Tim Elmore speaks on models of leadership 

Mary Stephens,

Reporter


Tim Elmore of EQUIP speaks to students and faculty on models of leadership throughout the years. Elmore spoke in both convocation and Hyder Auditorium on Tuesday. He held a faculty and staff session entitled,, “Developing a Leadership Culture” and a student session entitled, “Primary Colors of a Leader.”
-Photo by Mary Stephens
The capable 21st-century servant leader is a “poet-gardener,” said Tim Elmore of EQUIP at the April 15 Leaders in Christian Service convocation. Christian leaders in the tri-cities were honored with a basin and towel trophy representing Christ’s example in the washing of feet.

Elmore described the different models of leadership in the past 40 to 50 years, including the role of the military commander leader and the leader as a coach. In his modern analysis of the poet gardener. leader. Elmore explained that as a poet, a leader should be voice for those he is working with, and as a gardener, the leader's primary role is to grow and develop the people they have been given to lead.

“[Their] primary objective is to do the significant, not just the successful,” Elmore said.

In the afternoon, Elmore held a faculty and staff session entitled “Developing a Leadership Culture” and for students “The Primary Colors of a Leader.”

At the student session, Elmore drew from personal growth and said that events [such as speeches and alter calls] can serve as a catalyst for people to change, but true change occurs in day-to-day processes.

“He gave us a lot of inspiration about how to see a vision and follow it through,” said senior Amanda Ruble.

Elmore said that the main difference between leaders and followers is perspective.

Campus Minister Nathan Flora attended all three of Elmore's speaking commitments at Milligan.

“I think that he contributed to further building the idea that every employee of the college is involved in this process of mentoring and cultivating a culture of leadership despite what your capacity is.

[This is] calling us to step out of just our tasks but to really serve the students and to form relationships with them that will help them become the people we want them to be,” said Flora.