4mat Review Clinton

A 4-Mat Book Review of

The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development

By

Robert Clinton

David Maurer

Liberty University

A 4-Mat Book Review of The Making of Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development

Abstract

Clinton uses this book to tell his reader that leadership is a God given call and gift. He also uses biblical insight to show the reader how God develops leaders through various processes and situations. The book helps people to become the leader that God wants them to be, rather than the leader that they think they should become. Clinton also addresses the book to a wide range of audiences. This book isn’t just for professional leaders or people in full time ministry. People can lead for God’s purpose in unpaid and unprofessional positions as well.

Clinton discusses leadership training, but he also discusses real life experiences and development that comes from growth and experience. Much of the book is aimed at readers with some ministry experience, but readers that don’t have such experience can still benefit form the book, as did I. The biggest concept to grasp from the book in my opinion is understanding that God is control not matter what type of leadership role one is fulfilling. God uses everyone differently, but we are all called to lead in some capacity.

Another concept that makes sense is the idea that leaders are created over time and not over night. For example, Clinton discusses the leadership emergence theory which forces one to look at a lifetime with long-range perspectives. He explains the five-phase generalized timeline, which helps the study of leader over their development. “In the long haul, God is preparing you for convergence. He is conforming you to the image of Christ” (Clinton, 2012, p. 28). During this long journey, God presents process items that help to mold and develop a leader over time.

Not only does the book provide information and guidance on...