The Steward Leader: Transforming People, Organizations and Communities

by R. Scott Rodin

Coach. Entrepreneur. Mentor. Executive. Servant. Visionary. Everyone has a different idea of what a leader should be. How can any one person be everything? Scott Rodin brings unity and clarity to this confusing, demanding picture of leadership. He offers a comprehensive model that brings together a biblical understanding of holistic stewardship with the best in leadership studies. Whether in churches, not-for-profit ministries or in business the need for sound leadership is readily apparent. Drawing on his years of experience in development and fundraising and his extensive theological training, Scott Rodin offers a new paradigm--a transformational approach to leadership that is biblically sound, theologically rich and practically compelling.

Genres: Leadership, Christian, Nonfiction, Business

199 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book caught my attention in the third paragraph of his first chapter when he wrote:

"Here is the confession: in my roles as a leader I have been mostly wrong."

He goes on to describe the trajectory of his career and reputation and observes that the point wasn't a trajectory of greater responsibility and reputation. It was rather in following Jesus in becoming a leader of no reputation. Fundamentally, he contends that what matters most is transformed character through one's encounter with God, where one's greatest desire is to be accounted trustworthy by God, to be a steward of God's trust. Then one is ready to lead.

The first part of this book lays the foundations for this steward leadership. He traces the work of the Triune God from creation of humankind as stewards of creation to the fall where we act as owners through our redemption and the call to godly stewardship.

He goes on to talk about the freedom of the steward leader, and this, I found, was one of the highlights of the book. Very simply, it is the freedom of trusting and obeying God in our relationship with Him, ourselves, others and the creation. An old chorus says, "Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey." Leaders who live like this are happy and free.

Finally he contrasts being a steward leader, which is about character with other theories of leadership including transactional, transformational and servant leadership. He urges docking the "ship" in leadership that focuses on practices and focusing on transformed character that results in trajectories of leading.

The second part of this book elaborates what transformation looks like in a leader's relationship with God, oneself, others, and the material world. He then describes "trajectories" of leadership rooted in these transformations. He looks at both the implications for the people and the organizations one leads. Such leaders prioritize relationship with God and living out of one's call and gifting and empower people and organizations to do the same.

One other critical idea that recurs through this book is that steward leaders are not owners and that the great temptation leaders face is to forget this. Owners are self-reliant and shallow, they consider a vision theirs and resist change, they use others, and exploit the creation.

This book proposes a new model of leading. The idea of a steward is comprehensive, addressing the leader in relation to God, self, others, and the world. The author also gives a number of examples from his own leadership journey to illustrate what it means to be a steward leader. At the same time the book seemed a bit conceptual. Perhaps the next step that would be helpful in developing this model would be to highlight organizations led by steward leaders and committed to developing them. I hope Rodin will consider a follow up book along these lines.

R. Scott Rodin proposes a new approach to thinking about leaders rooted in an old biblical idea--the steward. His focus on character rather than charisma, and on transformation rather than technique, is a welcome departure from bulk of leadership books.

[David Rough · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the concept of Steward Leadership. As you melt the concepts of Steward Leadership and Servant Leadership you might come close to the biblical leadership of Jesus. I was hoping to better understand the model of Steward Leadership through this book, but there was no real model to be found. There were no measurable characteristics that can capture this definition of leadership. How can the leadership community test and research and develop as steward leaders without an appropriate model?

The book excludes those outside of Christ as potential steward leaders. So, this theory of leadership will only be applicable to faith-based organizations. Because of this orientation, the book read more like a pastoral training manual. Now, I am a Christian and I found some challenging and interesting principles in this book, but it is not a model that can be used in research or scholarly pursuits. Someone needs to develop a model based on Rodin's thoughts for this theory to be taken seriously at a collegiate level.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book. Reading it for my master’s degree coursework prompted some great reflection on my leadership experience as a Christ follower, but I got so bogged down in the concept itself. Perhaps it was the heavy theological nature of the writing or my difficulty in grasping the model, but I found myself flipping back through the early pages and chapters trying to refresh my understanding as Rodin added new pieces to build out his leadership model. I struggled to fully grasp the concept, and his depiction of the overall model in a little infographic at the start of each chapter left me wanting something more. What was there didn’t help crystallize the concept for me, making it hard to connect with the writing. Without a doubt, this book is the work of an intellectual theologian.

