A Fish Out of Water: 9 Strategies to Maximize Your God-Given Leadership Potential [Paperback]

George Barna (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 2006

Available for the first time in paperback, Barna unveils the results of years of research and hundreds of interviews, and emerges with a new definition of what leadership is--and isn't.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

DISCOVER HOW TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND BECOME THE LEADER GOD CREATED YOU TO BE.

Every leader–whether of a church, business, sports team, or community service group – will inevitably face certain challenges. When we encounter these challenges, we sometimes feel like fish out of water and wonder whether we’ll ever have what it takes to be successful leaders.

In this groundbreaking book, George Barna outlines practical strategies for how you can overcome these struggles to become the effective leader God intends for you to be. Drawing from decades of extensive research, Barna reveals how you can anticipate and navigate through nine challenges that confront most leaders, including these:

- "How do I get people excited about God’s vision for our group?"

- "What is my leadership style, and how can I best work with others?"

- "If I’m suppose to be the leader, why isn’t anyone following me?"

- "Should I ever use conflict to resolve critical issues?"

- "How do I nurture my relationship with God?"

Barna shares the wisdom and experience of thousands of leaders whose paths he has analyzed to help you avoid some common mistakes. With clarity and fresh insight, he communicates helpful suggestions that will enable you to lead people more effectively by blending your faith in Christ with skills and perspectives that are consistent with Scripture and proven in the world.

A Fish Out of Water is a valuable tool for any leader who desires to maximize his or her leadership abilities and to raise the water level for God’s people. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

GEORGE BARNA is founder and president of the Barna Research Group, a marketing research firm in Ventura, California. He is the best-selling author of more than thirty books, including The Frog in the Kettle, The Second Coming of the Church, The Power of Vision and User-Friendly Churches. A popular speaker at ministry and leadership conferences around the world, Barna is frequently relied upon journalists, business executives, and clergy to interpret today’s culture. Barna lives with his wife, Nancy, and their daughters, Samantha and Corban, in southern California. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591454220
• ISBN-13: 978-1591454229
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #696,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

George Barna was raised and educated on the East Coast before moving to California in the early 1980s. He held executive positions in advertising, public policy, political campaigns, and media/marketing research before beginning his own company, the Barna Research Group (now The Barna Group), in 1984. The firm analyzes American culture and creates resources and experiences designed to facilitate moral and spiritual transformation. Located in Ventura, California, The Barna Group provides primary research as well as developmental resources and analytic diagnostics. The company has served several hundred parachurch ministries and thousands of Christian churches throughout the country. It has also supplied research to for-profit corporations such as Ford Motor Company, The Walt Disney Company, Visa USA, and Prudential, and has assisted the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army as well.



To date, George Barna has written more than 40 books, predominantly in the areas of leadership, trends, spiritual development, and church health. Included among them are bestsellers such as Revolution, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, The Frog in the Kettle, The Power of Vision, and Pagan Christianity? Several of his books have received national awards. He has also written for numerous periodicals and has published various syndicated reports on topics related to faith and lifestyle. He also writes a bimonthly research report, The Barna Update, which is accessed by hundreds of thousands of people through his firm's Web site (www.barna.org). His work is frequently cited as an authoritative source by the media. He has been hailed as "the most quoted person in the Christian church today" and is counted among its most influential leaders. In 2009, George initiated Metaformation, a new organization designed to help people maximize their potential. More information about his current projects is available from www.georgebarna.com.



Barna is a popular speaker at ministry conferences around the world and has taught at several universities and seminaries. He has served as a pastor of a large multiethnic church, has been involved in several church plants, and currently leads an organic church. He has served on the board of directors of various organizations. After graduating summa cum laude from Boston College, Barna earned two master's degrees from Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he was awarded the Eagleton Fellowship. He also received a doctorate from Dallas Baptist University. He lives with his wife and their three daughters in Southern California. He enjoys spending time with his family, writing, reading novels, playing and listening to guitar, relaxing on the beach, visiting bookstores, and eating pizza.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where is the Biblical Basis?, August 11, 2005

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Fish Out of Water: 9 Strategies Effective Leaders Use to Help You Get Back Into the Flow (Hardcover)

I have read Barna for years and have consistently credited him with being a most able marketing research, marketing, and leadership practioner of the finest level. His successes would exhibit this.

However, equally as consistent has been my criticism that Barna makes emphatic, foundational assumptions claiming God said, when in fact God has not said, e.g. Jesus and Paul were the consummate marketing men when the Biblical proof he offers is bogus.

Here it is more of the same, applying supposed God says to Church Leaders who are visionary leaders for change in fulfilling God's vision. What does Barna suggest here and in the books he has written on vision? Quoting Proverbs 29:18, he defines visionary leadership as the pastor sensing what better future he has in mind for a group of people as a blessing. If only he would clearly tie this to the Gospel of Jesus Christ he would be ok. But no, he ties it to some dream, some Joel Osteen like wish and hope inside a person which doesn't equate at all with God's constant revelation of true interpretation/applicaiton of Prov. 29:18 ---- that then turns Servants of the Word, true sent and speaking for God pastors into CEO/Leaders which Barna exhorts here in this work.

Since this is based on business/management principles for leadership, it is useful to those in that pursuit, be they Christians or not. But for Christian church, this is leaven being brought into the church from world. To be rid of, or Barna et al will have to provide Biblical proof for it.

Was Jeremiah a leader sent by God according to Barna's criteria? I don't think he can pass the test Barna presents here. The other prophets and the current cannot either.

This is dangerous work which must be exposed as not for church but for industry.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on leadership, but not management,, March 26, 2003

By 

Erich E. Geary (Texarkana, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Fish Out of Water: 9 Strategies Effective Leaders Use to Help You Get Back Into the Flow (Hardcover)

This book is well worth the reading. Barna presents some good ideas about leadership, based on his experience. He presents his own theories about what makes a leader and the issues facing a leader.

His book is well worth studying. The book should be included in any course on leadership, secular or not. He make a good argument that leader are called to the task. I disagree with his premise that leadership can't really be taught. Christians in leadership roles need to read this book, and ponder the difficult questions he asks at the end of many chapters.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars George Barna knows What's Up., September 25, 2003

By 

Jeffrey E Ellis (Naperville, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Fish Out of Water: 9 Strategies Effective Leaders Use to Help You Get Back Into the Flow (Hardcover)

The Barna Research Group is world-renowned for its research and studies on Christian organizations, religious, secular and cultural trends, and organizational behavior.

I wanted a bare knuckle, no-nonsense practical book on leadership I could put to use with my management team, my sales people, and my ministry groups. This was it.

Barna describes four types of leaders: directing, strategic, team-building, and operational. The first thing I did was find myself in the mix, naturally. His insights are clear and very perceptive. Then I evaluated my managers. His insights into each style's nature, strengths, and growth opportunities were invaluable; especially as a mirror on myself and how I tend to interact with others.

He then sent me into my mission and vision statements for the organization and examine those in light of God's vision for me, my business, and His will. The time I have spent reflecting on this portion of the book and clarifying our objectives in light of God's plans, will certainly the business and my life.

A terrific book and a must-have for every organizational leader, father, and fellow traveller on the Christian journey.