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The Shaping of an Effective Leader: Eight Formative Principles of Leadership
Leadership is both an art and a science. We may be tempted to look for a sure-fire formula, but the reality is quite different: effective leaders are exceptional generalists rather than narrow specialists. The best leaders take what the best business experts have to offer, and apply that based on their own abilities, experience and judgment. And these leaders seek real-life mentors and learn from them. Gayle Beebe, who has spent over a decade as a college president, had the opportunity to study with Peter Drucker, the father of modern management and the author of The Effective Executive. Drawing on Drucker's influence as well as his own years of experiences as a pastor, administrator and president, Beebe has developed a pyramid of leadership principles. The combination of these defines a leader of influence and integrity. In these pages you'll also meet some of Beebe's other mentors: Steve Sample of USC, Harold A. "Red" Poling of Ford Motor Company, Richard Foster of Renovaré, David McKenna of Asbury Seminary and Bob Emmons of SmartFinal. In a day of relentless self-direction, strong leaders have a critical role. With this book you can discover what it takes to be effective in your sphere of influence.
208 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2011
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49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 20, 2020
I had to read this book for a class at school.
Overall, it has great information and resources for developing your leadership skills in order to serve others.
I would highly advise using this book to plan future courses of action and as a tool for reflection on your current habits.
Overall, it has great information and resources for developing your leadership skills in order to serve others.
I would highly advise using this book to plan future courses of action and as a tool for reflection on your current habits.
May 13, 2020
Good book, very encouraging. Refers to Peter Drucker a lot.
December 31, 2025
Brilliant! So many elements of wisdom and grace in this missive for leaders.
February 10, 2012
Homo Homini Lupus
http://manisawolftomen.blogspot.com/
The Shaping of an Effective Leader by Gayle Beebe is one part paean and panegyric to Peter Drucker, one part leadership guide, one part anecdotal thanksgiving, and one part moral instruction.
Such is the basic structure of the eight sections of the book. First is an introductory illustration showing the basic premise of the leading principle for the section; here the illustration is always couched with Beebe's experience with Drucker and his works. Next the author continues elaborating on the initial discussion--often giving statistical, anecdotal, and practical information; generally this is the largest and most substantive portion of the chapters, and rightfully so. After the practical portion Beebe moves back into the paean yet no longer sung to Drucker instead pointed to the individuals in the author's own life who first introduced him to the aforementioned leadership principle. Finally each chapter closes with Beebe's discussion of the 8 deadly sins their opposites and how they correspond to the principals espoused so far.
Shaping discussed eight principles of leadership which are viewed as a pyramid each level stacking on the one before it. This sounds an awful lot like John Maxwell's Levels but Beebe's principles--though ultimately would lead to the same structure--can be applied practically across the spectrum of leadership. The eight levels are Character, Competence, Chemistry, Culture, Compatibility, Convictions, Connections, and Commitment. Unlike most choose-a-letter-to-start-every-title approaches I have encountered, Beebe actually expands upon the initial C word so that the full title encompasses the content, which both facilitates the memory and refrains from constraining the title to a word that only almost fits. When this fails it is a major annoyance to me (cf. Maxwell Link above), but Beebe manages it without a hitch.
The dance of the author between paying his respect to those who have walked with him along the way and the practical application of those very lessons and back again lends Shaping a variety that is not often found in leadership literature. While this engages the reader and maintains a level of entertainment not often found in nonfiction, the greatest contribution comes through the insights that this change of pace reveals. The reader is not inundated with a constant flux of lists, graphs and statistics, or stacks of principles and their multifaceted application, instead one story prepares the way for the practical which gives way to another story and another application. This method keeps the interest pique without sacrificing the content.
What might be the greatest contribution this work provides the expansive world of leadership literature is a framework and introduction to Peter Drucker's work. Were this its only contribution I would recommend it to those who lead or who ought to be. Thankfully Shaping is more than this and standing on its own feet earns its own recommendation.
4.5/5
Propter Sangiunem Agni,
RS
This book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. They asked only for my honest opinion. Nothing weird or anything like that. I am only disclosing this information because it is illegal if I don't. I'm pretty sure that I would go to prison, probably for life, seeing how reviewing a product you are given for free under the guise of having purchased it yourself is similar to murder. O laws, like whitewashed tombs!
http://manisawolftomen.blogspot.com/
The Shaping of an Effective Leader by Gayle Beebe is one part paean and panegyric to Peter Drucker, one part leadership guide, one part anecdotal thanksgiving, and one part moral instruction.
Such is the basic structure of the eight sections of the book. First is an introductory illustration showing the basic premise of the leading principle for the section; here the illustration is always couched with Beebe's experience with Drucker and his works. Next the author continues elaborating on the initial discussion--often giving statistical, anecdotal, and practical information; generally this is the largest and most substantive portion of the chapters, and rightfully so. After the practical portion Beebe moves back into the paean yet no longer sung to Drucker instead pointed to the individuals in the author's own life who first introduced him to the aforementioned leadership principle. Finally each chapter closes with Beebe's discussion of the 8 deadly sins their opposites and how they correspond to the principals espoused so far.
