Category: Christian Leadership

What can we learn from “Shepherd Leaders”?

Shepherd Leadership

In October 2003, my first professor in Human Resources Management at Texas A&M, Blaine McCormick, sent me a copy of a book he co-authored with David Davenport entitled, Shepherd Leadership.  In the book, McCormick and Davenport point out that good leaders aren’t just born…it is possible to learn how to be a better leader.

They took Psalm 23 and crafted a picture of leadership.  Now, when you or I think about a shepherd, we may be thinking about a calm, peaceful activity.  However, Biblical shepherds like David (author of the 23rd Psalm) held a dangerous, demanding, around-the-clock job.

McCormick and Davenport note that whereas servant leadership downplays hierarchy and status differences, shepherd leadership places the leader squarely at the front of the followers to serve as role model.

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What is your work-life fit?

Several years ago, our HR Director started using the term “work-life fit” to characterize her support of employees’ life outside of NASA.  “Balance”, she pointed out, was not appropriate.  There are times in life when we need to provide more attention to our work, and other times when more attention is needed in the life side of the ledger.

 For me, “work-life fit” involves balancing my roles at NASA, home (as a husband and father of three kids), and church (currently serving as 4th/5th grade Sunday School teacher and chair of our Deacon Fellowship).  I often tell people that work will take as much as you’re willing to give it.  So, you have to take responsibility to set guidelines and boundaries for your work-life fit.  No one can or should define that for you.  If you’re in a leadership role, it’s important that you not impose your own values and choices on those you lead…their work-life fit will undoubtedly differ from yours!

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