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Leading Things You Didn't Start: Winning Big When You Inherit People, Places, and Possibilities
A high-impact leadership coach gives you the tools you need to maximize your influence in a new role, giving you the ability to meet any challenge and take your team, organization, church, or company to new heights.
Everyone talks about those leaders who start something new. But the reality is that most leaders are responsible for corporations, teams, and products they didn't launch from the ground up. Tyler Reagin saw the immense need to address this mission-critical but often overlooked aspect of leadership: healthy transition for leaders who inherit teams, places, or platforms others created.
His groundbreaking book 'LEADING THINGS YOU DIDN'T START' provides a faith-based four-step plan that answers practical questions such as:
•
Do I really want to take over something loved by so many?
•
Is there a secret sauce to doing what the leaders before me did?
•
How do I get the current team on board with my leadership?
•
How do I honor the past without being trapped by it?
•
How do I steward the legacy of the leaders who started the movement?
•
How should I create and execute succession plans?
Through the use of tried-and-true coaching principles and practical case studies with leaders like Buzz Williams, head coach at Texas A&M, and Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes, Reagin helps you maximize your newfound influx of influence and master the intentions of an inheriting leader.
Everyone talks about those leaders who start something new. But the reality is that most leaders are responsible for corporations, teams, and products they didn't launch from the ground up. Tyler Reagin saw the immense need to address this mission-critical but often overlooked aspect of leadership: healthy transition for leaders who inherit teams, places, or platforms others created.
His groundbreaking book 'LEADING THINGS YOU DIDN'T START' provides a faith-based four-step plan that answers practical questions such as:
•
Do I really want to take over something loved by so many?
•
Is there a secret sauce to doing what the leaders before me did?
•
How do I get the current team on board with my leadership?
•
How do I honor the past without being trapped by it?
•
How do I steward the legacy of the leaders who started the movement?
•
How should I create and execute succession plans?
Through the use of tried-and-true coaching principles and practical case studies with leaders like Buzz Williams, head coach at Texas A&M, and Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes, Reagin helps you maximize your newfound influx of influence and master the intentions of an inheriting leader.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2021
29 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 26, 2021
Started this audiobook to gain some insight on this much needed area of leadership (also happens to be my current ministerial situation). While there were many helpful nuggets, there were also elements of redundancy and a lack of creativity in his approach to packaging the content. Helpful book, but reminded me why I typically don’t read traditional leadership books.
March 2, 2021
Practical Insight for ALL Leaders
Tyler is an accomplished leader with experience in several different organizations. His wisdom is on full display in this book. Tyler gives practical advice and insight for anyone in leadership and, at the same time, grips your heart to motivate and inspire you. Even though the book specifically targets those stepping into an “already functioning” organization, the principles addressed apply to ALL leaders and will help anyone looking to initiate change and a new direction.
Tyler is an accomplished leader with experience in several different organizations. His wisdom is on full display in this book. Tyler gives practical advice and insight for anyone in leadership and, at the same time, grips your heart to motivate and inspire you. Even though the book specifically targets those stepping into an “already functioning” organization, the principles addressed apply to ALL leaders and will help anyone looking to initiate change and a new direction.
September 8, 2022
I can't remember who recommended this book to me, but I know it was a recommendation. When I began reading it after the hold was available from the library, I didn't have any expectations or realize it would be so faith based. That being said, the faith based connection did not take away from what it means to be an effective leader, and to be honest–a good human. Gentleness, kindness, and awareness should be part of how we all lead our lives.
A nice quick read, and a good reminder that there's more to life than the bottom line. Definitely a book I would return to as I grow and change professionally.
A nice quick read, and a good reminder that there's more to life than the bottom line. Definitely a book I would return to as I grow and change professionally.
December 10, 2021
Really good stuff.
February 16, 2021
Tyler does an amazing job digging into an area that isn't talked about much, but that every leader can relate too. I enjoyed his own personal stories of being vulnerable and authentic, which give a great starting place to the principles he is discussing. I also got a lot out of his interview with Cheryl Bachelder. This book can help you in any area of leadership. A must read!
March 2, 2021
First, I am a slightly biased reviewer because I had the pleasure of serving on a volunteer team Tyler led at the very beginning of a new church when I was in undergrad, and got to experience the kind of culture his leadership helps create firsthand. Though Tyler was well along his leadership journey by the time I started leading things, his first book Life Giving Leader was hugely impactful on beginning to lead with a healthy foundation!
