Leader

Although the business press likes nothing more than the rise and fall of mighty corporate monarchs, authors David A. Heenan and Warren Bennis (co-leaders themselves, clearly) contend that today's most important management trend is the movement toward collaborative leadership. While it's become common wisdom that the lightening-fast pace of contemporary business demands more flexible command structures than traditional corporate hierarchies can provide, the cult of personality still dominates public perception. Heenan and Bennis present compelling theory as a basis for their co-leadership model, and reinforce their thinking with a string of examples of executive dynamic duos, like Gates/Ballmer, Grove/Barrett and Merrill/Smith. The case histories are not used to blindly buttress the authors' point, however. The bloody Eisner/Ovitz debacle at Disney is presented in gruesome detail, an apt illustration of the danger of ego in a collaborative age. We [...] recommend this book as required reading for any corporate executive.

The title of this book is a little misleading. I assumed that the book was about co-CEOs, something that is usually a disaster waiting to happen. In fact, the book is about partnerships of complementary talents where one person is willing to work hard out of the limelight. Not all of the examples are business examples either. The authors also look at Chairman Mao and Chou En-lai, President Truman and General Marshall, Bernice Pauahi Bishop and her husband, Charles Reed Bishop (founders of the Bishop Estate in Hawaii), Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan Macy, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and two pairs of basketball coaches.

The book correctly points out that many leaders don't want (or cannot tolerate) having a powerful second-in-command. A COO is often a position created by the board to assist in a transition to picking a new CEO. If the old CEO can sabotage the COO, the old CEO may get to keep the job longer than planned. So what could be co-leadership often doesn't get off the ground. In fact, the COO job is often a dead-end for the inhabitant.

The advantage of the teams, when they work, is that much more can be accomplished by dividing tasks and by challenging each other's thinking so that better ideas are created and more mistakes avoided. The authors feel that every organization should have co-leaders. Frankly, that's unlikely to happen.

The book nicely summarizes 10 lessons for how co-leaders should operate and another 10 lessons for creating a co-leader environment. Most of these will seem like common sense to you, but they are worth considering.

My own research on CEOs shows that the number of roles they are expected to excel in continues to grow. On the other hand, those who are most successful year in and year out as CEOs usually have no co-leaders. They tend to operate with a top management team that more broadly shares the responsibilities and challenges. It would be interesting to put some quantitative measures on the co-leader concept to see how it performs compared to the alternatives.

The main benefit I got from the book was learning more about people who have toiled out of the limelight before becoming CEOs (and who made important contributions as COOs) like Craig Barrett at Intel and Steve Ballmer at Microsoft.

If you are thinking about having a COO or taking a COO job, this book is a must read!

Athletes are coached to "play within themselves" while striving to set new performance standards. In the business world (as Buckingham and Coffman explain in First, Break All the Rules), the most effective managers are those who focus almost entirely on their people's talents and get those talents in proper alignment with the tasks to be completed. The United States military services (especially the Marine Corps) take an entirely different approrach: Through what is indeed basic training, they require everyone involved to master essentially the same skills, within the same schedule, under the same conditions, etc. Only later are graduates of this rigorous process selected to receive more specialized training, usually according to their talents.

This book will be especially valuable to those organizations which have limited resources to invest in formal training. More than 90% of what is learned in any workplace is the result of on-the-job (i.e. informal) training. Collins and Bolger have obviously taken a close look at all manner of formal training programs, including those in the military srevices. They also fully understand the importance of informal training. If your organization has limited resources but a great need to increase the value of its human capital (i.e. increasing the quantity and -- especially -- the quality of what they understand and what they can do), what this book offers would be an excellent starting point. I'm not damning with faint praise. Eventually, if and when appropriate, I would then recommend Peter Senge's The Fifth Discipline and The Dance of Change.

All organizations, regardless of size or nature, must constantly focus on increasing the effectiveness of on-the-job training. There are always at least a few people in each corporate department or small-to-midsize company who are both knowledgable and passionate. "They really know their stuff." They love to explain what they do and how they do it. Others probably think of them as "born teachers." Put them to work as trainers and be sure to reward them generously for their services. Provide books such as Collins and Bolger's to assist their preparation. One effective strategy is to have them conduct what I call "brown bag seminars." Employers or supervisors provide the food and beverages, welcome the participants, wish them well, and then leave the room. Any organization's most valuable assets really do "walk out the door at the end of each day." It is also important to remember that those assets are located between two ears.

