Leading with a Limp
Coming off the coattails of Chesterton's book that draws attention to paradox, I am fittingly now reading Leading with a Limp, by Dan B. Allender. Our staff team is reading it simultaneously this summer, in hopes that we can review and discuss the themes during our leadership retreat in early August.
Drawing on years of experience, particularly from his journey in starting, building and leading Mars Hill Graduate School, Allender has collected his failures, wisdom and encouragements in this accessible and helpful book for leaders of any context.
Allender writes without pretense and accelerates the reader quickly to the foundational leadership principles that he writes from. I'm just a few chapters in, and these are a summary of the principles he expounds on:
For those who are familiar with the Jacob narrative, you might guess where the title of Allender's book comes from. Jacob wrestled with the presence of God and was both given a new name, pregnant with promise and covenant, but also he was wounded in his hip and received with a limp. That limp was a constant reminder of his own weakness, but more importantly a reminder of the strength and character of God that he so desperately needed.
Well, that was a brief introduction. I hope to bring some personal reflections and questions to the table soon enough.
Drawing on years of experience, particularly from his journey in starting, building and leading Mars Hill Graduate School, Allender has collected his failures, wisdom and encouragements in this accessible and helpful book for leaders of any context.
Allender writes without pretense and accelerates the reader quickly to the foundational leadership principles that he writes from. I'm just a few chapters in, and these are a summary of the principles he expounds on:
- Leadership is not glamorous; it will be the battle of your life.
- If you have someone following you or you are influencing even one person - you are a leader.
- It's not your great strengths that will serve you, but rather leading honestly with your weaknesses.
- God wants reluctant, broken, failure-riddled leaders.
For those who are familiar with the Jacob narrative, you might guess where the title of Allender's book comes from. Jacob wrestled with the presence of God and was both given a new name, pregnant with promise and covenant, but also he was wounded in his hip and received with a limp. That limp was a constant reminder of his own weakness, but more importantly a reminder of the strength and character of God that he so desperately needed.
Well, that was a brief introduction. I hope to bring some personal reflections and questions to the table soon enough.
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