Leadership by the Book: Tools to Transform Your Workplace – An Inspiring Parable on Management, Faith, and Ethics for Business and Community Leaders

One Minute Manager

by Kenneth H. Blanchard, Bill Hybels, Phil Hodges

In today's changing business world, leaders face more challenges than ever before, whether from increased competition, new ways of reaching customers, or motivating people. Leadership by the Book is an exceptional new book, brimming with insights, ideas, tools, and tactics for becoming a successful leader. Written in the parable format of Ken Blanchard's bestselling The One Minute Manager. and Raving Fans, it tells the story of a professor and a minister who school a young professional in management skills and ethics. Citing Jesus as a source for practical lessons in effective leadership, the authors explore the concept of "servant leadership" and offer simple strategies for bringing vision and values to any organization. Individuals will learn how to:




Achieve goals without sacrificing character or faith
Inspire and sustain commitment and others to give their best
Build teamwork and celebrate successes
Find personal passion and meaning in work
Sure to be required reading for managers and employees, Leadership by the Book can also be applied in day-to-day life by parents, coaches, entrepreneurs, and community leaders everywhere.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Christian, Business Leadership, Nonfiction, Management, Christianity

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 1999

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Trevor Sterner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would better be labeled "A sermon with some approximate references to leadership". It is in essence a very artificial sounding conversation between three people, with relatively instantaneous conflict resolution. The premise had some hope, but I did not think it was well written for a book on leadership. If you go in with the intent of hearing a story on servant leadership, you likely won't be disappointed. That being said, there were a couple of brief portions and metaphors that were decent. Given how short a read it was, I suppose it wasn't a complete waste of time.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a creative and clever fable on leadership. Fans of Patrick Lencioni will enjoy this read!

I’d be curious to see what, if anything, they’d update for today (as the book came out in 1999). Still, the fact that so much is still relevant is a testament to the writers’ knowledge and what it’s ultimately based on—the Bible. That doesn’t change!

[Deeps George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical guide to the leadership model of Jesus Christ explained through the interaction of 3 characters. A simple read with profound implications if you are ready to implement the tools suggested in the book. A book every Christian Leader should have in their library.

[Abby Epplett · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mercifully short read, this book simultaneously stretches Christian heterodoxy while providing some of the fakest conversations I have ever read. If you want to read leadership according to the Bible, then read the Bible, not this awful, dated book.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like all of Ken Blanchard's books, principles are explained as a story. While this can be enjoyable and effective, it can also be ponderous and it felt that way in this book.

[Jim King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns leadership up side down, God first, others second and me third. Must read for every Christian leader.

[Clinton Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical and insightful.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate, hate, hated the infomercial tone of the book.

However, there are a few stellar points on the nature and practical aspects of servant leadership in the business world.

Servant leader's perspective in business (pp 171-176):
1. I gain personal satisfaction from watching the growth and development of those I lead.
2. I'm willing to listen. I love feedback and advice, any information that will help me serve better.
3. The traditional pyramidal hierarchy is effective for the visionary aspect of leadership. I can't delegate the responsibility for establishing vision and direction.
4. Servant leaders help their people to accomplish their goals and to live according to the vision and direction.
5. Performance planning - all good performance starts with clear goals.
6. Day to Day coaching - observing a person's performance, praising progress, redirecting efforts that are off-base ("how can I help you reach your goals today?")
7. Performance evaluation - final assessment of a person's performance over a period of time.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches principles of leadership from a Christian perspective. Specifically, it focuses on the concept of servant leadership using a unique narrative style to deliver the information.

As a leadership book, it delivers the goods. The concepts are well developed and expounded upon by the characters. The writers use the back and forth of dialogue to draw out many of the nuances of the idea.

As a work of fiction, it started to get tiresome. The dialogue and story eventually began to seem too much like window-dressing for the ideas and less like something that might actually happen.

At the very end, the writers leave a lot of contact information for their various organizations. This is something that I thought was really well done. I always like having the option of contacting the authors and their organizations if I have read something that has been particularly thought-provoking.

[Kevin Tucker]

I really appreciated the gems of information in this book, but found the storyline that it was couched in rather hokey.

I liked the description of servant leadership and the description of how people need to find mentors and guides to help them stay the course. They described an organizational model where the heirarchy is turned upside down when talking about responsibility. It really places the responsibility to serve and provide for the needs of the workers in the hands of the leader's/manager's. And it empowers the people actually working directly with customers to be able to truely meet needs and answer questions right away.

I plan to take a quick look through again before return it to the library and list out some of the items I want to personally work on.

[Jacalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book by an author well versed in the talent of teaching by parable. Join three men as they learn from one another how to best lead through the example of Christ.

Written in a manner that will engage both Christian and non-Christian alike, learn principles of leading by serving others. The fictionalized story moves quickly and reads easily while teaching the reader many ideas that are often overlooked when looking at leadership roles.

[Glen Ritschel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "Book" in the title is The Bible. "Leadership by the Book" is a short story in the style of the "One Minute Manager", which was also co-authored by Ken Blanchard. This book alludes also to principles in several other leadership books. The story focuses on a Minister, a Professor, and a Doer. This trinity of characters parallels: (heart, mind, body), (heart, head, hands), (Lead, Manage, Do), (Father, Holy Spirit, Son),....

[David Olea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for this seeking to be effective leaders. I once wrote a paper on Jesus Christ the Philosopher years ago, and this book confirmed the significance on his teachers for believers and non-believers alike. I recommend this book, every section is essential for the development of oneself.

[Mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expect others will enjoy this book more. The theme as with other of Hybels works on leadership is servant leadership. Basically three people, a preacher, a professor and a business ceo, mentor each other in their leadership roles. Only Michael the business man is named and the others are called by their titles "the minister" "the teacher" which i found very contrived, and irritating.

[Justin Rosales · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you dont like listening to seminars and conferences, check out this book for the same principles from the Lead like Jesus gurus.

This was told in story form, making it muh easier to digest. If you have a moment, read this book. I intend to read it again. Despite it being published in 1999, It is still applicable and is full of leadership gold.

Do it up!

[Ryan Fisher]

This book was written like a Lencioni leadership parable book, only not as successfully. I was a little dissapointed. About 75% of the way through there is a good summary of the books premise and concepts, which was very good, although overall the book was a little weak.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting way of writing a teaching book. It takes the form of a story of three men and their walk with God and bringing leadership skills to the life of Michael the businessman. It is directed more towards Christians but the principles can be applied to any leaders life.

[Javatis Midget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned how leadership should be provided. If you want to be first, you must be willing to be last.

[Julie Glynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of the book can be found in pages 171-181, the "Checkpoints."

[Lyrel]

I like the principles taught, but I don't like all the dialog used to make their points. It seems there could be a less chatty way of doing it.

[Terry Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read! Full of good information to make you a better leader.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy to read guide on Bible based leadership - an aide to equipping you for the good work HE has in store as you lead your team to great heights.

[Mohammad alshawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BOOK EXPLAINS HOW TO APPLY ONE MINUTE MANAGMENT WITHOUT MISTAKES

[Rishabh R d · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its a good book and about the way of leadership through the methods of Jesus...