On Becoming a Servant Leader: The Private Writings of Robert K. Greenleaf (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) [Hardcover]

Don M. Frick (Editor), Larry C. Spears (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787902306 | ISBN-13: 978-0787902308 | Publication Date: April 30, 1996 | Edition: 1

Uplift Your Heart and Increase Your Effectiveness

Delve into the personal writings of the grandfather of the modern empowerment movement in business leadership. In this collection of previously unpublished works, eminent writer, consultant, and lecturer Robert Greenleaf shares his personal and professional philosophy, which postulates that true leaders are those who lead by serving others. Spanning a time frame of fifty years, these essays and lectures touch on such key issues as power, ethics, management, organizations, and servanthood. And they offer the reader a wealth of practical suggestions and useful information garnered through the course of a remarkable career.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is one of two collections of writings (with Seeker and Servant, Jossey-Bass, 1996) by former AT&T chief Greenleaf published posthumously under the auspices of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership in Indianapolis. Greenleaf has written extensively on "servant leadership" dealing with the uses, legitimacy, and requisite ethical constraints of power in daily life. These writings comprise a significant portion of Greenleaf's nonspiritual work. The first section, intended for young people, examines the "Ethic of Strength," while the essays on aspects of power, management, and organizations in the second section examine the practice of leadership. The book closes with a conversation with Greenleaf on the development of his thought, which has deeply influenced today's management writers. In a work of such scope, there are overlaps of coverage and points where the author's recommendations go beyond logical conclusions, but on the whole this is well worth the effort to explore it. A fine book that needs to be in academic, public, and corporate libraries.?Littleton M. Maxwell, Univ. of Richmond, Va.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

When he retired in 1964, Greenleaf was director of management research at AT & T, where he spent most of his career working in organizational research and development and in management education. He felt that the role of the organizational leader was fulfilled by serving employees, customers, and community. Similar ideas are popularly expressed today by writers who continue to credit Greenleaf, such as Peter Block, author of Stewardship (1993). After he retired, Greenleaf established the Center for Applied Ethics to promote his philosophy. Now called the Robert K. Greenleaf Center, it is headed by Larry Spears, who last year edited Reflections on Leadership, an homage to Greenleaf consisting of essays by such notables as M. Scott Peck and Peter Senge, and who has also edited the work reviewed below. Spears and Don Frick, an archivist for the center, have pulled together this collection of Greenleaf's writing, which features his seminal "Ethic of Strength." Also included are a number of essays, a series of lectures delivered at Dartmouth, and excerpts from a series of conversations Greenleaf had in 1986 with colleague Dr. Joseph DiStefano. David Rouse

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 394 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (April 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787902306
• ISBN-13: 978-0787902308
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #500,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I share this book with people I admire and respect, March 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: On Becoming a Servant Leader: The Private Writings of Robert K. Greenleaf (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) (Hardcover)

I envy you if you have not read this book yet. No... I am not connected to the author in any way other than I admire and appreciate his work.

It's essentially the unintentional notes of an old man who is no longer among us. Unintentional because... its a collection of essays that he wrote to himself. I don't think he had any intention of sharing his private thoughts, doubts, and musing.

If you are questioning the path in life you have taken, going through a rough time in your life, or simply want to know what real strength is about... you'll appreciate this book.

Greenleaf's observations are penetrating and will definitely cause you to examine your own life. You'll either love it or hate it... depending upon how strong and just what kind of leader... you really are.

I have shared this book with several C-Level friends.