Second, a lot of people could miss picking this book up and gaining some vital insight into leadership transitions because they aren’t currently transitioning into a leadership role. As Cheryl Bachelder pointed out, almost all leadership begins with inherited influence and ends with handing that influence off to the next leader. Even if you started the thing you lead, the leaders under you and the person who will succeed you are leading things they didn’t start!
Having established that Tyler is the real deal and that this book is for everyone who ever hopes to lead anything at any level, it is absolutely fantastic at blending both the tactical and motivational principles that set leaders up for success. I love that Tyler is transparent about the tension between jumping to practical action and pausing a bit longer to evaluate the health of yourself as the leader and the organization or team you lead.
The entire first section is about becoming the kind of leader that stewards influence well, reinforcing the truth that healthy leadership flows from a healthy leader. Tyler begins by vulnerably sharing his trepidation stepping into leading Catalyst, being candid about the weight of taking over a movement he didn’t start. And from there transitions to bringing out the broader challenges and questions anyone entering such a transition might encounter.
The second section is full of wisdom for anyone, leader or not, about navigating seasons of transition well. Obviously it is critical for leaders to get this right, but much of the wisdom here applies to anyone who seeks to create a healthy environment that invites feedback and honest communication.
The third section is probably my favorite, as it really drives home the idea that doing the right things is always right. This extends so far beyond inherited leadership, or even any kind of leadership. There is almost always a tradeoff between speed and sustainability, in business and in life. Even though I love instant potato flakes, there is a lot of wisdom in being aware that pressure tends to reward speed over quality, and the sustainable successes almost always take more time to grow and nurture.
The final section is all about culture and bringing people along into the vision. Often the big picture can get lost in translation within the organization, perhaps being substituted by performance metrics or KPIs that are detached from the motivation of the mission. The more connected the people are to the purpose, and inspired by the vision, the more engaged and passionate (not to mention productive) the team will be!
I almost skipped the interviews and in doing so would have made a big mistake! Even though I have read books and heard talks and interviews with these four leaders, Tyler’s questions and the way answers are tied back to the principles in the book makes both their stories and the truths so much more powerful.
Tyler’s leadership style is so authentic and refreshing, and hearing his take on how to succeed in a difficult transitional leadership season is pure gold. Lots of current and future leaders probably hope to lead the way he has modeled leadership, but might get some of the foundational elements wrong early on. This book will no doubt save many costly detours for new leaders, and help organizations grow healthier cultures that set future leaders up for success.
I have never led something I didn’t start, and yet I got so much out of this book that I would highly recommend it to anyone who aspires to any kind of leadership role or position of influence in any team or organization!
Second, a lot of people could miss picking this book up and gaining some vital insight into leadership transitions because they aren’t currently transitioning into a leadership role. As Cheryl Bachelder pointed out, almost all leadership begins with inherited influence and ends with handing that influence off to the next leader. Even if you started the thing you lead, the leaders under you and the person who will succeed you are leading things they didn’t start!
Having established that Tyler is the real deal and that this book is for everyone who ever hopes to lead anything at any level, it is absolutely fantastic at blending both the tactical and motivational principles that set leaders up for success. I love that Tyler is transparent about the tension between jumping to practical action and pausing a bit longer to evaluate the health of yourself as the leader and the organization or team you lead.
The entire first section is about becoming the kind of leader that stewards influence well, reinforcing the truth that healthy leadership flows from a healthy leader. Tyler begins by vulnerably sharing his trepidation stepping into leading Catalyst, being candid about the weight of taking over a movement he didn’t start. And from there transitions to bringing out the broader challenges and questions anyone entering such a transition might encounter.
The second section is full of wisdom for anyone, leader or not, about navigating seasons of transition well. Obviously it is critical for leaders to get this right, but much of the wisdom here applies to anyone who seeks to create a healthy environment that invites feedback and honest communication.
The third section is probably my favorite, as it really drives home the idea that doing the right things is always right. This extends so far beyond inherited leadership, or even any kind of leadership. There is almost always a tradeoff between speed and sustainability, in business and in life. Even though I love instant potato flakes, there is a lot of wisdom in being aware that pressure tends to reward speed over quality, and the sustainable successes almost always take more time to grow and nurture.
The final section is all about culture and bringing people along into the vision. Often the big picture can get lost in translation within the organization, perhaps being substituted by performance metrics or KPIs that are detached from the motivation of the mission. The more connected the people are to the purpose, and inspired by the vision, the more engaged and passionate (not to mention productive) the team will be!
