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The Heart of a Leader: Insights on the Art of Influence

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Ken Blanchard, a highly respected figure in the fields of leadership and business, invites you into the world of influence through his extensive career insights in this inspirational leadership book.

In The Heart of a Leader, you’ll learn Get ready to go on a journey toward effective leadership and personal growth. Bound to become a timeless classic on Christian inspirational leadership, this book offers teachings on values, excellence, integrity, change, and empowerment that will equip you with the essential tools to not only lead effectively but also inspire those around you.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1999

205 people are currently reading
1230 people want to read

About the author

Kenneth H. Blanchard

314 books1,845 followers
Ken Blanchard, one of the most influential leadership experts in the world, is the coauthor of the iconic bestseller, The One Minute Manager, and 60 other books whose combined sales total more than 21 million copies. His groundbreaking works have been translated into more than 27 languages and in 2005 he was inducted into Amazon’s Hall of Fame as one of the top 25 bestselling authors of all time.

Ken is also the cofounder and chief spiritual officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies®, an international management training and consulting firm that he and his wife, Margie Blanchard, began in 1979 in San Diego, California.

When he’s not writing or speaking, Ken also spends time teaching students in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership Program at the University of San Diego. Ken can be found at www.kenblanchard.com.

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5 stars
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246 (24%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Jerecho.
394 reviews52 followers
November 30, 2020
This book inspired me to be a self sufficient person. Following orders but doing it on my own. Life will never be fair but life teaches us to accept what may come and admit defeat when we failed and start to pick up the pieces and move again.

And sometimes in our hearts we are a good leader, but everything will not be always perfect. We may encounter someone or some things that will make us deter. But always in everything we do, just do some kindness and everything will follow.
Profile Image for Annum.
36 reviews
March 20, 2022
Inspirational. Will be sharing some of the lessons with my colleagues and direct reports.
Profile Image for Kristyn.
19 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2025
A book with some great reminders on leadership principles. Easy to digest with a quote and brief explanation on each page.
2 reviews
March 23, 2023
It is a very well written, motivating, and influential book. The use of quotes from different authors is refreshing. As well as his interpretation and implementation of them are motivating enough for me to do the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Amin elahifard.
50 reviews
February 1, 2017
عنوان:جوهره مدیریت؛ نویسنده: کنت بلانچارد؛ مترجم: بابک واحدی؛ ناشر: انتشارات سپید؛ در 168 ص؛ موضوع: روانشناسی، در این کتاب کنت بلانچارد در پی آن است که هنر تأثیرگذاری را به ما بیاموزد و این مقصود را از طریق به اشتراک گذاشتن تجارب و درس  هایی که در زندگی موفق خود، به عنوان یک آموزگار و رهبر شغلی آموخته است به پیش می  برد. بازتاب دیدگاه  ها و منطق وی در گزینش ارزش  ها، حرکت به سوی تعالی، دستیابی به کمال، جستجوی اراده  ای برای تغییر و یاری رساندن به کارکنان در دستیابی به پتانسیل  های  شان می  باشد. اثرگذاری هنر است و نخستین پله این نردبان در قلب و روح یک رهبر جای دارد. زمان آن رسیده است که اجازه دهید روح  تان بلندپروازی را آغاز کند.
Profile Image for Robin.
176 reviews7 followers
January 3, 2009
Great little slogans and snippets of leadership, humility and success. A must read for any person in business. I'm bringing this to work to have on my desk. Inspirational.
Profile Image for Bill Pence.
Author 2 books1,039 followers
August 18, 2020
This book is comprised of Ken Blanchard’s favorite sayings - most of which come from his books – along with a short reading accompanying the quote. Blanchard tells us that anytime you use your influence to affect the thoughts and actions of others, you are engaging in leadership.
This is a book that you can read at your own pace. I chose to read a few “chapters” (quote and short reading) each day. Here are 20 of my favorite quotes from the book:
1. The more attention you pay to a behavior, the more it will be repeated. Accentuating the positive and redirecting the negative are the best tools for increasing productivity.
2. An effective leader will make it a priority to help his or her people produce good results in two ways: making sure people know what their goals are and doing everything possible to support, encourage, and coach them to accomplish those goals.
3. No one of us is as smart as all of us.
4. When you stop learning, you stop leading.
5. Leadership is a high calling.
6. Leading at a higher level is the process of achieving worthwhile results while acting with respect, care, and fairness for the well-being of all involved. It’s only when you realize that it’s not about you that you begin to lead at a higher level.
7. Good leaders are committed to helping their people win. When someone fails, they accept responsibility for that failure.
8. The main job of a leader is to help his or her people succeed in accomplishing their goals. And when people accomplish their goals and win, everyone wins.
9. Think more about your people, and they will think more of themselves.
10. Character is following through on decisions.
11. Vision is knowing who you are, where you’re going, and what will guide your journey.
12. An important way to motivate your people is to make sure they know where they are going. See that each person’s goals are clearly defined and that he or she knows what it means to perform well. This will give people a clear focus for their energy and put them on the road to becoming high-performing, empowered producers.
13. Leading people is the opposite of trying to control them; it’s about gaining their trust through your integrity, developing their potential through your partnership, and motivating them through your affirmation.
14. The only job security you have today is your commitment to continuous personal improvement.
15. Servant leadership is more about character than style.
16. The primary biblical image of servant leadership is that of the shepherd. The flock is not there for the sake of the shepherd; the shepherd is there for the sake of the flock.
17. Am I a servant leader or a self-serving leader?
18. Leadership is not something you do to people. It’s something you do with people.
19. True servant leaders want feedback because they are anxious to know whether their interactions with their people are helpful and effective.
20. To be successful as a leader, you must know the values of your organization and live by them. You’ve got to walk the talk.
Profile Image for Shahriar Kabir.
107 reviews42 followers
August 20, 2018
Mostly Kenneth Blanchard made this book of a special collection of his quotes from his other books. As I have read such kinda books previously, then it wasn't too much special to me. The lines of this kinda books are strong when it is read. The difference is with the sustainability with the words to be grasped by the readers.
All in all, these lines may improvise readers, but they aren't the major cause that can make a reader move on. It's his action those needs to be faced by the real incidences in life. Real incidences help out to be the part of the book.
This book is like bathing, if you read this type of book over and over again then it helps, otherwise, there's little remedy. The way of life is not to be ruled by wish, it goes on with nature. Nature of habit, nature of a person, nature of the reality determines them.

