Transformational leadership
I've been blessed with the opportunity to attend graduate school during my last year and a half of serving with Praying Pelican Missions. One of the things I love about my job is the flexibility I have to be involved in extra-curriculars and the leadership philosophy of our organization. I'm studying through Liberty University seeking my masters in management & leadership- concepts I've been able to apply directly to my areas of leadership at PPM.
In my current class, nonprofit management, I'm studying leadership theories of CEOs, function of boards, etc. One thing that stood out to me as I studied last night was a section on transactional leadership vs. transformational leadership. Sadly, I believe that even in the nonprofit sector, many organizations are stuck in the transactional leadership phase. Transactional leadership is the idea of a leader or manager rewarding or punishing employees for their behaviors- an exchange or transaction system of cause and effect in work related areas. This is often the norm in organizations- an employee makes a sale and he's rewarded with commission, a worker improves a system and she's thanked with a bonus from management, an employee consistently fails to put forth quality effort and he is asked to resign, etc. The idea of transformational leadership is a leadership style that changes people. Transformational leadership inspires and enables employees to grow. At it's core is the concept of a mission- a purpose bigger than the self. This is what true ministry is all about, and I've found that churches and other charitable nonprofits that experience transformational leaders are those organizations that are truly making a difference. We've all heard horror stories of senior pastors or church board members dictating decisions based on tradition or personal preference. Thankfully, we've also heard stories of sacrificial decisions and mission driven decisions that are based on the idea that enabling and empowering others in their purpose for effort is to change lives.
PPM truly is an organization of transformational leadership. Our president and other leaders encourage change and progress in various areas based on others' passions, gifts, and skills. For instance, one of my desires is to see our financial and human resources maximized in ministry efforts. We have thousands of people go on mission trips each year and thousands of dollars invested in local churches and communities in third world countries. I believe we can be doing more in order to maximize those efforts. Through small decisions and baby steps, it seems as though we're turning a corner and beginning to maximize efforts and clarify our purpose and focus. I'm excited about communities such as Deeside, where we're building schools. I'm excited about communities like Anchovy, where we're building a church. I'm excited about The Promise Learning Center in Kingston, where we are able to support one of the only autistic schools on the island. We are beginning to do more and maximize efforts.
A question was recently posed at one of our meetings that I thought was profound- "Why would someone follow me?" The answer, in my opinion, especially in Kingdom work, ministry, and nonprofit organizations, must be- "Because i'm a transformational leader."
I love the perspective IBM has on leadership relating to information technology. Check out the video below and pay specific attention to what Carmen Madina shares at 3:38. Often times, change begins with problems, it takes transformational leadership to recognize that heretics can be a catalyst for change, improvement, and success.
In my current class, nonprofit management, I'm studying leadership theories of CEOs, function of boards, etc. One thing that stood out to me as I studied last night was a section on transactional leadership vs. transformational leadership. Sadly, I believe that even in the nonprofit sector, many organizations are stuck in the transactional leadership phase. Transactional leadership is the idea of a leader or manager rewarding or punishing employees for their behaviors- an exchange or transaction system of cause and effect in work related areas. This is often the norm in organizations- an employee makes a sale and he's rewarded with commission, a worker improves a system and she's thanked with a bonus from management, an employee consistently fails to put forth quality effort and he is asked to resign, etc. The idea of transformational leadership is a leadership style that changes people. Transformational leadership inspires and enables employees to grow. At it's core is the concept of a mission- a purpose bigger than the self. This is what true ministry is all about, and I've found that churches and other charitable nonprofits that experience transformational leaders are those organizations that are truly making a difference. We've all heard horror stories of senior pastors or church board members dictating decisions based on tradition or personal preference. Thankfully, we've also heard stories of sacrificial decisions and mission driven decisions that are based on the idea that enabling and empowering others in their purpose for effort is to change lives.
PPM truly is an organization of transformational leadership. Our president and other leaders encourage change and progress in various areas based on others' passions, gifts, and skills. For instance, one of my desires is to see our financial and human resources maximized in ministry efforts. We have thousands of people go on mission trips each year and thousands of dollars invested in local churches and communities in third world countries. I believe we can be doing more in order to maximize those efforts. Through small decisions and baby steps, it seems as though we're turning a corner and beginning to maximize efforts and clarify our purpose and focus. I'm excited about communities such as Deeside, where we're building schools. I'm excited about communities like Anchovy, where we're building a church. I'm excited about The Promise Learning Center in Kingston, where we are able to support one of the only autistic schools on the island. We are beginning to do more and maximize efforts.
A question was recently posed at one of our meetings that I thought was profound- "Why would someone follow me?" The answer, in my opinion, especially in Kingdom work, ministry, and nonprofit organizations, must be- "Because i'm a transformational leader."
I love the perspective IBM has on leadership relating to information technology. Check out the video below and pay specific attention to what Carmen Madina shares at 3:38. Often times, change begins with problems, it takes transformational leadership to recognize that heretics can be a catalyst for change, improvement, and success.
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