Running head: DISCUSSION 1 My original post Kouzes and Posner (1987) identified one of the qualities of exemplary leadership is the ability to inspire a shared vision among followers. In doing so, the leader paints the picture of a future that is uplifting, meaningful, and exciting. The leader reaches others and enlists them to a common vision by appealing to dreams, hopes, values, and interests. In the excerpt from "Defiance," Tuvia Bielski demonstrates this quality of leadership as he addresses his fellow Jewish refugees on the path that they should take. While others have a short lived vision of taking revenge on their Nazi oppressors for the family and friends they have lost, Tuvia Bielski inspires them to strive to survive, which will be the best revenge. He uses a powerful, evocative language to tell them how they cannot afford any more loss while taking revenge. He provides a strategy of how they will survive by mapping out their movement to acquire the resources they need and reiterates that their revenge is living. That even though they were being haunted as animals, they would not turn into animals by killing. His words echo the same message given by the author of Romans when he said “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord” (Romans 12:19 NIV) Reference Kouzes, J., and Posner, B. (1987). Practices of Exemplary Leadership Retrieved from https://www.businessballs.com/leadership-models/five-practices-of-exemplaryleadership-kouzes-and-posner/ New Living Translation Posts to respond to ------ Below DISCUSSION 2 Post #1 – Latara According to the text an “exemplary leaders stand for something, believe in something and cares about something” (Kouzes, et. all, 2006). In the clip, we saw Tuvia speak with the fearful Jewish refugees, waiting on their next attack. The Jewish refugees became discouraged and angry that their hierarchy of needs, such as food and safety would be taken. Tuvia stood out as a leader to remind the refugees about “the vision”, that they could still hope, by not taking revenge. Tuvia reminded the people about their friends lost, and how they can’t afford to lose another friend by retaliating. Tuvia had to “forge a consensus around a common principle” (Kouzes, et. all, 2006), which was freedom. Tuvia was a man of great integrity. The bible says in Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” People with integrity live by fairness, even when fairness puts them at a disadvantage or causes them significant difficulty. He told the refugees “that every day of freedom is an act of faith”. According to Kouzes and Posner, those leaders who inspire a shared vision “envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities” as well as “enlist others in exciting possibilities by appealing to shared aspirations” (Kouzes/Posner, 2004, p.53). Tuvia gave the people a sense of Faith and vision. As a leader with vision and faith in the vision there is room for more success. One of the most important components a Christian leader, is reminding the believers what we stand for. “How Christian leaders plant the vision is key to the practice of inspiring a shared vision” (Kouzes/Posner, 2004, p.61). By inspiring a shared vision, Tuvia is able to redirect the thoughts of the group and change their view concerning their avenue of revenge towards the German army. References: Defiance [Video file]. (2008). http://www.regent.edu/admin/media/fms/vod/bcovePlayerURL.cfm?address=8000185 Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2004). Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons. Post #2 – Lisa According to the text inspiration and vision emerge from suffering. "The promise that hope emerges from suffering is one of the unique contributions of our faith" (Kouzes & Posner, 2006). The video starts off with the group of refugees in the woods. They are growing frustrated with each other due to lack of food, supplies, and realizing the possibility of losing their family members. Tuvia demonstrated the concept of listening deeply by how he utilized their feelings to form a shared vision. Tuvia spoke about how each day is an act of freedom for them, and the goal would be to survive versus retaliate. "Our best leaders tell us what we are thinking; our best leaders tell us what we are DISCUSSION 3 feeling (Kouzes & Posner, 2006). Tuvia also demonstrated the concept of sacrificial leadership by asking the group to sacrifice their individual needs for the ultimate end result of freedom. Tuvia spoke about not becoming the same "animals" that they are fighting. This is what separated the refugees from their oppressors. "Leadership is the ability to move people, to change their minds and hearts and actions (Kouzes & Posner, 2006). Tuvia changed the groups shared consensus of retaliating to focusing on survivial. Proverbs 15:22 states "plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisors they succeed" (Payne, 1985). At the beginning of the video you could see that there was not a designated leader amongst the group. In my opinion Tuvia demonstrated leadership in the form of counseling. He did not designate himself as the leader but he stood up when the group needed it. "Christian leadership is more like being on a sailboat rather than a rowboat. Christian leaders are not the source of Spirit; they are more like respiratory therapists (Kouzes & Posner, 2006). Tuvia had to guide the group of refugees to hope. He had to help them find it within themselves to continue towards freedom.Tuvia couldn't create it for them. References Defiance [Video file]. (2008). http://www.regent.edu/admin/media/fms/vod/bcovePlayerURL.cfm?address=80001 85 Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2006). Christian reflections on the leadership challenge. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Payne, J. (1985). The Holy Printed by Ioh. Field. Bible containing the Old Testament and the New. London:
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