A Travel Free Learning Article
By Suzanne Goebel, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership
Voice: 404.663.4208, E-mail: SGoebel@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org,
Download Goebel, The Crisis of Leadership, 9.27.11 Edition
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TFL Dialogue, Suzanne Goebel on The Crisis of Leadership
James MacGregor Burns in the book Leadership (1978), addresses several elements of leadership, providing specific definition around the distinctive but often confused constructs of power, authority, leadership [both transactional and transformational], moral leadership, and the relationship between all of these.
In context, these are discussed in terms of their relationship to each other and in relationship to the term “leadership”. For purposes of clarification, they are treated as separate but related elements. Supporting the need for a treatment of the subject in general, the claim around a crisis of leadership is based on mediocrity, irresponsibility, and a gap with regard to meeting the urgent need for authentic leadership.
Serious enquiry into the subject has failed in that the literature on leadership often deals with historical figures—called leaders—and the related assumption that fame or position is equal to importance. Further, literature around followership reflects anti-elitist or populist ideology, also lacking a comprehensive construct. This article attempts to bridge the two entities by looking at leaders as well as followers. The implications for congregational leadership are significant.
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