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What would your church look like in the future if it were to maximize the dormant gifts of the women God has brought there? In Developing Female Leaders, Kadi Cole, twenty-year veteran in leadership and people development, offers a practical strategy to help church and organizational leaders craft cultures that facilitate the development of women as volunteer and staff leaders.
Using interviews and surveys of more than one thousand women in key church and organizational roles, combined with current research, the author has created eight easy-to-implement “best practices” that help accelerate a woman’s organizational contribution.
Thorough appendices and references add even more guidance for setting vision, milestones, and goals. Developing Female Leaders is a one-of-a-kind resource for identifying what is missing today in your church to help it flourish in the future.
What I loved about Developing Female Leaders:
This book is right up my alley so there are tons of things I loved about it. As a female leader, a podcaster to female leaders, someone who has grown up in church and plans to stay there for the rest of her life I have many thoughts and experiences that resound with this topic.
From the most simplistic standpoint though, the number one thing I love about this book is that it thoughtfully and unapologetically opens up the discussion of female leadership in the church without alienating or belittling.
Have you ever been in a meeting where there is a huge elephant in the room and the leadership avoids the topic like the plague? You sit for what seems like hours trying to make headway on a project or initiative but the key to the whole discussion is left out in the cold.
If you are like me this is maddening and so incredibly stunting. But if you are fortunate there is one brave soul who pipes up from the end of the table and addresses the elephant with such clarity and respect that you want to leap from your seat and exclaim “YES!” The thought they usher into the room demands it be addressed but in such a succinct and respectful way that there is no need for defense.
THIS is exactly how I felt about Developing Female Leaders.
It felt like the word “finally” breathed out with a huge sigh of relief.
Kadi puts to words things I have felt and experienced but couldn’t put my finger on. She candidly talks about all the skills and talents churches are leaving on the table, the blind eye turned to capable women who can lead, and the giant gap in mentorship for those who are given positions. She does this and more without demeaning or polarizing what each side of the spectrum believes.
In my mind, a book like this would have been impossible to write but Kadi eloquently expresses her position and plea for churches to open their eyes with wisdom and experience only someone who has had a seat at the table for a long time could do. I love that she has seen both sides of the theological spectrum and can still respect and appreciate both viewpoints.
In my opinion, it doesn’t matter where you fall theologically Kadi’s book will uncover blind spots in your leadership, practices, and policies.
Honestly, Kadi had me at the first line on the Welcome page.
“You have really nice birthing hips” was also something said to me verbatim in church, except I was in 6th grade and it was spoken accompanied by a slap on the butt from a grandmotherly figure. I can attest that hearing that come out of someone’s mouth in your direction can stun even the wittiest of souls.
From experiences of her own to others shared by over 1,000 female church leaders, I was astounded by how each story rang with resonance with my own journey.
If nothing more this book validated some big areas of doubt and confusion for me and gave me words to speak about them.
Lastly, I sincerely appreciated the care and respect she treated not only the stories told by women but the ideas she charges church leadership with. I perhaps could have written a similar book but after all my sassy remarks and sarcastic quips, the book would have been reduced to just a few sentences.
What I didn’t like so much:
I felt like the entire book I was asking, “Ok now what?” or “How do I approach this topic?” or “What should I be doing?” I understand the purpose of the book was not to guide female leaders on how to tackle the issues at hand but to open up the discussion with current leadership to get them thinking. I love that fact, but my personality couldn’t let it go.
I felt like I needed action steps or a guide and I was bummed that chapter after chapter it wasn’t there UNTIL I got to the bonus chapter where Kadi outlines the 5 Best Practices for Female Leaders. I flew through this section and honestly have referred back to it many times.
My only quip is that there was not more of it.
I feel I’m waiting for her second book aimed directly those of us who are boots on the ground. I know she could easily write a second book encouraging, equipping, and emboldening female leaders and I for one am here for it all day long!
Why I recommend this book:
If you attend a church you need to read Developing Female Leaders. If you are a pastor you need to read this book. If you are a deacon, elder, or leader of any kind within the church you need to read this book. If you are a female leader you need to read this.
Not because I feel like you are going to blow up your church policies and usher in a new wave of change but because 50% (or more) of your church needs you to engage in this conversation, identify what you believe, and figure out if you are practicing what you believe.
If nothing more the women in your church will appreciate the clarity and boundaries they didn’t have before.
So many women linger in the shadows because they don’t know where the line is and they don’t want their skill and knowledge to be viewed as disrespectful upon its use.
I hope and pray this book opens your eyes to topics you may not have even realized existed and empowers you to have healthy respectful discussions about where you stand and how you can develop the female leaders you do have.
About Kadi:
Kadi Cole has spent the last twenty-five years studying leadership and organizational development, most recently serving as an Executive Director at one of America’s largest and fastest growing multi-site churches. She is passionate about helping local churches thrive and equipping leaders to fulfill their calling.
Kadi is a true visionary, ahead of her time in teaching churches to harness the God-given talents in their congregations.
While we are all called to serve, Kadi helps men and women navigate the unique challenges that may arise in pursuit of that call together.
Kadi is an engaging, practical, and down-to-earth speaker and writer on a variety of topics related to leadership, organizational development, spiritual growth, parenting, and living a full life.
Still curious? Learn more about Kadi here.
On the podcast:
I got to sit down with Kadi and my co-host Esther to interview her for an episode of The Christian Woman Leadership Podcast. I felt like I could have talked to her all day. She had a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and really was able to bring our listeners insight and validation to many of the topics she discusses in her book.
I love this conversation and would love for you to listen.
You can find it here. You can also find the show notes and links here.
This blog post contains affiliate links. I was not asked to review this book by Kadi Cole, her team, or the publisher.
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