{"id":34333,"date":"2023-11-28T15:14:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T23:14:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=34333"},"modified":"2023-11-28T15:14:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T23:14:17","slug":"leadership-ambassadors-of-a-radically-different-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/leadership-ambassadors-of-a-radically-different-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership: Ambassadors of a Radically Different Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last year while I was working on our biblical foundations and expertise paper for class, I chose to research the life and leadership of Caleb, from the well-known story of Joshua in the book of Numbers. \u00a0As you can imagine, finding scholarly research on the often overlooked Caleb was not as easy as I\u2019d hoped. \u00a0The more I went digging, however, I discovered a few precious articles from Polish scholar, Judyta Pudelko, who claimed Caleb was the only one in the story who,\u00a0\u201cDared to directly stand up for radical obedience to God\u2019s will.\u201d<\/span>[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 I laughed out loud when I read that line as I had just recently read Peter Northouse\u2019s book,\u00a0<\/span>Leadership: Theory and Practice<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/em>where I do not recall reading about leadership traits or theories correlating with radical obedience to God\u2019s will. \u00a0Before you judge where I am going with this, please give me a moment to explain. \u00a0The last book I read (at that time) exploring leadership challenges and styles was handed to me by an elder from one of the largest churches in the Portland area. \u00a0He had heard I started in the Doctorate of Global leadership Program and thought I should read the \u201cbest\u201d leadership book he ever read: <\/span>Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God\u2019s Agenda<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>by Henry and Richard Blackaby.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the Blackabys\u2019 point of view and definition of leadership, Caleb is a leader: \u201cSpiritual leadership is moving people on to God\u2019s agenda.\u201d<\/span>[2]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The authors also claim that, \u201cSpiritual leadership is not identical to leadership in general.\u201d<\/span>[3]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 Northouse\u2019s definition of leadership is,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cA process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0According to Northouse, Caleb is also a leader\u2013it just took him 45 years to achieve a common goal. The question I started asking myself is,\u00a0who determines what is God\u2019s agenda if a group of individuals achieve a common goal? \u00a0Or more to my purpose in this week\u2019s blog post: Might all leadership be spiritual in some form since God works through those who know him and those who don\u2019t?<\/span>[5]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span>[6]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How might Norhthouse\u2019s book inform me as I ask these questions?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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  1. Northouse\u2019s Book Offers a Balcony View and\u00a0<\/span>Description of Leadership:<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \n

    The purpose of this book is a broad landscape of leadership practices: Northouse defined leadership and desired for his readers to understand its practice through an exploration of its wide and myriad groupings on theories of leadership. Each chapter covers one leadership theory by covering traits, skills and behavioral approaches while the second and third sections of the book expand from group theories to organizational behavior theories. \u00a0Just like a comprehensive music theory book is used by all types of musicians, leaders of all types and spiritual backgrounds could rely on Northouse\u2019s textbook approach.<\/p>\n

    Each chapter examines a leadership theory, offers a critique and is filled with multiple case studies. \u00a0Building on the claim that leadership is complex and a multidimensional process, Northouse\u2019s approach to defining leadership is founded on the last 100 years of research. \u00a0Again, based on leadership\u2019s evolving history, he defines leadership as, \u201cA process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.\u201d[7]<\/a><\/sup> Recalling Dr. Jules Glanzer comments on two things he would do differently, it seems Kingdom of God leaders also base their priorities on how history evolves. Glanzer, a former college president, said he would have paid more attention to corporate culture and would have spent more time developing the board to another level.[8]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 Sometimes the most spiritual leaders just admit what they wish they would have done differently\u2013which doesn\u2019t feel like an agenda.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

      \n
    1. The Strengths of Northouse\u2019s Book Lies in its Applicability:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \n

      The strengths of this work come from multiple theories and approaches, including case studies, that are highly accessible across various sectors. \u00a0For the field of communications and mediation, the most applicable chapters are 8 and 9:\u00a0Transformational Leadership and Authentic Leadership.<\/span>\u00a0 At the end of chapter 8, Northouse includes a case study about an Exploration in Leadership with a college professor leading 25 college students on an archaeological dig. \u00a0Professionals working as communicators or helping resolve conflict can benefit from the Transformational Leadership approach while making connections from the theories, traits and critiques from other parts of the book. \u00a0As a mediator, this case study provided me with a different perspective on resolving a conflict. Rather than always telling my clients what to do, if I apply the transformational model (as opposed to the Behavioral Approach), I can adapt a general way of thinking, \u201cAbout leadership that emphasizes ideas, inspiration, innovations, and individual concerns.\u201d[9]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 More often than not, my clients have no clue that I am relying on the Holy Spirit to guide our mediation; yet, providing a safe space to have difficult conversations seems spiritual at one level.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n

