In the book, [1] “Leader-smithing, Revealing The Trade Secrets of Leadership,” Eve Poole uses the metaphor of blacksmithing to explore leadership, suggesting that leaders can be shaped and perfected like metal. To me, it meant people can be trained, shaped and transformed potentially to take on leadership positions. Poole validates my assumption in her book. She contends that successful leaders are not born but rather crafted through deliberate development and practice. Her book examines different facets of leadership development, highlighting the significance of self-awareness, resilience, and authenticity. Poole uncovers that the key to effective leadership is the skillful balance of strength and vulnerability, the forging of connections with others, and the commitment to ongoing adaptation and learning.<\/p>\n
Though I was able to capture the spirit of the book, this week, I was struggling to be organized with my thoughts. My ducks were not in a row \u2013 goodness! I did not even know where my ducks were. My mind was all over the place; family, work, ministry, reading assignments and all in between. I could not focus on my reading. I was aware of the situation. I had to be honest with myself and knew that I needed to get it together. At this point I did not even know what to blog.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, I paused everything and sat down to pray, seeking to calm my mind and simply be in the presence of the Holy Spirit. I invited my greatest Helper, the Holy Spirit, into all the thoughts clouding my mind, especially fear, wondering if I could truly do this. [3] \u201cThe Lion needs courage; the Scarecrow needs a brain; the Tin Man needs a heart. A good leader needs all three \u2013 and these characters also serve to represent the history of thinking about leadership.\u201d (8). [4] \u201cCharacter protects your future ability to lead because it is the very thing that will save you when everything else is stripped away.\u201d (47). One modern day leader I admire who exemplified these characters is [5] Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, known for her compassionate leadership style and handling of crises such as the Christchurch mosque shootings and the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n This takes me to the Old Testament, the book of [6] Nehemiah. As Poole claims, successful leaders are not born but rather crafted through deliberate development and practice. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king, thus was not groomed to be a construction project manager. He was summoned to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem; he did not volunteer. Yet he led the Israelites to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and completed his project in 52 days. [7] His leadership characteristics: Nehemiah was aware of his limitations; he was true to who he was; the king\u2019s cupbearer who never lifted a brick or hammer to build something in his life. His attractive leadership characteristic is resilience; his ability to bounce back from adversity, adapt to change, and overcome challenges. He exemplified the capacity to withstand and recover from difficult situations and maintained a sense of well-being and optimism in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n It is a common understanding amongst Christian leaders that Nehemiah is a notable example of a transformational leader who inspired his people to work together for a common cause.<\/p>\n Whether is our modern-day leader such as Jacinda Ardern or Nehemiah from the Old Testament, these leaders have shown resilience and strength of character in their leadership roles, which has helped them navigate difficult situations and inspire trust and confidence in their abilities.<\/p>\n In conclusion, [8] “Character is not about doing but about being. It is not an activity, but an intrinsic property. That is why, when a kind person is catty, we say ‘that is out of character'”.<\/p>\n [1] Eve Poole, Leadersmithing; Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership. (New York, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017).<\/p>\n [2] Psalm 61:2.<\/p>\n [3] Eve Poole, Leadersmithing; Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership. (New York, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017), 8.<\/p>\n [4] Ibid., 47.<\/p>\n [5] Wallenfeldt, J.. “Jacinda Ardern.” Encyclopedia Britannica, January 27, 2024. https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Jacinda-Ardern.<\/p>\n [6] See Nehemiah 1 to Nehemiah 6. All citations of scripture in this blog are taken from [7] https:\/\/jesusleadershiptraining.com\/leadership-qualities-of-nehemiah-nehemiah-leaders-leader\/October 9, 2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the book, [1] “Leader-smithing, Revealing The Trade Secrets of Leadership,” Eve Poole uses the metaphor of blacksmithing to explore leadership, suggesting that leaders can be shaped and perfected like metal. To me, it meant people can be trained, shaped and transformed potentially to take on leadership positions. Poole validates my assumption in her book. 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\n[2] Psalm 61:2 came to mind. “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.\u201d I handed everything I felt to God, and I went to sleep.
\nI woke up at 1:00 a.m. – straight away, something said, blog about character<\/strong> \u2013 definitely from the Holy Spirit. I felt a sense of peace and proclaimed that God is good!<\/p>\n
\n\uf06e He was a man of prayer who continuously sought God for guidance, direction and strength in every situation.
\n\uf06e He used his influence with King Artaxerxes to obtain resources and permission for his project.
\n\uf06e He had a vision to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem and he shared it with his people.
\n\uf06e He was humble and willing to learn.
\n\uf06e He focused on the main goal, to rebuild the walls, he did not get distracted by issues around him.
\n\uf06e He collaborated with his people, he motivated them to overcome challenges and opposition.
\n\uf06e He was adaptable and strategic in dealing with different situations and problems.
\n\uf06e He made decisions and protected his people from enemies.
\n\uf06e He listened to his people and answered their concerns.
\n\uf06e He was a charitable leader.
\n\uf06e He celebrated success with his people.<\/p>\n
\nNIV 1991 version unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\n