Lessons Learned from my Interviews

1. Being Adaptable – Effective leadership requires the ability to recognize  changes and adapt accordingly to those changes rather than resisting them.
2. Keep Learning – Leaders need to be continually learning and growing in their skills and knowledge.
3. Leadership is Shared – Leadership should not be centered around one individual but should be delegated among a team in order to move forward and grow.
4. Trust is Important – Building trust takes time, requires listening, but brings so much fruit.
5. Support is as Important as Structure – Creating leadership structures without proper training and support can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction.
6. Communication  – Listening well and engaging in conversations with those you lead can help bring change more effectively than lack of communication.
7. Learning Resilience Leads to Growth – Difficult leadership situations can develop new skills and perspectives, even for those who don’t see themselves as natural leaders.
8. Follow-Through Matters – Leaders must keep their promises and carry things through to completion to maintain trust and credibility.
9. Balancing What Was and What Can Be – Finding ways to integrate and innovate modern practices with what is already done can ease transitions and promote acceptance of new ideas.
10. Empathetic Leaders are Strong – Understanding the frustrations and struggles of those you lead does not promote weakness but strength as a leader.

Lessons Learned from the Book: How To Lead When You Are Not in Charge

1. Leadership is About Influence, Not Authority – True leadership isn’t about having a title or position. It’s about how you inspire  motivate those around you. Even without formal authority, you can lead by setting a strong example, fostering collaboration, and building trust.

2. Posture of Humility – Leadership isn’t about power; it’s about service. The best leaders choose humility, are open to feedback, and always willing to learn. When you assume the posture of a servant-leader, people respect and follow you, regardless of your title.

3. Lead Yourself First – Before you can lead others well, you need to develop your own self-discipline, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness. Managing your emotions, setting personal goals, and staying motivated are essential to growing as a leader.

4. In Dissagreement Stay Engaged – Disagreements happen, but how you handle them defines your leadership. Instead of disengaging when you don’t agree with a decision, stay committed to the team’s mission and find ways to contribute positively.

5. Build Trust in Relationships – Leadership is built on trust. People follow those whom they trust, not just those with a title. By being loyal, supportive, and real, you can develop meaningful relationships that increase your influence.

6. Bring Solutions, Not Just Problems – Anyone can point out problems, but good leaders focus on solutions. If you want to be taken seriously as a leader, develop a mindset that doesn't just identify issues, but also propose solutions.

7. Act Like a Leader Before You Have the Title – Leadership isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you practice now. Take initiative, be responsible, and lead in small ways every day. 

Lessons Learned from the Book: The Scandal of the Kingdom by Dallas Willard:

1. Faith of Christ vs. Faith in Christ: Willard emphasizes the distinction between having faith in Christ and possessing the faith of Christ. The latter involves adopting Jesus's own trust in God, enabling us to live as He did. This was an interesting idea for me as it took the pressure off of me and allows me to lean on Christ more fully in my life. 

2. Embracing Kingdom Values: Living in God's kingdom requires a radical shift from worldly values to those exemplified by Jesus, such as love, compassion, and justice.  It is very easy for me to attach myself to the values of the world especially those who are connected with "being American".  I also find it hard to have love and compassion when the way someone is acting does not make sense to me. 

3. Understanding Through Contemplation: Jesus used parables to encourage deep reflection, inviting us to ponder and internalize the truths of the kingdom. This is something I want to utilize more in my ministry and the way I speak.

4. Inclusivity of the Kingdom: Jesus's stories often highlight the inclusive nature of God's kingdom, extending grace and invitation to all, regardless of status or background. This is a tuff one, it is easy to focus on people and judge them by my human standards and a completely other thing to look at them through the compassionate heart of Christ. 

5. Embodied Discipleship: True understanding of the parables leads to embodied practice, where our lives reflect the transformative power of living in alignment with God's kingdom.  If I am only discipling to see a change in thinking I am missing the point of Discipleship and that is that your life must change. 

Leadership Document I created to see change even though I am not in charge of the change in my Organization.

Reflection Statement