A very good read if you are looking to improve the quality of your training programs. Stresses the importance of continuity, breadth, and the leadership role. If you are tired of elaborate and expensive training programs which are difficult to develop and sustain (and therefore not that effective!), you might want to try this book out! I have never served in the military yet found it quite useful. Good civilian application if you understand the military.

Since buying the book in the States, last year, and enjoying it tremendously, I have passed the book around friends and colleagues - who have all bought their own!! to enable them to read and re-read at their leisure. One question however, for anybody who's reading this - WHAT IS THE CONNECTION between Dale Carnegie (the author) and Andrew Carnegie (the businessman) who was born in Dunfermline in Scotland ??

Dale Carnegies timeless relaxed truths, stories fables and true life accounts make the book easy to read as well as comfortable to absorb in to every day living. I recieved this book "How to Win Friends and Influence People was given to me as a gift over 20 years ago when I was a young man starting out in the business world. This book had such a tremendous effect upon me that I in turn have purchased and given it as gifts to others that I care about many times. Next to the Bible, this book has had the greatest impact and effect on my life. In addition the 100's of people that I have been able to pass on it's basic, common sense values. I recommended this as a book to provide for anyone who seems to have the desire to be the best they can be. This book is outstanding in it's approach, teaching all who read it how in this every day world, it behooves them to follow the Golden Rule as set out by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago "Do unto others, as you would like them to do to you". Sincerely, Daniel Maisel GTE Corporation

As a counselor who has ran quite a few groups for male perpetrators of violence, I heartily recommend the wisdom of Wexler's course. Noting both the strengths and the weaknesses of the Duluth approach, Wexler integrates Self Psychology, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and other useful approaches into a package that challenges abusive beliefs and attitudes, educates men about the triggers and consequences of violence, and emphasizes the respect, empathy, and ability to confront needed by good DV counselors.

Although I have been conducting men's groups for several years, I am always on the lookout for new materials - especially material that focuses on teaching communication, conflict resolution, and self-esteem building skills. This manual not only provides excellent handouts and suggestions for these kinds of activity, it also provides a very comprehensive overview of theories in common use and gives pros and cons about their effectiveness. I am delighted by the holistic approach the author takes and can hardly wait to put these concepts and activities to use. The text is arranged for a 36-week progam but the author has shown, in the introduction, how this material can be adapted to fit a 52-week program or shorter programs - very helpful! The only criticism I have to offer is, although an audio tape accompanies the text, no notice in the ordering information was given concerning the handout packets that are also available. I would have liked to include an order for this material when originally ordering the manual - even at an additional cost, those handouts would have allowed me to integrate this new material into my groups immediately. Thank you, Dr. Wexler, for this excellent book. We facilitators in southern California recognize the progressive and comprehensive programs being developed in San Diego and are "borrowing" many of those concepts.

Dream Achievers is for the veteran Network Marketer that wants to be able to enlighten the most uniformed skeptic as well as challenge the brand new representative. After reading the 50 short stories two or three times, I began taking the book with me on appointments. I have highlighted key sentences in most of the stories that I wanted to have prospects read. Then I put tabs on those pages with words such as: "Teens"; $200K - 1st Year; or $100K per month on the labels. This book helps eliminate the first half of the objection - Network Marketing Doesn't Work because you have 50 stories to prove otherwise, the other half of the objection, I don't have confidence in myself to do this is between you and the prospect to overcome. If you purchase this book to only set on your coffee table and read a key story when you might be feeling sorry for yourself, it is worth every penny. But it is better shared than stored. Every serious marketer needs this book!

Hello the book DREAM ACHIEVERS is good for anyone no matter whether they are in network marketing or just trying to make their singing career take off.This is a very inspirational book and I suggest that anyone buy and read this book for their own personal inspiration. Help your dreams take flight. Maybe you too will find your own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.In this book it tells all the how to's in the network marketing business and it has proved to be very helpful so far. Read it I'm sure that you will love it

Okay, forget the fact that Robert Hargrove's book mentions my book and my thinking, and for that i'm flattered. But this book is an excellent guide and mentor, and it takes a point of view I think is essential for success today. I'm excited about E-leader because it points out the importance of PEOPLE in any business. In fact, the title is misleading in that you can apply his principles to any business any time, with or without an Internet approach to business. It's clear, fun to read, and has hundreds of great ideas to try. Most of all, it has the right overall message - you don't lead your customers, they lead you.

