First, Ruth Tucker wrote a book on leadership, sent me the ms and asked
me to "blurb" it. I said something like this, "This is the first book
on leadership I've read and I like it because it deconstructs
leadership chat." (Ruth's book is not out yet.)
Second, Nancy Beach wrote a book on leadership (Gifted to Lead: The Art of Leading As a Woman in the Church
) -- Kris read it and
said, "You need to read this and blog about it." I did but asked Alice
Shirey to blog about it. Which she did and did well.
Third, Nancy Ortberg writes a book on leadership and gives it a great title: Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership
. Maybe it was because I've
always found some thrill in stretching a rubber band and shooting the
thing across the room -- the sort of thing that makes for a good stunt
during mind-numbing faculty meetings.
Now I have to admit this: Nancy Ortberg's book ... I couldn't put it down. Read it from cover to cover. Great stories; wit on top of wit. More importantly: wisdom. Down-home, experienced-shaped, honest to goodness wisdom. Which is to say, this isn't about techniques. It's about hard work, about relationships, about learning from doing, about hope in action, and about team work.
Yes, three books about leadership by women. I'll leave it to others, those who know leadership books better, to tell us if women have a unique angle on the questions. What I will say is that these are three books by three leaders, three women leaders, and I like what they say.
Second, Nancy Beach wrote a book on leadership (Gifted to Lead: The Art of Leading As a Woman in the Church
) -- Kris read it and
said, "You need to read this and blog about it." I did but asked Alice
Shirey to blog about it. Which she did and did well.Third, Nancy Ortberg writes a book on leadership and gives it a great title: Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership
. Maybe it was because I've
always found some thrill in stretching a rubber band and shooting the
thing across the room -- the sort of thing that makes for a good stunt
during mind-numbing faculty meetings.Now I have to admit this: Nancy Ortberg's book ... I couldn't put it down. Read it from cover to cover. Great stories; wit on top of wit. More importantly: wisdom. Down-home, experienced-shaped, honest to goodness wisdom. Which is to say, this isn't about techniques. It's about hard work, about relationships, about learning from doing, about hope in action, and about team work.
Yes, three books about leadership by women. I'll leave it to others, those who know leadership books better, to tell us if women have a unique angle on the questions. What I will say is that these are three books by three leaders, three women leaders, and I like what they say.
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Most of the leadership books that focus on business are predictable, didactic, obvious, and/or pointless. The most worthwhile one out there, by my lights, is Garry Wills' "Certain Trumpets," which analyzes the many component qualities of leadership and provides types and antitypes from history.
Tim Keel's book, "Intuitive Leadership" is a recommended title on the topic. He doesn't lay out a technique-ish approach to leadership, but makes a book-length case for Dave Moore's brief, but fantastic line: 'Churchill didn't become a leader by reading leadership books. He read history and pondered the world scene while at his easel." Keel argues essentially that leadership is something that arises as we interact with the world around us, our own community and the narrative that shapes it, and therefore leadership is always a dynamic of reading yourself, community, and world. This defies easy formulas and techniques but calls for truly gifted (charismatic?) leaders.
So Scot, how do you feel about "Leadership" journal? I know, the name comes from a bygone era when more pastors were fawning over corporate management methodology, but most younger pastors today (myself included) are not a fan of the name even if they value the content.
Skye
managing editor of "Leadership" journal.
Skye,
I am not sure that the "leadership" era is so bygone. I believe we are still engrossed by it and believe the corporate structure is still the silver bullet.
Scot,
As a pastor and student of organizational leadership, I share at least some of your perspective regarding church leadership books. I am not familiar with the books you cited, but most of the church leadership books I see are inadequate, shallow or just plain wrong.
One of the chief problems in church leadership literature seems to be the assumption that leading means imposing the leader’s will on the followers. At best such an approach is paternalistic and at worst it is egocentric and autocratic. This is precisely the paradigm of leadership that Jesus discouraged. No wonder many of us find it distasteful.
How about a renewed vision of leadership as leading for the well being of the led rather than for the self-interest of the leader? Let’s reject manipulative techniques and especially manipulative leaders and begin honoring and respecting people. After all Jesus believed in people, shouldn’t we?
Properly understood and practiced leadership is an essential ingredient in moving the church forward. It’s that understanding and practice that needs correction. As church leaders I hope we will seek and find that correction rather than let our disappointment with the leadership status quo discourage us.
Rick
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