Leader

Simpy put, if I had to choose only ONE book on leadership to have, this would be it. One, Finzel's book is power-packed and very too-the-point. He wastes little time with redundant examples, but chooses them carefully to illustrate his points. Hence, two, this is a quick read. Three, it is one worth re-reading, and then savoring.

Finzel's book was written in '94, well before Kotter's "What Leaders Really Do" (written in '99) & Collins' "Good to Great" (written in '01). Finzel "outs" the most immediate perils to any leader's reign (top 10) & did so prior to the market research that Kotter & Collins offer. Kotter & Collins provide the data that supports Finzel's book, but Finzel's text is to the point & more eloquent. Pay special attention to mistakes #2 & 8. In today's corportae culture, not fitting the culture is a deal killer.

Do not be fooled by size or the title of this book. Small which makes for a quick read and an excellent reference guide. The points that are developed are not rocket science stuff but points that are faced regularly. I have been in leadership positions for over 30 years and truly enjoyed this style of writting. He points out the mistakes and before you know it you are on knees confessing that you have done the same. I especially liked the chapters on "Dirty Delegation" and how it takes the wind out of the sail from any project. Leaders make this error in the name of geting things done. Another favorite of mine is, "Communication Chaos". This sole, small, simple chapter has changed how we communicate in our corporation. More info, relevant info, important info; info; info and more info. This chapter alone has increased our atmosphere of teamwork and productivity. This is a must read for every executive in your company.

I read this great book and couldn't wait to interview at least one of the authors. The timing of this book couldn't be better because we need something to restore our faith in True Leaders.

This book was so well written that I felt like I really got to know 25 of the best business leaders; the only thing better would be to have interviewed them myself.

I did interview George Ritcheske on "The Inside Success Show" and and what a treat that was. His book is powerful because he took the time to really discover the secrets of True Leaders - You'll love it!
Here's some of what you'll learn from the book:
** Why you should aim toward becoming a 'True Leader'
** What you can do right now to make people respect you
** How you can avoid the BIG mistakes of BAD leaders
** Why you should lead with passion and trust your intuition
** How you can succeed by treating learning like 'dirty dishes'
** And much, much more ...

Randy (Dr. Proactive) Gilbert
Author of "Success Bound" and editor of "Proactive Success" ezine

Instead of the usual single sided text written by an individual corporate leader on what a wonderful contribution to America they have made, this book explores the commonalities of many successful leaders in and out of the corporate world. Readers will find the writing style to be easy to read and easy to learn from with the "Explore and Discover" section at the end of each chapter. The length is long enough to get an solid overview of the concepts presented, yet short enough to keep the reader anxiously turning pages.

Kudos to authors Bette Price and George Ritcheske for presenting a fresh approach on the leadership topic!

This is a wonderful book that anyone who wants to lead should read. It is also a great read for those who want to understand the strengths and weaknesses of management within their own company.

A refreshing book that focuses its energy on the qualities of leadership beyond "book smarts." This was a real eye opener!

This approach to leadership is comprehensive and easy to understand. The wholehearted leading approach embraces the four chambers of competency, intimacy, integrity and passion, and illustrates how they work together in a synergistic manner to provide the foundation for effective leadership. Each chamber of the heart model is critical for success. Informative with practical applications!

Few books on leadership provide as clear, dynamic and strategic guidance and insight as The Seven Acts of Courage and The Heart of Leadership. They provide the reader with a sound and useful foundation upon which and rom which to grow. In my experience as a Personal and Professional Development Coach, I have had the pleasure of working with many individuals who have read and studied these books and find these individuals not only motivated, but inspired by the principles they have gleaned. Perhaps the greatest benefit of these books is that the principles they present are readily teachable to those being led. Dusty's insights and intimacy are powerful and penetrating. Dusty sets the leadership bar, both higher and deeper!

In over 40 years of leadership and management covering manufacturing, textiles, furniture, municipalities and hospitals, this book is the clearest, most effective management/leadership book ever. Takes Dr. Deals' book to new and exciting directions. Predict great things for this effort. What is next?

