Leadership Books - Page 3

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry

Ruth Haley Barton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Refreshment for the Leader's Soul 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

"Strengthening the soul of our leadership is an invitation that begins, continues and ends with seeking God in the crucible of ministry." These words from the final chapter summarize the central theme of the book. The chapters leading up to it paint a compelling picture of the fruitfulness and joy of leading from a healthy soul that is focused on God, and the risks of soul-less leadership in ministry.

Barton follows the story of Moses and talks about her own journey, including struggles and victories. At times she challenges the reader to take stock and at other times she offers practical advice for refilling our souls. And at the end of each chapter, she offers a "practice" that will help readers to reflect on and apply the teaching they've just read.

I'm not one to read with a highlighter in hand, but within the first few pages I found myself thinking, "Oh, that's good," and marking a couple of sentences for future references. I kept going back to the highlighter as Barton kept taking me to places deep in my spirit. At times Barton's words were a needed wake-up call and at other times they were a source of refreshment. I'm thankful for both, and I'm sure that you will be as well.

Editorial Review:

(I>"I'm tired of helping others enjoy God."

"I just want to enjoy God for myself." With this painful admission, Ruth Haley Barton invites us to an honest exploration of what happens when spiritual leaders lose track of their souls. Weaving together contemporary illustrations with penetrating insight from the life of Moses, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership explores topics such as responding to the dynamics of calling facing the loneliness of leadership leading from your authentic self cultivating spiritual community reenvisioning the promised land discerning God's will together

Each chapter includes a spiritual practice to ensure your soul gets the nourishment it needs. Forging and maintaining a life-giving connection with God is the best choice you can make for yourself and for those you lead.

Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders (J-B Leadership Network Series)

Reggie McNeal

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Based on his extensive experience as coach and mentor to many thousands of Christian leaders across a broad spectrum of ministry settings, Reggie McNeal helps spiritual leaders understand that they will self-select into or out of greatness. In this important book, McNeal shows how great spiritual leaders are committed consciously and intentionally to seven spiritual disciplines, habits of heart and mind that shape both their character and competence:

 

The discipline of self-awareness—the single most important body of information a leader possesses

 

The discipline of self-management—handling difficult emotions, expectations, temptations, mental vibrancy, and physical well-being

 

The discipline of self-development—a life-long commitment to learning and growing and building on one's strengths

 

The discipline of mission—enjoying the permissions of maintaining the sense of God's purpose for your life and leadership

 

The discipline of decision-making—knowing the elements of good decisions and learning from failure

 

The discipline of belonging—the determination to nurture relationships and to live in community with others, including family, followers, mentors, and friends

 

The discipline of aloneness—the intentional practice of soul-making solitude and contemplation

 

China: Fragile Superpower

Susan L. Shirk

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Once a sleeping giant, China today is the world's fastest growing economy--the leading manufacturer of cell phones, laptop computers, and digital cameras--a dramatic turn-around that alarms many Westerners. But in China: Fragile Superpower, Susan L. Shirk opens up the black box of Chinese politics and finds that the real danger lies elsewhere--not in China's astonishing growth, but in the deep insecurity of its leaders. China's leaders face a troubling paradox: the more developed and prosperous the country becomes, the more insecure and threatened they feel. Shirk, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for China, knows many of today's Chinese rulers personally and has studied them for three decades. She offers invaluable insight into how they think--and what they fear. In this revealing book, readers see the world through the eyes of men like President Hu Jintao and former President Jiang Zemin. We discover a fragile communist regime desperate to survive in a society turned upside down by miraculous economic growth and a stunning new openness to the greater world. Indeed, ever since the 1989 pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and the fall of communism in the Soviet Union, Chinese leaders have been afraid of its own citizens, and this fear motivates many of their decisions when dealing with the U.S. and other nations. In particular, the fervent nationalism of the Chinese people, combined with their passionate resentment of Japan and attachment to Taiwan, have made relations with this country a minefield. The paperback edition features a new preface by the author.

Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: How to Become an Effective Leader by Confronting Potential Failures

Gary L., McIntosh, Samuel D., Rima

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Confronting Latent Failures While Becoming an Effective Leader 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

In this revised edition of "Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership" authors, Gary McIntosh and Samuel Rima reflect on what they have experienced and observed in Christian leadership during the ten years since the first edition was first published. Gary and Sam both share from the conflict in their own personal experiences which brought them to a place of recognizing their personal dysfunction and the importance of taking proactive steps in their journey of self discovery, healing and fulfillment..

Part one of the book helps the reader understand more fully what the dark side of personality is and how it develops. Part two deals with discovery of the dark side of leadership the reader may be dealing with personally. Part three discusses overcoming the dark side and offers a five-step plan for accomplishing this.

Additional chapters have been included to cover topics such as: The dangers of the dark side, and the process of spiritual composting. The appendix has been expanded by adding a section to help the reader identify their dark side.

Examples from the failures of Biblical and contemporary Christian leaders are used to illustrate various dysfunctions in the leadership styles of the compulsive leader, the narcissistic leader, the paranoid leader, the codependent leader, and the passive-aggressive leader.

I found the "targeting insights," and "applying insights" featured at the end of each chapter to be practical and helpful tools for self discovery.

This edition of "Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership" has a new subtitle which offers new help to the reader, "How to Become an Effective Leader by Confronting Potential Failures. By melding relevant and significant information with proactive steps for today's Christian leaders, Gary L. McIntosh and Samuel D. Rima help their readers avoid the risks and consequences of making untimely devastating decisions that would taint the effectiveness of their personal testimony and the reputations of the Christian church.

Editorial Review:

The Christian world has been rocked by the number of prominent leaders, in both church and parachurch organizations, who have been compromised by moral, ethical, and theological failures. This pace-setting volume addresses this alarming problem and offers Christian leaders valuable guidance in dealing with the inherent risks of their work. Using biblical and current examples, the authors describe the characteristics of five types of leaders and the problems that are most likely to develop if their particular dysfunctions develop unrestrained. McIntosh and Rima offer a series of steps for leaders to consider so they can take control of their dark side and learn to harness its creative powers. This edition includes a new introduction, updated information throughout, a self-assessment tool, and other additional material. Includes endorsements from John Maxwell, Leighton Ford, Leith Anderson, and Rob Angel.

The Tao of Leadership: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age

John Heider

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent book for a certain leadership 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

First, if you're looking for a straight translation of the Tao te Ching, this isn't it. If, however, you want a book that roughly translates one of the world's great texts into modern leadership language, this book is great.
Broken into simple chapters to match the Ching, it easily conveys very profound ideas for group facilitation and leadership. Like the Tao te Ching, it's emphasis is on the yin or gentler aspects of leadership. It's good to balance this with a more yang book (Good to Great, Leadership is An art, etc.) to get a rounded perspective on leadership.
However, since most leadership in Western culture is very yang oriented, this will provide a good balance and deep insights that will assist most of us in becoming better leaders.

Editorial Review:

The Tao of Leadership is an invaluable tool for anyone in a position of leadership. This book provides the most simple and clear advice on how to be the very best kind of leader: be faithful, trust the process, pay attention, and inspire others to become their own leaders. Heider's book is a blend of practical insight and profound wisdom, offering inspiration and advice. This book is used as a Management/Leadership training text by many Fortune 500 corporations, including IBM, Mitsubishi, and Prudential.

Learning to Lead: A Workbook on Becoming a Leader

Warren Bennis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The best-selling guide to leadership development-fully revised, updated, and expanded for a new generation of leaders.

