What Makes Leaders Wise - by Christina Edmondson (Paperback)

About the Book

Everyone says they need and value wisdom. But can we spot it when it shows up, and why are we tempted to ignore it when it speaks? This book shows why wisdom is the essential key to organizational and relational health and social well-being, especially in times when folly appears to be rewarded.

Book Synopsis

It's easy to look around and find folly among leaders. Corporations prioritize short-term benefits over long-term effects on society. Organizations follow charismatic leaders' whims at the expense of the people they serve. Churches are known more for hypocrisy and dysfunction than truth and grace. Yet it's not always easy to avoid our own foolishness, recognize wisdom, and lead others well.

In her work as a therapist and consultant, Christina Edmondson has learned how to heed the voice of wisdom amid the noise. In this practical guide, she offers a road map to making wise decisions, explains how to effectively offer wise counsel to others, and shows why wisdom is the essential key to relational and organizational health. Drawing on a range of examples from King Solomon to Martin Luther King Jr., Edmondson shows how wisdom includes both shrewdness and a commitment to justice.

Leaders in higher education, churches, and mission-driven businesses will learn how to help their organizations flourish. The book includes end-of-chapter questions for reflection and discussion.

About the Author

Christina Edmondson (MS, University of Rochester; PhD, Tennessee State University) is a therapist, public speaker, church leader, organizational consultant, and cultural intelligence facilitator who advises churches on leadership development, antiracism, and mental health. She has served in leadership roles in numerous higher education and nonprofit organizations, including Calvin University, The Witness Foundation, and the National Association of Evangelicals. She also cohosts the popular Truth's Table podcast. Edmondson lives in Nashville, Tennessee.