Incarnate Leadership: 5 Leadership Lessons from the Life of Jesus

by Bill Robinson, Eugene Peterson and Eric Peterson (Foreword)

Bill Robinson helps Christian leaders understand how to provide effective leadership by highlighting five qualities that characterized the leadership style of Jesus. He presents convincing arguments that when leaders emulate these qualities, they will inspire and empower the people they have been called to lead. Reflection and discussion questions and assessment questions make this ideal for group use. Conversational in tone and seasoned with real-life stories from his own successes and failures as a leader, Robinson helps Christian leaders wrestle with four questions that emerge from John’s introduction of Jesus, “and the word became flesh and dwelt among us….” • Jesus dwelt with those he led, how can I be closer to those I lead? • Jesus disciples beheld him, how can I be more transparent with those I lead? • The glory of Jesus was a reflection of his father, am I seeking my own glory? • Jesus led with grace and truth, how can I lead with grace and truth? The Incarnate Leader is indispensable reading for anyone in a position of leadership – whether in a church setting, corporation, school board, or home. The book is packaged as a short one-evening read, similar to other popular business books.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Olivia Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really really did not want to like this book. I succeeded - I honestly don’t particularly like this book, but not because this book wasn’t well written. I read it for my internship and found myself dreading when I would have to read each chapter. However, in forcing myself to finish it, I found some particularly interesting ideas about how to live and lead others. I truly was inspired by the selflessness exhibited by this author, even though it came across a little self-centered at times. I think a book like this is bound to come across as self-centered regardless of how you write it, though. As a whole, the book was well written, and I’m sure that I simply was not its target audience.

[Juan Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Robinson has a keen sense of how christian leadership should look. It is all about Jesus model whether is fashionable or not in leadership circles. The sacred has to inform the secular, not the opposite. With a down to earth style, Bill brings his own leadership learning with terms with what Jesus want us to be. If Jesus established the church, who we are to underappreciate incarnate live and leadership

[Reid Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a college president is no easy task. He or she must lead a small army of well-educated administrators. He/she must juggle faculty from various specialties and focuses. He/she must comply with federal, state, and local regulations and oridances. He/she has to shake hands with potential donors. He/she is responsible for the lives of so many students. And if he/she is a Christian institution, he/she must also rummage through theological disagreements from all sides.
But most importantly, he/she needs to do it all with a smile.

It is not an easy job. Being a college president is the ultimate course in leadership.

Bill Robinson, the now retired president of Whitworth in Washington, led several universities for over three decades. He is now almost the guru of Christian higher education (which is also why he is serving at the interim president of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities).

Incarnate Leadership is a quick case study in leadership, and who else to study as a better example of leadership than Jesus. Robinson takes one simple introduction of Jesus from the words of John, breaks them down, and shows you why Jesus is the way of leadership. He throws in little stories and anecdotes from all his years in leadership to make the book feel like a one-on-one casual chat.

I really admire Bill Robinson. I admire his experiences, I highly regard his accomplishments, and I value the wisdom of his words.

[Kyle Dupic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything in here makes me desire to lead better and hand a copy to those in leadership, especially those wielding a lot of power.

The only thing for me was his chapter on grace and truth. There is nothing content wise that is untrue, but I don't think Jesus being full of grace and truth means he balanced mercy with speaking the hard things. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; Paul in Ephesians 4 says speaking the truth in love; these aren't "hard truths" but the truth that Jesus came to save sinners.

Again, no major compliant that leaders ought to know how to navigate both waters as he was explaining, but I personally don't think that place to jump off from Scripture is rightly interpreted.

[Suzy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sparked wonderful discussion for the Student Government this semester. Some of the topics they discussed were "stepping off the pedestal" and being friends with those you lead and sacrificing as a leader. This book also helped us reflect on failures and ways we can learn from our mistakes.

[Todd Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into leading like Jesus.

[Nate Roels]

I read this for a class in college. It was pretty good.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some memorable quotes:

"Those of us in leadership positions should give our positions back to the God who chose to stoop, to the God who chose to dwell with his followers. We should do this not only because it is Christlike but because it empowers those we lead...Ironically, we want to follow our leaders when they come alongside of us more than when they are out in front of us."

