About LeaderLABS
LeaderLabs was founded in 2004 by Fred and Shirley Garmon to provide high-quality leadership development for individuals and teams across nonprofits, churches, missions, civic groups, and businesses.
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Our mission is simple: to equip people to lead with greater purpose and impact in whatever sphere they serve. We offer practical tools, personalized training, and flexible formats to help you grow—both personally and organizationally.
Leadership development begins with self-development.
We're here to serve you.
Fred Garmon, PhD
Founder & President of LeaderLabs
Dr. Fred Garmon holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, along with degrees in Biblical Studies and Ministerial Ethics. His research focused on leadership and conflict in ministry settings.
A Charlotte, NC native and the youngest of eight, Fred overcame significant early life challenges to become the first in his family to graduate high school. He shares his powerful story in his book Lucky Number 8, available on Amazon and in our online bookstore.
With over 47 years in ministry, Fred has served as a senior pastor, Southeast Asia superintendent for Church of God World Missions, executive director of PCL (People for Care and Learning), university professor, and international consultant. His leadership training has reached audiences in over 42 countries.
An Olympic Torchbearer and marathon runner, Fred and his wife, Shirley, have been married since 1982 and are proud parents and grandparents. To learn more about Fred’s journey, check out his book “Lucky Number 8.”
Why
LeaderLabs?
Can leadership be taught or is it natural gifting? The consensus is that leadership involves the employment of understanding and skills, and these can be learned.
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Consider the following:
Realizing that leadership has a spiritual dimension is vital. Jesus taught, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different” (Matthew 20:25, 26, NLT). The servant quality of Christian leadership is the underpinning of a spiritual approach, and this—along with integrity, honesty, and other spiritual qualities—is emphasized.
Understanding leadership skills builds self-confidence. When a man or woman grasps essential background knowledge and techniques, he or she is better qualified to act based on the ability to look at a challenge from a different perspective.
Learning about oneself empowers potential leaders. What is your motivation to lead? What is your level of self-confidence? How do you measure your level of emotional intelligence? These and other qualities are explored in leadership training.
Being surrounded by other leaders enriches influencers. Leadership training teaches how leadership ideas have emerged and changed over time, helping learners make sense of conflicting ideas about leadership that cause confusion. Rubbing shoulders with other leaders, exchanging experiences, interacting with LeaderLab coaches expands your frame of reference.
Seeing your organization from a distance clarifies your vision. Leadership training lets you step away from your daily responsibilities to look at your church or organization from a different perspective and think about how the future may unfold. You will learn new vocabulary to help communicate your vision.
Influencing others is a key leadership component. Discover the elements of motivation. Learn to discern between good and bad sources of motivation, and between strong and weak methods of influence. Excellent leaders know how to motivate people correctly.
Building a team ensures effectiveness. Learn how to give direction without appearing overbearing or weak. Gain insight to how to pick team members and develop a team capable of following your vision.
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Why Fred Garmon?
The quote from a pastor who attended a two-day workshop conducted by Dr. Garmon provides a good answer to the question, why Fred Garmon? Good leadership information.
Totally understandable. Eminently practical. Immediately applicable.
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“Someone along the way convinced me that it was important to learn all I could about leadership, and I’ve tried to wade through some of the books written by the leadership gurus. I made a good faith effort, but a lot of what I read—I could say, most of it—seemed disconnected from my life and work. Then I attended a LeaderLab session conducted by Fred Garmon. It clicked! He gave me in-depth leadership insight, using vocabulary I understood, and I could immediately apply it in my setting.”
Fred is a spiritual benefactor of the theology and practice of John Wesley. The founder of Methodism taught his followers a valuable lesson from Exodus 12:36, which states “And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” Just as the Israelites gathered valuables from their captors before the exodus, Wesley explained, so should God’s people today collect intellectual data from wherever it might be found and put it to use in the Kingdom.
Fred Garmon has been plundering the Egyptians for a long time, a pursuit that has taken him through college, seminary, a university Ph.D. program, subsequent workshops and seminars, and—perhaps most valuable—25 years in the local church pastorate, learning all he can about the principles and practices of leadership. He sincerely believes that one of the church’s greatest missions is to instill leadership skills in the new generation of spiritual leaders.