{"id":39020,"date":"2024-10-23T11:15:26","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T18:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=39020"},"modified":"2024-10-23T11:15:26","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T18:15:26","slug":"a-few-classmates-humble-leadership-and-forest-bathing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/a-few-classmates-humble-leadership-and-forest-bathing\/","title":{"rendered":"A Few Classmates, Humble Leadership…and Forest Bathing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In his book Leading Out of Who You Are: Discovering the Secret of Undefended Leadership, Simon Walker exclaims, \u201cLeadership 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.\u201d1 <\/sup><\/p>\n

This definition of leadership instantly reminds me of my cohort because trust and the effective use of power evoke humility. I can easily talk about each person in my cohort, but to mention a few regarding how well they wield power and are trusted, I think of:<\/p>\n

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  1. Tim Clark \u2013 I had no idea until three weeks ago that he succeeded Jack Hayford. Hands down, Tim is a humble, wise, and creative person and pastor who fosters genuine connections.<\/li>\n
  2. Pam Lau \u2013 I\u2019ve known about her for over 30 years, and the way she leads is so contagious because she deeply cares for the people entrusted to her.<\/li>\n
  3. Russell Chun \u2013 In three years, I have seen Russell open his heart more and more to people with different theories and enjoy and learn from other viewpoints.<\/li>\n
  4. Scott Dickie \u2013 One way he proved his leadership was by taking off a semester and coming back so strong, showing the importance of being true to your calling and being at peace with how God changes circumstances.<\/li>\n
  5. Matthieu Yuill \u2013 I have never seen a leader joke about his or her accomplishments, abilities, and talents, yet everyone knows his heart is full of humility, grace, and love toward those he leads.<\/li>\n
  6. Kally Elliot \u2013 Kally possesses a unique power that she wields gently. By asking thought-provoking questions, she encourages others to reflect deeply on their lives and choices, fostering growth and understanding in a compassionate way.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 “Humble Leadership: The Power of Relationships, Openness, and Trust” by Edgar Schein and Peter Schein offers a heartfelt and insightful perspective on leadership in our increasingly complex organizational world. The authors compassionately highlight the limitations of traditional leadership styles, which often rely heavily on authority and control. They encourage us to embrace a more humble approach that values the power of relationships, fosters openness, and builds trust. This shift not only offers a more effective way to lead but also nurtures a more compassionate and supportive environment for everyone involved. \u201cThis book introduces a new approach to leadership based more on personal relationships than transactional role relationships.\u201d2 <\/sup><\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 One of the most vital themes highlighted is the significance of nurturing a compassionate culture within organizations. It\u2019s a people over profit mentality. The authors stress that leaders have a heartfelt responsibility to create environments where team members feel truly valued and heard. The humble leader works hard at this. This can be fostered through sincere listening, openness, and the cultivation of authentic relationships. By embracing humility, leaders can more effectively connect with their teams, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation that benefits everyone involved.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I really love how the authors point out that \u201cthe current managerial culture is myopic, has blind spots, and is often self-defeating.\u201d3 <\/sup>The author\u2019s antidote to leader-follower relationships is represented on their continuum.<\/p>\n

    Level Minus 1: Total impersonal domination and coercion<\/p>\n

    Level 1: Transactional role and rule-based supervision, service, and most forms of \u201cprofessional\u201d helping relationships.<\/p>\n

    Level 2: Personal cooperative, trusting relationships as in friendships and in effective teams.<\/p>\n

    Level 3: Emotionally intimate total mutual commitments.4 <\/sup><\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Based upon this continuum, the authors believe, \u201cHumble leadership builds on Level 2 personal relationships that depend on and foster openness and trust.\u201d5 <\/sup>JR Woodward definitely agrees with this because he says in his book, The Scandal of Leadership,<\/em> \u201cI suggest that the primary way to reshape our desires is through imitating the desires of Christ.\u201d6 <\/sup>Christ was and is known for humility, openness, and trust. In chapter 7, the authors of Humble Leadership<\/em>, focus on future trends and how humble leadership will impact our culture. I have summarized chapter 7 in a few short sentences. Humble leadership:<\/p>\n