Rating: 
Summary: How to apply the unused leadership training received
Review: All managers and leaders (the book equates them, but they are normally seen as different) have taken seminars, read books, or been exposed to various methods taught by experts. However, most of the time this training is not applied because of the lack of time, desire, or tools. This book beautifully shows, in a perceivably factual story, how to apply any of the methods. The authors discuss methods and application and show how to make them work. The use of Jesus of Nazareth's teaching should not keep the non-believers from availing themselves of this great resource, if they really want to be the best leaders. This is a must. Am using it for training within a government agency. Try it and be blessed as I was to finally put it all together.
Rating:
Summary: How to apply the unused leadership training received
Review: All managers and leaders (the book equates them, but they are normally seen as different) have taken seminars, read books, or been exposed to various methods taught by experts. However, most of the time this training is not applied because of the lack of time, desire, or tools. This book beautifully shows, in a perceivably factual story, how to apply any of the methods. The authors discuss methods and application and show how to make them work. The use of Jesus of Nazareth's teaching should not keep the non-believers from availing themselves of this great resource, if they really want to be the best leaders. This is a must. Am using it for training within a government agency. Try it and be blessed as I was to finally put it all together.
Rating:
Summary: My Leadership Style Changes Today, as I finish this book
Review: As a big fan of Blanchard and with great respect for Hybels, I was thrilled to be made aware of this collaborative effort. Not knowing initially the subject matter of the book, I was thrilled to find it was just what I was looking for with regards to leadership. Until reading this book, I didn't realize that the leaders for whom I had the greatest respect, were those with servant's hearts. My own personal struggle with leadership has been with the non-servant heart, and I'm excited that Blanchard & Hybels use the Greatest Leader Ever as the demonstrative character. This is a must read for those who find themselves newly appointed to leadership positions AND those who've been leading for a long time. This work has more than demonstrated that my future success as a leader depends on my heart moreso than my behavior. When my heart is in the right place, my behavior will follow.
Rating: 
Summary: Perpetuates Stereotypes
Review: As a professor of leadership myself, I am struck by how this book perpetuates stereotypes.
The first stereotype is about the role of women. The wives in the book are nothing more than interchangable helpmates who provide nice homes and emotional support. I suspect that during the editing process it was suggested that the women be assigned degrees and "jobettes"...but even so, it is clearly the men who make thing happen and who sit and ponder the Great Ideas for the book's conclusions. The women are supporting characters, and reinforce the stereotype that leadership is a game for men.
A similar stereotype exists about the nature of jobs. In the book it is the business person who lets his job pressures and focus on the bottom line get the better of him. This same scenario has been played out time and time again in discussing the work/life balance to the point of it being a cliche.
In addition, the main characters seem to perpetuate a stereotype of a "dominant culture" in which the world is full of happily married white-collar suburban couples (who I would bet are Caucasian), with husbands who play golf, and who have the cash to buy vacation homes.
When combined with the Christian perspective, one is left to wonder whether Christianity is solely relevant to these stereotypes of people. I would have hoped for broader thinking from authors with such credentials.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Idea, Severe Omission
Review: Blanchard and Hybels and Hodges team up for an excellent perspective on leadership from a Christian point of view. While reaching out to the secular marketplace with valid concepts for servant leadership, they put together an excellent framework for leadership. The summary checklist, given on pp. 171ff., offer a helpful concise summary of the book. The glaring omission, and one that I can't believe that Hybels would make, is to clearly point out that following Jesus' style of leadership is absolutely impossible apart from first having a personal relationship with Jesus, in other words, you can't lead like Jesus if you don't have him in your life to help you. I can't believe that there wasn't at least an appendix for those who would like to pursue that issue further. I believe that the authors are posturing too much to get the secular audience to read the book. But for the Christian, it is an excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: Servant Leadership
Review: Excellent book. The concept of servant leadership although not a new one is one tied in very well in this book by the authors. Having Jesus as a model of leadership just enforces the whole principle and shows the type of impact that can result out of the practise of servant leadership. This book has really encouraged me, to bring out the best in my employees and also allowed me the freedom to use all my potential to the utmost. Would recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best book on leadership I have ever read!
Review: For many years I have read different books on leadership. I have often left confused about being a servant and being a leader, which is what I want to do. This book makes these two roles solidify in my mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Slow Story!
Review: I was absolutely bored to tears while reading this book. I think that a lot of the suggestions towards better leadership are very well intentioned and are good ideas, but it is very heavy in religion. If you are a strong believer in JC then this book might appeal to you. I was sick of the many religious references by page 30. The story was also poorly written. I found myself having to re-read portions of the book to understand the point. The only thing I will remember from this book is EGO (you'll get it once you've read it).
Rating:
Summary: Very Slow Story!
Review: I was absolutely bored to tears while reading this book. I think that a lot of the suggestions towards better leadership are very well intentioned and are good ideas, but it is very heavy in religion. If you are a strong believer in JC then this book might appeal to you. I was sick of the many religious references by page 30. The story was also poorly written. I found myself having to re-read portions of the book to understand the point. The only thing I will remember from this book is EGO (you'll get it once you've read it).
Rating:
Summary: Effectively Blending Faith and Workplace
Review: In this book, Ken, Bill, and Phil help us to see how to blend faith and the workplace. This book is about the great opportunity that many Christians have in the marketplace to make their faith come alive. Because this book has a spiritual base it will help ministers to assist laity who want to see that their life's calling has a spriitual dimension to it.Leadership By The Book involves being a servant first, and a leader second. "Leaders who are servants first will assume leadership only if they see it as the best way they can serve. They're 'called' to lead, rather than driven, because they naturally want to be helpful." [page 42] I enjoyed the focus on servant leadership. Servant leaders have a consumer or customer mindset because they rejoice not in their own success, but in the success of those they serve. For servant leaders, church growth is not the point. The point is the successful discipleship journey of an increasing number of people. Persons of all faiths will enjoy the principles and the classic Blanchard storytelling appproach.
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