The Leadership Paradox

by Denny Gunderson

What is the key to effective leadership?
The ability to organize and take charge?
The ability to preach and teach?
Entrepreneurial skill?
A charismatic personality?
According to Jesus, none of the above.

Jesus is unarguably the greatest leader the world has ever seen. His three years of public ministry in an obscure and troublesome corner of the Roman Empire not only irrevocably changed Roman civilization, but every other civilization that has subsequently emerged.

Yet, remarkably, Jesus spoke very little about leadership and even less about how to attain it.

Perhaps that is why many of today's corporate-driven churches prefer to draw upon the leadership styles of Moses, David, Nehemiah, or Paul. Denny Gunderson challenges us to think again.

This refreshingly candid book draws us to the Master's side. From this vantage point, we observe Jesus through the eyes of people who experienced him firsthand. And through their eyes we discover surprising insights that will challenge us to rethink our leadership stereotypes.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[Honeybee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently doing research on leadership for a book I am writing about spiritual gifts. When I saw this book by YWAM missionary, Denny Gunderson, I got really excited, because I know that many folks in Youth With A Mission not only are familiar with spiritual gifts, but definitely lead well.

This book is really not so much about the gift of leadership as it is about the practice and attitudes of Christ-centered leaders. It warns about the pitfalls of control, stardom, favoritism and compromise. Other chapters focus on our acceptance, humility, integrity and trusting God enough to release others into ministry. In a world so enamored with the powerful and the flamboyant, this author paints a picture of the leader who is meek and unobtrusive. He uses imaginative scenes from Bible times and personal experiences as illustrations and explains biblical concepts in a down-to-earth, easy-to-understand manner. You don't have to be a Bible scholar, preacher or teacher to learn and apply the principles in this book. Nearly everyone is a leader to some degree, and this book can help you be more of a leader like Jesus.

If you are looking for a good book that paints a picture of the heart of a Christ-centered leader, this is a good choice. With a mere ten chapters in 156 pages with questions for personal study after each one, it would work as a devotional for a week and a half. Christians in or considering leadership could use the question for group discussion on a small group study. Whichever route you choose, be prepared for a journey that will transform the way you influence others!

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! I was required to read this for a leadership course I'm part of, but it wasn't a boring read at all! The author focuses on the leadership Jesus as the ultimate model for servant leadership. He uses fictionalized accounts from people surrounding Jesus [Peter, James, John, the woman with the alabaster box] to really capture the paradox of His leadership. Jesus didn't come to be served but to serve. Each chapter is filled with practical leadership principles, examples and discussion questions. It's a fantastic read that I highly recommend!

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I pick up a book on leadership, it's because I feel like I should, not because I really want to. There's almost always something else on my to-read list that looks more inspiring. In my time as an administrator, I have disciplined myself to read something about leadership at least every month or two. Even though I find much of this kind of literature bland and repetitive, I want any resident wisdom from these books to soak into the way I lead and help me grow and develop as a leader (and, for that matter, as a follower).

This is the attitude in which I grabbed the unassuming little book The Leadership Paradox as I packed for a weekend trip. I took it from a free giveaway bookshelf a couple of years ago, and there it has sat on my “Leadership” bookshelf in my office. Honestly, I packed it for this trip because it's really short, and I like the feeling of reading a whole book while on a trip. And I like the satisfaction of checking off one more book from the Leadership shelf. Yes, I am sometimes that shallow.

Looking at the bland cover of The Leadership Paradox, who could blame me? It looks like it's going to be a lightweight. So I was surprised as I began reading to discover that it is an incisive, engaging exploration of a Jesus-centered model of leadership. Denny Gunderson begins almost every chapter with a retelling of a Bible story. I've heard quite a few retellings of Bible stories—the kind that try to imagine “you were there,” adding in details about what the weather felt like, the looks on bystanders' faces, and so forth. Usually I find such efforts contrived and oddly lifeless. But Gunderson is gifted. I found his retellings quite engaging. If his oral storytelling matches what he writes, then I imagine he must be a very enjoyable speaker to listen to.

From each opening Bible story, Gunderson extracts a lesson in leadership attitude. He believes—and I agree—that leadership behavior comes out of the leader's unseen attitudes and beliefs, so his book is not a bulleted list of specific techniques to implement, but rather it is a look inside the heart of the leader him- or herself. There's nothing particularly “new” about this approach; Stephen R. Covey, Henry Cloud, and I'm sure many others have followed the same road. But I found Gunderson's writing very clear and direct.

In fact, the directness sometimes surprised me and made me chuckle. My own decade of experience in a mission organization perhaps increases the resonance I feel with what Gunderson writes from his years with YWAM. Here is a sample of lines that I especially enjoyed:

Some of these ministries seemed to be focused more on perpetuating their ministry (as an organization) than on actually ministering. When talking to the leaders of these organizations, one can't help but notice how much conversation is dominated by talk of fundraising, growth projections, administrative troubleshooting, and public image. . . . Once the noun ministry rather than the verb to minister is emphasized, the dreary inevitability exists that formal leadership positions must be quickly forthcoming. (29)

Newsletters are packed with unembarrassed paeans to our own ministries. Blatant and self-serving stories are told in order to 'release' money. Entire pages are filled in an attempt to convince readers of the strategic role our ministry plays in the evangelical pantheon. (44)

The enticement of success and popularity can easily delude a leader into believing the fallacy that opportunity and guidance are synonymous. (45)

Is no one embarrassed by the competing claims to be on the cutting edge of what God is currently doing? How many Cutting Edge Ministries can there really be? Can one be a self-proclaimed Cutting Edger and a servant leader at the same time? (47)

It's a little unfair of me in reviewing this book to highlight the “zingers” like this, because it is not generally an aggressive or confrontational book. Most of Gunderson's writing is aimed at the refining of the reader's own attitudes toward those he is leading or working with.

Sometimes when books on leadership include “challenging” questions for reflection at the end of a chapter, I don't have to spend much time thinking about them. Gunderson's questions, however, made me think more deeply about my own attitudes and leadership experiences.

The Leadership Paradox is not a book that jumps off the shelf, but I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to other leaders, especially leaders in Christian mission organizations. It is a quick read—I read it in a couple of sittings—and well worth the time.

[Ilze · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read on leadership. I'd give 10 stars if I could. Highly recommend.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Challenging & refreshing.

“When being is divorced from doing, pious thoughts become an adequate substitute for washing dirty feet.” quote by Brennan Manning. (p105)

“When words predominate, actions are slighted. When actions predominate, words bear witness. Your actions speak so loud, I can't hear what you're saying.” - Denny Gunderson (p108)


Gunderson, Denny. The Leadership Paradox – A Challenge to Servant Leadership in a Power Hungry World. Seattle, WA: YWAM Publishing, 1997.

[Tess Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tells biblical stories with a fresh perspective (like it’s happening in real time) and gives practical advice and wisdom that you can apply immediately. 2nd time reading it and it was just as good as the first!

[Colleen Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humble and Biblical view of leadership. True to the model of leadership our Lord Jesus Christ gave us. Edited-to-add: Three years after finishing this book, I'm adding a star to my rating based on the number of times I think about something I learned in this book and the effect it has had on my motivations to serve those I lead.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the gospel of John, you'll probably like this.