Over their distinguished careers, Warren Bennis and Joan Goldsmith have demonstrated how leaders are made, not born. In today's environment of crisis and uncertainty, the ability to develop leaders is arguably the most pressing concern, whether the arena is business, politics, education, health care, the environment, or the arts. Integrating wisdom from the world's most insightful and accomplished leaders, self-assessments, and dozens of interactive skill-building exercises, Learning to Lead reveals the underpinnings of true leadership. It shows you how to see beyond leadership myths, translate failures into springboards for renewed creativity, and communicate your vision for yourself, your team, or your organization.

This new edition has been updated throughout, including bibliography and references, and contains substantive new material that reflects the authors' ongoing research on collaborative leadership, ethics, integrity, and personal development.

It's Our Ship: The No-Nonsense Guide to Leadership

Captain D. Michael Abrashoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

IT'S OUR SHIP 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I'm a big fan of Captain D. Michael Abrashoff's leadership methods and his books. His latest, IT'S OUR SHIP - The No Nonsense Guide to Leadership is the third in a series based on his command tour aboard USS BENFOLD (DDG65) and building on his experiences with leaders in the business world. In this third book, I see Michael's growth as an author and as a leader. The third book includes some snippets from the story outlined in his first best seller - IT'S YOUR SHIP. Sure to be a best seller in its own right, IT'S OUR SHIP provides a great blend of Michael's own story with those of other proven leaders in the business world. These are stories worth telling and Michael tells them exceedingly well. In his latest book, he takes you back to USS Benfold, then to The Container Store, Pitney Bowes, Aflac, 1-800-GOT-JUNK and many other commercial enterprises before ending where he started - USS BENFOLD. From each enterprise, he brings together their leadership lessons with his and demonstrates that these principles work in every environment. All it takes is "collaboration" - the key word in this book.

I come at the three books (the second was GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER) from a different perspective and much more critical eye than most readers. I was commissioned the same year (1982) Michael was - though from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island rather than the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. We both assumed command in 1997 (though my command was a shore command) and we both worked for the Secretary of Defense (though mine was Donald H. Rumsfeld - as fine, patriotic, and honest a man as ever served (twice) in that demanding position). When I assumed command, I was taking over for an interim caretaker Commanding Officer who was nurturing a command back to health after two failed Inspector General inspections (somewhat like the Operational Propulsion Plant Examination that USS BENFOLD had failed before Michael assumed command). I know first-hand the challenges of command. I retired as a Navy Captain in 2006 with a career spanning 30 years of service as an enlisted Sailor and a commissioned one. I am a Navyman. I fully appreciate the context of his books and the purpose for which they were written. Read these books, apply the principles and watch your people grow, succeed and surpass your expectations.

I know that the leadership principles that Michael outlined in all three books work. They work extraordinarily well, when properly employed. They worked for him, they worked for me, they work for Commanding Officers at sea and ashore today, and they will work for you. Captain Abrashoff is a masterful leader and brilliant storyteller. I've gone back to do some research and can't validate that "virtually all 310 Sailors were deeply demoralized" or that "clearly his (the former CO's) leadership had failed", as Michael has described the situation. I say this, because statements like these are toned down a bit in his second and third books, which shows Michael's growth as both author and leader. While this over-dramatization tells a better story, Arleigh Burke destroyer Sailors are the cream of the crop of surface Sailors. Michael started off in a far better position than a reader might otherwise think, though he and his crew faced significant challenges and overcame them together to achieve remarkable successes by any measure.

Commander Abrashoff assumed command of a nearly new Arleigh Burke destroyer and inherited a crew that suffered the natural trials and tribulations of pre-commissioning a ship and `bringing her to life.' The truth of the matter is that three of the officers under the former CO and the former CO himself are all Navy Flag officers today - the enlisted Sailors of that first crew went on to enjoy great success as well. The first CO of USS BENFOLD was certainly doing something right and continues to do well on active duty today. I think it's more a matter of different approaches to leadership - there are many ways to effectively command an Arleigh Burke destroyer.