An excellent, fast paced read, and a must for every CEO and executive; e leader is about a radical paradigm shift for leaders in the 2lst century. It shows that the real secret of the internet is not e commerce, but the dramatically enhanced ability of leaders to juxtapose people with different talents in a way that result in exciting, thrilling breakthrough solutions. e leader speaks of a number of radical shifts every business person needs to make in 7 powerful and profound chapters: from stewardship to entrepreneurship, from top down to lateral leadership, from game player to game changer. (There are specific guiding ideas,methods and tools for each of us making these transformations.) The powerful lessons in these chapters are interspersed with special interludes of e leaders who have discovered the principles above not in an academic class room, but in action-leaders who revealed a new possibility came up with a a clear businessvision and transformed it into reality. I couldnt stop writing notes in the margin as I read this book as their were numerous applications to me and my company. Several times Robert Hargrove's provocative writing style not only stop and made me think but get up and look in the mirror with respect to my own leadership possibibilities, learning edges, breakdown places, and growth spots. This book is clearly a major contribuition to leadership in the 20th century and definitely a triumph for its noted author Robert Hargrove.

The Barna Research Group is world-renowned for its research and studies on Christian organizations, religious, secular and cultural trends, and organizational behavior.

I wanted a bare knuckle, no-nonsense practical book on leadership I could put to use with my management team, my sales people, and my ministry groups. This was it.

Barna describes four types of leaders: directing, strategic, team-building, and operational. The first thing I did was find myself in the mix, naturally. His insights are clear and very perceptive. Then I evaluated my managers. His insights into each style's nature, strengths, and growth opportunities were invaluable; especially as a mirror on myself and how I tend to interact with others.

He then sent me into my mission and vision statements for the organization and examine those in light of God's vision for me, my business, and His will. The time I have spent reflecting on this portion of the book and clarifying our objectives in light of God's plans, will certainly the business and my life.

A terrific book and a must-have for every organizational leader, father, and fellow traveller on the Christian journey.

This book is well worth the reading. Barna presents some good ideas about leadership, based on his experience. He presents his own theories about what makes a leader and the issues facing a leader.

His book is well worth studying. The book should be included in any course on leadership, secular or not. He make a good argument that leader are called to the task. I disagree with his premise that leadership can't really be taught. Christians in leadership roles need to read this book, and ponder the difficult questions he asks at the end of many chapters.

We need more of Vicki Winslow's books on youth (and adult!) issues in 21st Century settings! I like the way Winslow uses words and that she chooses important issues. Her characters, with all of their strengths and weaknesses and the issues with which they are confronted, are pertinent today.

A compelling story of how one girl can make such a difference in the world. When her bestfriend Jackie is acting predujuist towards black people it is time for Amanda to take a difference. In the end, everything works out great for Amanda and has many friends including ones who are black. A great Historical Fiction book for children of all ages. Teaches kids how life really was back then.

I completely agree with the previous reviewer's comments. It was a blessing to read. I felt I was partaking of a feast of love while reading this book. It is definitely aimed at the student of Christian Science and reveals tremendous insights into the experiences and lessons which Mrs. Eddy went through. Much can be gained by reading these books which will help the student in his/her understanding and practice of Christian Science.

It is by all means the best book ever written about Mary Baker Eddy and every Christian Scientist should read this and the other two books which are part of the series. We owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the writer. Thank you.

A highly interesting, inspired and lovingly written but sure to be controversial three volume biography of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer, Founder and Leader of Christian Science (CS).

From the point of view of Christian Science, this is the best three volume biography of Mrs. Eddy written to date. Unlike the Peel biographies with their secular bent and attempts to paint Mrs. Eddy as no more than a very significant historical figure, Grekel starts where Rober Peel left off and thoroughly explains the spiritual identity and significance of the discover and founder of Christian Science. For Grekel, unlike Peel, Mrs. Eddy represents the human manifestation in the flesh of the the 2nd Coming of Christ found in Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy is seen by Grekel as fufilling both Old and New Testament prophecy from Isaiah to the Gospels of the promised revelator of the Comforter. To Grekel, Mrs. Eddy's spiritual identity is to be found in Revelation as the Woman of Prophecy and only those Christian Scientists that can see this are the "remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.Rev 12:17. It is clear that the authoress, Doris Grekel and co-author Morris are obviously writing wholly from the standpoint of convinced disciples of Mrs. Eddy. Doris makes no apologies for that approach.

