Serve to Be Great: Leadership Lessons from a Prison, a Monastery, and a Boardroom

by Matt Tenney

Do you aspire to be a more effective leader who guides your team or organization to higher levels of lasting success? Would you like to look forward to each day and know that you are having a positive impact on the world around you?

This is possible for everyone, regardless of your title or position. In fact, Serve to Be Great: Leadership Lessons from a Prison, a Monastery, and a Boardroom will train you to make this a reality. Although it’s not an easy process, it is a worthwhile one.

By making a shift in your approach to leadership, you can become a highly effective leader who enjoys your work and makes the world a better place. The shift is simply a matter of gradually becoming more focused on how you can serve others and increase your capacity to do so.

Matt Tenney introduces us to the principles in this book through the story of going from selfish to servant while on his journey from prisoner to monk to social entrepreneur. He also cites numerous business case studies and research that demonstrate how putting serving first results in:

- Attracting top talent
- Increased engagement and lower turnover
- A more innovative team culture
- Better customer service
- A better ROI on marketing efforts

The book also offers practical, actionable guidance for making the shift to becoming an extraordinary leader who is devoted to serving and inspiring greatness in others.

All of the author proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to charity.

Genres: Leadership

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Travis Hellstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading Matt Tenney's book and also speaking with me during our Everyday Humanitarians conference (www.everydayhumanitarians.com) and he is a real inspiration. I loved talking with him just as much as I loved reading the stories in his book. If you want a fun introduction to mindfulness meditation and some great examples of how it is impacting our world and being used in organizations, businesses and nonprofits to make a big difference in the world, check out Matt's book. You won't regret it.

[Kathy Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for everyone. It makes you want to be the best person that you can be and enlightening because you will see all of the employers out there who care about their employees. They want to have happy people working for them and they practice servant leadership. I am Blessed to have Matt Tenney as my employer because he practices what he preaches, he truly wants to change the world for the better.

[Ali Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most inspiring business-related book I've ever read. Whether you're a leader in your company or an employee, you'll gain valuable skills and insight from this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this audiobook via Kris Belligar’s recommendation from work. I actually appreciated and liked many of the statements, however, it was very much business focused versus education serving, so what time is it? Made it difficult to apply to my own work. However, good examples hard to believe it’s close to 10 years old. Good examples of living your values and focusing on internal happiness, and only keeping what you need.

[Jonathan Pogge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't really have an in-depth review, mostly because this book has me lost in all my thoughts about it. A lot of systems I took for granted during my time in the Navy now make sense to me. This is an excellent book, and a must-read for all aspiring leaders, or even just all people who work for someone else. Whether you are a leader, or you have a leader, this book is for you.

[Nadya Ichinomiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Tenney has a unique origin story unlike most leadership writers, going from an officer in the Marine Corp to being confined to a prison to being a social entrepreneur.

I also found his use of mindfulness in leadership to be quite unique in most leadership books.

Enjoyed it!

[Jen Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of my favorite books on leadership. After receiving this book at a conference where the author was a keynote, I finally read it. Great takeaways for anyone looking to reflect and implement more service into their leadership style. Perfect for hospitality.

[Jim Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seldom have the pleasure of reading a business book that stretches its roots so deeply into matters of personal importance. The introduction of mindfulness into the existing doctrines of servant leadership is a perfect fit, and one that Matt Tenney melds together with meaningful examples taken from the business context. This is no “quick fix” methodology for leadership enhancement. When applied in the way Matt suggests, it is a life changing road that enriches relationships, inner peace, and the world of work. I strongly recommend a careful reading of Serve To Be Great.
Jim Booth, Executive Director, Bottleless Water Association; Principal, Brightstone Consulting Services

[Megan Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a yearly re-read for me for a while and one of my go-to’s. Still some gold nuggets in here but now having the perspective of a cancer patient, I find it so weird that multiple “inspirational points” in this book are people speaking on behalf of cancer patients or what they witnessed with them or what they observed with them. Just odd.. and some of the wording rubbed me the wrong way with my new perspective and life experience. Good read overall for the general population. Don’t necessarily recommend for anyone affected personally by cancer.

[Jeff Bobin · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I loved the title and hoped it would deliver on how to turn servant leadership into greatness this book came up far short.

Beyond the first chapter or so there is very little original and creative thought. Most of the book seems like an advertisement for other books or seminars.

The message is a good one but takes a lot of work to dig out the nuggets.

[Kathy Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Tenney

An inspiring book that helps people to be highly effective leaders who inspire others to serve for the greater good.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a GoodReads giveaway. I've heard of the term servant leader previously, but this was my first time reading a book about it. It's a quick read, with the message of how businesses and organizations can thrive by looking to serve others first (customers, employees, etc).

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading "Serve to be Great" was an incredible investment of time. It clearly explains methods of how to more effectively live in the present moment and contribute to a greater overall quality of life for yourself by contributing to the lives of others. I highly recommend this book to all people!

[Kelly Mclendon]

This book is inspiring and challenging. I read it, and learned so much about happiness in the work place that it changed everything about the way I engage with my work. A must read!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique leadership book, however it was very well done. Great effort was put into the thought of how to lay out the chapters. Well done!!

[Michal Stransky · Rating 5 out of 5]

servant as way of living, not need to be boss or in church, but when you read this book and think about it - i am sure that it will touch you

[Lydia H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The language is simple and user friendly. The concepts are inspiring and encouraging. A soulful book; an easy read.