Expert educators Roy Williams (Adjunct Professor of Leadership, Vanderbilt's Peabody College) and Terrence Deal (University of Southern California) combine their considerable expertise and experience in When Opposites Dance: Balancing The Manager And The Leader Within, to knowledgeably examine the four natural styles of managing and leading (rational, political, humanist, and culturist) and explore how to balance managerial tendencies against the needs of workers within the context of current and volatile situations for optimum productivity. An exceptionally well written, personality examining, and goal-oriented self-help aid, When Opposites Dance is very highly recommended reading for corporate managers and executive policy makers.

The path to the publisher's door is crowded with authors anxious to reveal "the way" to develop strong leaders and effective managers. Most offer guides that are unreadable beyond page 50 because they reveal nothing more than a reshuffled list of the habits of successful CEO's or a new George Patton story. A generic title could be: "I Am Publishing This So I Won't Perish".

Professors Williams and Deal have broken out of the pack with "When Opposites Dance". What is new is the combination of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Deal's "Cognitive Frames" - with a bit of Jungian psychology - to explain the importance of a manager achieving a balance between the Adam and Eve in his life. The clear logic of the premise will allow the most combat-hardened military leader to begin to look for his feminine side without cringing.

What really sets this book apart is its readability. The use of twelve well-known Americans as illustrative examples (college freshmen will recognize most of the names) will hold the reader's interest. If you are seeking to develop your own management/leadership style, and particularly if you are training others in the art, buy this book.

Military Leadership Instructor

It was inspiring to read the compiled interviews of appreciative leaders. The stories which emerge portray not lofty idols on a pedestal but quite the opposite. The leaders are remarkably human and the kind of people you would like to engage in a conversation. Their authenticity provides a resource for those who wish to develop strengths and abilities as a leader. The editors expand on the interviews by including additional data and developing a Model of Appreciative Leadership which captures characteristics of appreciative leaders.

A fresh concise readily readable book on the management paradigm of appreciative leadership. A thorough discussion of this management model with a visual construct on page 159, a chapter linking theory and practice, and inspiring interviews with both renown and unsung appreciative leaders from a variety of organizational arenas. Use it to inspire , to train, to teach ,to motivate managers,staff, studentsand others. This book has both wisdom and vision for the future, edited by women of wisdom and vision, themselves appreciative leaders .,

Since Forbes Magazine has chosen Bob Stiller of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters as Entrepreneur of the year, I think the authors, in choosing him as an appreciative leader, were right on the money. The leaders they describe are inspirational people who are enjoying success in business using simple but effective relational skills. These important ideas which support positive and authentic interactions should help shape the leaders we need for the future. I found this book to be a very accessible introduction to the field of Appreciative Inquiry. I'm excited to have discovered this beneficial little book and I've already recommended it to several people. It was well worth my precious reading time.

Mr. Ward's book is pleasantly free of theory and psychobabble and, instead, provides sound, practical guidance for dealing with the challenging people and situations that often trip us up. The "tools" section is especially helpful in providing specific solutions to a well-selected range of issues. Kudos to Mr. Ward for giving us what we need most -- practical tools for all levels of employees.

This book was great! Practical applications for problems all of us in business encounter on a regular basis. I would recommend this book to every manager as a guide to handling those bad behaviors, problem people and sticky situations which, if you haven't had to deal with, you most certainly will. The case studies will be a great source of training for the rookies in my company and I think every training department should look at this as a 'basic' text for new supervisors and managers! Great book and great information.

This book provides managers with excellent, clear advice that is useful when seeking to remedy staff-related issues. A basic premise of this book is the application of workable solutions that ensure the on-going success of both managers and staff alike. The earlier sections address the basic principles of staff management and leadership while the latter sections provide case studies that are pragmatic, relevant, and readily applicable. The index is well constructed readily guiding the reader to those sections that are most pertinent for resolving specific issues. The material reads well and is logically presented. Gregg's writing style is energetic, candid, and to the point. I recommend this book to all who lead and manage staff.

