Robert A. Fryling and Eugene H. Peterson, The Leadership Ellipse: Shaping How We Lead by Who We Are. IVP Books, 2009.
Referenced in: Leadership Development Through Spiritual Formation
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
All leaders have felt the tension between the life they desire to live in their inner being, and the life they feel compelled to live because of the expectations and pressures from relationships, professional role, etc. It takes special intentional work to integrate the two. This is a great volume written by an experienced professional who for many years has sought to lead from a deep spiritual center. It comes highly recommended (see reviews below).
The three sections of the book build a helpful rhythm. Part One, “Shaping our Inner World,” discusses how to order one’s interior through the spiritual practices of Sabbath, pruning, humble thought, and involvement. Part Two, “Shaping Our Outer World,” addresses how to deal with the alternating realities of feeling frenzied, alone, and fragmented through the perspective of prayer, the promise of belonging, and the pursuit of shalom. Part Three, “Shaping our Leadership,” considers how to engage one’s leadership role through the practices of wholeheartedness, attentiveness, and clarity.
From the Publisher
Everyone in a position of responsibility knows the tension of leadership. It may be between tasks or people, money or mission, the present or the future. One often neglected tension is between our inner spiritual longings and the outward needs of the group we lead. But we need not feel forced to choose between the two. Leadership has more in common with an ellipse with two focal points than a bull’s-eye with a single target. The Leadership Ellipse is designed to help Christian leaders embrace both halves of the tension—our internal relationship with God and our external relationship with others—to find a truly authentic, integrated way to lead. If you find yourself in a lonely, isolated place of leadership, this book can be your companion. If you find yourself longing to lead in a way that is truly Christian, this book can be your guide. And if you are simply exhausted, then this book can offer you a new way to find refreshment. There is life beyond the bull’s-eye.
Reviews
“With intelligence and wit, Bob Fryling wrestles honestly and graciously with some of the great paradoxes and finer nuances of leadership. This book will be a great blessing to those of us who are seeking to remain faithful to God in the trenches of leadership.” – Ruth Haley Barton, president, Transforming Center, and author of Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
Bob Fryling is a perfect example of someone whose outstanding leadership is very much grounded in his deep faith. So when he writes about this subject, it comes both from an intellect informed by long experience and a heart shaped by selfless service—a very compelling combination.” —Dr. Tim Johnson, medical editor, ABC News, and author of Finding God in the Questions
If St. Benedict were still alive, he would have written this book. Since he isn’t and couldn’t, Bob Fryling has. The result is a rule of life formed over the years by one who, faithfully and introspectively, has lived those years in positions of highly visible Christian leadership. Every person in any role of Christian leadership today, however humble or mighty that role may be, will do well to attend carefully and prayerfully to what is written here. —Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence
Written by a publisher, The Leadership Ellipse has insightful suggestions for pastors, politicians, princesses or any other person who has a commitment to Jesus Christ and, at the same time, is called to leadership in any of its forms. Bob Fryling hits the bull’s-eye with his reminder and challenge that Christian leaders are ultimately called to have their outer worlds in harmony with their inner worlds—and vice versa! Not content to simply offer us this deepest meaning of integrity, he also suggests spiritual practices to attain it and strengthen it. In doing so, Bob Fryling proves to be a most reliable mentor for leadership in the Christian tradition. —Albert Haase, O.F.M., author of Coming Home to Your True Self and Living the Lord’s Prayer
About the Author
Robert A. (Bob) Fryling is publisher of InterVarsity Press (Westmont, Illinois) and Vice President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (Madison, Wisconsin). He writes, speaks and teaches in the areas of spiritual formation, leadership, Christian faith and culture. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Alice, an author and spiritual director. Together they have co-authored three books.
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