Except Blanchard, Norman Vincent Peale has been quoted sometimes. I read one of his books with more explaining reading that was. His titles are intelligent I can tell. You can if you think you can is the one I've done half.
Let the lines make us refresh in our moments as much as we can. Maybe some will click blistering fate.
124 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2020
I've managed a lot of conferences with management consultant speakers on the agenda. Most of them have written a "book" about management best practices. These typically use small page sizes (to increase the count), large fonts, repeat the same points numerous times and are self-published. It gives them the opportunity to put "published author" on their resume. I usually throw these into the nearest recycling bin. When I saw the size of this book, I assumed that it was of this class. However, the commentary includes some excellent management advice. Detracting from the value is the somewhat random organization. If there is any sort of grouping of the subjects, it escaped me. Blanchard is a rock star among business consultants and anything he writes will add value, but I am skeptical that this light treatment adds more value than more substantial efforts.
Profile Image for Egbert.
16 reviews
March 4, 2018
“The Heart Of A Leader” is a collection of quotes and insights from Ken Blanchard which go right to the heart of a leader.

Blanchard uses the phrase “an effective leader.” The reason why is that in his mind, an effective leader engages his heart first to serve those whom he leads.

Throughout his career, Blanchard has partnered with some amazingly insightful co-authors to bring a fresh perspective on how leaders can lead best from the heart. Many of these co-authors are featured in “The Heart Of A Leader,” which will help you see new paradigms of leadership acumen.

This book is a good sampler that will help you choose a book to read in its entirety.
Profile Image for Marji Morris.
644 reviews5 followers
May 15, 2019
Great quotes. I didn't find much "new" information, but there were several sections that reminded me of something I knew and tend to overlook. Quick read, but keep it close for future reference--andto access all the wonderful quotes. (The book is beautifully bound, too, making it a nice coffee table or desk top accessory.)
Profile Image for John.
481 reviews10 followers
August 29, 2021
Rated: B
Love Blanchard's mission statement: To be a loving teacher and example of simple truths that help myself and others to awaken the presence of God in our lives. This book recaps quotations and concepts from mostly books either authored or co-authored by Blanchard as well as from selected other sources. Makes you want to read more of his works.
Profile Image for Kurtis Keithley.
1 review
September 7, 2017
Easy and quick read

Enjoyed reading this book very much. It gave me insight on what I need to work on as a Leader and also what I've been doing right as a leader which will help me grow recognizing both.
Profile Image for Ed Barton.
1,303 reviews
December 27, 2018
Nice Collection

A nice collection of quotes, vignettes and insights from many of Blanchard’s books. Focusing on others, and integrating elements of leadership from Jesus to Jack Welch, the book is a useful and interesting read.
Profile Image for Dima Shevchuk.
22 reviews3 followers
January 1, 2019
Книга представляет собой конспект советов для руководителей и координаторов по мотивации коллектива на лучшие результаты. Никакого rocket science, простые и иногда банальные совет��, которые собраны в одном месте
1 review
May 1, 2019
Bestselling author Ken Blanchard offers us fascinating and motivating insights on wisdom and leadership. This he does in his book: “The Heart of a Leader: Insights on the Art of Influence” by encouraging us to develop our true leadership skills by means of quotes and experiences.
Profile Image for John Patch.
113 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2020
A great read for nice short reflections and meditations. I would suggest reading it with a friend, who also values leadership so that you can discuss the various points and see how they line up with your life.
1 review
July 17, 2022
Another example

Simple truths for life and business. A good book to give to leaders in any organization. I was discouraged at my employment, the book helped me reevaluate my perspective. I feel so much more encouraged after reading this book.
Profile Image for Hannah Hernández.
47 reviews2 followers
July 20, 2018
Great wisdom,insights and advice to be a good and excellent leader not just in business but in life!
Profile Image for Mustafa.
37 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2018
The book contains valuable leadership tips.
Profile Image for Debbie Chatley.
566 reviews27 followers
February 23, 2019
Book of wisdom for leaders. Short little chapters packed with wisdom for being the leaders we are called to be in all walks of life.
Profile Image for Andrej Sumer.
48 reviews6 followers
March 24, 2021
Ken Blanchard knows how to motivate. I like this book very much!
6 reviews
May 9, 2021
A quick and impactful read

Very good short stories that support some impactful quotes. I am glad I have this digitally to easily reference or re-read when I need the inspiration.
Profile Image for Alexander  Gil.
295 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2022
Great flowing book on leadership. The principles, perspective and also how to implement. Pleasant quick read!
Profile Image for Derick Le.
37 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2022
Good compilation of leadership ideas & quotes! I will try to read more into these concepts by Ken Blanchard.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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