{"id":26317,"date":"2020-03-10T10:01:34","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T17:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=26317"},"modified":"2020-03-10T10:01:34","modified_gmt":"2020-03-10T17:01:34","slug":"is-the-leadership-value-proposition-a-both-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/is-the-leadership-value-proposition-a-both-and\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the leadership value proposition a both… and?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This book is part of Walker\u2019s Undefended Leader trilogy. It includes concepts that on many levels help leaders become more self-aware so that they can become a more comprehensive leader. Walker is not only an author about leadership, but he is also a clergyman, who finds in Jesus Christ the most remarkable example that \u201cpower is not located only in might\u201d[1]<\/a> but also in vulnerability and self-emptying.<\/p>\n

This text seems to encourage leaders to become aware that their power can encourage an unconditional leading, serving spirit for mutual benefit in one\u2019s context. Mutual benefit is a key theme in his work. Walker contends that, rather than situations or even behaviors being the impetus for leading, \u201cleadership is fundamentally about who you are, not what you know or what skills you have.\u201d\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

It has often been my experience, especially in business and the Church that leaders typically try to preserve their power and influence, especially by controlling what they allow others to see of themselves. Their defensiveness is entrenched through their followers; their own idealistic visions and their unmet emotional needs. For Walker, truer leadership must be undefended by not grasping for power or seeking approval of their colleagues. Instead, freedom to lead comes from \u201cour attachment to another\u201d offering \u201cunconditional regard.\u201d[3]<\/a>\u00a0God also spoke to his people about possibly changing his route as Leader (not his overall plan), so that we can have a deep relationship with him. I have heard this resituated as becoming more fully human. Exodus 32:14, \u201cAnd the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is not uncommon for Christians in my spheres to say that they want to lead like Jesus Christ, yet this is an idealist almost dream-like viewpoint because it has not been considered, fully the full surrender condition in most of my Church circles. If we actually do seek to keep attaining a Christ-like value, we ought to work towards a more commune with the Holy Spirit. Paul shared with us in Romans 7:18, \u201cNothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.\u201d He then shares what seems contradictory statement in Philippians 4:13, \u201cI can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Walker\u2019s dissertation, he wrote, \u201cSelf-leadership, as conceptualised by Personal Ecology, incorporates a fault line in the human condition which all leaders need to recognise within themselves. It is a fault line of fear.\u201d[4]<\/a> The idea of leaders being vulnerable and self-emptying is refreshing and motivating to become this for the people we serve. There was probably a no better example of these qualities than in the life of Jesus Christ serving the Father for the sake of others at the deepest levels; and that particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if Walker\u2019s theological bent inhibits him from considering that God seeks to change us to becoming more loving unconditionally. Most of the Christians I engage with do not believe that they can live without sin for example. His work, in my opinion, indirectly leads one to that think that only God offers unconditional love. In the absolute sense, this is absolutely true. Yet, we are commanded in Matthew 5:48 to, \u201cBe perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.\u201d This perfection is defined as unconditional piety and obedience expressed by love and forgiveness.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

Walker text directs us to some favorite Western and Eastern cultural leaders besides Jesus Christ: Churchill, Gandhi, Mandela, and Gorbachev, whether or not they had traditional leadership views and behaviors. \u201cWalker makes an interesting aside that Western culture has been too in thrall to \u2018warrior\u2019 memes or images of leadership.\u201d[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

One of my all-time favorite books was written by Robert Greenleaf. In Walker’s dissertation, he often cites the work of Robert Greenleaf. In particular, he cites Greenleaf\u2019s words from and analysis of Servant Leadership<\/em>. He wrote, \u201cRobert Greenleaf\u2019s language of the leader as a servant has also been recruited within Christian and evangelical traditions (Greenleaf, 1977). In itself, this does not necessarily infer a role for vulnerability…\u201d[7]<\/a> It seems his view is that Greenleaf\u2019s model derives from possibly an invulnerable position.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, Walker\u2019s developed views don\u2019t actually coincide with much of the leadership materials I have been presented within university or seminaries since I have been interested in this topic. Most, if not all, have talked about being a fearless leader, the conquering leader, a giving leader, or courageous leader and giving models from authors like Bill Hybels. But my readings do not derive from a mutual vulnerable position. Therefore, from my cursory reading, I think the mistake that Walker makes is that there is not enough appreciation for these views while presenting us with his valuable research and simulation analysis.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [1] Scott P. Walker, The Undefended Leader<\/em>, Carlisle: Piquant, 2007, 3.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [2] Ibid., 5.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [3] Ibid., 105.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [4] Scott P. Walker, \u201cBecoming Undefended Developing leaders who are freed from fear,\u201d 2014,<\/p>\n

ttps:\/\/steeringcognition.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Simon-Walker-DProf-Context-Statement-2.55.8-corrected-1.pdf. 34.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [5] Ned<\/em>. 32a; Tan\u1e25. B<\/em> \u00a723 (40a) = Str-B 1.386 (Abraham\u2019s perfection by circumcision as a plus beyond the fulfillment of the command); further Gen 6:9*; Sir 44:17* (Noah; parallel \u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2).[5]<\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [6] Scott P. Walker, The Undefended Leader<\/em>, Carlisle: Piquant, 2007, 20.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [7] Scott P. Walker, \u201cBecoming Undefended Developing leaders who are freed from fear,\u201d 2014,<\/p>\n

ttps:\/\/steeringcognition.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Simon-Walker-DProf-Context-Statement-2.55.8-corrected-1.pdf. 25.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This book is part of Walker\u2019s Undefended Leader trilogy. It includes concepts that on many levels help leaders become more self-aware so that they can become a more comprehensive leader. Walker is not only an author about leadership, but he is also a clergyman, who finds in Jesus Christ the most remarkable example that \u201cpower […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":137,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1722],"class_list":["post-26317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-simon-walker","cohort-lgp10"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/137"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26317"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26320,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26317\/revisions\/26320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}