You Don’t Know Sheep
An Unconventional Field Guide for Today’s Faith Leader
Most leadership problems aren’t people problems.
They’re environment problems.
They’re clarity problems.
They’re voice problems.
You Don’t Know Sheep reframes leadership through one of Scripture’s oldest metaphors, helping pastors and leaders of ministry as well as business understand how people actually respond under stress — and how calm, clarity, and trust shape healthy followership.
• Leadership under pressure
• Voice vs. volume
• Trust, intent, and systems
• Rest as a leadership discipline
• Letting go of the hero role
★★★★★
Rated 4.8/5
Published by:
About the Book
Drawing from decades of experience as an executive growing teams and companies, starting ministries, working alongside churches, leaders, and developing businesses and teams across the country, David began noticing patterns.
-The same leadership struggles.
-The same stress responses.
-The same burnout cycles.
Again and again.
You Don’t Know Sheep grew out of those observations — explores the unseen dynamics that shape leadership outcomes, blending story, psychology, theology, and lived experience into a practical guide for leaders of all types who want to shepherd well in a distracted world.
This is not a leadership book about doing more.
It’s a guide to understanding better.
What others are saying about the book:
Technical Expert, Peter wrote:
"You Don’t Know Sheep by David McCauley hit the nail on the head. Having worked in the AVL industry for over 10 years, I’ve seen many things McCauley addresses firsthand. For years, I have always wanted to say something about it to the clients I have served or to the leadership that has struggled with properly leading, but due to my position, it was not appropriate to bring it up. But this book does exactly that. I have already recommended it to others.
McCauley speaks with clarity and honesty, bringing to light truths I’ve always hoped someone would be bold enough to share with church leaders. His insights don’t just apply to ministry; they are powerful lessons for anyone who wants to grow personally and strengthen their leadership skills.
This book has given me something to point to as a way to gently raise potential shortcomings in leadership. I highly recommend You Don’t Know Sheep to anyone looking to better themselves, understand leadership more deeply, and lead with wisdom and integrity."
Worship Leader, Matt Goss wrote:
"David McCauley wrote a great book on leadership. Becoming an effective leader means connecting with, understanding, and knowing those you are leading. Servant leadership is the best path forward, and David’s approach is just that. Based on biblical principles, this book has great tools, some fun stories, and powerful metaphors that will challenge you and encourage you. Check out You Don't Know Sheep!"
Fortune 500 Company, Manager Kristen wrote:
"A Friend Recommended This Book. As a corporate executive, not a minister, I approached this book with curiosity and skepticism. However, I was pleasantly surprised by its well-written, engaging first-person voice, filled with pertinent anecdotes. Each chapter concludes with thought-provoking questions to help you integrate the concepts into your specific situation.
Corporate Leadership and Sheep Metaphors
As a corporate leader, I found it easy to relate 'sheep' to employees, and the similarities abound in this book. The role of shepherd/leader is much the same, and I loved the sheep metaphors. For instance, sheep panic when under stress and run to the safety of the flock, hoping the leader will lead them to safety. Similarly, when sheep get too comfortable, they spread out away from the flock. Truer words could not be said about employees.
Great Advice for Leaders
There is great advice for any leader in every chapter of this book. One concept I will take with me is to let certain visions go if they are no longer useful, which is a tough one for corporate America! This book is common sense personified.
Simplified Big Concepts
I can't say enough about how the author takes big concepts and simplifies them into approachable bits so that anyone can easily understand and implement them into their own framework, whether it be ministry, business, or even parenting!"
About David:
David McCauley has spent decades building companies, working with churches, ministries, leadership teams, and business owners/managers across the country.
With a background spanning executive roles growing multi-million dollar businesses, ministry startups/church plants, overseeing design of live environments/facilities, systems design, plus a background in psychology and theology, David helps leaders see what’s really shaping behavior beneath the surface.
His work focuses on one simple idea:
Calm leaders create calm people..........
