The Leadership Wisdom of Jesus: Practical Lessons for Today

by Charles C. Manz

Like the best-selling Jesus: CEO, this powerful book draws on the teachings of Christ to inspire business leaders. Unlike that book, however, The Leadership Wisdom of Jesus focuses on practical, interpersonal management skills rather than visionary leadership. Charles Manz shows managers how to motivate and empower employees every day using the wisdom of Jesus.

Genres: Leadership, Christian, Faith, Business, Religion, Christianity

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[Elliard Shimaala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was scheduled to facilitate a Supervisory Development Program at work that required me to explain leadership concepts to the participants. I picked this book to help me with my facilitation because Jesus is an easily identifiable figure and leader. I would say I am 85% satisfied with the book.

Charles C. Manz selects Bible verses and parables from the New Testament and applies them to the organization setting. Using Jesus as an example, he emphasizes virtues such as integrity, emotional intelligence, the importance of leading oneself and how to develop leaders. He does this with real-life examples of CEO’s who have used Jesus’ principles to succeed in their businesses. One of them was of a CEO who kept his company going with all its employees after his factory was gutted by fire. This story was in relation to faith and his preferred Bible text was Matthews 17: 201-21.

I feel Charles could have chosen better verses to illustrate his points because he struggles to relate some of them to leadership behaviours. As such, he was quick to refer to ‘humanly’ developed theories to explain his case.

Taking everything into consideration, the question I finally asked myself was “is this book going to help with my facilitation?” and my answer was yes it will. Mission accomplished.

[Paiman Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So true. Very relevant.

[RANGER · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on Jesus and Leadership that doesn't always work

Being both a student of Leadership and a disciple of Jesus, The Leadership Wisdom of Jesus by Charles C. Manz should have been a home run for me. Alas, I have mixed feelings about this very readable and sometimes profound, sometimes lackluster take on both. Mainz essentially takes some stories, parables, and lessons from the Gospels and applies them to people management for corporate America. He also quotes from other spiritual leaders and corporate leaders while sharing examples from the business world to show how the leadership principles of Jesus Christ, while unconventional, do have some application in the workplace. But sometimes either the scripture or the example is stretched to make them fit together. These stretches are the book's main shortcoming.

From the perspective of readability and organization, this is a fine book and worthy of inclusion in any business leader's or manager's professional library. Christians or those curious about Jesus' teaching on personal relationships would also enjoy reading this.

From the perspective of leadership application and argument, I found this book somewhat lacking. Manz seems to miss the point on what Jesus really aimed at--the practical, ethical, and spiritual application of authority in a person's life. For example, in choosing the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet and then saying leaders need to be servants which means they need to be less than leaders, Manz misses the point entirely. He makes things worse by then using the example of a company that moved to a self-led team concept where authority was removed from supervisors and team managers who were now to act as coaches. This kind of horizontal leadership is trendy and sometimes effective but that is a poor application of the lesson. The story of the Centurion and his ailing servant, in which a clearly strong, autocratic military commander showed concern, even love, for a subordinate and was willing to humble himself by going to Jesus for help in order to get relief for his servant is EXACTLY what Jesus was talking about. It's a lesson I learned when I was a US Army officer. Authority is meant to benefit subordinates not leaders. Manz, unfortunately, translates this into a "less leadership is more" lesson. Which it is not. Examples like this one abound but one is enough for this review.

All in all, not a bad read. There is no question that corporate America, with its premium on the bottom line, would benefit immensely by considering the Wisdom of Jesus when it came to looking out for people. And that is a lesson I believe Manz successfully delivers in his book.
Recommended.

[Tim Gillen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Required reading for a course that I took. Fine book.

[Holly Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read
I liked the authors interpretations of what certain biblical passages meant it was easy to understand
I enjoyed his writing style

[Jimmy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was written by a business professor and consultant who strive to write on leadership wisdom that Jesus gave and the author specifically states that he did not want to write this book with any overt religious push of religion or theology. Honestly, the more I grow in theology the more I find books that endeavor such an attempt ends up shortchanging the readers and eventually does not do justice to the person of Jesus. This book is a case in point. Don’t get me wrong, I think one can find principles that Jesus taught on that has implication for wise leadership. The problem is that often when people try to be “neutral” and not push a certain theological conviction…they still import a certain theological presuppositions that is foreign to the teaching of Jesus or the greater whole of Scripture. For instance, in a chapter titled “Cleanse Your Insides,” the author Charles Manz talk about the importance for his readers to clean themselves on the inside but there is no mention of how Jesus wants us to be cleanse from the inside out. There is no Gospel that is central to Jesus’ life, ministry and teaching…and instead it’s a therapeutic moral theism of works righteousness that is inconsistent with Jesus’ teaching such as in Luke about justification by faith. Justification by faith is the foundation before there can be a believers’ sanctification. In another chapter titled “Stop Worrying,” Manz also gave an advice to his readers about allocating one’s worrying to a specific time during the day for about say thirty minutes. This Manz believes helps us from worrying less. However, it is ironic that he advocates this in a chapter titled “Stop Worrying.” Moreover, this is not consistent with the teaching of Jesus about how to deal with anxiety in Matthew 6 that he “fortune cookied” verses out of context. A full reading of Matthew 6 reveals that Jesus’ help for a listener who is struggling with worry is to understand the character of God. This is of course explicitly theological and Manz’ inability to go there seriously does a disservice to his readers. Furthermore, the Bible prohibits worrying and anxiety; thus it is a sin. For Manz to advocate sinning for thirty minutes a day in order to sin less is not a biblical or godly principle for godliness, let alone adequate to stop worrying. Its instances like these that I believe I cannot recommend this book since it does more damage than any good from the author’s common grace insight into the leadership example and teachings by Jesus. Readers best profit reading other more sound men of God teaching on Jesus’ leadership.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free from the publisher.

As a Christian I was familiar with the parables of Jesus set out by Manz in the book. What I found interesting was he applied them to how we should act in the workplace. Especially as leaders. I think we should all live our lives as much like Jesus as possible. He is the ultimate role model. I know this will make me rethink some of the things I do in the workplace.

I wish all acted as Manz has set out. This world is too often focused on the short term bottom line dollar. I see decisions that are made in my place of work and I sadly shake my head. The dollar has become our God too often in this world.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting insights in how to lead people in an uplifting encouraging way (rather than in a dictatorially manipulating way). When you stop to realize how many of us have been conditioned to do things based on accolades and rewards proportionate to our performance and skills, this could fly in the face of everything you understand. But the insights are compelling and I've found them successful even in the teaching environment with small children. Worth the read.

[Rashelle Simmons]

I've learned that example is key. Letting the people you lead find there own mistakes, and help them find the solution to their own problems is a better way to lead. I wish I had this book when my kids were little.

[PM · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a must read for anyone aspiring to be a good leader. it is far from a religious beating and the wisdom indeed goes beyond race and religion. here is my full review: http://prinsesamusang.wordpress.com/2...

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given to me by my sensei, I found it to be a very interesting read on the leadership qualities of Jesus from the perspective of a business professor and consultant.

[Robin]

Do I see a theme here? Get about 75 pages in, then set it down and forget to pick it up again?! Time to finish reading some of these books, for goodness sakes!

[Judy]

Good thoughts and good to be reminded. Nothing to make changes, but good reinforcement.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always attempt to understand something that brings you disgust. Checkmate

[Miss.terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recomend this book to everyone. Loved it.