Week #9 Reflection

Disciple Leadership: The Name of the Game

Introduction

Great leadership isn’t about power, position, or prestige—it’s about discipleship. This week’s study materials focused on Disciple Leadership, emphasizing the importance of leading with humility, integrity, and trust. The key takeaway? True leadership isn’t about having a title; it’s about inspiring and uplifting others through example.

Key Information Learned

One of the most impactful concepts this week was the idea of Leadership with a Small 'L'. Instead of leadership being about control or dominance, this principle highlights that real leaders serve, listen, and guide with love. President Kim B. Clark emphasized three key traits of Christlike leadership:

  1. Lead by Example – Your actions speak louder than words. Disciples of Christ lead by living what they teach.
  2. Lead with Vision – True leaders have a clear sense of direction and purpose. They don’t just react; they inspire others toward a higher goal.
  3. Lead with Love – The most effective leaders genuinely care about those they serve. Their leadership isn’t about them—it’s about lifting others.

Another powerful lesson came from Good to Great. The concept of Level 5 Leadership stood out because it describes leaders who combine humility with fierce resolve. These aren’t flashy, ego-driven people; they are deeply committed to a mission greater than themselves. This principle applies directly to disciple leadership—great leaders aren’t seeking credit, but rather, they focus on building something meaningful.

Additionally, A Disciple Preparation Center framed leadership as a form of discipleship. The idea is that the best leaders are the best followers—those who follow Christ’s example. This perspective shifts leadership from being about what you achieve to who you become in the process.

Lessons Learned

  1. Trust is Everything – The Aspects of Building Trust video reinforced that trust is the foundation of effective leadership. Whether in business, family, or church settings, people will only follow those they trust. Trust is built through honesty, consistency, and selflessness.

  2. Hiring Ethical People Matters – In Hiring Ethical People, the focus was on surrounding yourself with individuals who share your values. If you want to lead with integrity, you need people around you who will uphold those same principles. This applies to both business and personal relationships.

  3. Capability Matters, But Character Matters More – Leadership and Capability reminded me that while skills and intelligence are important, character ultimately determines leadership effectiveness. People will follow a leader who is honest and dependable far more than one who is just talented.

  4. Achieving Higher Ground Requires a Higher Purpose – The Achieving Higher Ground video made it clear that true leaders operate with a deep sense of responsibility. They don’t settle for mediocrity—they push themselves and those around them to be better.

Lessons Not Yet Learned

One area I still need to develop is maintaining vision even when challenges arise. It’s easy to lead when things are going well, but disciple leadership requires staying focused and faithful even in times of uncertainty.

Another area for growth is trusting the process. Good to Great emphasizes that transformation takes time, and great leadership is a long game. I sometimes struggle with patience, wanting results quickly instead of letting growth happen naturally over time.

Summary

This week’s materials reinforced that disciple leadership is not about titles or recognition—it’s about service, vision, and integrity. Leadership with a Small 'L' highlighted the importance of leading by example, Good to Great provided a model of humility-driven success, and A Disciple Preparation Center framed leadership as an extension of discipleship.

Ultimately, the most important takeaway is this: The best leaders don’t seek to be great—they seek to do good. And in doing so, they become great.

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