Dave Olsen is a husband, father, business owner, and mountain biker. He grew up in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, and married his high school sweetheart, Jacki, soon after his mission to Melbourne, Australia. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a masters in Information Systems, and from University of Virginia with a masters in Accounting.

Dave has spent 18 years mostly in youth-focused callings including Young Men president twice, bishopric counselor twice, and recently released as bishop of his ward in South Jordan, Utah. He was thrown into the leadership deep end late in 2017 when he began leadership training through the coaching firm Ontocore and soon after that co-founded a business and was extended the bishop calling on the same day. His business, Nimbl, provides accounting outsourcing services.

03:00 Introduction to Dave and his experience as a bishop

05:10 Story of getting called as bishop. Demographics of his ward.

07:50 Starting out as a bishop and what Dave really tried to focus on

10:50 In Utah, there are so many people with experience in church leadership. It’s hard to make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to serve when there are only so many callings.

13:40 Principle 1 – Leadership is creating an intentional future that is different from what it would have otherwise been.

15:30 Real life examples of having a vision and leading others to that vision

19:30 Real life examples of creating love and acceptance in the ward and community, especially when it comes to same sex attraction

26:30 What are you doing now to establish a relationship with people in your neighborhood? If you already have a relationship with them then when it comes time to invite them to a temple open house or activity then it won’t be awkward.

28:40 Principle two – One of a leader’s most important roles is creating leaders around them.

33:55 Look for opportunities to help the youth lead. They are the future of leadership.

35:10 Principle three – Love is giving people space to show up like they’re perfect, as they are.

38:00 Love and accept first. Then you can take time to teach and figure out how to improve.

41:50 How being a leader has brought Dave closer to Jesus Christ

TRANSCRIPT coming soon
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The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 episodes.

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