I give you my own insight so that you understand fully that there is no doubting that Commander Abrashoff's approach is successful - and he fills you with genuine confidence that you can be equally successful (that in itself is a sign of a good leader). Leaders everywhere would do well to make his three books a part of their libraries - but only putting them on the shelf after they have devoured every word. I remain a student of leadership and Michael's books have contributed greatly to my education. I could have used them at the start, in the middle and at the end of my Navy career. I read and reread them today. And I will, again, tomorrow. I hope you'll join me. You will not regret it.

Editorial Review:

The story of Captain Abrashoff and his command of USS Benfold has become legendary inside and outside the Navy. By governing his ship with his unique management techniques, Abrashoff turned the Benfold into a model of naval efficiency, with amazing cost savings, the highest gunnery score in the Pacific Fleet, and a highly motivated and top performing crew.

In IT'S YOUR SHIP, he first demonstrated how to bring his successful management techniques from the ship to the boardroom. Now, in his newest book IT'S OUR SHIP, in the same rugged, can-do voice, Abrashoff will focus on the leadership, motivational, and management insights and tips that he has learned from his last six years of addressing business and corporate audiences.

Abrashoff's timely advice will be eminently prescriptive, and will feature anecdotes and insights from leaders of businesses large and small and from public and non-profit sectors.

Leading from Within: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Lead

Sam M. Intrator, Megan Scribner

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Leading from Within is a wonderful collection of  ninety-three poems from well-loved poets, each of which is accompanied by a brief personal commentary from a leader explaining the significance and meaning of the poem in his or her life and work. The contributors represent a wide range of professions including Vanguard Group founder John Bogle, MoveOn.org cofounder Joan Blades, several members of Congress, Christian activist Brian McLaren, business guru Peter Senge, and many other leaders from business, medicine, education, nonprofits, law, politics and government, and religion. In their reflections, these leaders explore how they have been inspired by poets such as T.S. Eliot, Mary Oliver, William Stafford, Langston Hughes, Pablo Neruda, Robert Frost, Rumi, May Sarton, Wallace Stevens, Wendell Berry, and Rainer Maria Rilke.

"Leading from Within is perhaps the most soulful treatment of leadership ever composed. Leadership is first an inner quest, and there is absolutely no better place to explore your inner territory than in the pages of this book. This is an evocative work of art; do yourself an immense favor, and engage with these amazing and diverse leaders and their poems."—Jim Kouzes, coauthor of the bestselling The Leadership Challenge and A Leader's Legacy

"Leading from Within makes brilliant use of the world's great poets to inspire us to lead with our hearts as well as our heads. It calls to the deeper purpose and meaning within all of us to use our gifts to serve others." —Bill George, author, True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership

"This is a superb collection of poems and deeply personal reflections from a wide range of real leaders. It is a gift to all of us who believe in bringing our hearts to our work." —Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)

"The entries in this wonderful anthology are a joy to read and all the more interesting because of their special meaning to the leaders who recommended them. It is a book that every nonprofit leader should place among those they draw upon for inspiration every day."—Diana Aviv, president and CEO, Independent Sector

"Leading from Within offers a candid view straight into the heart and soul of leaders striving to do good and effective work in the world. The poems and commentaries remind us that leadership is always deeply personal and chock-full of dilemmas that must be addressed by creativity, passion, imagination, and courage."—Jeff Swartz, president and CEO, Timberland

Getting Unstuck: How Dead Ends Become New Paths

Timothy Butler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Unstuck but not yet moving forward 4 out of 5 stars.
18 of 18 people found this review helpful.

Butler's book has one of the best cover images I've see i awhile. A fish leaps into the air, leaving behind other fish swimming peacefully in their glass bowl. At first he seems bent on self-destruction, till we realize another bowl is waiting to receive him. It's mostly hidden at the edge of the page and it's emptier.

The image is appropriate bcause Butler's book ultimately is about finding vision and image. He keeps referring to the Hundred Careers exercise: choose your top 12 from a list of 100. Then (and this is the important part) uncover common themes.

