Review by Tina Von Wald

Overview

James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner set out to help organizations achieve the extraordinary by providing leadership practices that enhance and create positive work environments.  The authors described the five practices of exemplary leadership, five ways to make a difference and ten commitments of exemplary leadership.  They defined what people look for in their leaders and listed credibility as an essential ingredient. The second half of the book divided each of the five practices: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act and encourage the heart.

Kouzes and Posner stated, “The Leadership Challenge is about how leaders mobilize others to want to get extraordinary things done in organizations.  It’s about leadership that makes a positive difference in the workplace and creates the climate in which people turn challenging opportunities into remarkable successes.”[1]  The authors desired to cultivate self-motivation for the purpose of accomplishing great things through the organizations created reflective evaluations.  They emphasized that leaders improve the work environment by developing the employees for change, adaptability, prosperity and growth.  The authors believe,  “Our ongoing aspiration is that this book contributes to the revitalization of organizations, to the creation of new enterprises, to the renewal of healthy communities, and to greater respect and understanding in the world.”[2]  They hoped to bring a fresh perspective to creating healthy work environments.

Meaningful Material

In the final chapter of the book the Kouzes and Posner surmised that leadership happens through relationships that impact how a leader leads, “Leadership is about relationships, about credibility, about passion and conviction, and ultimately about what you do.  You don’t have to look up for leadership.  You don’t have to look out for leadership.  You only have to look inward.”[3]  The emphasis on encouraging others to speak into the leader’s life, doing life with others and learning from others demonstrates a similar model to the one that Christ illustrated while he lived on earth.

This book attests to leadership principles founded in the Truth.  The authors do not write from a Christian perspective, but their practices support behaviors and actions that Christ exemplified.  This reader identifies with the idea of leadership as relationship with others and self.  They contend that everyone who leads has a responsibility as a role model for those they interact with on a daily basis; “Everyone-and that literally means every person-is potentially a role model for someone, and this means that leadership must be everyone’s business.”[4]  The leader has responsibility to navigate through life making personal changes to leadership while also encouraging others to follow and become better leaders. In ministry, pastors have a call to bring health to the church through self-evaluation and development of people through relationships.

Significant Statement

At the end of the book the authors made a significant statement in regard to love.  “The best-kept secret of successful leaders is love; staying in love with leading, with the people who do the work, with what their organizations provide, and with those who honor the organization by using its products and services. Leadership is not an affair of the head.  Leadership is an affair of the heart.”[5]  This is a fresh perspective on leadership with a definite Christlike thrust.

This statement happens for the authors after they have studied leadership for a long time, and they determine that love is the key.  This love refers to passion for the job, the people, the values and furthering of the passion and love, which resembles the similar undertones to the message of the gospel.  The author’s revelation came through study, interviews and analyses.  Passion about where and what is led gives great value to the individual, or employees and the organization.

Critique of Content

The books strength offers practical steps for leadership growth, providing substantial research to support the listed practices.  “The Leadership Challenge is evidence-based.  Analyzing thousands of case studies and millions of survey responses resulted in The Five Practices framework.”[6]  In putting these steps into practice a leader can do so with confidence that these practices come out of much research and development in work environments.

Written from a secular perspective, the book does not acknowledge these principles as biblical thus indicates a weakness.  One example of a biblical perspective but a lack of recognition of Truth (Phil. 2:3), “Perhaps the very best advice for all aspiring leaders is to remain humble and unassuming-to always remain open to learning more about yourself and the world around you.”[7]  Identified throughout the New Testament, Jesus exemplified humility.

The book set out to research and provide leadership principles a leader can refer to as they continue on their leadership journey.  “Think of the book as a field guide to take along on your leadership journey.  Think of it as a manual you can consult when you want advice and counsel on how to make things happen and move forward.”[8]  The layout of the material makes for easy reference and suggested practices.  Kouzes and Posner succeed in achieving their goal in writing this book.

Recommendation

This book offers practical suggestions for enhancing leadership, with proven steps to take at the end of each practice.  The Leadership Challenge can provide a fresh perspective to leaders desiring self-improvement or looking for action steps to take for betterment.  This material works those at entry level leadership positions up to the highest levels of leadership.

Conclusion

The Leadership Challenge demonstrates the importance of leadership practices through research and interviews with leaders from diverse walks of life by including practical steps to implementing practices proven successful in leadership.  The material provides real world practices to reference as you lead, no matter what level of leadership.

[1]James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge (New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,

2017), xi.

[2]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xiv.

[3]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 295.

[4]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 298.

[5]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 313.

[6]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xii.

[7]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 308.

[8]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xiii.

