Leadership from a different perspective
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When we ponder on the meaning of the word "leadership" what ideas emerge? Perhaps they are concepts such as "direction, vision, control, dominance, charisma, expertise, or even seniority."  This book approaches leadership from a very different perspective than most leadership books which deal primarily with techniques of leadership or personality differences in leadership. The ideas expressed in this book encompass these valuable considerations while moving one into a deeper contemplation of the meaning of leadership. For me, it has provoked much thought about a kind of leadership that starts within the centered individual and moves outward. This book is an invaluable addition to anyone's library who is interested in investigating the more profound implications of leadership.
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Forward: 7 Distinguishing Marks for Future Leaders takes seven unique characteristics that every leader must apply to their own life and ministry. These seven distinguishing marks for future leaders include: 1) Forward Truth, 2) Cross-Generational, 3) Futuristic Thinker, 4) Culturally Sensitive, 5) Growing Teachability, 6) Compelled by Compassion, and 7) Driven by Something More.

In Forward, SBC President and Pastor Ronnie Floyd is calling for a different kind of leader to rise up for the future. Floyd urges current leaders to begin now in developing future leaders for the work of ministry.

A number of times, Floyd states that the challenge before leaders today and in the future is that our world is so filled with various groups and tribes who identify with one another around an idea or cause; they have forgotten they are a part of something bigger (page 2). Floyd calls Forward leaders to rise beyond their own desires to be a part of something greater than themselves, something they cannot achieve on their own.

Although this resource is concise and to the point, it is packed with tools and examples of how to be forward leaders in todays world and the future world. With forward actions at the end of each chapter, Forward calls each leader to act immediately and start leading people forward. Forward is a call, process, direction, and change.

So, what are you waiting for? Are you going to be a forward leader and lead people to a better future?

This book was c/o B&H Publishing. All opinions are my own.
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It showed just how think skinned our leader is.  Except he isn't really a leader.  Leadership is an attitude and his attitude
seems to be via the "me" syndrome.  It is all about him and his point of view.  If you don't agree with him then you must
be wrong.  No wonder congress is constantly in a dead heat.  That is because leadership always always begins at the
top and our leader is in name only.  This book is very interesting because it isn't one sided.  Anyone who watches and
listens to the news can see thru to what the book now verifys.  He comes across as a self-centered individual.
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Take heart:  the canvas of leadership is painted with many colors.  And for most of the time spent reading this book, you will feel like its purpose is to introduce you to every one.  The result:  a kaleidoscope of perspectives, approaches, and experiences on leadership that, if visually cast, could be done no better than  Jackson Pollock himself, even if at times it is cast in a social justice-minded hue.  An impressive array of knowledge, I found its diversity, though pleasing, combined with its apparent lack of structure to be its primary challenge.

Indeed, so many points of view stacked atop and abutting each other will leave you longing for a little less Pollock and a little more paint-by-number.  Compounding this lack of literary discipline is a tenuous connection to the modern day.  Almost all of those picked to pitch the various paints are relatively obscure leaders from the 1980s.  Of them, I recognized only a few by name, leaving the book with a significant date stamp.  Admittedly, I read an earlier version, but a review of the table of contents suggests that much remains the same.

Nonetheless, though tethered to a distant decade and at times a confusing jumble of individual excerpts, I found Bennis' book to be encouraging.  Not for the coherent path to leadership its title will lead you to expect, but for the vibrant picture of leadership it presents.  Getting there remains a little fuzzy, but from the perspectives recounted within, it is clear that whichever of the many paths you choose, it must be a deliberate one.
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"In The Spirit of Leadership, A Vision Into A Different Future", sounds more ponderous and self-important than this book of poems and insights actually proves to be. Designed (unconsciously, I believe) to resemble a box of luxury chocolates, this elegant book seeks to open minds to their own potential and hidden strengths, sharing through poetry and snatches of prose the author's many insights gained over years as a leadership consultant to CEO's, senior executives and world leaders.

The book starts off "on track", giving you what you've been led to expect, poetry and insights focused on creating business leaders and fresh thinkers, teaching them "Being Leadership"--embodying leadership--rather than to wear the flimsy-but-oft-worn mantle of "Being Leaders".

Soon, however, we wander off into realms farther afield than Applied Business School Philosophy. We are journeying with the author through poetic interludes as she takes wilderness solo journeys, overcomes fears of the unknown, recovers from being badly burned in a fire, pushes herself and her readers toward an ever-opening and never-resolved becoming. We are the chrysalis, the cocoon and the butterfly all in one.

Cheryl Esposito is clearly a woman of many talents and the wisdom to pursue them with clarity and vigor. If there is a fault with "In The Spirit of Leadership" it lies in it offering too much for us to consider in a single package, too many themes heading in too many directions. But then again, once one connects with the zen of being leadership--of being our true selves--as Esposito envisions it, choosing what to read and what to leave unread probably becomes a natural act.

There is much in this poetic enterprise worthy of reading.
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This is a great book for leaders who are looking for something that is not the "usual" way of looking at leadership and business.

Judy Micale Executive/Life & Wellness Coach
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A thought provoking work that helps reader's to explore a more impactful theory of leadership that enables businesses and other organizations to become more adaptive and sustainable.
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This book comes at the subject of leadership from a completely different and powerful perspective. It is full of useful information on developing leadership in oneself or others, while at the same time extremely actionable and practical in application.

While the norm in the subject of leadership is to focus on improving weaknesses, this book shows the transformative power of looking at and understanding strengths and weaknesses as a continuum to be optimized to achieve optimum results.

