DLGP

Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspectives: Crafting Ministry in an Interconnected World

Not What You Know, but Who You know.

Written by: on November 7, 2022

In the world of networking and job searching we often hear the phrase, its not what you know but who you know tossed around when a job rejection comes across the table or a job offer for that matter. Advocated for networking will also point out this deep connection between knowing people and success. In leadership there is someone very important that every leader should know. Someone that can make or break leader’s success. Strong, impactful, and successful leaders know themselves! They understand who they are, their strengths, their weaknesses, and they needs as a leader and as a human being.

In his book “Leading out of Who You Are”, Simon Walker writes this statement at the very beginning of his book. “Leadership is about who you are, not what you know or what skills you have. Why is this? There are two reasons: leadership is about trust and it is about power.” Leaders can learn lots of skills, they can study millions of leadership books, they can participate in leadership training, but the most important thing a leader can know is about themself. Understanding who you are, where you came from, your dreams, your goals, your passion are all key to leadership growth. Knowing your personality and your tendencies when face with a challenge or set back gives you as a leader a better understanding of how you would respond in various contexts prepares you for what lays ahead.

Walker gives his readers numerous examples of leaders who had led well from this place of understanding themselves. They led powerful moments, reformations, and world changing outcomes. One of these leaders the author uses is Jesus and his story of leadership, humble servant leadership, and then his crucifixion. Jesus was counter cultural in his leadership style and his engagement with others as a leader. The type of leadership that Jesus modeled is a great example of empowering leadership.

With these models of leadership we can see the need to know, to understand, ourselves. When we are aware of our strengths, weaknesses, flaws, goals, passion… then we are able to embrace a type of leadership that builds trust and shares power. Leaders need the trust of their followers in order to become a leader and people are more willing to give this trust to someone who is confident in themselves and compassionate about those they lead. Then for a leader to have far reaching impact we have seen through out history leaders sharing the power, empowering their followers to care on the goals.

So, what does this mean for the future of equipping leaders?

What leaders know is only part of the equation. Leadership training, skills development, calendars and agendas with the right headings are helpful tools but not the key to building up new leaders. Focusing on personal development, emotional intelligence, self awareness, and healthy risk taking will build the type of leader that knows themself, values their followers, wants their leadership to be about solving the issues at hand rather then personal gain, and approaches leadership situations as what Walker would call an “undefended leader.”

Who do you know?

 

Simon Walker, Leading out of Who You Are: Discovering the Secret of Undefended Leadership (Carlisle: Piquant, 2007).

About the Author

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Sara Taylor Lattimore

Sara is adopted, a wife of 17 years, a mother to 2 amazing children who give her opportunities to be a cheerleader, dress up like a princess, play soccer in the mud, and go on amazing adventures. With a Bachelors in political science and sociology, Sara worked for Child Protective Services as a legal caseworker before following a call into full-time ministry in 2008. During her time in full-time ministry Sara has served in medium to large size local congregations, as well as camp ministry. Sara has a passion for serving others, writing, and speaking. In 2016 Sara worked on a joint publication as a Curriculum Writer. Sara wrote the Intergenerational/Family & Day Camp Resources in “Beyond Belief” for InsideOut Christian Resources for Outdoor Ministry- Published by Chalice Press- Release Date 2018. Sara is looking forward to writing her own book next. Sara completed her MDiv from Iliff School of Theology in 2019 and is currently working on her Doctorate in Leadership and Global Perspectives from Portland Seminary. Sara currently serves as Lead Pastor of a local church in Southwestern Montana. She has previously served in ministry positions leading congregations in engaging globally in healthy mission and outreach partnerships, living life missionally, building innovative programs, and building relationships as the Director of Missions and Outreach, College Ministry Coordinator, Family and Children’s Ministry Director, Director of Christian Education, and Camp Program Director. She is an innovator and visionary who looks to find empowering and dignity restoring ways of building communities of belonging, while listening and partnering with others to find ways to also address the needs of the communities she is planted in. Beyond her work, Sara dreams of growing her family through adoption, kayaking with Orcas, going on pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago in Spain, traveling in an RV across North America, and traveling internationally.

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