Читать книгу The Reflective Leader - Alan Smith - Страница 6

Foreword

Reflection is at the heart of my life and work as an archbishop. I am privileged to meet a wide range of people in many different situations: listening, encouraging, sharing and challenging. It would be possible to fill my day ten times over with interesting and worthwhile activity. This makes the discipline of reflection a necessity, not an option. I need to stand back regularly and place my experiences and observations in a wider perspective. I have to look beyond my immediate busyness and reflect on my own journey lest I get swept along by a tide of trivia, and the seduction of what others see as urgent. Benign neglect is a great antidote. Taking time out to reflect sharpens my understanding of individuals and situations. It enables me to understand better the complex human, political, economic and religious context that I find myself operating in.

We live in a time of rapid change. The turbulence that many people are experiencing can generate huge pressure on priorities. Making adequate space for reflection can easily become a casualty of an overfull diary. But quality reflection is not escapism or romanticism. It is crucial to good leadership. It reminds us of our values and encourages us to live them. It creates an internal space in which we become clearer about the contribution we can make in a given situation. This is how a leader can make a difference.

In this book Alan Smith and Peter Shaw have combined the best of good management practice with spiritual wisdom and insight. Their approach is practical and easy to follow, with questions to consider at the end of each chapter. They are an unusual joint authorship. Alan was Bishop of Shrewsbury before becoming the Diocesan Bishop of St Albans. Peter was a director general within the UK Government before becoming an executive coach and a business school professor in leadership development. Peter brings the practical insights you would expect of a Reader or Licensed Lay Minister, with nearly 40 years’ experience of working with those in leadership positions. Alan brings a lifetime of leadership not only in the Church, but from chairing regional bodies such as the Shropshire Strategic Partnership.

This book is not convoluted theory. Its chapters are realistic, robust and relevant. Whether you are leading two people or two hundred, whether they are employees or volunteers, you will find these reflections engaging and challenging. Be ready to stand still to move forward. Be open to your own reflections as you read on. May it stimulate you into a quality of activity which makes the biggest difference for good.

Dr John Sentamu

Archbishop of York