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Formal Leadership
Tiffany Burgi
School of Business, Liberty University
Author Note
Tiffany Burgi
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Tiffany Burgi
Email: [email protected]
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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of the writings in the textbook Christ-
Centered Exposition Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings and how they relate to current times. The
paper looks at how spirituality and mental health are essential in leadership roles, how these
traits are applied in current time, and how it is used in leadership roles currently and in the
future. Additionally addressed is how important talking and being aware of mental health is.
Keywords: leadership, servant, spirituality, relevancy
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Formal Leadership
Depressed Servant
It is essential for Merida to include God's Grace for a Depressed Servant in his book
because we need to know that God is going to be there during dark times. A servant leader in
today’s context may appear very different. When a professional sportsperson wins a title, they
often exclaim that they are going to Disney World (Merida, 2015). However, a servant leader
would give exclamation to God first. In God's Grace for a Depressed Servant, Merida shows how
Elijah is a person just like us. He has his own struggles, disbeliefs, and temptations in his life like
we do. With Merida exploring that concept, it makes it easier to connect and identify with Elijah.
For myself, there are times when I read the Bible, and I lack connection. Merida discussed how
Elijah was emotionally drained. He related it to us and how we can also be in the same situation
and vulnerable when things are not going our way. There are times that we feel like we have
given everything we can when it comes to servant faith. Showing us how Elijah also "felt like he
had nothing else to give" (Merida, 2015) allows us to connect to him, to see how important
Elijah is, and allows us to relate with some of those same struggles. There are times when people
look at the Bible and think these things happened so long ago that we cannot apply them to our
lives, but Merida shows us that is not true.:
Today’s Relevancy
When we look at how the world is situated today, many people feel depressed, forgotten
about, emotionally drained, living in disbelief and temptation. One example of this is the health
care profession. Many people are called into this profession, and it looks like a noble profession.
Elijah was doing God's work, and that can be looked at as the perfect example of noble work.
When we look at the world we live in and experience situations like COVID-19, we can see the
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pain from others still reeling from the pandemic, such as the healthcare workers. The healthcare
workers are experiencing depression because of the weight of COVID-19. They have been
pushed and are experiencing depression, anxiety, and burnout (Esposito et al., 2021). Another
article conducted a study of healthcare workers, which showed 18% of them were experiencing
depression because of dealing and working during COVID (Patelet et al., 2021). This is
something people experienced in biblical times, and it is prevalent in this day and age. So, when
we look at the things Elijah went through, they were for a time, and things eventually improved.
COVID is not as prevalent currently, and we are hopeful that this trial will end and we can
remain faithful to God like Elijah.:
One other perspective on how this applies today is from helping those who are struggling
with their mental health. When we see those struggling, especially the youth, I am called to help.
But, it is essential to equip ourselves to do it in a safe and Christ-like way. Many people don't
understand what depression in youth looks like. It can appear as though teens being moody
because of puberty and "even clinicians acknowledged in interviews that they sometimes fail to
recognize the symptoms of depression" (Kimpinde, 2020, p. 2). When young people are
struggling, they need to be reminded of people like Elijah. When we are helping youth, we need
to take a faith approach and give them hope for the future. Turning to Elijah's story can provide
them with a connection because Elijah was struggling and depressed, yet God was there for him
(Kimpinde, 2020).
My Leadership of Others and Myself
As for my future and how this relates to my current leadership pursuits, it is something I
have multiple perspectives on. For me, connecting with God is often shown through people I can
relate with, like Elijah. I have mental health issues that sometimes affect my connection to God. I
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know that having counseling can keep me balanced. But as a leader, I need to make sure those I
am leading have access to counseling, if needed. I also need to make sure that those that are
suffering from mental health issues are not looked at in a negative way. It needs to be
normalized. There is a benefit to having services readily available without judgment and
providing that can have a positive outcome for people (Schlegelmilch et al., 2019). As for taking
care of myself, seeking a deeper connection with God is always something that needs to be
prevalent. The other thing that needs to stay at the forefront is taking care of my mental health.
