John C. Maxwell
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 77
Average rating: 4.5 of 5
Excellent resource with action steps to put into practice now 5 out of 5 stars.
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I recently delivered a presentation on the qualities of an effective leader. "The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader" was an excellent resource for my presentation. Not only does Maxwell clearly describe the 21 qualities, but he gives practical tips on how to improve in each of these areas. The book is well laid out which makes for an easy read. I highly recommend this book for burgeoning leaders and seasoned leaders.
A must read. 5 out of 5 stars.
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This book is a must read for anyone involved in leadership. This book will take your leadership skills to deeper depths and higher highs.
A Good Companion 3 out of 5 stars.
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John Maxwell has done his best to make this an easy-to-read and useful text - and he has indeed made it an easy read. The chapters are short - most being around seven pages or about ten minutes worth of reading. Each of the twenty-one qualities can be read and digested independently; a great advantage for the time-efficient reader. The language Maxwell uses is simple and straightforward, almost bullet-like at times, and his format makes reading almost effortless. Each chapter contains a story, an explanation of what the story means in terms of leadership skills, and a reflection on the particular leadership virtue he is discussing. Then, so that the read can make use of the material, he adds a "bringing it home" paragraph and a "daily take-away" paragraph at the end of each lesson, making the text read much like a how-to workbook.
How useful this workbook might be to the reader however, is another matter. While Maxwell attempts to be as brief as possible, leadership is not a subject that lends itself to brevity. Concepts like Focus, Generosity, and Courage are complex and abstract; something Dorothy and her friends did not consider before they were off to see the wizard. And just as magical as it was for the wizard to pull these virtues from his bag, it would be equally magical for the reader to learn these characteristics from such abbreviated lessons. While the image of a leader that Maxwell depicts seems to be right on the mark, none of the personal leadership attributes are explained in enough detail to turn a mediocre leader into one who excels. Maxwell's condensed explanations give the reader the impression that leadership and vision can be quickly learned and mastered, which in the everyday world of leading is just not so.
The one real `turn off' in this book is the author's many references to his other book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership as the better text. Maxwell seems to continually remind the reader that Qualities of a Leader is better explained in this other, more complete text. This is always very disappointing to a reader and only leads one to feel that they have purchased the wrong book, and consequentially to wonder why it is worth reading and finally, to question why Maxwell bothered to write it at all. This is where, as with so many self-help books and programs, the intimate author-reader bond begins to feel like the much less intimate, and less comfortable, profiteer-consumer link.
I would recommend reading Qualities of a Leader for several reasons. Most leadership texts, this one included, generate reflection and lead to improvement. However Qualities of a Leader does not provide enough substance or outline changes in any direct or specific way, making this book a good companion or an excellent preface to the reading of more substantial leadership texts.
Editorial Review:
In the tradition of his million-seller The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, author John C. Maxwell now provides a concise, accessible leadership book that helps readers become more effective leaders from the inside out. Daily readings highlight twenty-one essential leadership qualities and include "Reflecting On It" and "Bringing It Home" sections that help readers integrate and apply each day's material.