[Connie Crump · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I have only read the first section of this book, I had the special honor of spending an hour learning from Dr. Rodin as guest speaker in our PhD in Organization Leadership course today. Powerful and impactful messages everyone should hear and practice to become faithful stewards in our life and leadership. Cannot wait to finish this read and expect I will want to read this one again and again. Great book!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rodin develops the understanding that leadership is not possible without understanding what we are stewarding. The Lord has bestowed everything we have upon us and we are to use those items to glorify him. As leaders we must comprehend that we are not stewarding anything that is ours, but only the Lords.

[Russell Matherly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad book. It has some good insights and some really piercing one-liners. I’d say this is a must read for leaders in any kind of Christian organization. I’d also say that most of it is pretty cookie cutter in terms of your run of the mill leadership stock. But the parts that aren’t that really work well for it.

[Ronald J. Pauleus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book challenged my framework of what I believe makes a leader. “God is more concerned about who we are, rather than what we do.” “Steward leaders are servants first.” I want to be a “Steward Leader.”

[Nicolas Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly Enjoyed!

Great usage of Scripture and leadership paradigms by Rodin in this great guide for leaders who seek to steward and serve Biblically.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very challenged and really enjoyed reading this book. I gained a lot from his unique approach to leadership. I love the way Rodin hones in on the idea that leadership is more than service, and therefore encompasses much more than the popular Christian idea of servant leader. There is more to leadership than influence, power, and authority. Rodin takes a biblical perspective of leadership, starting with the fact that we are created in God's image and therefore are called first and foremost to lead with God, like God, and for God. (This takes me back to Jim Thompson's book.)

Leadership is about stewardship of all that God has called us to and entrusted to us. Leadership is to be done to His glory and not our own. Leadership is not only in one area of life, but includes every area of our lives and how we act, respond, and essentially live. Leadership goes beyond vocation and has much more, in fact it has everything to do with the heart.

I've been challenged in my thinking by Rodin's approach. I'm not capable to do what he claims we are called to do. At the same time, he encourages the reader to remember that is is God who equips us and God who created us for His purposes. We can succeed in leadership under the authority of God and with His help. Essentially, leadership is really about pointing others to God and helping them learn how to steward in their own lives. Leadership is God-focused and others-centered. If we lead correctly, our lives will point all others to God. If we lead correctly, we will shepherd others into a relationship with God. If we lead correctly, our lives will reflect a closer relationship with the God who made us and loves us. We are His image bearers, called to lead others toward Him, for Him, and by His power.

[Deborah]

Reviewed by Herb:
This book comes the closest to anything I have read (even Greenleaf’s “Servant-Leader”) to what I believe about leadership. It is in many ways a reverse presentation of my writings on followership and I wish I had read it before most of my dissertation was done. Rodin is the former president of Eastern Seminary and presents leadership as an act of stewarding God’s resources and people which is centered upon a heart relationship to God. Must reading for any Christian leader.

[Dave McNeely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very challenging and thought-provoking. Rodin attempts to reframe the soul and mentality of leaders by focusing on our universal human vocation as stewards, over against seeing ourselves as owners. Thus, the focus of a leader shifts from developing "leadership qualities" to nurturing our call to be stewards who may find ourselves in positions to lead . . . still as stewards. In one sense, this book is more about character than function and, rather than preparing leaders directly, prepares people whom you would do well to follow.

[Dale Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book on leadership. Rodin walks the reader through a journey of change. Instead of giving steps to follow to become a leader, he focuses on the characteristics a person should develop in becoming a Christian leader.

[Jared Yaple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandatory reading for all leaders.