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4.5
This spiritual leadership book was required reading for my Leadership Principles and Ethics. Through thirteen chapters, Blackaby and Blackaby discuss spiritual leadership from a Christian perspective. This means obeying God in an individual’s private life and the public arena. As Proverbs 2:20 states these two spheres of influence cannot be separate endeavors for good men and women to walk in righteousness. According to Blackaby and Blackaby, the Bible says “God is not necessarily looking for leader” but rather God “is looking for servants” (2011, p. xiv). Consequently, a Christian educational leader's efforts should be geared more toward the greater glory of God instead of achieving secular rewards which if not pursued for celebrating God are an “ill-gotten gain”. The authors recommend employing critical thinking when reviewing secular knowledge because it may contradict biblical teachings.This spiritual leadership book was required reading for my Leadership and Principles in Leadership class. Through thirteen chapters, Blackaby and Blackaby discuss spiritual leadership from a Christian perspective. This means obeying God in an individual’s private life and the public arena. As Proverbs 2:20 states these two spheres of influence cannot be separate endeavors for good men and women to walk in righteousness. According to Blackaby and Blackaby, the Bible says “God is not necessarily looking for leader” but rather God “is looking for servants” (p. xiv). Consequently, a Christian educational leader's efforts should be geared more toward the greater glory of God instead of achieving secular rewards which if not pursued for celebrating God are an “ill-gotten gain”. The authors recommend employing critical thinking when reviewing secular knowledge because it may contradict biblical teachings.The book’s assertions regarding illegitimate and legitimate leadership are interesting as well. Leaders employing illegitimate sources of influence (positional, power, and personality) can lack substance (p. 154). One’s positional authority or duty title is insufficient to guarantee genuine influence over those you are entrusted to lead. Respect is earned and misused power can quickly undermine one’s moral authority. Likewise, a charismatic leader who relies upon his or her personality must also be backed up by competence and compassion for others or they cannot lead for long. Subsequently, a good spiritual leader trains and develops those entrusted in his or her care not to perform while the leader is there but to prosper independently when the leader is gone. Likewise, legitimate sources of power (spirituality, integrity, credibility, preparedness, humility, and courage) help leaders earn the respect of their followers (p. 179).The writing style is conversational and has several real-world examples of leaders such as CEOs, presidents, and monarchs. Henry and Richard Blackaby are a father and son working for their business Blackaby Ministries International. .
