Opportunity Leadership: Stop Planning and Start Getting Results

by Roger Parrott

Don't create change. Capture it . Get ready to forget everything you know about "working your plan." In this counterintuitive book, innovative university president Roger Parrott turns leadership on its head and shows you how unexpected opportunities--the ones you may be missing--are the key to your success. With an Opportunity Leadership mindset, you'll see God-directed results like never before. In plain language, Dr. Parrott guides you in developing six traits to focus your leadership outlook on untapped opportunities. Not only that, he provides a step-by-step plan for you to create six organization-wide tendencies that enable your team to respond to opportunities with expediency, adeptness, and energy.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2022

Reviews

[Brad Sarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opportunity Leadership has quickly become my favorite leadership book. Dr. Parrott, a seminary president, challenges the conventional wisdom that we must have rigid one-, five-, and ten-year plans for our churches, ministries, and lives. He highlights an often-overlooked truth: the most significant moments in our lives aren’t the result of meticulous planning but rather divine opportunities that God graciously provides.

While he isn’t against all planning, he emphasizes that our plans can sometimes blind us to how God is actively at work. He reminds us that God is a loving Father with far greater opportunities for us than we could ever imagine. This book offers a biblical, refreshing, and faith-filled approach to leadership—I highly recommend it.


Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

“The most critical turning points and breakthroughs of ministry are rarely planned.”

“With Opportunity Leadership, we know exactly where we are going. We are going where God guides us, and we trust Him for that direction rather than praying the map we created is accurate.”

“Those who wait to collect all the data and analyze all the angels don’t provide leadership; they merely oversee bureaucracy.”

“Risk is not optional. It is required of biblically grounded leaders. Without risk there is no faith. And without faith, we would be foolish to take the risks to which God calls us.”

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m an introvert (and one who cringes at the thought of team-leading etc.) I’m not really one to read about leadership mindsets, opportunities, or qualities. But on a whim, after reading the blurb, I decided to at least scan through this book to see what it had to offer.

To be honest, I expected a humdrum, heard-it-before approach to being an effective leader. Uhm…I wasn’t expecting to be captivated by the author’s Christian approach and straight-forward conversational style.

I believe the traits expressed in Opportunity Leadership will not only help readers wanting to strengthen their workplace strengths, but their personal lives as well. (Especially those guilty of procrastinating.) I love the author’s analogy of the sailboat vs the powerboat. Take a look for yourself!

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.

[Phillip Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

For years I have felt out of step with mainstream leaders and schools that diligently crafted their 3 to 5 year strategic plans. I have always felt constrained by these so Dr Parrott’s focus on opportunity leadership, his analogy of the sailboat versus the powerboat, really resonated with me. Now I have a model to follow. A great way to stay in step with God’s leading while being clear about our purpose.

[Doug Witzig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is helping me to: 1) be more prone to say "yes" to a new idea; 2) move fast before the opportunity slips away.

If you only have time to read a few chapters, the first half of the book is more focused on the idea of "opportunity leadership". The second half is mostly the author's teachings on other leadership principles and best practices.

[Corky Wicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide for new and existing ministries

I believe that Dr. Parrott articulated the tenants of Opportunity Leadership with personal accounts and poignant examples in an easy reading manuscript.

[Bob Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is your opportunity to lead differently

A story rich reflection on years of successful leadership and accomplishment through trust, risk and humility. A new favourite on adaptive change.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked some of this book. Parts of it were not relevant to me and my role in leadership at all. And parts of it drove me nuts as he tried to baptize what felt like basic business help. All in all its worth a read.

[DeAron Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one of the best books I have read on leadership. It is clear, concise, and Christ centered.

[John]

An entirely different, and faith-founded paradigm of leadership.

[Rachel Roberts · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not really practical for my business ventures