Craig Adams (’91) serves as the creative director of LifeWay Worship, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources. In this role, Adams oversees three streams of work: managing LifeWay’s exclusive songwriters and songs, leading the team producing ongoing content for LifeWayWorship.com, and overseeing all products related to choirs or church orchestras.
Trevecca’s mission is to shape graduates, like Adams, who seek to make a difference in the world through their leadership and service. Adams says leadership experiences he had while an undergraduate at Trevecca helped shape his leadership values. “In virtually every classroom experience I incurred at Trevecca, the highest value was placed on excellence and Christian values,” he said.
We recently chatted with Adams about the skills good leaders should hone, influential leaders in his life and the one quality he thinks every leader should possess.
Tell us a little about your current role and how you came to work at LifeWay.
At LifeWay, I oversee the creative development, production processes and personnel for a wide variety of albums, church music resources and events. I’ve worked in Christian music for all of my career. During a tenure as a freelance record producer, LifeWay Worship became a client, and the relationship blossomed into more than I would have ever imagined.
What are some skills you think strong leaders need to develop?
Good leaders must be students of the Word of God, servant-minded respecters of people. [They must be] humble, perceptive, flexible, knowledgeable, active listeners, decisive, innovative thinkers, clear communicators, and planners [who are] continually thinking about tomorrow.
Who has had an impact on you as a leader?
My father, Steve Adams, has been an exemplary leader of our family. His steadfast devotion to Christ and love for his family continue to be a beacon lighting my pathway. Additionally, several pastors for whom I have worked down through the years—Paul Bane, Randy Berkner, Tom Todd, Tim Anderson—have been examples of selfless leadership to me.
How do you encourage those you lead to stay focused on your organization's mission or core values?
[At LifeWay,] it’s cultural for us to revisit our mission and value statements routinely in corporate gatherings. Moreover, I try to be the hardest-working, pace-setting model of these core competencies that I can be.
How do you encourage creativity among those you lead?
Our team is highly collaborative, and I schedule time for our team to learn from creative thought or practice leaders from outside our organization.
What advice would you give someone going into a position of leadership for the first time?
Learn to love and serve your staff early on.
What’s one characteristic you believe all leaders should possess?
Never stop learning. Culture changes daily and will pass you by quickly if you stop learning and growing.