The Qualities of Effective Leadership

Thinking Aloud

The activist leader Malala Yousafzai noted that “when the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”  We often believe leaders require large audiences.  But, whether intentionally or unintentionally, each of us leads every day — in our lives, alongside others, and in the world.

The world and its people yearn for leadership that is reflective of our needs, embraces empathy, and values each of our lives. Now, possibly more than ever before, we find ourselves searching for effective leadership. We must be the leaders we wish to see in our world.

Exploring Religica Podcasts and Blogs on Leadership

Tahil Sharma | Following their Lead: Youth in Action

Rev. Debrah Freidland-van Zyl | Enlightened Leadership in an Authoritarian World

Megan Anderson | 19th Amendment

To access more of Religica’s digital content, we invite you to visit the Religica Blog and Religica Podcast pages.

Engaging with the Qualities of Effective Leadership

After spending time with the blog, podcast, and links we’ve offered, we now invite you to contribute your own thoughts, links, and ideas. Consider the following prompts as a place to begin the conversation in the Discussion Forum.

Reflect:

In Reverend James M. Lawson’s podcast above, Rev. Lawson reflects on the efficacy of leadership tactics that emphasize non-violence.

Take a moment to ask yourself: What examples of nonviolent leadership have you seen work effectively in your own life, in your community, and in the world?  Do you believe leadership tactics that embrace peace and compassion are more or less effective than tactics that promote hostility? Why or why not?

Engage:

In Reverend Debrah Freidland-van Zyl’s blog above, Rev. Freidland-van Zyl examines the differences between authoritarian and collaborative leadership styles.

Give yourself five minutes to write. Think of a recent time where you were working in a group setting — perhaps as part of a school, work, or community project. Was there one leader dividing up and allocating the workload, or were people able to take on tasks based on their self-identified strengths and abilities? Write down three leadership tactics you observed to be effective in your group, and three tactics you found to be ineffective. Then, share your observations with a friend or colleague.