Host by Mark McKergow

by Mark McKergow

This book explores the idea of leading as a host - someone who receives guests. The metaphor is brought to life with stories and examples from around the world. The book will appeal to leaders at all levels in corporations, public service and non-profit sectors.

Genres: Leadership, Management

Paperback

First published October 1, 2014

Reviews

[Габриела Манова · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ask the girl I was a year ago if I'd enjoy a book on the topic of good management and I'd laugh it off saying I'd rather die of something else than of the boredom that such a book would, as I thought, inevitably transmit to me.
Well apparently I've changed and grown up a bit since it's actually quite easy for me now to respond/relate to a book on the subject.
Bad management is a real thing and it does affect (has affected) every single one of us. Just think of all the times you were at work and some crisis occurred and you saw how easily it could have been handled but your boss/manager/whatever didn't really think it through, so they just took some rash decision and only made things harder for you? Inadequate work space (and work pace!) are a real issue that we're struggling with so often.
Host communicates ideas and suggestions for how one could make work environment friendly and effective aided by stories, sayings, jokes and examples from our daily lives. I wish more leaders/people in charge could read it and realize how much they're lacking and how it's not that hard at all to make a difference.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book if you are looking for a better, more tangible metaphor for the Scrum Master as a Servant Leader. The concept of host leadership can also help other leaders to better understand their position and find new approaches.

[Peter Götz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a great alternative metaphor to servant leadership: being a host.
It is very easy to relate to this kind of leadership and the different positions and stances it offers.
To me is gives day-to-day guidance on how to act and helps me think through difficult situations.

[Geri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Основната идея на авторите е, че като лидер увличаш хората, правиш ги съучастници в някакво целенасочено начинание. Или казано другояче - използване техниката на влизане роли, за да по-ефективна комуникация и убеждение. Например, когато имаме за цел конкретно лице да извърши конкретно действие или да заеме конкретна социална роля, ние заемаме обратната роля, за да го поставим в ситуация.
Това е една от многото техники за манипулация, която тук е избрана за създаване на нова теория за лидерството.
Харесва ми като концепция, защото други опити да се пише за лидера и лидерските черти са крайно нерелевантни. Лидера много зависи от групата. Не толкова от личностните си черти сам по себе си. Та, именно тази книга поставя въпроса за цялото взаимодействие в групата и възможности за влияние върху останалите. Но така или иначе става дума просто за един вариант на влияние, разбира се с множество примери, което мен по принцип ме изнервя.

[Arjan De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Host describes a helpful leadership metaphor, and is written in a good pace.
Well constructed, and with many examples that bring the book to life. Sparked my brain into action: what do I need from my leaders, how can I tell them that, and how can I be the leader I want to have.

[Blagovest Cvetanov]

"Гостоприемното лидерство" е заглавието в българския превод.

[Hugues Le Gendre · Rating 5 out of 5]

La révélation pour moi de l'année pour le moment. La métaphore de l'hôte pour traiter le leadership est je trouve très puissante et facile d'accès. Les 6 rôles, les 4 postures et le swing permanent entre le pas en avant et le pas en arrière sont à retenir. En revanche, le style d'écriture est un peu lourd et le livre pourrait être plus concis.

[Ben Bergonzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A management book that speaks to the emotions as well as just the wish to control others or increase productivity. Hosting is the metaphor used here, starting off with a lovely description of a Saxon mead hall, complete with Paulinus' comparison of our lives with the straying flight of a night bird through the hall from the exterior darkness. I had read this before but particularly enjoyed it. There are many more vivid memorable case studies of how a real interest in others, and 'noticing' what goes on around you, can reap dividends. Nelson Mandela and Bob Geldof are among the other leaders cited. I was reminded (in a good way) of 'Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People.
My only cavill is: why does this British-published book, by two British authors, have to be 'translated' into American English with US spellings and even dollars for pounds??
Apart from that, I can heartily recommend it. It's particularly good for tackling the 'matrix' situation where you have to influence people you don't actually manage.

[Christophe Addinquy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The host leeadership is both an evolution and an alternative to the good old servant leadership. This is an evolution for the better, because the leader don't have to be the maid of the team. This very ancient metaphor is easy to catch because it's universal. On this basis, the authors successfully declined different roles (I prefer to say postures) and places, aka metaphorical zones were the activity of the host is different. An excellent reading.
Ma note de lecture en Français ici

[Jarkko Kailanto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book describes host leadership, an excellent leadership metaphor and model how leaders in modern day organizations should act. For me, this improved a lot on servant leadership, which as a metaphor lacked the active and responsible role the leader sometimes needs to take.