Connections: A multi-case study of the life -shaping influences of persons who hold positions of leadership in healthcare, the Christian church, and higher education

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the life shaping influences experienced by leaders in healthcare, the Christian church, and higher education. A proliferation of leadership education classes and programs has emerged over the last two decades which hope to mold and shape leaders. As leadership studies has emerged as its own academic discipline, scholars and practitioners have taken its lessons and developed training programs, retreats, books, and workshops for leaders in the field. Teachers in higher education and secondary education have created classes, curricula, and camps to influence the leadership development of youth and young adults. Some scholarly work has examined the formative aspects of leaders' lives. A gap in the field of leadership studies is the disconnect between the literature which addresses the shaping influences which prepare leaders, the research about the character of leaders, and the research on external behaviors of leaders. This author positions servant leadership as portrait of a leader's character as opposed to one's leadership style. This study, through the review of the literature, strengthens these connections and adds to the body of knowledge regarding shaping influences in the early lives of leaders.;This research used a qualitative multiple-case study methodology. Three leaders shared their leadership development stories focusing on the time period between the ages of five and 30. The participants all met the criteria of being good leaders selected on the basis of longevity, effectiveness, and ethical conduct. Previous studies have concentrated on persons in similar career positions, while this study provides an examination of leaders who have chosen different career paths.;The findings of this study indicate that regardless of the participant's career path similar formative influences were experienced. Commonalities were found in the shaping moments of family relationships, work settings, spiritual experiences, cross-cultural exposure, and positive processing of critical incidents. These findings also corroborate previous findings in the literature. One distinct finding to this study is the shaping influence of recognition of leadership potential by another on the developing leader. Further questions can be raised about the different interpretation of these early shaping experiences in terms of gender. In addition, questions arise as to why persons come to value formal education but cannot attribute formative influence in their leadership development from formal education experiences.