Darryn's Blog

What is Quality

Dr. Mark Rutland, President of Southeastern University is teaching my Effective Leadership Course. He introduced us to the work of Phillip Crosby, a renowned expert on Quality Control who gave this key definition of quality:

“Quality is Meeting Expectations.” 

Consider the implications if that is true:

• There is no objective standard for quality anywhere.
• If quality is meeting expectations, then all quality is “local quality.”
• You cannot exceed quality in one direction and expect that to make up for not having quality in another.
• Too often you have people operating on two different standards of expectations.
• The greater responsibility for internal quality is on the leader.

Adjusting to Grad School

I know. I've been MIA on this blog for over a month.

I've recently added graduate school to my life and it's taken a while to adjust to the new work load.  I'm  on campus every month about 3-4 days at Southeastern University There pre-class reading and assignments, plus writing and projects that are due the following month.

I'm scheduled to graduate with a Master in Ministerial Leadership in December. I'm keeping my head above water so far, but I would love a transcriptionist could type at 70-80 wpm.

Would you like to read along with me? Pastor Gary is onboard already. Here are some of the books I've read and written about since January as part of the program.

Grenz, Stanley J. Theology for the Community of God. Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman, 1994.

Frankl, Viktor E. Man's Search for Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press, 2006.

Lakoff, George, and Mark Johnson. Metaphors We Live By. Chicago, Ill. [u.a.]: Univ. of Chicago Press, 2004.

Anderson, Walt. Reality Isn't What It Used to Be : Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of the Postmodern World. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990.

Lingenfelter, Sherwood G. Transforming Culture : A Challenge for Christian Mission. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1992.

Blanchard, Kenneth H., and Phil Hodges. Lead Like Jesus : Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Times. Nashville, TN: W Pub. Group, 2005.

Kouzes, James M., and Barry Z. Posner. The Leadership Challenge The Leadership Practices Inventory. San Francisco, Calif.; Chichester: Jossey-Bass ; John Wiley [distributor], 2008.

Maxwell, John C. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership : Follow Them and People Will Follow You. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 2007.

Lencioni, Patrick. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team : Team Assessment. San Francisco: Pfeiffer, 2007.

Patton, John. Pastoral Care in Context : An Introduction to Pastoral Care. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993.

Get ready! I'm going to start posting some of the smart things I'm learning beginning with my next post.