Shaping discussed eight principles of leadership which are viewed as a pyramid each level stacking on the one before it. This sounds an awful lot like John Maxwell's Levels but Beebe's principles--though ultimately would lead to the same structure--can be applied practically across the spectrum of leadership. The eight levels are Character, Competence, Chemistry, Culture, Compatibility, Convictions, Connections, and Commitment. Unlike most choose-a-letter-to-start-every-title approaches I have encountered, Beebe actually expands upon the initial C word so that the full title encompasses the content, which both facilitates the memory and refrains from constraining the title to a word that only almost fits. When this fails it is a major annoyance to me (cf. Maxwell Link above), but Beebe manages it without a hitch.
The dance of the author between paying his respect to those who have walked with him along the way and the practical application of those very lessons and back again lends Shaping a variety that is not often found in leadership literature. While this engages the reader and maintains a level of entertainment not often found in nonfiction, the greatest contribution comes through the insights that this change of pace reveals. The reader is not inundated with a constant flux of lists, graphs and statistics, or stacks of principles and their multifaceted application, instead one story prepares the way for the practical which gives way to another story and another application. This method keeps the interest pique without sacrificing the content.
What might be the greatest contribution this work provides the expansive world of leadership literature is a framework and introduction to Peter Drucker's work. Were this its only contribution I would recommend it to those who lead or who ought to be. Thankfully Shaping is more than this and standing on its own feet earns its own recommendation.
4.5/5
Propter Sangiunem Agni,
RS
This book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. They asked only for my honest opinion. Nothing weird or anything like that. I am only disclosing this information because it is illegal if I don't. I'm pretty sure that I would go to prison, probably for life, seeing how reviewing a product you are given for free under the guise of having purchased it yourself is similar to murder. O laws, like whitewashed tombs!
August 9, 2013
For those of you who have never read anything by Peter Drucker, this is a great summary of his work by one who was both mentored by Drucker and has sought to apply Drucker's insights into several executive leadership positions including two college presidencies.
Beebe develops this book around the idea of a pyramid of 8 leadership principles that build successively upon one another. He also identifies corresponding vices and virtues for each principle:
Principle / Vice / Virtue
8. Commitment / Melancholy / Perspective
7. Connections / Indifference / Perseverance
6. Convictions / Lust / Fidelity
5. Compatibility / Pride / Humility
4. Culture / Anger / Mildness
3. Chemistry / Greed / Generosity
2. Competence / Envy / Contentment
1. Character / Gluttony / Temperance
Each chapter focuses on one level of the pyramid and combines leadership instruction, real-life examples and illustrations from Beebe's own leadership journey.
Two surprises with this book. One is that it is published with a Christian publisher. This is a work that could sit alongside any book on executive leadership in the business section of a bookstore. Related to this is that while one can ground the principles in a Christian world and life view, Beebe writes for a much broader audience. The second surprise, given the publisher, is that this is really a book about EXECUTIVE leadership. While there is much that can be gleaned for other forms of leadership, this book will be most helpful for those who lead companies and non-profit organizations.
Beebe develops this book around the idea of a pyramid of 8 leadership principles that build successively upon one another. He also identifies corresponding vices and virtues for each principle:
Principle / Vice / Virtue
8. Commitment / Melancholy / Perspective
7. Connections / Indifference / Perseverance
6. Convictions / Lust / Fidelity
5. Compatibility / Pride / Humility
4. Culture / Anger / Mildness
3. Chemistry / Greed / Generosity
2. Competence / Envy / Contentment
1. Character / Gluttony / Temperance
Each chapter focuses on one level of the pyramid and combines leadership instruction, real-life examples and illustrations from Beebe's own leadership journey.
Two surprises with this book. One is that it is published with a Christian publisher. This is a work that could sit alongside any book on executive leadership in the business section of a bookstore. Related to this is that while one can ground the principles in a Christian world and life view, Beebe writes for a much broader audience. The second surprise, given the publisher, is that this is really a book about EXECUTIVE leadership. While there is much that can be gleaned for other forms of leadership, this book will be most helpful for those who lead companies and non-profit organizations.
October 13, 2015
Our CEO asked the corporate leaders to read this book. It was a chore to finish for many of us so at least I don't feel alone.
Here's why I didn't enjoy it:
1. Beebe quotes Peter Drucker so much that I thought about just reading Drucker's work directly.
2. The management advice was not new - there were lots of references to other works and theories that I was already familiar with.
3. It's one thing to have been inspired by connections with titans of industry and academia, it's another when it starts reading like name dropping.
As a refresher on theory, it was OK but I don't think I got anything new out of it.
Here's why I didn't enjoy it:
1. Beebe quotes Peter Drucker so much that I thought about just reading Drucker's work directly.
2. The management advice was not new - there were lots of references to other works and theories that I was already familiar with.
3. It's one thing to have been inspired by connections with titans of industry and academia, it's another when it starts reading like name dropping.
As a refresher on theory, it was OK but I don't think I got anything new out of it.
December 20, 2016
I was passed this book as a case study of leadership within higher education. I was sorely disappointed to read nothing new except recycled stories and an attempt to legitimize "theory" in leadership.
January 23, 2013
I read this on assignment. It was okay for the most part, with flashes of good.
March 1, 2013
Sturdy going.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews