Here is Scott Shaum’s reading list for “Leadership” for the past year:
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry
by Ruth Haley Barton
Through her writings, Barton and her organization (The Transforming Center near Chicago) are addressing a huge need in the Evangelical Protestant church – a rule of life. We are addicted to a consumeristic mentality of life and spirituality and we have no idea. Barton’s earlier work Sacred Rhythms is a must read. This newest title could fall under my “spiritual formation category”, but Barton writes it to and for leaders. She uses the life of Moses and his encounters with God to lay out God’s intention of developing and deepening the inner world of leaders. To paraphrase Palmer Parker from Let Your Life Speak, leaders do not merely need competency they must have the courage and skills to delve deep into their own inner life. Barton’s book guides you in this process. Chapters 11 and 12 are wonderful writings on leadership community and team leadership discernment – worth the book alone. Barton’s writings can be shallow at times, but her subject matter and some of her ideas are the need of the hour.
Becoming a Coaching Leader: The Proven Strategy for Building Your Own Team of Champions
by Daniel Harvaky
Harvaky is a Christian who has begun an extensive leader coaching business (a for-profit called Building Champions, Inc.). This book outlines their coaching philosophy and methodology. His argument is that to be a truly outstanding leader, you must be a coaching leader – purposefully develop everyone in your organization. I absolutely agree. This is true, Biblical, God-emulating leadership (God is always developing leaders for his purposes). This book is detailed and practical. I have incorporated numerous elements into my own work life and am using the model to further develop my coaching model.
Shepherd Leadership: Wisdom for Leaders from Psalm 23
By Blaine McCormick and David Davenport
A look at the posture of shepherding for all leaders from Psalm 23. Not a deep book, but they have many insightful applications that must be addressed by leaders. I have spoken on the principle that all leaders must learn shepherding skills – leadership is about leading people well, not merely the bottom line (in fact the bottom line comes when people are led and developed well). If you are a leader, I encourage you to read this book and reflect on how you may grow in your movement toward the people you influence.
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