October 1 2001

ARTICLE TOOLS

Find similar articles E-mail this page

A rabbinical student, it is said, had a dream, and in his dream the Almighty appeared to him and told him he would become an influential rabbi. The student told this to his teacher. "Pray," said his teacher, "that the Almighty appears in the dreams of others and persuades them to become your followers."
Rabbi Lionel Blue, Kitchen Blues

We would do well not to be enamored by the kind of leadership that is so prized by politicians and CEOs, the kind that is conspicuous and, as we say, "effective." Forget about charisma, go for character.
Eugene Peterson, The Unnecessary Pastor (adapted)

"Beware of those powers which come from God but which can so easily be purloined by the Devil!"
Father Darcy in Susan Howatch, Glamorous Powers

Without heroes, we're all plain people and don't know how far we can go.
Bernard Malamud, The Natural

The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say "I." And that's not because they have trained themselves not to say "I." They don't think "I." They think "we"; they think "team." They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but "we" gets the credit. … This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.
Peter Drucker, Managing the Nonprofit Organization

The very first thing which needs to be said about Christian ministers of all kinds is that they are "under" people (as their servants) rather than "over" them (as their leaders, let alone their lords). Jesus made this absolutely plain. The chief characteristic of Christian leaders, he insisted, is humility not authority, and gentleness not power.John ...