Spirituality has a direct correlation to mental health. Taking care of both is vital for being good
leaders. Having a steady relationship with God is not a failsafe for having perfect mental health,
but it is a considerable tool in staying healthy. Being in a leadership role, many things are
demanding our attention in our lives (Sahama et al., 2019). Maintaining a relationship with God
will keep us balanced and hopefully more aware when we need more help in our struggles.:
Conclusion
When we have moments like Elijah and feel depressed, we need to rely on faith and
recognize that those moments are only a period of time in our lives. We need to evaluate what is
happening in our lives and make sure our connection to our faith and spirituality are solid.:
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References
Esposito, C. L., Contreras Sollazzo, L., & DeGaray, C. (2021). Nurses unions can help reduce
stress, burnout, depression, and compassion fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic, part
3. Journal of the New York State Nurses Association, 48(1), 30–51.
Kimpinde, M. C., & Dreyer, Y. (2020). Pastoral care with young people suffering from
depression in the context of Soweto. Hervormde Teologiese Studies, 76(3), 1–8.
https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v76i3.6225
Merida, T. (2015).:Christ-centered exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 and 2 kings. (D. Platt & D. L.
Akin, Eds.). B & H Publishing Group.:
Patel, V. K., Pandey, S., Patel, F. B., Jani, A. M., Tiwari, D. S., & Thakrar, R. K. A. (2021).
Study of correlates of depression among health care workers during COVID-19
epidemic.:Archives of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy,:23(1), 29–35.
https://doi.org/10.12740/APP/131935
Sahama, S., Shofia, A., Reiza, M., & Riyono, B. (2019). Corruption in Indonesia: An
investigation from mental health, spirituality, and leadership perspectives.:Malaysian
Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences,:15, 45–53.
Schlegelmilch, A., Roskowski, M., Anderson, C., Hartman, E., Decker-Maurer, H., Golden, T.
P., & Anderson, C. A. (2019). The impact of work incentives benefits counseling on
employment outcomes of transition-age youth receiving Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) benefits.:Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation,:51(2), 127–136.
https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-191032
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Annotated Bibliography
Esposito, C. L., Contreras Sollazzo, L., & DeGaray, C. (2021). Nurses unions can help reduce
stress, burnout, depression, and compassion fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic, part
3. Journal of the New York State Nurses Association, 48(1), 30–51.
This journal article is found in the CINAHL database. The article is found in the Journal of
the New York State Nurses Association. The journal was first published on March 1, 1970.
It is released between two to four times a year, depending on the year. The New York State
Nurses Association publishes it. The journal is peer-reviewed and accessed as an online
journal. The journal focuses on research for issues affecting New York nurses and patients.
The author Carol Lynn Esposito has been published 16 times. Fifteen of them in academic
journals. The author Lucille Contreras Sollazzo has been published seven times in
academic journals. The author Christina DeGaray has been published two times in
academic journals. Part two of this article was the other publishing. The article focuses on
COVID-19 and how it has affected nurses in New York State mental health. It highlights
how this is a new issue, so not having the knowledge of how to care for is mentally taxing.
The article fits into the paper addressing the current things we are dealing with in the
country.
Kimpinde, M. C., & Dreyer, Y. (2020). Pastoral care with young people suffering from
depression in the context of Soweto. Hervormde Teologiese Studies, 76(3), 1–8.
https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v76i3.6225
This journal article is found in the Atla Religion Database with AtlaSerials PLUS. The
article is found in the Hervormde teologiese studies Journal. The journal was first
published on January 1, 1988. It is currently released three times a year. In the past, it was
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released quarterly. AOSIS OpenJournals publish it. The journal is accessed as an open
journal and is peer-reviewed. The journal focuses on multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary
religious aspects of studies in the international theological arena. The author Mwansa C.
