The Making of a Leader: stages of leadership
The Making of a Leader: stages of leadership
Order Instructions:
Please use the following format in preparing 4-MAT Book Reviews:
1. ABSTRACT. Summarize what you have read, boiling the book down into 400-600 words (no more than 2 pages). Prove you comprehend the readings by writing a no-nonsense summary. The abstract is not a commentary or listing of topics but rather an objective summary from the reader’s viewpoint. Abstract equals “boiled down.” This section should include a minimum of 2 footnotes to the text being reviewed.
2. CONCRETE RESPONSE. Get vulnerable! In no less than 250 words and no more than 1 page, relate a personal life experience that this book triggered in your memory. Relate your story in first person, describing action, and quoting exact words you remember hearing or saying. In the teaching style of Jesus, this is a do-it-yourself parable, case study, confession. You will remember almost nothing you have read unless you make this critical, personal connection. What video memory began to roll? This is your chance to tell your story and make new ideas your own.
3. REFLECTION. This is the critical thinking part of the review (not critical in the sense of negative, but in the sense of questioning). In no less than 250 words and no more than 1 page, describe what questions pop up for you in response to what you have read. Keep a rough-note sheet at hand as you read. Out smart the author by asking better questions than he/she raised in the book. Tell how the author could have made the book better or more appealing to those in your field of service. One way to begin this section is by stating what bothered you most about the book. This is not a place to provide an endorsement or affirmation of the book.
4. ACTION. So what are you going to do about it? In 400-600 words (no less than 1 page and no more than 2 pages) provide 2 actions that describe what changes you are going to make in your life, ministry, and/or work as a result of your reading. Actions should be measurable and reveal a commitment to specific time, specific people, and identified steps.
5. Please provide a Turabian style* title page, pagination, footnotes & Bibliography.
Book: Clinton, Robert J. The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development. Rev. ed. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2012. ISBN: 9781612910758.
SAMPLE ANSWER
The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development
The review is based on Clinton and David’s, The Making of a leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership and Development. In this book, he asserts that leaders (including those who are in the process of being leaders) require a spiritual roadmap so that God can guide them as they seek to develop their leadership gifts. The Christian leaders should allow themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit so that they lead correctly. According to the bible, God is responsible for guiding man in the right path. I tend to conquer with the statement that “God develops leader overtime.” The author of this book has incorporated the study of various leaders. A baseline of six phases has been chosen by Clinton to develop a common course of a leader’s life. The significant parts of leader’s growth entail the growing stages. The six stages entail Godly foundations, Growth of inner life, maturing of the ministry, life maturing, convergence, and afterglow. These stages should be recognized enables leaders to the growth improvements as well as spelling out the trainings and visions.
When a leader is equipped with these outlines, he possesses the skills of finding and creating leadership, character, values, vision, and relational skills. Clinton asserts that the greatest challenge of leaders is the development of a godly character. It is essential for a leader to possess character since they are the representatives of God Himself. The author points out four processes are used by God to carry out an assessment of the characters of an upcoming leader. They include a check for integrity, check for obedience, and check for the word and ministry task. The character of a person is defined by who they really are it is of importance that a leader shows a good image to the world. He is like a ‘mirror’ hence should lead by example. Since leaders are supposed to follow what God instructs them, they should portray the image of His characters. They should be oriented in doing everything that pleases Him and look for ways of being like Him. The author has outlined the necessary tools for a person to be a great leader. Those tools are the components of the process outlined in the book. According to Clinton, he does not believe in the born leadership but believes that leadership skills are developed. “In the long haul, God is preparing you for convergence. He is conforming you to the image of Christ” (Clinton, 2012, p. 28).
