LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT
Our Leadership and Management course will introduce students to the personal management challenges and competencies that are critical for effective ministry leadership. Students learn how the personal development of life skills such as integrity, positive attitudes and behaviours, understanding others, critical thinking, communication, managing information, problem solving, self-discipline, goal setting, time management, stress management, etc. relate to their ability to be an effective ministry leader.
This course will also focus on facilitating the students’ awareness and understanding of their own abilities and provides the students with tremendous opportunity for growth through self-reflection, personal exploration, discussion and application.
Modules
Personal Management
A major factor determining or limiting your success in life is your personal self-image. You become what you think and believe. Students will learn how to build and maintain a positive self-image by exploring, understanding and accepting who they are in Christ, interacting positively and effectively with others, and the importance of personal and spiritual growth for themselves and others to be effective and successful.
Topics include: understanding yourself, understanding sin, freedom from guilt and rejection, renewing the mind, the gift in you, belief systems of the heart, the five love languages, the DNA of relationships.
Ministry Leadership
Effective leaders are not born; they’re made. Students will be introduced to Spirit Contemporary leadership. They will also learn different styles of leadership, their appropriateness in certain situations, and how students can be more effective leaders.
Topics include: team leadership, styles of leadership, situational leadership, delegation, hazards of leadership, tips for successful leadership, leadership transitions, ethical leadership, and servant leadership.
Goal Setting
One of most important aspects of success is the ability to define and achieve goals. A goal is a dream with a deadline. Students will learn the importance of setting goals for both individuals and groups. Students will learn the benefits of goal setting, how to define their goals and prioritize them, and develop an action plan to achieve their personal and ministry goals.
Topics includes: why goal setting is important, reasons people don’t set goals, defining goals, how to set goals, secrets of successful goal setting, setting goals in groups, and developing an action plan.
Organization
Self Organization
Students will focus on how to organize their time and their life and how to handle stress to keep from feeling overwhelmed.
Group Organization
Students will learn how to structure a team so it has purpose and members know their roles.
Project Management
Students focus on the key fundamental project management areas with emphasis on organizing, planning and scheduling work and provides the information needed to organize and structure the work on a project or event. As students progress through college, church and into the workforce, these skills will prove to be extremely beneficial to their development and growth.
Communication in Ministry
Good communication skills are important for successful ministry leadership and group involvement. Being able to communicate clearly and effectively are powerful leadership tools. Students will learn the influences on communications and the ways to communicate more effectively, both in giving and understanding information.
Topics include: what is communication?, non-verbal communication, influences on communication, interpersonal communication, speaking and listening, I-messages, constructive criticism, blocks to communication, written communication, and presentations and speeches.
Effective Ministry Meetings
With competing demands on a leader’s time, it is important that meeting time be put to good use. Ministry leaders must have well-planned meetings in order to be effective and to accomplish its goals and objectives. Students will learn the fundamentals of planning and conducting effective meetings.
Topics include: general principles for meetings, planning a meeting, conducting a meeting, and following up after the meeting.
Problem Solving & Decision Making
Every ministry leader is faced with the task of solving problems and making decisions. Some problems are easy to handle, some decisions easy to make. But others will take much time, energy and thought to work out. Students will learn some procedures that will help them when it comes time to solve problems and make decisions.
Topics include: consensual decision-making, checklist for implementation, and blocks to creative problem solving.
Teamwork
Leaders have a tremendous influence and responsibility to their team members.
Students will learn the roles that leadership, assessment and evaluation play in developing world-class project teams. Students will also be introduced to the skills, qualities and attributes needed to successfully follow and lead others in a project management environment. A significant emphasis is placed upon interpersonal competencies and skills required for leading and motivating teams.
Topics include: group development, functional roles of group members, maintaining group cooperation, building a team, effective team members and leaders, effective teamwork, decision making procedures, and group awareness/observation.
Developing Creativity
Many people believe that you’re either creative or you’re not. Fortunately, this isn’t true. Everybody is creative in some way and students will be introduced to an expanded concept of creativity and will learn how to further develop the creativity they possess.
Topics include: understanding creativity, ideas, exploring creativity, brainstorming, creative idea generators, choosing and evaluating ideas, and trends and opportunities.
