INTRODUCTION
This Chapter is more specific about the importance of developing personal adaptive leadership practices. Learning to understand your internal and external personality and leadership traits will go a long way in terms of foster creativity, boldness and a clearer understanding of the insides and out of your own system.
SEE YOURSELF AS THE SYSTEM
In Chapter 13, the authors confer that the in order to understand the leadership traits you possess you have to see yourself as the system, you have to learn the many facets of who you are and the environment that created your logic and behavior . Once you have accomplished this feat, you will have a better ability to properly assess whether or not your skill set will positively or negatively impact the success of your organization 's. I think this is very important for church leaders especially Pastors. Quite often in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, we find that many pastors are ill-equipped to serve in a leadership capacity. Why? Well because quite frankly not every pastor possesses the same exact skill sets. Some of these skills can be taught and duplicated while others cannot. Senior Church leadership should look to individually match up and assess each church and their needs with the right leader and system. Pastors would be best served in keeping their eyes on the ball while developing a fuller understanding of their own skill sets and abilities and in that same vein also their own limitations.
Self leadership through personal learning and reflection “provides a foundation for effective leadership skills” (Watson, 2004). The Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) includes self leadership as one of it’s five core leadership competencies, which is defined as “The Lead Self” domain. As part of Leading Self, effective leaders must demonstrate: self awareness, managing self, developing self and demonstrating character. (CCHL, 2010).
According to Showry and Manasa, the heart of human behavior in management is being self-aware. A manager must be aware of self, experiences and people’s impact on self. A good leader must understand his or hers own values, beliefs and interior/external motivations. Self-awareness makes a person in a leadership position look at their developmental needs realistically. An effective manager must have an internal sense of self and must be in touch with their values, characteristics, traits, strengths and weaknesses. Finally, to be a good leader one must have determination to shape their life by setting goals and building a team to accomplish these goals over time. Those who do not follow or are tentative about this process remain directionless and an ineffective manager and leader. Leaders should also have a
Atkinson (2014) believes effective leadership displays, “No person is less divine than another, and therefore no person is less than another” (p. 145). Throughout the bible, there are many people in scripture that God placed in leadership roles. Jesus, David, Moses, Paul, Peter, Abraham and many others are some of those leaders. There are core attributes discussed in the lecture that personally reflect my opinion of what an effective leader of Christ needs such as, a shared vision, model of the way, empowerment of others, challenge of the process, and encouragement of the heart.
An effective leader must have a plan for success. This includes a personal plan of growth as well as a professional plan for improvement. This paper will attempt to highlight my personal strengths and weaknesses as leader, identify the areas needed for improvement, and identify the leadership skills and practices that I will use to become an effective leader. This paper will also give an outline of the goals that I consider a priority and a timeline for this development. The overall result will be an inclusive leadership plan of development that I will use to grow myself as well as any organization that I work for in the future.
In the book Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders, by Reggie McNeal it examines the need for strong spiritual Christian leaders in today’s society. McNeal looks at the good and bad characteristics of a leader in order to help leaders understand and develop the characteristics needed in one’s own life to be a good leader. McNeal states “we are desperate for great
Howell in his article “The Role of the Black Minister in his Parish Ministry” suggests that the African American Pastor is the head of his church. He is the chief staff person and, in some churches, the only professionally employed person. It is expected of him/her to be able to carry the church forward. The pastor must be the guiding personality in the congregation. The pastor’s administrative role unlocks many complications for his/her ministry to the people. As he/she directs the members in planning and implementing the program, many occasions are presented for comforting and aiding the religious needs of groups and
God’s primary way of developing leaders was through mentoring. The most positive and effective technique to prepare people for life and leadership is through mentoring. As Christians, we are charged to “help the weak and encourage the timid” and to “serve and care for the flock.” A task impossible for church leaders to personally mentor so they assist prospective mentees in finding qualified godly mentors, as
In reflecting upon the topic of the role of the African American Church leadership the question must be ask. What is leadership? “Leadership is serving others that they might become what God wants them to be.” Leadership is the processes of helping a congregation embody the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church is in desperate need of a different leadership role model. Robert M. Franklin in “Crisis in the Village” points to the seductive danger of the prosperity movement. He demonstrates how the “god of greed” and the “god of entrepreneurial ship” have replaced the good news about Jesus Christ. Therefore, leaders experiences crises of integrity, compromising their churches and breeding skepticism and disillusionment. In one sense, the leadership
In any of life’s endeavors, leadership, inspiration, and guidance is derived from 3 words: Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
“There is much that can be learned about leadership from Scripture” (Smith, 1992, p. 39). The Bible provides us with what God not only desires His man of God to be, but requires His under shepherd to meet His character traits.
Adaptive leadership is becoming widespread in the United States Army amongst junior officers in leadership positions that require quick thinking and innovation. Leonard Wong discusses how the versatile and unpredictable enemy and situations in Iraq produces adaptable junior officers. These officers are learning to make decisions under chaotic conditions and are becoming more mentally agile. The Army is changing. The Army is transforming its capabilities in the war in Iraq to be effective and successful. General Schoomaker states that we will not accomplish our goals as a nation in the 21st century unless our Army becomes much more agile but with the capacity for long term, sustained level of conflict. The Army is in the process of
Adaptive leadership as shared in these first three chapters requires a multitude of skills as well as intellect on the part of the leader. Since change is never easily embraced I clearly understand why we were told that it would be so much easier to embrace adaptive leadership if the desired change being sort is birthed out of a passion. I agree that a person would definitely need to find something they are passionate about to accept the challenge of doing adaptive leadership like pursuing a doctor of ministry degree and hopefully the passion will cause them to experience success.
There are many people in scripture that God has placed in leadership roles. Jesus himself, David, Moses, Paul, Peter, Abraham and many others are some of those leaders. There are core attributes discussed in the lecture that personally reflect my opinion of what an effective leader of Christ needs such as, a shared vision, model of the way, empowerment of others, challenge of the process, and encouragement of the heart. Leaders establish a model of the way others should be treated and how goals should be pursued, with standards and examples of what others should follow by exemplifying God’s example. Christian leaders inspire a shared vision to make a difference
If the leader is willing to be transparent and realize their own shortcomings and struggles, it will enable the leader to lead from a place of more passion, emotion, and persuasiveness. This type of honesty can attract many hurting, sad, and brokenhearted people to our churches from dysfunctional backgrounds that will sit under compassionate and relevant leadership. The book further explains that the leader should careful not to let selfishness, self-deception, and wrong motives come alive in leadership as product of the dark side. The fall of many leaders are directly attributable to these components. If this dark side arises, the leader is admonished to open and honestly deal with it before God. This will empower the leader for greater effectiveness. Some leaders may be
The purpose of this research is a self-reflection on the author’s personal leadership style. This research will include qualities of effective leadership, the author’s philosophy of leadership, and examples of the author’s leadership style. This research will also include a reflection of the author’s personal strengths as well as how the author’s personal strengths influence the leadership qualities the author has and how the author can improve her leadership style in the future.