Usually I get nervous when career counselors urge clients to work with specific choices, because most people carry inaccurate stereotypes of careers with them. Accountants can be extraverted and sales people can be shy. But I sense that Butler works with each person's unique perceptions of the careers, although he doesn't say so directly.

Another reviewer suggests that a reader might need a guide to work through the process. I'm more concerned about translating insight into action. If you're an artist trapped in a banking career, how do you carry out the exploration you need? How do you find your new life? OK, a creative decides to become a freelance artist, but things get a little more complicated in real life. Every freelancer I know (including me) has to deal with creating systems to get the work done, marketing, staying motivated, and dealing with dumb things like more ink for the printer and why hasn't the bank transferred over your account forms.

Of course, vision can be compelling. A strong vision can motivate career changers to find solutions, sometimes almost effortlessly.

I can't help comparing this book to Herminia Ibarra's book, Working Identity, also published by Harvard Universiety Press. Ibarra emphasizes the zig zag pattern of actions most people take to find their next careers. Most people I know operate that way. They just take one step at a time till they realize that somehow they've landed where they're supposed to be.

Ibarra also targets midlife career changers -- people who have achieved some success and accomplishment. This book seems directed to younger people who have less at stake. For example, a 35-year-old woman who leaves a high-powered financial career to become a high school teacher, reducing her income from $106K to $34K. Some people make those kinds of moves and never look back. Others realize they miss the lifestyle of the larger salary. Still others get bogged down by conditions of working, like paperwork.

I can't help wondering how this woman will feel when she's in her fifties and sixties. And I hope she likes teaching, because it's going to be hard to make a shift back to the corporate world from just about anything else.

Definitely Getting Unstuck holds value for people at the early stages of their career searches. I would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a new way to think about career change. But I've seen people who need to get unstuck not just from their jobs but from their analysis. Exploring possibilities is fun. Translating them to realities - and living with the aftermath - gets a whole lot more complicated.

Editorial Review:

You will experience psychological impasse many times in your life. During these times, you have the sensation that you're stuck or paralyzed. You're convinced that something must change, whether in your work or personal life. Though this feeling is normal, you need to move beyond it. Failure to "get unstuck" can put your career and personal life - as well as the healthy functioning of your team or organisation - at risk. In "Getting Unstuck", business psychologist and researcher Timothy Butler offers strategies for moving beyond a career or personal-life impasse - by recognising the state of impasse, awakening your imagination, recognising patterns of meaning in your life, and taking action for change. Drawing on a wealth of stories about individuals who have successfully transitioned out of impasses, "Getting Unstuck" provides a practical, authoritative road map for moving past your immediate impasse - and defining a meaningful path forward.

Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrows Success (Maxwell, John C.)

John C. Maxwell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great principles you can apply today. 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 0 people found this review helpful.

You only have today. And what you do (or don't do) today bears much significance. Today Matters is practical and well written, giving insights from someone who has lived many significant, meaningful days. If you're looking for a book that helps guide you into making every day count, John Maxwell's Today Matters is a must read.

Editorial Review:

New York Times bestselling author John C. Maxwell reveals the surprisingly straightforward secret to daily success and fulfillment. Most of us look at our days in the wrong way. We overexaggerate yesterday. We overestimate tomorrow. We underestimate today. The truth is that the most important day you will experience is today. Making today your masterpiece is the key to success. Maxwell offers twelve decisions and disciplines-he calls it his daily dozen-that can be learned and mastered by any person to achieve success. He teaches how to possess possibilities, remain focused, enjoy good health, exhibit stability, hold an advantage, be tenacious, experience fulfillment, exercise options, sense inner peace, feel significant, receive direction, and learn to grow. These lessons are simple, but the gap between knowing and doing is greater than the gap between ignorance and knowledge. In TODAYMATTERS, Maxwell teaches how to close that problematic gap.