Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty

by Angie Ward

Ministry is complicated, and every leadership challenge is unique. How can you lead effectively when there isn't a clear path forward?

Real life ministry is complicated--far more complicated than is typically captured in leadership books. There are moving parts and people who require adept, agile, adaptive leadership. Unlike technical challenges with a clear or known solution, adaptive challenges are complex and dynamic, requiring creative leaderships. Adaptive leadership is art, not science. It is an exercise in wisdom, not just knowledge. It requires leaders to ascertain the issues, values, and stakes unique to a given situation, to consider the potential courses of action, and decide which courses are best.

The case study method is a proven and effective tool to help leaders chart their course by learning from complex, real-life situations. Leaders learn to integrate multiple leadership strategies and concepts by reading and reflecting on multiple case studies, helping them clarify their own unique context, values, challenges, opportunities, and potential actions. Like real ministry, case studies are complex. There is not always an easy solution, or even a fast understanding of the real problem(s). The case studies in Uncharted Leadership promote learning at the deepest helping leaders move beyond simple answers to deep individual and organizational understanding and transformation.

Uncharted Leadership applies the case study method to ministry leadership. Through a series of relevant, real-life case studies in ministry leadership, Angie Ward brings the classroom to the reader, using thought-provoking questions, commentary, and recommended resources to expand the leader's empathy, understanding, awareness, and skill.

Genres: Leadership

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Aaron Boots · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing Workbook

If you were looking to teach your leaders or be with your leaders and train them on how to handle situations you wouldn't necessarily run into on a regular basis, this is a great book. I think it's beneficial to just work on these kinds of adaptive solutions even if you never face them in your own church. I would recommend this book to help you with problem solving skills.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, book! The stories are complicated and intriguing. Most of all, they make you realize that clear cut solutions are less common than we think. This book helps me think critically and creatively about ways to overcome big and small challenges.