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David A. Livermore wrote Cultural Intelligence: Improving your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World with the intent to change the way cultures engage with one another.  He organized the book by four different factors, knowledge CQ, interpretive CQ, perseverance CQ, and behavioral CQ.  Each of these quotients represents a quadrant that “measures the ability to effectively reach across the chasm of cultural difference in ways that are loving and respectful.”[1]  Evaluation empowers individuals as they interact within different cultures and especially for the Christian.

The first part of the book discussed, in its three chapters, how the reader can more effectively express love towards individuals of different cultures, which Livermore refers to the individuals as “Other.”  The second section of the book includes five chapters discussing the knowledge or understanding ability of the learner to define their own culture in light of Others culture.  The third section contains four chapters dealing with the interpretive quotient. Described as, “the degree to which we’re mindful and aware when we interact cross-culturally.”[2]  The final sections three chapters navigate the reader by using the first three quotients to behave in a culturally sensitive fashion through service and relationships.

Each section of the book identifies, defines, and describes ways the reader can become more culturally intelligent through a fundamental change, not just an outer change.  Livermore stated, “The primary distinction of this book is that it uses an approach to cross-cultural interaction that stems from inward transformation rather than from information or, worse yet, from artificial political correctness.”[3]  The author desired the material to cause the reader to think about the importance of contextualization in each culture.  Livermore wrote, “Throughout this journey toward more effectively expressing love to the Other, we’ll explore the significance of seeing both ourselves and the Other as expressions of who God is.”[4]  Livermore desired the reader to become aware and actively increase their cultural sensitivity, with God’s help and a different approach to cultural intelligence.

Encouraging statements like, “Adopting a state of mindfulness in the midst of cross-cultural interaction allows us to step back and observe the automatic behaviors of ourselves and others.  Shutting down our semiautomatic impulses, choosing liminality for a period of time, and remaining mindful throughout cross-cultural experiences are all part of what it means to become more aware.”[5]  Through different cultural experiences, being mindful and aware of those around and the innate response that results from that individual’s culture can make the journey less intimidating.

Predominately white ministries can provide an opportunity for the development of cultural intelligence through education and creating events, that include different cultures experiencing conversations and connections.  The current political and social culture illustrates the need for cultural intelligence and sensitivity.  As believers, Christ mandated to love one another.  To show love in a Christlike fashion typifies how he loved.

Learning to live and love in other contexts and cultures confirms what Mark stated, “The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater.”[6]  Livermore wrote,

The flattened world is bringing us more and more encounters with people who aren’t like us.  We cannot hope to become experts in every cultural context in which we find ourselves.  But through cultural intelligence, we can enhance our ability to interact with one another in ways that are respectful, loving, and dignifying.  Herein lies the essence of the gospel.[7]

An essential step for the church of believers to exemplify the love of Christ comes through loving people without judgment or criticisms within their cultural norms.  This statement has an impact because it states that cultural intelligence allows for better connections, deeper connections that confirm respectfully and honoring of different peoples and their cultures.  Often presumptions come without consideration for other cultural differences.  God created different people, cultures, and languages but loved all the same.  Enhancing the acceptance and understanding of others encapsulates what Christ did while on the earth and thus requires believers of today to do the same.

The author presents the four quotients in detail using examples, Scripture, and everyday language, thus creating an understandable discussion.  He poses questions that challenge the reader to dig deeper and internalize the reading.  He does not spend the entire time theorizing the ideas but provides praxis for the material.  He stated, “Praxis is a valuable skill for everyone.  It allows for a holistic approach to education that empowers people to perceive critically ways they exist in their worlds.”[8]  The practice of the theory allows for change to happen.  The author did an excellent job of using ministry examples; he desired pastors and missionaries, leading in cross-cultural situations to find success through cultural intelligence. “With the growing opportunities for multicultural interactions at home and abroad, the question of how ministry leaders and their organizations can effectively minister in culturally diverse situations is a critical and challenging problem.”[9]  Livermore provides ample opportunities for growth throughout his writing.  He wrote this book with ministers in mind.

Limited research of the ministry environment impacted the material.  Livermore stated, “More needs to be understood about how to enhance the cultural intelligence of a ministry team as a whole.”[10]  Churches should typify the best practices when it comes to cultural sensitivity and intelligence.  The book also misses the rural context due to the emphasis on multicultural environments, not generally the demographics of rural areas.  Livermore wrote the book for all ministry leaders working in “rural, urban, and suburban contexts at home.”[11]  Based on my reading of the material rural illustrations, context, and examples lacked.

The author did an excellent job defining and distinguishing theory from practice and provide resources to start the conversation and evaluation for each ministry leader.  His promotion of inward change versus outward adherence augmented his argument through illustrations, examples, Scripture, and life experience.  The writing achieved practical, understandable, and applicable material for ministry leaders, hence fulfilling the goal of the book.

