By: Sam Stephens on November 22, 2013
Over the last twelve months, I have read several books on leadership as part of the requirement for my D.Min program and outside of it. Each one has made some unique contribution to the understanding of my personal leadership traits and aided me significantly in my present leadership responsibilities. Open Leadership: How Social Technology can…
By: Garrick Roegner on November 21, 2013
A word on openness and social media from Ron Swanson: Perhaps you feel a bit like Ron Swanson when it comes to social media and organizational openness. Either you are overwhelmed and a bit frightened by the brave new world we live in, or maybe you work with someone who has a more closed view…
By: Chris Ellis on November 21, 2013
Open Leadership by Charlene Li is about how organizations can harness the power of ‘Giving up Control’ and using social networks to further their mission. Her book is chalked full of stories about how organizations have successfully moved forward with social media. While she does occasionally reference churches, she doesn’t center on them. About 5…
By: Fred Fay on November 21, 2013
When I was young my Dad always won chess with me. Why? Well, my neophyte experience limited my imagination about what could happen on the board. I knew how to make a move, one at time, but that was it. I moved and reacted to my Dad’s moves with no strategy in mind. It was…
By: David Toth on November 20, 2013
I really liked the author’s opening statement about the purpose of her book, “Open Leadership is about how leaders must let go to succeed.” (Kindle Loc 179). I particularly liked her stress on being strategic about how a leader, in conjunction with others, will put together a plan that identifies the objectives and boundaries of…
By: Phil Smart on November 20, 2013
I was feeling pretty good about myself. There were 16 of us on our way to Los Angeles for a conference on diversity. 16 pastors and leaders from our church traveling to learn more about how to minister in changing social environments – and I was the only one flying first-class! The leg of the…
By: Richard Rhoads on November 20, 2013
Failure is not only an option it is imperative. Growing up as a young boy in central Pennsylvania I quickly fell in love with the sport of baseball. More specifically the Philadelphia Phillies. Every second I had the chance, my brother and I would be out in the yard throwing and hitting ball. Over the…
By: Sharenda Roam on November 18, 2013
Charlene Li, in her book “Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead,” discusses the necessity for companies and leaders to begin being more open and transparent by using social technology. In addition she also gives specific guidelines regarding how to do this while also maintaining control of what is shared. Basically,…
By: John Woodward on November 13, 2013
To be honest, Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice is one book I never saw myself reading a million years. This is because of two long held assumptions: 1). Jesus is a good enough role model for a leader, why look any further? 2). What does Wall Street have to do with Jerusalem? I mean,…
By: rhbaker275 on November 10, 2013
The Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice, edited by Nitin Nohria and Rakesh Khurana, is a wealth of knowledge for those teaching and interested in the practice of leadership. What is leadership? It is obvious there are multiple styles in leading; however, what defines “good” leadership is differentiated by the variety of leadership situations and…
By: Miriam Mendez on November 10, 2013
“I have to be honest…” I sometimes “cringe” when I hear a person start their conversation with those words. I mean, really, is there any other way to be? Yet, in this case, the “I have to be honest” is not for others, it’s for me! I have to be honest with myself. As I…
By: Liz Linssen on November 9, 2013
This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a church planting conference. Not only was it incredibly refreshing to be around other church leaders who aspire to do the same as I do, but who are an inspiration in their faith and leadership. One of the teachings that really stood out to me…
By: Mark Steele on November 9, 2013
Earlier in my career I faced an ethical decision. I had been selected as the Executive Director of a new Retirement Community to be built. At the time, we were in the sales mode and had collected 70 per cent presales of over 110 apartments. We were finalizing the designs so we could build. I…
By: Sam Stephens on November 9, 2013
One of the major issues that needs to be dealt with in India is corruption. Studies reveal that it affects the country’s economy substantially. Last year India ranked 94th of 174 countries according to Transparency International’s corruption Perceptions Index. A vast majority of the Indian population have had firsthand experience in paying bribes. It is…
By: Raphael Samuel on November 9, 2013
The discussion about leadership is inescapable. We are confronted with questions and encounters around leadership on a daily bases. Questions arise from various fields including, government, business, family, and church. We often find ourselves debating whether someone is an effective leader or not. The fact that we are so engage with the issue of leadership,…
By: Phil Smart on November 9, 2013
In this fascinating book, ethics are reexamined in light of worldview and a methodological Christian interpretation. I’m convinced more and more of the leverage or influence worldview has on all of our mental inputs and outputs. Rationality often seems to be cast aside in favor of falling under the spell of whatever worldview we subscribe…
By: Richard Volzke on November 8, 2013
As I was reviewing this week’s reading I came across this quote, “Will leadership largely be seen as a means of getting ahead, of gaining power, rather than of being understood as a serious professional calling with social responsibilities?”[1] in chapter 1 and it reminded me of a leadership principle and truth that I learned…
By: Stefania Tarasut on November 8, 2013
When you pick up Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice your fist though is “how am I going to get through these 800 pages” but as I started reading, I was slowly pulled into every article. There was something I could glean from every page and I felt as if I was not only affirmed…
By: Fred Fay on November 8, 2013
This is a repost. The week began with my children’s ministry leader telling she heard that one of the children’s leaders was sleeping with her boyfriend. In a very conservative church sexual matters matter! In the same week, three young adults said they wanted to rent a house that the church owns and had just…
By: gfesadmin on November 8, 2013
Fred Fay: You Are Only Young Once, then look out! ffay55: The week began with my children’s ministry leader telling she heard that one of the children’s leaders was sleeping with her boyfriend. In a very conservative church sexual matters matter! In the same week, three young adults said they wanted to rent a house…