I almost skipped the interviews and in doing so would have made a big mistake! Even though I have read books and heard talks and interviews with these four leaders, Tyler’s questions and the way answers are tied back to the principles in the book makes both their stories and the truths so much more powerful.
Tyler’s leadership style is so authentic and refreshing, and hearing his take on how to succeed in a difficult transitional leadership season is pure gold. Lots of current and future leaders probably hope to lead the way he has modeled leadership, but might get some of the foundational elements wrong early on. This book will no doubt save many costly detours for new leaders, and help organizations grow healthier cultures that set future leaders up for success.
I have never led something I didn’t start, and yet I got so much out of this book that I would highly recommend it to anyone who aspires to any kind of leadership role or position of influence in any team or organization!
October 18, 2021
Leadership is such a popular topic right now, but despite this, not a lot of people are talking about how to lead things that we didn't start. It can be hard to come into someone else's place and vision, and since most leaders are in this position, it is an important topic to discuss.
I really liked that Reagin approached everything through the lens of Scripture. This type of advice tends creates more genuine leadership qualities instead of quick fixes. It was also really interesting to see how his faith impacted his leadership style. One thing to note on this - while he said that this book is applicable to everyone regardless of their religious beliefs, I personally don't think that someone who wasn't at least open to Christianity would enjoy reading this. Reagin's faith is very evident throughout the book and plays a large role in his advice and experiences, so if you don't also come from a place of faith it may not be the most relevant.
There are two reasons that I only gave this book three stars. First, all of the principles mentioned are based almost exclusively on personal experiences and Scripture. It came across as, "well if it worked for me, it will work for you too," when one person's successes cannot be generalized to others when there are so many different variables in place. I would have loved to see more research to back up Reagin's points.
The second reason is that - aside from the theological applications - none of the principles in this book were new. Granted, I've read a lot of books on leadership, but there wasn't really anything in here that I hadn't heard before. It was encouraging to hear the advice as it related to leading something you didn't start, but it wasn't revolutionary or anything.
Overall, it was well written and brought a new aspect of leadership to the table, it just felt unfinished since it lacked any new revelations or credible data.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, and I am writing a voluntary review.
I really liked that Reagin approached everything through the lens of Scripture. This type of advice tends creates more genuine leadership qualities instead of quick fixes. It was also really interesting to see how his faith impacted his leadership style. One thing to note on this - while he said that this book is applicable to everyone regardless of their religious beliefs, I personally don't think that someone who wasn't at least open to Christianity would enjoy reading this. Reagin's faith is very evident throughout the book and plays a large role in his advice and experiences, so if you don't also come from a place of faith it may not be the most relevant.
There are two reasons that I only gave this book three stars. First, all of the principles mentioned are based almost exclusively on personal experiences and Scripture. It came across as, "well if it worked for me, it will work for you too," when one person's successes cannot be generalized to others when there are so many different variables in place. I would have loved to see more research to back up Reagin's points.
The second reason is that - aside from the theological applications - none of the principles in this book were new. Granted, I've read a lot of books on leadership, but there wasn't really anything in here that I hadn't heard before. It was encouraging to hear the advice as it related to leading something you didn't start, but it wasn't revolutionary or anything.
Overall, it was well written and brought a new aspect of leadership to the table, it just felt unfinished since it lacked any new revelations or credible data.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, and I am writing a voluntary review.
May 11, 2021
I do not consider myself a leader, and am definitely not one in an official capacity, but I am a wife, and a mother, and that means that I am a leader in my own right. When I first picked up Leading Things You Didn't Start I was skeptical that I wouldn't glean anything from this resource, especially since leadership is not something I need help with, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Yes, the primary focus is on leadership, but the author put a lot more into this resource. The foundation of leadership is Christian faith, and the author implements this faith into every aspect, which as a Christian myself, I appreciated very much. Tyler put a lot of personal stories into this book, which really helped me feel connected to him, and gave me a deeper understanding of why he gives the advice and recommendations that he does. He is the real deal in every aspect and gleaned a lot from Leading Things You Didn't Start, especially when it comes to transitioning and navigating through different seasons of your life and doing the right things the right way.