Concrete Response
Clinton states that leadership is “a dynamic process in which a man or woman with God-given capacity influences a specific group of God’s people toward His purposes for the group.” The main theme of the book focuses on the current leaders and those who are in the process of being leaders. It addresses on various perspectives of leaders. As a leader, I have been challenged in number of ways concerning my leadership skills and how God is preparing me to be a great leader following his guidelines. The book addresses the leaders who are not certain of God’s call. When I began my leadership journey, I was wondering whether God is calling them to enter into Christianity or not. I found dilemma and it was not an easy to choose whether to hear God’s voice or to ignore it since it thought it might be some weird feelings within me. I also found out the book touches on the leaders who have begun to find out the opportunities that exist in the ministry of which I have experienced too. Besides, the issues of leaders who need more new challenges from the almighty God are also addressed in the book. The book also talks about the way for leaders who need guidance on the process of selection of leaders and development of new leaders. It also includes the discussion of issues dealing with those leaders who are at crossroads that is, facing challenges of taking major decisions. Leaders who are in need of knowing their progress level in an attempt to develop their leadership skills. It is because we leaders might be wondering whether what they are experiencing is normal for leaders
Reflection
So, I must acknowledge that Clinton has written the best book that has enabled me to think about my leadership strategies. It has also enabled me to find new ways of applying the skills acquired from the book. Besides, the book outlines the examples that are practical to the six phases that leaders encounter in their lives. More so, the questions are provided at the end of each chapter to that helps the readers in analyzing leadership skills.
However, various questions arise from Clinton’s book that concerns leadership. From the researcher’s point of view, one might ask, “Does Clinton’s framework derived from the study of biblical leadership or his own analysis that is based on the biblical and historical principles?” in comparison to the other deities such as the deity of Christ as well as Salvation by grace among others. It is not easy to come up with an answer concerning what the bible says about leadership stages. As far as research is concerned, the framework that was offered by Clinton might not have been analyzed and received a confirmation from an independent quantitative research. Therefore, as long as the materials in this book makes sense in a way or another, there are might be some items that challenge the rules.
The bible is the key guideline of Christian leadership and there were excerpts from the scriptures that are given in the book. However, Dr. Clinton failed to provide examples or plans that have a basis on the character outlines in the bible. A leader should know what God says through the bible for him or her to follow a biblical example. Therefore, Clinton’s research is okay but its basis should not focus on the end results of the research but on the model of leadership that was provided by Jesus Christ.
Application
Clinton has contributed greatly in portraying God’s approach of developing a great leader over time. In my view, it is essential for a leader to have this knowledge. As much as it might be discouraging when faced with difficult situations, it is also easy to be caught up in the moment. For one to have a spirit of perseverance on the difficult situation, he must acknowledge the fact that God is using every circumstance for the benefit of the leader in preparation. It is meant to ensure that the end result of him is a great leader. Clinton has uniquely contributed to these ideas in a number of ways. For instance, he has identified a number of ways through which God is involved in the processes. I have personally gained from this book in two ways. I have recognized the overall purpose of God. His main purpose is to look for ways of coming up with a person of character. God is looking for a person whose ministry comes from within but not from the activity he is engaged in. I have learned from experience and observation that ministering basing on a person’s skills and gifts that will be awarded as a result, does not have an impact that it was initially intended.
Therefore, God uses both positive and negative experiences as His tools of aligning the leadership candidates. The positive tools entail the encouragements and trainings that one gets in the process of becoming a leader among others. The negatives one are conflicts, isolation, backlash and crisis among others. It is good to acknowledge that all this happens for the sake of appreciating what kind of person you are becoming rather taking a critical consideration of your reactions.
Secondly, my lesson concerns the development of ministry philosophy. I believe most of the leaders stop at the first stage. It is a point whereby after adopting the philosophy of the people around them, they do not go ahead to think and reflect on ways of developing their own. However, I strongly believe that if one develops his or her unique philosophy of the ministry that is based on the experiences and convictions that he or she has developed it increases the level of significance and long term impact. It has been noted that a spiritual and moral authority accompanies those with this philosophy. The philosophies are built on both their churches and ministries at large.
References
Bentley, Wessel. ‘Christian Leadership In The Workplace – Introduction’. Koers 79, no. 2 (2014).
Clarke, Andrew D. A Pauline Theology Of Church Leadership. London: T & T Clark, 2008.
Clinton, J. Robert., Dr. The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development. 2nd ed. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2012.
Diggins, Kristene. ‘NP Collaborative Practice And Servant Leadership’. Journal of Christian Nursing 32, no. 3 (2015): 144.
White, Ellen Gould Harmon. Christian Leadership. Washington, D.C.: Board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate, 2005.
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