Capstone: Apl Prac & Princ Ldg

1.3 Discussion. What Does It Mean?

Getting Started

By this point in the program, you and many of your fellow classmates may have become good friends and colleagues. You have shared videos, responded to each other’s posts, and probably even connected on some social media. While you have completed work (except for group/team assignments) alone, you certainly have not done the program alone. Throughout this Capstone course, discussion forums will possess the opportunity for group reflection. You will be able to bounce ideas off each other, remind one another of key content from your program, and in that way help each other complete the Capstone project (each of you must do your own project, but discussions will provide a way for you to support one another).

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Compare various leadership philosophies.

Background Information

Most seasoned leaders have some type of leadership philosophy that helps guide their thinking and practice of leadership. Leadership philosophies are often simple and memorable phrases, sentences, bullet points, images, or even a paragraph that captures the primary ideas of what it means to lead. Leadership philosophies emerge from what someone reads and studies about leadership. However, most frequently, they reflect what the person has  learned through experience and mentoring.

Think back to how you began this program several months ago. What do you think your leadership philosophy was at that time? Did you have one? What about now? How have you changed? What do you know now from your study and experience that can help you articulate a clear philosophy? How might it provide guidance now and in the future for how you actually do leadership? A concise leadership philosophy can be an important tool in your leadership toolkit. Watch the  Leadership Philosophy and How to Clarify Yours (new tab)  video for more.

Instructions

1. Read chapters 1 and 2 in the course text,  Leadership in Christian Perspective.

2. Review the information in the Getting Started and Background Information sections, including watching the video embedded in the Background section.

3. Look ahead to  Assignment 1.4 (new tab)  to understand the parts of your Capstone Project that you will submit in this workshop.

4. Consider the following prompts:

a. What does it mean to lead?

b. What is the difference between the terms leader and leadership?

c. What is the difference between leading and managing?

d. What does it mean to serve others? To serve others through leadership?

e. What are some basic ideas, themes, or components that seem to be good candidates for your personal philosophy of leadership?

5. Compose a 250 to 300-word initial post.  You do not need to answer each of the prompts. Rather, use them to stimulate your thinking. Complete reading, research, and review to make your post that might also help you start to develop your assignment 1.4.