FUTURE OF EDUCATION ASSIGNMENT 2
My understanding of what leadership entails has become clearer throughout this course. I had a
vague understanding of leadership fundamentals, and although I possess the qualities, I had yet to learn
what those fundamentals were called. It was an eye-opener listening to Bishop Walker talk about
leadership and the four C’s: character, competence, cadence, and capacity (Walker, 2017).
Many want to be leaders, be at the forefront of innovative ideas, accomplish goals, and spearhead
projects, but they need more qualities to lead effectively. When I reflect on my leadership journey, I
reflect on Proverbs 3:5-6 which states, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” It emphasizes the
importance of seeking guidance and wisdom in leadership, but more so when it comes to ethical conduct
and decision-making. It is important to incorporate the four C’s to demonstrate ethical conduct and make
sound leadership decisions to practice what Proverbs 3:4-6 says.
Character
Character is who you say you are, who you are in public, and who you are in private. Your
character does not change according to your surroundings or circumstances. Character means honesty
with yourself and others, doing things sincerely and not because you have ulterior motives (Walker, 2017,
0.22-0.25). When I think about character, Proverbs 11:3 teaches me how important integrity, sincerity,
and honesty are to a leader: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but their duplicity destroys the
unfaithful” (King James Version). This verse emphasizes the importance of integrity, sincerity, and
honesty, suggesting that those who maintain their integrity are guided by it. At the same time, those who
are deceitful or have ulterior motives ultimately face destruction.
There are many people in the bible who had high character, but apart from Jesus, none other than
Joseph. When we read Joseph’s story in Genesis 37 to 50, we see his integrity, sincerity, and honesty; his
character and God’s favor took him from the dungeons of death to governing a nation amid great famine
and despair. He did not waver when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, he did not waver when put in the
dungeon, and he did not waver when he saw his brothers years after they sold him into slavery. His
character helped him persevere through the adversities he faced in his young life.
FUTURE OF EDUCATION ASSIGNMENT 3
Competence
An effective leader needs to demonstrate the right work ethic and intensity. It means walking the
talk and going the extra mile. You are prepared for the challenges ahead and come ready to work
regardless of what personal circumstances you might be encountering. Competence means having the
ability, skill, and knowledge to fulfill a task. When I think of a competent leader, Joshua comes to mind.
In Joshua 2 to 6, we see his courage and determination; he strategically planned and led while keeping his
eyes on the vision of acquiring the promised land and empowering those around him. His competency and
faith in God assured Israel’s victory and obtaining the promised land.
Cadence
Cadence is keeping pace, not stopping or hesitating if someone is not keeping up with you. It
means moving forward to reach the goal and staying focused. I was part of a mission group that took
annual trips to Uganda, and during my second trip, I broke my toe on the first day. The president of the
organization, who was also the leader, was always at the forefront of the planning, but he also had an
assistant who helped strategize and coordinate our daily activities. His assistant had coordinated an event,
and the group had to be at a specific place, but we were running late due to our bus having mechanical
problems. We got off the bus and began walking to the venue, but our leader was walking at a fast pace,
and I was walking directly behind him, trying to keep up with his pace.
I was focused on not losing sight of him and kept my eyes on his back, not looking down, not
looking to the sides, but straight at him when I tripped over a big rock. I was wearing flip-flop sandals
and injured my little toe, but I kept walking, although I felt the pain. When we got to the place, he
stopped, looked around, and made sure that we had all made it. I limped my way to where we had to go,
and it turned out to be that I had broken my toe. Now I understand that I had cadence, kept my pace,
albeit limping, and moved forward and did not realize I had broken my toe. Of course, everyone,
including our leader, was concerned and helped me with my swollen foot, but I did not slow down or
change plans because of my mishap.
FUTURE OF EDUCATION ASSIGNMENT 4
Capacity
Having capacity skills means leading others through natural abilities or learned knowledge. It
requires improvement and progress. Developing your capacity leadership skills not only makes your
leadership effective, but it also makes you a valuable asset to others. As skills grow, individuals become
sought after for their expertise in overcoming obstacles and leading with success. When we look at who
Jesus chose to be his disciples, we see that none of the twelve had the capacity to lead; each had flaws,
shortcomings, and insecurities, but Jesus taught them to be bold and courageous. One who was strikingly
transformed was Peter, whose characteristic was one of impulsiveness and wavering faith. Yet, Jesus
invested his time in him, and he became a great leader with the capacity to lead thousands of people to
Christ on the Day of Pentecost as registered in Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (King James
Version).
After reflecting on the four C’s, I feel that the four are all important, but having character is the
most important because that is what people see and trust. Being truthful to oneself and others helps build
people's trust to follow and work alongside a leader. I am positive that the quality I possess the most is
cadence, and it was not until I learned about the four C’s that I knew that I possessed it. I am the type of
person who sets out to do something, and I do it to the best of my ability. I encourage and motivate others
but set the pace and keep the momentum going. I have been told on more than one occasion that when I
set a goal and plan how to reach that goal, I take off like a gangbuster.
I have to work on my leadership capacity. I need to recognize my strengths and weaknesses and
what drives me to do what I want. I need the capacity to listen more closely and be more empathetic to
those around me. Not being empathetic a couple of times has been detrimental to my leadership only
because I focus on the goal and not so much on how others perceive my intentions and my way of doing
things.
FUTURE OF EDUCATION ASSIGNMENT 5
As I move forward to becoming an assistant principal and work on shaping the school’s culture,
the four C’s will guide me in my leadership role. The approach to embracing the qualities that I need will
help me in the hiring process when searching for candidates to fill the teaching positions at work.
It is important to me that my teachers and staff can rely on my words and actions and that my
words exhibit qualities of virtue. I understand that part of leadership involves allowing space for their
development and acknowledging that mistakes may happen. The effectiveness of my leadership will be
evident in how I navigate challenges and find solutions, demonstrating the significance I attach to my
role.
Apart from demonstrating the four C’s in effective leadership, commitment is also important.
"Commitment is acting on promises regardless of the personal difficulty and sacrifice that may be
required" (USASMA Digital Library, n.d.). A committed leader shows up, works, directs, makes
decisions, addresses adverse situations, meets deadlines, and attends meetings, all while also dealing with
personal issues. A committed leader is a reliable leader.
In conclusion, the four C’s are qualities a leader should strive to have to be an effective leader,
but they must keep in mind that the ones who are going to benefit the most from their leadership are the
people they are serving, in my case, those would be the students. As an educator, leadership is putting
personal feelings aside and coming together as a team to improve the school culture where every student
feels loved, acknowledged, and protected.
FUTURE OF EDUCATION ASSIGNMENT 6
References
Lee. (2022, March 22). Competent Leader. Leaderonomics.
https://www.leaderonomics.com/articles/leadership/competent-leader
Bishop Walker, (May 31, 2017). The 4 C’s of Leadership (Video). Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=1071008223029770
Rupčić, N. (2021). Character-based leadership and tacit knowledge for learning and resilience. The
Learning Organization, 28(6), 560–568. https://doi.org/10.1108/tlo-09-2021-274
OFFICIAL KING JAMES BIBLE ONLINE. (n.d.). https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
USASMA Digital Library. (n.d.). https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15040coll2/id/5940/
#:~:text=The%20importance%20of%20the%20four,leader%20shows%20in%20his%20followers.
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