This book promotes cultural intelligence in a modern, Biblical, and understandable way. The book provides relevant examples to challenge the reader’s thoughts on potential issues within their perspectives.  The author asks thoughtful questions and poses scenarios that most people have experienced at one time or another.  The underlying theme of the book emphasizes loving like Christ.  That maintains what Christ told the church to do before He left this earth.  Love all.  This book validates the church’s need for cultural sensitivity and comes with high recommendations and will benefit those in ministry positions around the world or in the United States.  Others that may benefit from the book include believers seeking to share the hope of Jesus.  Sensitivity and understanding go a long way in sharing the gospel.

[1] David A. Livermore, Cultural Intelligence: Improving your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009), 13.

[2] Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 14.

[3] Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 12.

[4] Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 15.

[5] Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 150.

[6] Mark 12:31, New Living Translation

[7] Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 31.

[8] Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 193.

[9] Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 12.

[10] Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 271.

[11]Livermore, Cultural Intelligence, 12.

Bibliography

Livermore David A. Cultural Intelligence: Improving Your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009.

The post Cultural Intelligence: Improving Your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World Book Review appeared first on Rural Advancement.

Ministry leadership development has neglected the rural ministry model for the younger generation.  The promotion of urban ministry supersedes rural ministry time after time.  As a result, rural ministry development has floundered and struggled to find leaders who understand the rural church and become successful in a rural setting. The lack of leadership development materials and training provided the problem for this study.

The research will include leadership literature reviews and interviews with lead pastors in a rural setting, thus determining the leadership materials’ applicability to their experiences. The methodology will include qualitative research of personal interviews conducted in person, by phone, or electronically.  Evaluation of literature review and interviews happened through the lens of rural leadership development materials availability and quality.

The major findings determined that education varied, leadership principles denoted different definitions, the pastors desired additional rural training, the development of leaders within the church does not happen consistently or at all in some locations, limited rural literature availability, and mentoring could provide support and encouragement.  The findings, processed through the Missional Helix, a four-step process used for healthy church planting, provides a structure to evaluate the findings using theological, cultural, and historical perspectives. [1]

A rural pastor’s role has existed for hundreds of years with isolation and its unique challenges.  These challenges remain today, with different terminology but similar foundational issues.  This research identified some areas that the rural pastor needs undergirding.  Those areas represent personal development through education, training in leaders’ development, mentoring, or coaching opportunities.  Roger Heuser and Norman Shawchuck wrote concerning the pastor, “Simply put, leaders cannot give to others what they themselves do not possess from within.”[2]  Providing help and encouragement for the rural pastor describes the end goal of this research.

Demonstrating functional competencies becomes enhanced through leadership development tools and training.  The pastors interviewed had a varied education, with only a few having formal Biblical training.  In Exodus, God said to Moses about Bezalel, “and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship…” (Exod. 31:3). God gave provisions to each interviewed pastor to perform their jobs.  These pastors grew up in a rural setting which provided a more remarkable ability to relate and understand the culture.  David A. Livermore described Jesus and culture as, “Jesus always conveys the kingdom through the medium of culture…The values of culture live in tension with the values of the kingdom…There’s no such thing as a cultureless gospel.  Jesus healed, taught, and preached within a very particular culture.”[3]  Understanding the culture contributes to a rural pastor more than a formal Bible education without an emphasis on rural ministry.  The apostle Peter identified, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Pet. 1:3). Moreover, John added, “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you have knowledge.” (1 John 2:20).  God gives the rural pastor knowledge and anointing to fulfill the call.  Education and continuing rural-specific training along with life experience provides tools to accomplish the job.

Leadership principles varied, with relationships as the most mentioned contributing factor.  Samuel R. Chand agreed, “Our ability to connect with people, earn their trust, invite their opinions, and inspire them is the most important trait we bring—even more important our experience or skills.”[4]  Jesus provided the greatest example of friendship, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant, does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from by Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15). Jesus called His disciples friend as time passed and as He shared more of Himself and the Father with them.  Jesus taught His disciples koinonia which means communion or fellowship, to define relationships.  This concept happened when people gathered to eat together around a table or in homes.  Koinonia puts the other person’s needs before oneself.  Rural ministry can seek relationships to build the church and pursue leaders; in other words, becoming motivated to meet the minister’s personal needs—opposite of what Christ calls us to do.  So, while relationships remain essential in the rural setting, the motivation behind them requires constant evaluation within Christ’s modeled framework.[5]

The majority of the rural pastors interviewed for this project struggled to develop leaders within their congregations.  Finding the tools and materials to aid them in the development calls for innovation and rural pastors’ writing new material.  The literature review found little material on leadership development in the rural setting.  Leadership materials, in general, exist in abundance, and much of that material allows for minimal rural ministry application.  Specific and contextualized leadership development materials for the rural setting remain limited and often dated between 2005-2015.  Healthy rural ministry development necessitates additional material and training options because the health of a church depends on the health of the pastor and congregation.