A very powerful resource and one that I truly believe can benefit leaders and non-leaders alike. If you are a person of any type of influence whatsoever this is the book for you!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
Yes, the primary focus is on leadership, but the author put a lot more into this resource. The foundation of leadership is Christian faith, and the author implements this faith into every aspect, which as a Christian myself, I appreciated very much. Tyler put a lot of personal stories into this book, which really helped me feel connected to him, and gave me a deeper understanding of why he gives the advice and recommendations that he does. He is the real deal in every aspect and gleaned a lot from Leading Things You Didn't Start, especially when it comes to transitioning and navigating through different seasons of your life and doing the right things the right way.
A very powerful resource and one that I truly believe can benefit leaders and non-leaders alike. If you are a person of any type of influence whatsoever this is the book for you!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
May 23, 2021
We all inherit things -- be it a family heirloom, a house, a company or a team. Sometimes the things we inherit are well-oiled machines, and sometimes they're fixer uppers. So what do we do? How do we start and handle that transition well? This book, "Leading Things You Didn't Start" is all about this. Whether you're leading a company, a team, a household, or you're looking to walk well in your own life, this book is plum full of tangible questions to ask, information, insight and wisdom on what it takes to be a great leader. From creating vision, honoring the past, building trust and mastering the art of active patience, there is something to glean for anyone who reads this book. I'm giving it 3 stars because I do wish it wasn't so dense with the author's personal stories and experiences (because the points could stand well on their own without the fluff), but regardless, it's a helpful tool for anyone hoping to lead in ministry, in an organization, or beyond.
July 2, 2022
This book was fairly disappointing. Some helpful stuff in it, but this is a huge topic of need in the church (tons of church planting and replanting works out there). To a certain extent it makes sense, since Reagin is from a more pragmatic realm of Christianity than I am. When I read books like this I can't help but think that too many in evangelicalism play to the strengths of their group instead of thinking through what it is that they can contribute against the grain. Also, I have a hard time with highly anecdotal books. I'm probably weird about those things but they just feel like filler.
May 1, 2023
This book did not need to be an entire book; it is filled with too much fluff and repetition to pad it to book length. The author makes an inadvertent admission about 2/3 of the way: “This isn’t just a personal devotion in the middle of a leadership book.” But this is much better as a devotional resource than as a leadership book.
Often throughout the book, the author will say something like, “Let’s get super practical” or “This section will give you nuts-and-bolts explanations,” and then proceed to give generalities and talk in circles.
Overall, the book was enjoyable, but no new ground was tread, and nothing immediately implementable was given.
Often throughout the book, the author will say something like, “Let’s get super practical” or “This section will give you nuts-and-bolts explanations,” and then proceed to give generalities and talk in circles.
Overall, the book was enjoyable, but no new ground was tread, and nothing immediately implementable was given.
March 1, 2021
It seems more often than not, a leadership role is one we stepped into and took on from the previous leader. In Leading Things You Didn’t Start: Winning Big When You Inherit People, Places, and Possibilities by Tyler Reagin, a solid plan of using evaluation, patience, implementation and care is explained in a way that makes sense and can be followed. If you’ve ever taken on a role and felt that, “exhilarating and terrifying, inspiring and intimidating, a privilege and a weight,” feeling all at the same time, this is the book for you!
April 2, 2021
Excellent structure, writing and challenges by Tyler. As on who recently started something new it put into perspective some blind spots I have noticed. I appreciate his ongoing challenge and reflection throughout the book. Is it revolutionary? No. Practical? Absolutely. And it’s a quick read, I’d recommend it to any leader starting something new or leading something they didn’t start.
April 10, 2021
It was a good book. Definitely helped me to think about how to go into a new situation. I wish there were more practical examples and that he bleached out some more concepts. Like when you evaluate, what should you listen for? Look for? How do you address what you’re seeing? But overall I thought it was great in terms of thinking through what needs to be done when you inherit something new.
May 1, 2023
This would be a great read for anyone who's transitioning to a leadership role in an organization they didn't start. A lot of great nuggets of truth and thought in here on leading teams and how to navigate those transitions. Also some great interviews at the end.
February 8, 2025
A really great read, Tyler teaches how to be an effective and efficient leader through the fruits of the spirit. He emphasizes on love, patience and care. It's sound advice, and definitely creates awesome and meaningful leadership.
April 20, 2023
Should have been an article
September 12, 2021
Such an inspirational book. I love the author’s way of embedding humor and personality into every chapter. I found myself feeling very hopeful and wanting to implement many of his suggestions in my current position at an elementary school. Highly recommend to those taking over a leader position or those who directly support that leader.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews