Disruptive Leadership: The Art and Practice of Leading like Jesus

Abstract

This thesis presents disruptive leadership as a unique combination of the effectiveness of servant leadership, the art of leading change, and the skill of innovation. Chapter 1 details and explains the need for a new model of leadership. Within chapters 2 and 3, this study surveys leadership theories and practices from the contemporary and Christian perspectives examining the potential combination of servant leadership, innovation, and leading change theory. Those chapters present an integrative model, disruptive leadership, that compliments the literature and practices on leadership. Additionally, those chapters argue that leadership is multifaceted and multidimensional, meaning it is skill and process while art and practice. To illustrate this model, chapter 4 examines the life and leadership of Jesus as the penultimate disruptive leader whose leadership does not fit in one unique theory and practice. The study concludes, in chapter 5, by exhorting the church and Christian leaders that the world has changed and, therefore, Christian leaders must take the necessary steps to be disruptive, or they will be disrupted. This change requires leaders to lead with a servant’s heart, with the skill of innovation, and with the art of leading in uncharted territory.