Wielding the SWORD of Leadership: Using the Paladin Approach© to Leadership Development
Wielding the SWORD of Leadership: Using the Paladin Approach© to Leadership Development
Thom Owens | 2016
Abstract
This course curriculum is an answer to a perceived gap in Christian leadership in business and is the culmination of three years of work at refining my knowledge, skills, and attitudes of what it means to be a Christian leader on a course to change the world. This curriculum, the leadership model it is based on, and the leadership development journey it represents, encapsulates that refinement and allows me to fulfill my purpose. Designed to develop Christian leaders, at all levels, to embrace their own unique purpose, this approach seeks to imbue the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a spiritual warrior using a biblically-based leadership model known as the Paladin Approach© Leadership Model.
Knowing that God has a purpose for each of His children that include plans to prosper us and not harm us but to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11) is not enough. We must develop the life infrastructure to carry the weight (responsibility) of that God-sized dream before we can take part in that plan. Between the God-sized dreams, the center of which is our purpose, and the solid foundation of Christ, lies the main beam of our character that keeps the support pillars of the structure, stewardship, worship, ownership, relationship and discipleship, in contact with the foundation of our lives – Jesus.
Using the Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate (ADDIE) Model, this seven-module course was created to highlight the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed in those critical areas by students of the course. The final output for this project is the course curriculum for “Wielding the SWORD of Leadership” complete with a program of instruction, courseware including slides, instructor notes and evaluation sheets, and a student workbook. Students who complete this course are better able to embrace their role as Paladins – warriors for Christ and engage in the spiritual battle to develop as a leader as they fulfill their purpose through the integration of their faith in business.