While many from within and without the Christian Science movement will disagree with both Grekel's approach and her credentials, few readers will deny that this book is nothing short of a loving "Ode" to Mrs. Eddy. Dr. Robert Putnam, a student of Bliss Knapp, has described this book in a short review of books on Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science as a "flawless account". Others will decry it for a lack of historical objectivity and as a thinly veiled attack on the current and past management of the very church Mrs. Eddy founded, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston Mass.

If it is widely read inside the Christian Science movement, it will be sure to be highly controversial. CS folks who condemned the re-publication of Bliss Knapp's book, The Destiny of the Mother Church, will condemn all three volumes of this trilogy for the same reasons. To say that this book almost deifies Mrs. Eddy is an understatement. There is no attempt to portray her human failings as the recent Gill bio did. This and the other two books take the exact OPPOSITE of the Peel and Gill approach. Hence, while many of the "true believers" will love these three books, the historical so-called professional critics of Mrs. Eddy will decry it as "not objective and not even foot noted" and Mrs. Eddy's traditional orthodox "Christian" enemies will denounce it as Christian Science carried to both theologically and logically indefensible and absurd conclusions. Nevertheless, these books may have to wait centuries until they, like Science and health will be accepted by a wider audience. I think Grekel would agree with this assessment. That few Year 2000 readers would understand much less appreciate the import of this, the first book the Grekel's trilogy is no surprise from the standpoint of Christian Science theology. "the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:5. Also "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor 2:14

In short, if you love Mrs. Eddy you will probably find much "new" information in these books. The Grekels ably use early CS literature, the CS Weekly - later Sentinel and the Journal of CS, later CS Journal to trace both Mrs. Eddy's thought as well as the growth of her church. They also bring to light much correspondence between Mrs. Eddy and her students and church officers. Unfortunately the book would be more helpful if it had footnoting of the Peel works. The Grekels rely on published and unpublished memoirs and reminiscences of early students of CS to support their intrepretation.

The issue of the Mrs. Eddy's intent in the continuation of the Mother Church following her passing is explored. It is plain however, that the Grekels are NOT at all 100% subscribers of the "Mother Church, A Church Meant to Last" or the "Permanancy of the Mother Church" (Adam Dickey CSJ Article et al) view. They come down more along the lines of the Helen Wrights, the CS Research Foundation and others in their insistence that the CS Board of Directors ignored and disobeyed what they call the "Estoppel Clauses" or those clauses in the Manual of the Mother Church requiring Mrs. Eddy's express consent. The Grekels ignore that this view was the decided minority view after Mrs. Eddy's passing.

I suggest a reader withhold judgement until finishing all three books. While I found them a very interesting source of information for the advanced CS metaphysician, I would not recommend them for the general public at all.

A reader is encouraged to read the primary sources on Christian Science, the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the Manual of the Mother Church. Other works such as Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896 and the First Church of Christ, Scientist & Miscellany which traces the building of her beloved church and selected correspondence until her passing in December 1910. All the published writings other than Science and Health were collected in what is called "Prose Works".

I'm a teacher at a Chicago alternative high-school for kickouts and dropouts. I haven't used this book of stories by teens for teens about overcomeing hardships to teach an entire unit yet, but I keep buying more for my classroom library as more and more students ask if they can borrow copies of it. I've also loaned copies to our Department of Children and Family Services mentor as well as to our counselor.

Why? Students relate to the stories. I understood that students would occassionally enjoy stories they can relate to, but I underestimated how much they'd enjoy it. In fact, I'm beginning to sense that enjoying the book may not be the reason they want it; they may need to hear stories like this.

For this reason, it's a good text for inner-city teens, especially those who've undergone and continue to survive through the kind of hardships that go along with various kinds of stigmata and deprivation. And for the same reason, it's an equally good choice for teachers as it is for those non-teachers who personally know someone who might benefit from such a collection of stories. Julie Landsman continues to put together good, necessary work.

A Interesting look into the troubles teenagers go through from Family problems to Homophobia, writings by actual teenagers. A Great book for teenagers and Parents of teenagers. A Must Have!

You'll read it over many times!