Kimpinde has this one article that has been published in two academic journals. The author
Yolanda Dreyer is an accomplished writer. She has been published 172 times in academic
journals alone. The article focuses on young people dealing with depression and how faith
leaders need to respond. It also addresses how a collaborative method of providing support
requires the cooperation of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, African spiritual
healers, and pastoral caregivers. The article fits with the paper with my goals of working
with youth and having a faith base as well.
Patel, V. K., Pandey, S., Patel, F. B., Jani, A. M., Tiwari, D. S., & Thakrar, R. K. A. (2021).
Study of correlates of depression among health care workers during COVID-19
epidemic.:Archives of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy,:23(1), 29–35.
https://doi.org/10.12740/APP/131935
This journal article is found in the Academic Search Ultimate database. The article is found
in the Archives of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Journal. The journal was first published on
March 1, 2007. It is released quarterly. It is published by the Editorial Committee of Polish
Psychiatric Association. The journal is peer-reviewed and accessed online. The journal
focuses on full-length articles, brief reports, book reviews, and topics of psychiatry and
psychotherapy and related disciplines. The author Vishalkumar Patel, Falguni Patel, Arpit
Jani, and Rajendra Kumar Thakrar have published this one article. The author Sunayna
Pandey has been published in three academic journals. The author Deepak Tiwari has two
articles published in academic journals. The article focuses on depression among the health
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care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It conducts a study where 18.78% of health
workers reported major depressive disorder. It shows the things other than work that is
adding to the issue. The article fits into the paper addressing what the world is dealing with
currently in the country.
Sahama, S., Shofia, A., Reiza, M., & Riyono, B. (2019). Corruption in Indonesia: An
investigation from mental health, spirituality, and leadership perspectives.:Malaysian
Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences,:15, 45–53.
This journal article is found in the Academic Search Ultimate database. The article is found
in the Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences. The journal was first published
on January 1, 2015. It is released quarterly. The University Putra Malaysia Journal
Division publishes it. The journal is peer-reviewed and accessed online and in print. The
journal focuses on medicine and health sciences in Malaysia and internationally. Also,
scientific research and development, emerging issues, and policy analyses pertaining to
medical, biomedical, and clinical sciences. The author Sohra Sahama, Adinda Shofia,
Muhammad Reiza, and Bagus Riyono have all been published twice in academic journals.
The article focuses on the phenomenon of massive corruption in Indonesia from mental
health, spirituality, and leadership perspectives. They address the hypocrisy in that the
country promotes religious, moral, and spiritual values but has a corruption issue. The
article fits in the paper because it looks at how leadership, mental health, and spirituality
correlate with each other in being good leaders.
Schlegelmilch, A., Roskowski, M., Anderson, C., Hartman, E., Decker-Maurer, H., Golden, T.
P., & Anderson, C. A. (2019). The impact of work incentives benefits counseling on
employment outcomes of transition-age youth receiving Supplemental Security Income
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(SSI) benefits.:Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation,:51(2), 127–136.
https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-191032
This journal article is found in the CINAHL Plus database. The article is found in the
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. The journal was first published on August 1, 2000. It
is released six times a year, alternating every other month. It is published by IOS Press.
The journal is peer-reviewed and accessed online. The journal focuses on supported
employment to psychiatric impairment, vocational training, and physical disability. The
author Amanda Schlegelmilch has been published nine times in 21 academic journals. The
author Matthew Roskowski has been published five times in 13 academic journals. The
author Cayte Anderson has been published twice in six academic journals. The author Ellie
Hartman has been published 37 times in academic journals. The author Heidi Decker-
Maurer has this one publication in an academic journal. The author Thomas P. Golden has
been published 48 times in academic journals and three books. The author Catherine A.
Anderson has been published 93 times in academic journals. The article focuses on work
incentive benefits counseling as a promising practice in vocational rehabilitation and has
demonstrated positive employment outcomes for adults with disabilities. It looks at both
disabled adults and youth. This article fits into the assignment because as an adult who is
disabled and utilizing the social security and vocational rehabilitation programs, many
things are relatable for me.