        \n
      1. Northouse\u2019s Book Paired With My Own Case Studies Gives Me Insight:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        As I was reading this book for our class, I had scheduled an interview with one of my stakeholders. \u00a0Maryanne, a director of organizational experiences and training, sat next to me in Chipotle describing her boss, who is a vice president of the company where she works. \u00a0Rather than sit through one more Zoom meeting, Maryanne asked if we could meet in person for our meeting. \u00a0The only two seats left in the restaurant were at a bar style table that looked out across the Willamette Valley, so as Maryanne thoughtfully spoke about what made her boss an effective leader, I scanned the beautiful landscape in front of me while taking careful notes. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Here\u2019s how Maryanne describes her boss:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cShe\u2019s great listener\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cCurious. Asks amazing questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cUses a calm tone when suggesting how to do things differently\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cResponds, doesn\u2019t react.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cShe reassures with her presence\u2013constantly reassuring her direct reports.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cBrings perspective.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cIn the face of conflict she says, \u201cI have your back.\u201d \u00a0When someone makes a mistake, she says, \u201cYou know how to fix this, what\u2019s your next step?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cShe makes others feel confident.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

        As Maryanne talked further about how her boss influences the culture of her workplace, I scanned the horizon once more and thought about my work on Caleb; then I recalled Eve Poole\u2019s words from Leadersmithing:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

        \u201cThe leader\u2019s ability to see the potential of the present from a vantage point in the future\u2013it allows leaders to act in the present moment as ambassadors of a radically different future\u2013a position that helps their organizations to achieve strategic breakthroughs.\u201d[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

        I was surprised by Peter Northouse\u2019s well-organized, practical approach to Leadership and how often I found myself thinking that Caleb could have written this book from his experience\u2013after all, in his 85th year, he confidently, humbly and boldly demonstrated that he did indeed have a different kind of spirit\u2013one that was wholeheartedly devoted to God. And I am convinced that he was an ambassador of a radically different future<\/em> as helped lead the Israelites to Kingdom living.\u00a0 Northouse’s book gives us the ability to see ourselves as we are in the present from a vantage point in the future.\u00a0 It’s what Maryanne’s boss does and it’s what we are called to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
        \n

        [1]<\/a>\u00a0Judyta Pude\u0142ko. \u201cCaleb, Son of Jephunneh – As an Example of Fidelity to God.\u201d An Exegetical Study of Sir 46:7-10.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>The Biblical Annals<\/span>\u00a011, no. 4 (2021): 575\u201396.<\/span>\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

        \n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [2]<\/a>\u00a0Blackaby and Blackaby,\u00a0<\/span>Spiritual Leadership<\/span>. P. 36<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [3]<\/a>\u00a0Blackaby and Blackaby,\u00a0<\/span>Spiritual Leadership<\/span>. p.37<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [4]<\/a>\u00a0Northouse,\u00a0<\/span>Leadership<\/span>. P. 5.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [5]<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Proverbs 21:1, \u201cThe king\u2019s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [6]<\/a>\u00a0Isaiah 45:4, \u201cI call you by name, I name you, though you do not know me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [7]<\/a>\u00a0Northouse,\u00a0<\/span>Leadership<\/span>. P. 5.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [8]<\/a>\u00a0Dr. Jules Glanzer, Online Chat 30 October 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [9]<\/a>\u00a0P. 180<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        [10]<\/a>\u00a0Poole,\u00a0<\/span>Leadersmithing<\/span>. p.11<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Last year while I was working on our biblical foundations and expertise paper for class, I chose to research the life and leadership of Caleb, from the well-known story of Joshua in the book of Numbers. \u00a0As you can imagine, finding scholarly research on the often overlooked Caleb was not as easy as I\u2019d hoped. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":180,"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":[2939,2928,2937,2936,2938],"class_list":["post-34333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-caleb","tag-dlgp02-northouse","tag-leadershiptheory","tag-leadershiptheoryandpractice","tag-spiritualleadership","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34333","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\/180"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34333"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34334,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34333\/revisions\/34334"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}