Feed My Sheep; Lead My Sheep

Description:
There are a lot of books about leadership out there. I wanted to stir the pot and make some suggestions that I have not heard yet.
Leadership is not about sticking qualities all over yourself, like dozens of ""yellow sticky notes"": ""Today I will learn time management. Tomorrow I will develop integrity."" Mere information is not enough to change us. Data may lead to transformation, but it is not enough to transform us on its own. Leadership is not about ""trends"" and ""buzzwords."" Leadership is about personhood. Personhood is where this transformation truly takes place.
Leadership may perseverate into any one of these things (stickies, trends, information, data, and buzzwords), but it is ultimately and ideally about personhood. This may be a philosophical category that the church has left off discussing, but it meant a lot to the ancients. We need to stir some of their depth back into our existence.
One's genuine ability to lead comes from one's genuine transformation into the kind of person that is needed for the particular form of leading at hand. Different traits will be called forth from the leader depending on the situation, place, time, and people. It is the person who is the leader and not the trait or characteristic that is the leader. ""Being"" is critical; not just ""doing."" I think a lot of our current reading on leadership is simply about skill-sets. They are important discussions, but that is not all there is. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying you must be perfect to lead. If that were the case, I would not be able to write this book. What I am saying is that your identity is where your true leading comes from, and if you are in a transformational relationship with Jesus the chances are good that your person and identity will deepen over time.


Endorsements:
""Tom Johnson-Medland adds fresh insight by delving into the distinction between the heart of a leader and the mind of a leader. Having read hundreds of books and articles on Christian leadership and leadership in general, I am surprised and thankful for the new ground covered. Each section of the book engages us to increasingly open ourselves to be shaped by the love of God, which underlies the skills and actions of Spiritual leadership.""
-Kevin Witt
National Staff
United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries
General Board of Discipleship


About the Contributor(s):
Tom Johnson-Medland is the Food Services Manager for Pocono Plateau Camp and Retreat Center in Cresco, Pennsylvania. He is the author of Turning Within (1998); Bridges, Paths, and Waters (2010), Cairn-Space (2011), Entering the Stream (2011), and Along the Road (2011).