Assignment 1 – Follow The Leader

When I first read the outline of this assignment my mind automatically when to a male leader because I’m male. However, I quickly thought that I shouldn’t limit myself in that way. I really enjoy reading the opinions of a great female leader named Danielle Strickland. The platforms that I follow her on are Facebook and Instagram. She is a former Salvation Army Officer, as well as a wife to someone who is still a Salvation Army Officer. Her ideas are always around not embracing the status quo – the way we’ve always done things – because most times it’s not the best, the most efficient and effective, way of doing things. She is very much a supporter of women leaders and speakers from the pulpit to the public.

A very significant idea, which I said above, that Danielle espouses is this reality that women have a voice, a very powerful voice. I know this might be weird coming from a man, but I am also a man who is married to a very capable and a very powerful woman when it comes to her abilities. How this concept relates to the work that I do is that I work for an organization that, from the get go, has empowered women preachers and teachers. We would like to still say that we do that, which is extremely true, however I believe there is still more work to be done in regards to empowering women in the organization, and giving them positions, based on their skills and not just the skills of their spouse. This is why I enjoy reading Danielle’s posts and material so much is because she believes in, and sees, what this organization can become. But that’s not enough for her; she wants to actually see it become what she sees and will keep doing things until it does.

Another significant idea that Danielle espouses is this idea of social justice. She as actually helped develop justice departments at all levels of The Salvation Army as well as starting a Global peacemaking initiative called Amplify Peace (https://amplifypeace.com/). The Salvation Army is an organization of social justice; standing in the gap of those who feel disconnected from the world. Personally, views and posts that Danielle makes holds me accountable to what I have been called to be: a peacemaker and a Christ follower.

In regards to advice that I would give Danielle in the sense of how to better motivate followers or use the capabilities of the medium to influence people toward a common goal would be to attempt to engage more men in what she is saying. Why I say this is because I believe the mindset of men, specifically men who are leaders, needs to change in order to pave the way for change that, dare I say, only women can bring about. Don’t crucify me for saying this, but there are things that men can do, that women can’t. However, there are equally (actually probably more) things that women can do that men cannot do. Gentlemen, we need to embrace that women are our co-heirs and co-workers in this world.

Danielle’s values, ethics, and principles very much align with who I want to be as a leader. Again, I want to see the best in everyone and I want everyone to feel that what they do is of value.

Website: https://www.daniellestrickland.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielleJStrickland/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellejstrickland/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/djstrickland

 

Image courtesy of https://www.premierchristianity.com/