Mentoring and coaching represented the need for someone to come alongside the rural pastor and provide encouragement, instruction, counseling, guidance, and companionship.  Coaching and mentoring differ in their approach, but both have essential outcome.  Wright explained the importance of mentoring,

Mentoring is a relationship with purpose.  There is no formula, no ideal model, and no program of steps to success.  It is a relationship connected by a shared interest in learning and growth, and it must be constantly nurtured and recreated.  It has purpose and structure defined by the learning needs of the mentoree and shaped by the wisdom and experience of the mentor.  It is more than leadership…Mentoring, on the other hand, may nurture organizational competence, but always in the broader context of personal development and growth.[6]

Only three pastors interviewed currently have a coach or mentor.  Healthy personal growth and development, along with encouragement, helps pastors meet the needs of others.  The apostle Paul warned, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16).  Mentoring and coaching go beyond just the teaching and admonishing and include the worship of Christ together.

The rural ministry has experienced neglect and obscurity for many years.  Roth declared, “The identity of the rural church is found in being gathered up to Christ, not in any perceived rural distinctiveness or mission, however seemingly pressing.  The rural church is nothing more—and certainly nothing less—than Christ’s church, whole as it is gathered together with all the fragments.”[7]  This research recognizes a vital mission field where thousands of pastors remain committed to the missio Dei in their communities.  Jesus told the disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). Jesus gave them the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and lead them to compassion and mission for their communities.  Gary Tyra stated, “Therefore, the church, if it faithfully represents the reign of God to its contemporaries, will be led by the Spirit to offer compassionate responses to the human need it witnesses in the world.”[8]  By providing support through education, mentorship, coaching, prayer, and encouragement, the rural pastor can remain healthy and lead a healthy church. [9]  Lawrence W. Farris declared,

Nevertheless, ministers who work to understand what shapes small-town life and how small towns work will, I believe, be able to make significant and creative contributions in helping to preserve what makes these places special, even in the face of such challenges.  Not only can ministers who understand the dynamics of small towns lead their churches in strengthening the town; they are often uniquely placed to lend perspective and leadership to the town itself, helping it live out of its cherished history, culture, values, and traditions while finding new ways to respond and survive amid the challenges of the world beyond its boundaries.

Helping current and younger generations understand the unique culture, the community, the church and the spiritual responsibility that comes with the rural pastor’s role.

[1] Gailyn Van Rheenen, “The Missional Helix,” Mission Alive (2013), http://www.missionalive.org/ma/index.php/resources/articlesmenu/83-the-missional-helix-example-of-church-planting.

[2] Roger Heuser and Norman Shawchuck, Leading the Congregation: Caring for Yourself while Serving the People (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2010), 17.

[3] David A. Livermore, Cultural Intelligence: Improving Your CQ to Engage our Multicultural World (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009), 38.

[4] Samuel R. Chand, Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code: Seven Keys to Unleashing Vision & Inspiration (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2011), 107.

[5] Roth, God’s Country, 189-191.

[6] Wright, Relational Leadership, 68.

[7] Roth, God’s Country, 17.

[8] Gary Tyra, The Holy Spirit in Mission: Prophetic Speech and Action in Christian Witness (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011), 151.

[9] Lawrence W. Farris, Dynamics of Small Town Ministry (Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2000), 78.

Bibliography

Barna, George. Leaders on Leadership, Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1997.

Chand, Samuel R. Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code: Seven Keys to Unleashing Vision & Inspiration, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2011.

Farris, Lawrence W. Dynamics of Small Town Ministry, Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2000.

Heuser Roger and Norman Shawchuck. Leading the Congregation: Caring for Yourself while Serving the People, Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2010.

Livermore, David A. Cultural Intelligence: Improving Your CQ to Engage our Multicultural World, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009.

Roth, Brad. God’s Country: Faith, Hope, and the Future of the Rural Church, Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press, 2017.

Tyra, Gary The Holy Spirit in Mission: Prophetic Speech and Action in Christian Witness, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011.

Van Rheenen, Gailyn. “The Missional Helix,” Mission Alive (2013), http://www.missionalive.org/ma/index.php/resources/articlesmenu/83-the-missional-helix-example-of-church-planting

Webber, Robert E. Who Gets to Narrate the World? Contending for the Christian Story in an Age of Rivals, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008

Wright, Walter C. Relational Leadership: A Biblical Model for Influence and Service, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009.

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