"Openness invites accountability. If we can't feel good about an action when people find out, we shouldn't do it...Openness reduces vacuum pressure. When we conceal, intentionally or unintentionally, we create an information vacuum that people will fill."

"Decisions based on values...rely on wisdom and honesty. Rules depend on knowledge and obedience. Value-driven organizations benefit from the access to information enabled by openness. Rule-driven organizations need only enough information to enforce the rules."

"But when a community is defined by its boundaries, or rules, rather than by the heart those rules protect, its identity becomes who it is not rather than who it is."

"Jesus reflected glory. We tend to absorb glory. We must carry an abiding awareness that we are not the light, we only reflect it. It's not about our brightness and how good we are, but about God's brightness and how good he is. Our job is to keep the mirror angled between God and darkness."

"Just because we are humble doesn't mean we are timid...'I want to be faithful.' That's the battle cry of the leader who unites aggressiveness and humility."

"Leaders compete, even humble leaders, especially humble leaders, because they will fight for their people long after they have fought enough for themselves...The big question is not whether we should compete; the big questions are for whom and against whom."

"Beneficiaries of grace should be benefactors of grace. Forgiven leaders should be gracious leaders."

"'What makes a good follower?' The single most important characteristic may well be a willingness to tell the truth. In a world of growing complexity leaders are increasingly dependent on their subordinates for good information, whether the leaders want to hear it or not. Followers who tell the truth and leaders who listen to it are an unbeatable combination."

"'For every complex problem there is a simple solution; and it's wrong.' Grace opens our eyes to complexity."

"Sacrifice stands as the alpha and omega of the incarnation...for an act to qualify as a sacrifice, big or small, it requires a denial of self in service of other people and high purposes. Often the impact exceeds the magnitude of the sacrifice."

"Credit is not a finite entity that is exhaustible when distributed. It gains energy and magnitude when freely given. Leaders need to keep themselves in a salutary frame of mind."

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

how’s this for an endorsement: in the foreword Eugene Peterson says this is the only book on leadership you need to read – dang. The book is remarkably simple, and bases its five leadership lessons on a single verse from the first chapter of John’s gospel: “The Word became flesh and dwelled among us; and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

From this simple summary of Jesus’ life and leadership, Dr. Robinson draws out these critical lessons:

Jesus dwelt with those he led. (Am I staying close enough to those I lead?)
Jesus’ disciples beheld him. (Am I being transparent with those I lead?)
The glory of Jesus was a reflection of his Father. (Are my actions reflecting our mission or gathering personal glory?)
Jesus led with grace and truth. (Am I leading with grace and truth?)
From the manger to the cross, Jesus sacrificed. (What am I sacrificing for those I lead?)

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought a copy of this book for my dad, the leadership junkie, and decided to do a quick read through before sending it. I am very glad that I did. Aside from being practical and quick, it is challenging read. Most importantly, the principles are completely based on Jesus' life, not simply incorporating something into the point the author wants to make. Having been a student at Whitworth, it's also encouraging to know that Bill Robinson lives the life he is sharing.

[Sambo16 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very thought provoking, quick read. Robinson doesn't fluff up what he has to say. He gives a personal reflection on the leadership qualities of Christ and brings to the table some of his own experiences. I like how enjoyable it was to read while still digging deeper on some pretty difficult issues.

[Marissa Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book on leadership but also a great guide for life. I can only imagine how truly living according to the principles in this book could revolutionize an organization or a community. I would like to read this book again with a group - to try and flesh out how to make these principles a part of my everyday life.

[Tracy Brower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really value this book and its lessons. It is simple and straightforward - and elegantly so. Bill Robinson has a way with words that provides plenty of quotable quotes and sticky ideas. I especially loved his thinking on transparency, humility, and grace. There is a lot of wisdom packed in these pages.

[Dan Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily in my top 5 leadership books. If you are in charge of people, read this book. A quick read, simply laid out, and humbly handles the ideology of incarnational leadership better than anyone else.

[Jami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good content, but I felt like I was fighting to find it. Maybe I just wasn't paying close enough attention.

[Jonathan Lampley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was not a bad read. Simple and to the point. Not sure if I would read it again though.