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3rd Place Essay: Christian Leadership In Modern Culture, Rachel Tobey

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

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1st Place Essay: A New Weapon, Jennifer Cox

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

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2nd Place Essay: Called To Lead, Timothy Mayotte

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

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2nd Place Essay: The Art Of Leadership, Bailey Heemstra

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

In response to the essay prompt: "Leadership is more art than science."

Effective leadership is an art. Leadership is not a direct set of rules to follow or books to read. Finding the correct way to lead cannot be found in a textbook. Leadership is a characteristic that is learned over time. Leadership is forming relationships, making connections, and meeting the needs of your followers. Just as art is full of many possibilities and not defined to one answer, so too is leadership. The most effective form of leadership is one that incorporates flexibility, creativity, and the idea that there …

3rd Place Essay: Leadership: A New Art, Matthew D. Reed

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

In response to the essay prompt: "Leadership is more art than science."

Leadership is not a science. Leadership is more of an art and should be evaluated as such. Although everyone can benefit from studying and developing basic leadership qualities, just as one studies the works of famous artists to benefit from their techniques, I believe that becoming a leader requires something more, something intangible. Like great works of art, great works of leadership can be found in many different forms and in all areas of life, every example unique. It cannot be described completely in a lecture, or in …

1st Place Essay: Leadership: Fulfilling The Purpose Of Art, Amanda Johnson

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

In response to the essay prompt: "Leadership is more art than science."

“Leadership is more art than science” is a bold statement. It implies that leadership does not follow a set of rules nor is it based on experimental results, but rather, it comes from the creative and skilled mind of the leader. I believe that God has ingrained creativity and potential for leadership in every human being when He created us “in His image.” Without the divine inspiration of God, the success of his leadership will rarely be complete or long-lasting. The best leaders listen to God’s leading and …

2nd Place Essay: Leading Without Limits, Whitney Knox

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

In response to the essay prompt: "If you knew you could not fail as a leader, what would you attempt to do for Jesus?"

I am a firm believer that God equips His servants for the mission that He calls them to. I hope someday to be a calming and assuring presence for my patients during a time when they are suffering. Knowing that I could not fail as a leader, I would not be afraid to make the tough decisions that deeply affect the lives of those who entrust me with their health care. Knowing that Jesus would not …

1st Place Essay: Bringing Revival To Central And Eastern Europe, Chelsea Risinger

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

In response to the essay prompt: "If you knew you could not fail as a leader, what would you attempt to do for Jesus?"

If I was certain that I could not fail as a leader, I would work to bring revival to Central and Eastern Europe. Former areas of high religious influence, these ex-Soviet countries have been altogether stripped of their beliefs in Jesus Christ. Those that were Christians in Slovakia, previously Czechoslovakia, during the time of Communism were looked down upon or punished for going to church. With unfailing leadership, my attempt for Christ would include a revival …

3rd Place Essay: Serving God On The Mission Field, Abbie Allen

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

In response to the essay prompt: "If you knew you could not fail as a leader, what would you attempt to do for Jesus?"

By the end of elementary school, I knew two things about my life. I wanted to be a nurse, and God wanted me to be a missionary. It would take me a while to understand that God, being a good God, could take the desires of my heart and use them to serve Him on the mission field. If I knew I could not fail as a leader and if I had God’s blessing, I would …

2nd Place Essay: The World Needs Leaders With Integrity, Nicholas Eckart

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

Jesus is the perfect example of what integrity in leadership should be, and if every leader were to strive to be like him, the world would be changed for the better – for everyone. Although no one besides Jesus is perfect, leadership that adheres to integrity is still possible. It is a concept that many leaders have understood and applied to effect great change on the world in small ways: Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, and many others. The world today lacks leaders with solid morals and an integrity that can’t be shaken, and ultimately it is up to …

1st Place Essay: The Head Of The Body, Anna Stiker

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

Every part of the body depends on the truthfulness of the neuron, and when it loses its wholeness, the parts of the body become their own separate entities and, at some point, lose their ability to function completely. Just like neurons, the leaders around us can lose their integrity. When they lose the ability to function well and with complete truthfulness, the different parts of a group fall apart. Integrity is what makes a leader. Leaders are not complete without integrity, just like the body is not complete without working neurons. The integrity of our leaders must remain strong, in …

3rd Place Essay: What Is The Role Of Integrity In Leadership?, Michelle Pinkney

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

As the Petraeus case illustrates, integrity is a very valuable part of leadership and should be expected of our leaders in order to prevent the snowball effect of lies, cover ups, and embarrassment. In fact, integrity should not be viewed just as a key element of leadership, but the very foundation of good leadership. People watch leaders very closely. Even if they are supreme leaders with numerous honors to their name, one lapse of integrity can throw their whole legacy into question, and have consequences that long outlast their own careers and lives.

1st Place Essay: True Christian Leadership, Kolby Meador

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

The cynics of the world are begging for a leader who simply does what they say they are going to. By rooting oneself in God’s Word and engaging society with a life of love, we can change the world. It certainly won’t be easy; it will require a lifetime of boldness, perseverance, obedience, and integrity, but I feel that accomplishing those goals will have made the journey completely worth it in the end.

2nd Place Essay: The Best Leaders Are Those Who Serve, Rachel M. Groters

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

As displayed in the act of foot washing and the rest of his life, Jesus was the embodiment of what it means to lead with courage, caring, and a deep desire for community. I believe these same three elements are what it takes to lead and inspire hope today in a culture of cynicism.

3rd Place Essay: Leadership, Kristin Thompson

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

Though human experiences have propelled people to embrace a negative view of leadership, we are given the unique opportunity to change this perspective. In every leadership position we are granted, we must continually evaluate ourselves to be sure we are a living example of what we say. When we choose humility in positions of power, we finally embody the art of true leadership.

2nd Place Essay: On Becoming A True Leader, Connor Dimick

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

The world is looking for true leaders. We are called by God to be influencers, leaders, lights in this dark world. And to be true leaders, we must never compromise integrity or character, but must always maintain the same high standards in private, as seen in public.

3rd Place Essay: Authenticity In Leadership, Victoria Smallegan

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

The essence of leadership is authenticity; a leader must display consistent attitudes and actions. A true leader feels the necessity of being authentic in every area of life, even those that are private. Maintaining integrity and authenticity on every level is how a leader can keep the trust of others. Good leadership equals an effort to stay authentic in both the public and private spheres.

1st Place Essay: The Penthouse Of Leadership, Blaine Manning

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

Many leaders today have placed their personal character on hold and instead have chosen to pursue public prestige. They have traded the penthouse for the “top floor.” In contrast, Abraham Lincoln ended up in the penthouse of leadership because his private levels of character, honesty, and integrity matched those which he spoke about in public. The way a person acts when no one else is looking is what defines them. If our leaders prioritize their character and integrity above all else; then like Abraham Lincoln, they too can claim residence in the penthouse.