Very instructive concepts.
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When I saw this book, the 360 degree leader by John Maxwell I knew that, because of the author it would be a quality book. I appreciate John's down-to-earth style and how He approaches this book.  John touches on leadership from all points in an organization BUT mostly focuses on the `middle management' as there aren't as many books entirely focused on this. John Maxwell talks about that everyone can be (is called!) to be a leader in their sphere of influence, whether that is the CEO of the company or the Janitor and begins by dismissing the many myths about leadership. He says that we should lead wherever we are way before we are recognized as being part of any sort of leadership. He talks about where our influence lies in 5 areas. These are:
1. Position - Influence because of your role.
2. Permission - Influence because of your character.
3. Production - Influence because of your production.
4. People Development - Influence because of who you've mentored.
5. Personhood - Influence because of your personality.
He then begins to expand on these and talks throughout about leading up, down and `across' within the context of these areas of influence.
In ending this review, I think that this is a great book especially for those that maybe haven't read many leadership books in the past.
Note: I received a review copy from Booksneeze.com. The opinions are entirely my own.
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Lots of people look at the "softer" side of leadership, person-to-person skills, as not worth their time. That's one of the biggest reasons most people are not well suited for management or executive roles. This admittedly extravagantly titles book is a very good refresher on the subject of leading people and is worth the investment in time and consideration of aspiring leaders. There are lots of books out there on leadership and it can be daunting to choose one over the other. As a new book on the subject you can be assured that the themes, anecdotes and advice are current, so it's a great refresher on the subject.
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I've read Peter Drucker and many of his teachings are over the top for most people.
This book has a much different approach to the leadership training.
Fundamentally, a leader must have vision, being able to see above others, broader than others, further than others, deeper than others.
The author emphasizes the leader must also be able to see internally, self evaluate the status, the assets, the "internalization", attitudes of what's happening inside a leader.
He starts out by giving examples of Bush and Blair on how they reacted to devastating tragedies like 911 and London bombing.  Their reaction shows their internal mark up of their thought processing.
By leading with the internal thought process, the author builds his thesis of "seeing" through, the "Eye" of the leader.

Quite intriguing.
I am not sure all of the material in the book is new, but personally, many of them are new to me, the concept and the presentation.

I will read it a second time to make sure I get deeper into the author's minds.
I recommend this book to everyone who wants to be a leader in his own life.
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A journey of leadership and tenacity that has more to do with people than business facts.  A great read for working with people of different backgrounds and personal traits fora common goal.  Focus is rewarded with prosperity or visa versa
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This book defies the traditional mantras of people management, backed up by extensive research and analysis of over 80,000 managers spread across over 400 companies of different sizes and in different industries. What makes it stand out, is that rather than explicitly defining situations and actions, it lends itself as a new perspective to rethink the principles of people managements. The key component that the authors propose are based on selecting for talent, defining the right outcomes, focusing on strengths and helping employees find the right fit. The simple, yet somewhat unconventional principles, are supported by numerous stories and scenarios to make them come to life and show their benefits. The contrast of the views presented with the conventional ones allows the reader to judge for themselves the validity of the data presented in an objective way.  In short a very interesting, light read, that doesn't compromise on delivering great content. A primer in people management, as well as talent management for any organization.
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The author defines leadership as influence in a positive or negative direction. Given this definition, Jesus was the greatest
leader of all time. He was firmly grounded in the Rabinical
Judaism of the time. With this background, He took the fledging
Christian community on a Transformational Journey culminating in
His own crucifixion and a fantastic earthquake conincidental with
the Death and Resurrection. The author reminds us that the
ultimate leader serves the community first and not himself/herself.

Leadership comes from a variety of personal sources. i.e.
- the heart is the center of the leadership thrust
- the head formulates strategies and movement forward
- the hands relate to crafting specific actions
- the habits relate to consistency/predictability of actions

Blanchard presents the contrast between the serving leader
and the self-serving leader. The serving leader actively
engages in acts on behalf of the community while the self-serving
leader benefits himself mainly. In providing service, the serving
leader implements specific plans to move the community forward.
This was done very skillfully by Christ in His own time.
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This book can change not only the way you lead, but also those whom you lead. We are all leaders and someone is watching what we do--whether we want to believe it or not. If you cut corners and compromise, that is what you are teaching others to do as a leader. All leaders are followers of other leaders. Leaders and Followers are one and the same. Learning how to follow is vital to understanding what is needed to lead. Being able to learn from the mistakes and achievements of others will save you tremendous heartache when you are the leader and others are depending on your strategic vision. Work for many is just a job--the leader has the bigger picture. The higher you go up the ladder, the bigger the view. Leadership and responsibility go hand-in-hand. Leaders cannot delegate responsibility either. If you need to transform the culture of the workplace and fain the support of those resist change, this book can be helpful to you.
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Be a Leader by Michael Blackburn walks the reader through a project where a manager is applying leadership techniques to transform his direct reports into leaders themselves. Several topics of leadership such as servant leadership and situational leadership is presented in this business case.

Personally, I like the unique and unorthodox approach in this book. It is not the typical boring academic setting for leadership that at times can be ambiguous. Michael Blackburn provides insights from lessons he has learned and personal sayings. The two biggest assets from Be A Leader are: 1) Describes the differences between "Be A Leader" and "Being A Leader" and 2) Does not require a MBA to understand management principals.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to be leader in his/her family, church, volunteer organization, and career.
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This is an excellent book, contesting some common views about leadership and suggesting that leaders must be aware of and move toward the future in their actions. The style is sometimes informal and sometimes quite technical and even if you can't buy all of the authors ideas, there are useful concepts to help organizations rethink their common viewpoints.