As a professional worship director, a seminary student and a student of worship, I have read any number of books on the topic of worship. Kevin Navarro's book ranks, without question, as one of the best.
"Complete" is the right word to use in reference to this book. Kevin manages to squeeze a wealth of information into a relatively short, easy and engaging read. The chapters on musical direction alone can be used as a handy reference book, invaluable to have available in a church staff office. The sections on theology, discipleship and leadership are equally spot-on; Kevin readily points out the elements which are truly needed in today's church environment. Best of all, Kevin's heart for worship is evident throughout.
I would highly recommend this book, not just to professional worship directors, but to anyone who accepts the challenge of leading a congregation into the presence of the living God.

Pastor Navarro has written a true gem here in "The Complete Worship Leader". This book is a "how to" manual for the novice worship leader, a reference and a tune-up manual for mid-level and experienced worship leaders. For Pastors, it serves as a valuable tool in selecting the appropriate format for worship depending on the church style as well as the type of worship leader for specific churches/denominations. The roadmap in regards to theology, discipleship, artistry and leadership are an eye opener in that these four elements are crucial to the success of the praise and worship and are interdependant on one another. This book confirms that the praise and worship team is not in the sanctuary to entertain, but to bring the presence of the Holy Spirit. Easy and fun to read, you will want to have a supply of highlighters as there is a wealth of knowledge in these 200+ pages. Recommended for worship leaders, pastors, praise team members and all church members. A Winner!!!

Worship leading is more than just leading singing, and a worship leader needs to be more than a musician with a decent voice. This book gives vital guidelines on how to be a well-rounded worship leader. The way "The Complete Worship Leader" is ordered prioritizes sound theology and personal discipleship over musical ability. Although the musical tips in the later chapters are helpful, it may be a revelation to some how important it is for a worship leader to be a theologian; not only to have the experience of salvation, but the knowledge of how salvation works. As the reader works his- or herself through the chapters, it becomes obvious that no stone is left unturned. This is truly an indispensible resource.

While some of the interviews in this fascinating volume on the dark consequences of American culture are very slanted, 'Dialogues' is filled with tremendous revelations and alternative perspectives on a diverse range of critical issues, including war, the environment, the death penalty, public education, globalization, agricultural subsidies, propaganda, urban planning, maternity, urban poverty, religion, and racism. Jerry Brown engages in very profound conversations with key left-wing figures on all of these issues and more that will astound and edify any reader with an open mind. This book brings to life the kinds of political figures normally thought of as tree-hugging nanny-state bleeding-hearts, and critically considers consequences and alternatives to the contemporary global economy.

Two elements in particular distinguish this text. First, Brown speaks with thinkers of profound philosophical depth, so perspectives on the environment, the death penalty, etc., are given in the context of larger alternative worldviews. This immerses the reader in the deeper substance of political debates, and makes this book a very stimulating read. Second, the perspectives offered bring to light facts and arguments never considered in mainstream political debates. The experiences revealed in the dialogues on racial segregation in New York City and investment in India are particularly startling.

Reading this book, I found myself being repeatedly inspired by the contributors' passion for social justice, and by the peculiarity and novelty of their perspectives. I really don't think that you can come to any conclusions about American politics until you've read this book or one like it; you can't call left-wingers crazy until you're truly exposed to how powerful some of their perspectives are. Before embracing received concepts such as "development," "free trade," "schooling," etc., read this wonderful, wonderful book, and then see whether you think that American common sense is really so commonsensical after all.

The contributors to this text all have an agenda, so beware. But if this book were required reading in every school in America, I think we would see a generation of millions of young people inspired to fight for justice and to eradicate human misery.

Jerry Brown is that rare thing - an ethical politician. Read this book to get some insight into the otherwise private nature of an influential figure. Read how Mayor Brown served with Mother Theresa in Calcutta and decided to save a city rather than "monitor" government at the state or national level. Courageous and noble man.

