Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Toward A Sustainable Leadership Model For Pastoral Leaders, Derrick B. Wells

Ed.D. Dissertations

Leadership is a dynamic process. Pastoral leadership, though often times rewarding, can also be challenging. Insofar as pastoral leaders are equipped and have the leadership agility and dexterity to effectively manage through the demands of their call, their emotional intelligence abilities and transformational leadership behaviors may prove invaluable when being leveraged toward mission effectiveness, funding, and volunteer involvement. Emotional intelligence and transformational leadership are viable constructs that serve as the conceptual frameworks for this research. Enabling pastoral leaders to enhance their leadership skill through the development of these respective constructs offers benefits to the pastoral leaders and the member constituents …

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 …