The Leadership Baton

Next week, I am having a report on the basic principles of the ethical standards of public official and employees.  Well,  my very clever teacher gave us two weeks writing period to come up with (and i mean just copy)  this module that she gave to the class as an example.  The material was conventional and bookish.  A high school graduate could very well have written an even better output.  It was way too “lesson-plan” type which does not work well with me. Not at all.  So, before boring you about my tirade of complaints that is neither interesting nor significant, i want to share this inspiring quotes i got from reading the book “The Leadership Baton.” (Forman et. al., 2005).

On motivation (powerful words that can shape one’s future, say this to someone):

“Jeff, when I look at you, I see a lion.  You are young, playful, fun to be around.  Yet when I realy look at you, I see more than a lion cub.  I see a lion.  I see someone who has such leadership strength.  I see someone whom God is using and will use to do incredible things for him. I am just glad to see the lion cub becoming a lion.”

 The book emphasized the transition on developing leaders to acquiring one.   Jeff, one of the authors started that we should put on the eyeglasses of potential.  Jeff shared that in a conversation with Rick Warren, the latter advised that ” if you want to build an equipping church, you have to tear down the idol of excellence. Why? Because most people are not excellent; most people are not extraordinary.”

The book introduced a leraning process that is wisom-based (courses), relationship-based (community), and personal (mentoring).  Its goal is to develop servant-leaders who know God (head), exhibit Christlike character (heart), and are effective in ministry and mission (hands).

The author gave this scenario as an example. A wife asks if she must obey her husband when he tells her not to take kids to the doctor because there is no money to pay for it.  Her dilemma raises theological questions about submission and the nature of marriage. It raises questions about a mother’s responsibility to her children. It forces her to compare the value of physical health to the imporatnce of obeying her husband and the desirability of avoiding debt.  He went on to say that we all wrestle with practical decisions everyday. Some of these decisions involve important theological issues.  Fortunately, he suggested the wisdom based development design.

 Which leads me to say that this is a must read book.  You’ll probably adapt a life-changing point of view applicable to any emerging or existing leader.