish I could say everything is resolved by now but I know this isn't going to be a quick fix. Despite being on blood pressure medication for a few weeks now, my...
The Power of a Positive Comeback
How do you personally handle feedback? There are a few email newsletters that I send out (both work and personal) and recently I received a snarky letter from a guy (actually a minister) who received my newsletter. I am assuming he didn't really want to be on my...
Stress Stress Go Away…
Don’t Come Back Another Day!
The stress in my life finally caught up with me. I find myself at a point of having to take action on the stress in my life, before it creates damage that can't be undone. Thankfully I'm at the place where I believe it can be turned around. (And my doctor agrees with...
How to Treat (or Not Treat) Grieving People
Last Thursday was a day I will never forget, one that I prayed to God none of my kids would ever have to face. On that day, my oldest son Dustin and his wife Taylor found themselves facing the most significant loss of their lives. During the anatomy ultrasound to...
Do People in Ministry Have to Hide or Retire to Have Fun?
I wrestled with the title of this post. I thought perhaps the title should be, "Do People in Ministry Have to Hide or Wait to Retire to Be Themselves?" At times the pull to suppress yourself or at least tweak yourself slightly to survive and thrive in the ministry...
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BIO
Dr. Deanna Shrodes
Dr. Deanna Doss Shrodes is an author, speaker, and leadership mentor known for helping women lead with courage, integrity, and deep faith. Her work has been featured by CBS News, People Magazine, The New Yorker, Woman’s World, GOD TV, and HuffPost. She holds a Master’s in Ministerial Leadership and a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern University, where she also serves as an adjunct professor.
Dr. Shrodes currently serves as Women’s Ministries Director for the Pen Florida District of the Assemblies of God and leads the Stronger Leadership Network, where she mentors pastors and leaders through coaching, spiritual formation, and leadership development. The author of five books and a contributing writer to five others, her most recent work, Uncommon Answers, was released by Chosen Books (a division of Baker Publishing Group) in April 2025.
Known for a warm pastoral presence and practical, thoughtful teaching, Dr. Shrodes speaks at conferences, churches, and leadership gatherings on spiritual formation, prayer, women in leadership, discernment in decision-making, and cultivating healthy ministry cultures.
She is married to her college sweetheart, Larry. Together they have three grown children and five grandchildren.
Areas of Focus:
Spiritual formation & prayer
The work of the Holy Spirit
Leadership development
Women in leadership
Mentoring and calling
Healthy ministry culture
Leadership transitions
Marriage and ministry life
Become Your Most Authentic Self
Free E-Book
Are you tired of being who and what others expect you to be, instead of who God created you to be?
If you find the pressure of other people's expectations exhausting and you are ready to be the authentic YOU that you were always meant to be, Deanna would like to gift you with an ebook, 29 Ways to Become Your Most Authentic Self.
It's time to break free and finally live according to your divine design!