This book was excellent in the contents and it is full of interesting thoughts and ideas, expressed by a selected assortment of 18 people that inspired Jerry Brown himself. In the book, he gets to interview each one of them in a sort of dialogue that engages these peoples ideas. Most of the topics deal with social and political criticism, well founded by the way, and it is very insightful into looking beyond the reality of everyday life, what are the larger mechanisms at work, what are our limitations, what are the problems, what are the underlying issues, etc. It tends to uncover many assumptions and should provoke in the reader much thinking on issues that affect us all in today's society, from religion to environmentalism to capitalism.

The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: The First in a Series of AI Workbooks for Leaders of Change is a "must have" guide for organizational development practitioners and facilitators. Whether you are a leading change at a Fortune 500 or creating transformation within a small community organization, this volume provides an excellent consolidation of AI tools. If new to the technique, this book is particularly helpful because the process is laid out in an easy to understand and easy to deliver format. The authors begin with a review and background of the process, and then introduce you to AI-step by step. The resource section is very generous, providing templates for course outlines, handouts, overheads, and exercises. For seasoned users, this book is a splendid reference tool you'll want on your practitioner shelf. Again, the resources provided can serve as a tool chest for stimulating new ideas. While the authors worked to clearly define and explain the process via cases and narrative, they also help the reader to understand why the process is more than typical organizational development techniques. The AI Handbook is clearly written and will help change agents on their journey to create, generate, and cultivate learning cultures within their organization.

For anyone interested in appreciative inquiry, this book has cases, worksheets and presentation materials that can be used right now. What a novel idea to give away the tools on the CD. Well organized and readable, I keep it handy at my desk.

Excellent resource.

This book covers all the bases needed to understand appreciative inquiry and apply it in your own organization. The sample interview guides, worksheets and resources provided are very helpful and big time-savers. Appreciative Inquiry is a paradigm shift toward a mindset of helpful and constructive dialogue that seeks to get at the heart of issues and work towards creating an environment that is built on trust, hope, and collaboration. I highly recommend this approach as well as this book!

The title of this book: The Facilitative Leader: Behaviors that Enable Success, accurately describes the content of the material. The leadership behaviors and communication techniques described in this book, when effectively applied, will lead to the success of the leader, the group and the organization. I have observed the implementation of R. Glenn Ray's Facilitative Leader methodologies. I have also experienced the organizational transition from traditional, autocratic leadership to Facilitative Leadership. The application of the techniques and theories described in this book can create a positive impact on both the work environment and the profitability of an organization.

Unlike other leadership books that list only desired qualities-loyalty, vision, camaraderie-this book actually explains and teaches communication techniques, issue resolution methods, and problem solving tools. After reading this book you will aqcuire strategies that you can apply to a wide variety of situations, from resolving conflict within your home to techniques for building successful teams in the workplace.

This book is an essential tool for individuals who wish to become effective leaders.

Through the use of personal experiences and eventful stories, Dr. Ray brings to life the effective practices of a facilitative leader. Enabler is the key theme throughout the text, because the facilitative leader uses influence rather than direct power to bring about change and achieve results. Practical applications of leadership principles are identified and demonstrated through personal experiences that allow the reader to relate them to their own experiences. A great book to have on every employee's bookshelf!

Glenn Ray's approach to Facilitative Leadership is very insightful. The information is formated in a way that is not only easy to read and comprehend it keeps your attention from chapter 1 clear through to the conclusion. The personal stories from the author were very benifical in helping me look at and use my everyday experiences as learning and training tools. Chapter 4 - Developer of People was my favorite chapter. The information on how adults learn and how to customize training and development activities to meet the needs of adult trainees is very beneficial in my line of work. The way Glenn Ray has formatted the book you can read any chapter and have a practical use for it immediately whether at home or at work. I give The Facilitative Leader two thumbs up and recommend it to all Managers and Aspiring Leaders.