Authentic Life & Leadership
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Recognizing How to Hear God’s Voice
Have you ever wondered if God was trying to speak to you—but you weren’t sure how to tell? Maybe you’ve prayed, “Lord, I want to hear You,” and then found yourself second-guessing every thought or feeling that followed. You’re not alone. I hear from God on a daily...
Speak Up!
The Importance of Advocating for Yourself
Like many people of my generation, I was raised in an Authoritarian household. I do not share this to bash anyone. I realize that for many of our parents, this was all they knew. Some may have chosen this style of parenting even if presented with other logical and...
Holding Space for Those Who Grieve
“Cruel people offer pity when they no longer feel threatened. However, kind people offer compassion and understanding regardless.” Shannon L. Alder When my birth father, Gus, passed away in December, I thought to myself, “I just need space to grieve.” Everything had...
How Do You Process Disappointment?
I'm a person of deep feeling, and as delighted as I can get about things, I can also spiral down into an emotional abyss when things aren't going well. I have realized that I need a personal strategy to overcome life's disappointments or I just don't fare well....
How to Read a Post
Without Getting Offended
Can you read a post online that you disagree with and refrain from: Melting down emotionally Commenting with something rude, or lacking the fruit of the spirit Talking to your friends about how terrible the post was Reporting their post (online or in real life)...
3 Things to Do When You Feel Like Quitting
Did you think about quitting this week? It's common for leaders to think about throwing in the towel. Leadership is not for sissies! I've heard it said, "Don't throw in the towel, wipe the sweat off your face and keep going!" I don't know who said that first, but...
Mercy and Me: How My Rescue Dog is Helping Me Grieve
I am unabashedly a dog mom. I have adult children who are wonderful human beings, but I also have other living beings that I take care of who reside in my house. And they mean the world to me. (By the way, new research suggests that cat and dog 'moms' and 'dads'...
Invite Deanna to speak at your next event!
Deanna is invited to return and speak at many of the same places time and again because the result has been an overwhelmingly positive experience with lives changed, and people encouraged.
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!
