Shiloh Christian School Newsletter
Vol. 5 Issue: 10 "NWA'S PREMIER PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL"
THE GARDENER
This week I have been reading I have been reading General Stanley McCrystal's book "Team of Teams". Toward the end of the book he makes a great analogy that I connected with in terms of leadership styles.
He spoke about the concept of transitioning from a heroic leader to a humble gardener. Being an avid gardener he quickly gathered my attention.
The gardener creates an environment in which the plants can flourish. The work done up front, vigilant maintenance, and timely action are key components to a garden that will produce a healthy, sustainable, and bountiful crop.
Gardeners must diligently prepare the soil of the garden. The soil must have the correct ph balance, mineral content, and nutrient complexity to sustain fruits and vegetables through harvest. Once the plants are planted the garden requires an immense amount of maintenance to maximize performance and production. Gardeners have to constantly prune areas that are not producing, pick weeds that steal nutrients from the plant, provide consistent watering and sunlight, and protect against disease and rot. The timing is critical for the gardener. The gardener must know the right moment to do each one of the components above. If the gardener is wrong or miss-times a step the garden can quickly become unhealthy, produce less, or even lost.
Each of these same concepts apply to any organization we operate. In the same way as leaders we must put in the work on the front end creating the conditions and atmosphere that will allow for great success in our organization. We must perform consistent personnel maintenance through pruning and enriching our staff, and make timely and effective decisions that ensure the efficiency and success of the organization.
The reason I like this analogy is the fact that too often we push leaders to simply be facilitators and step out of the decision making seat. I believe too often leaders pass off decision making out of fear of the responsibility that comes with it. Conversely, an authoritarian approach is no longer a leadership style that is well received outside of the battlefield as General McCrystal suggests in his book referring to "heroic leadership". There is a time and a place for absolutism but rarely is it sustainable in modern day to day organizational practices. That is why "the gardener approach" is brilliant.
In short the gardener creates the environment where their personnel are nurtured, protected, and have the ability to find success and produce ideas while the gardener maintains the ability to make timely and effective decisions on the ideas produced organically within the organization. This model highlights the plants (personnel) and produce (product) rather than the gardener (leader). However, the produce matches the vision of the organization the gardener had created.
Gardens are a lot of work and require daily attention but the harvest is worth the work!
I hope these thoughts challenge you this week as they did me. Lead NWA well this week!
- Dr. Keith McDaniel
START YOUR WEEK IN WORSHIP!
DR. BEN CARSON
Shoot-a-thon
BE A PART OF THE VICTORY WALK
SECONDARY CHAPEL
KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP!
SCS FALL CARNIVAL & SILENT AUCTION!
There will be lots of games, candy, inflatables, auction items, and yes.....GOLDFISH! Our elementary students love to be a part of this fun family night!
DISCOVER SHILOH DINNER!
SENIOR STOP THE BLEED AND CPR TRAINING
SECONDARY ART
COMMUNITY HELPERS UNIT
1st GRADE
3rd GRADE
GCU!
SHILOH CHRISTIAN COLLEGE PHYSICS
SHILOH CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY
SHILOH CHRISTIAN CHEMISTRY - Fire Friday
5th Grade Robotics
FOURTH GRADE SCIENCE
1ST GRADERS
SHILOH CHRISTIAN ATHLETICS - HERE COME THE SAINTS!
SHILOH CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL
Saints move on to 6-1 record overall and 4-0 in 5A West Conference play! Saints will have a big game against Farmington this Friday Night!
YOUTH LEAGUE FOOTBALL
2/3rd Grade Score: W
4th Grade Score: W
5th Grade Score: W
6th Grade Score: W
FARM BUREAU PLAYER OF THE WEEK!
SHILOH CHRISTIAN VOLLEYBALL
SHILOH CHRISTIAN BAND
Congratulations, we are so proud of our band and Mr. Hunt!
SHILOH CHRISTIAN CROSS COUNTRY
Both of our Girls and boys athletes are doing so well!
Mathew Thurman is currently the top ranked Junior High boy in the stat (1A-6A) winning this week's meet with a time of 10:35 in the 2 mile race.
The JH Boyys team came in 2nd place in the 4-6a division with two other medalists including Carson Herron (2nd place), and Jack Hooe (7th place).
WE ARE ACCREDITED BY STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS!
WE ARE SHILOH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - YOUR #1 CHOICE FOR PRIVATE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
We are Northwest Arkansas' Premiere Private Christian School!
Our Mission Is: "To develop Godly leaders who engage their culture and change it."Email: info@shilohsaints.org
Website: www.shilohsaints.org
Location: 1707 Johnson Road, Springdale, AR, USA
Phone: (479)756-1140
Facebook: facebook.com/ShilohChristianSchool
Twitter: @twitter_ShilohChristian