Killing Cockroaches: And Other Scattered Musings on Leadership [Paperback]

Tony Morgan (Author), Andy Stanley (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

Pastor and popular church culture blogger Tony Morgan once worked as a city manager, a CEO-type job with the suit and tie, corner office, the works. Despite his top-rank status, Tony’s list of responsibilities still included killing cockroaches whenever a freaked out co-worker spotted one in the building. That’s where this unconventional, unforgettable book on church leadership begins.

Morgan’s point is that great leaders don’t have to do everything. The key is to play from your strengths while building a team that manages around your weaknesses.

Written in a relaxed style similar to marketing guru Seth Godin, Killing Cockroaches’ 142 offbeat, on-target entries will delight and energize church leaders. Chapter titles include “10 Easy Ways to Make Your Church Services More Boring” (creative services), “Action Speaks Louder than Advertising” (meeting people’s physical needs), and “The Power of Simple” (eliminating noise).

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tony Morgan is a pastor and the chief strategic officer at NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina. Also a popular church culture blogger, he has written about staffing, technology, strategic planning, and leadership for Outreach and Rev magazines and Pastors.com and PurposeDriven.com. Tony and his wife, Emily, have four children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805447857
• ISBN-13: 978-0805447859
• Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 5.3 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #741,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tony is the Chief Strategic Officer and founder of TonyMorganLive.com. He's a consultant, leadership coach and writer who helps churches get unstuck and have a bigger impact. More important, he has a passion for people. He's all about helping people meet Jesus and take steps in their faith.

For 14 years, Tony served on the senior leadership teams at West Ridge Church (Dallas, GA), NewSpring Church (Anderson, SC) and Granger Community Church (Granger, IN). With Tim Stevens, Tony has co-authored Simply Strategic Stuff, Simply Strategic Volunteers and Simply Strategic Growth - each of which offers valuable, practical solutions for different aspects of church ministry. His book, Killing Cockroaches (B&H Publishing) challenges leaders to focus on the priorities in life and ministry. His most recent books on leadership and ministry strategy are available on Kindle.

Tony has also written several articles on staffing, technology, strategic planning and leadership published by organizations like Outreach Magazine, Catalyst and Pastors.com. Tony and his wife, Emily, live near Atlanta, Georgia with their four children -- Kayla, Jacob, Abby and Brooke.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Leadership musings blog style April 6, 2009

By Jeff Miller

Format:Kindle Edition

Tony Morgan's latest book, Killing Cockroaches, is something of a unique book in terms of readability. It offers a format that can be both a strength and a weakness. If you are an avid reader of blogs, or are yourself a blogger, you will find the format familiar and welcoming. If, however, you want long, drawn-out chapters with wordy exposition and endless (read: redundant) supportive detail, this book may not be for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Killing Cockroaches, and quickly consumed the book in two sittings. Digesting the content, however, will likely take much more time. One of the best things about the book is that it does not need to be read in a linear fashion. You can pick up the book, flip to any page and begin reading any one of the numerous insightful sections. You might rather decide to scan the table of contents, looking for all the entries relating to a particular topic.

No matter what method you use to read the book, you will find a wealth of information offered in an informal, welcoming style. You get the sense that, if you were to meet Tony in person, he would be as congenial and as helpful as his writing.

For me, one of the best parts about the book was the repitition of key ideas. Tony has taken his more than a decade of ministry experience, mixed it with his wealth of non-ministry related executive experience, and condensed it all down into easy to understand segments full of application and insight.

Here are some of the ideas that resonated with me:

* Delegate: Don't delegate tasks, but rather delegate responsibility.
* Questions: In preaching, teaching, and other communications, make sure we are not just answering questions, but answering the questions being asked by people. The people not only within our church walls, but also those in the greater community in which we live.
* Answers: Don't feel like you have to answer everything. Get to the point in your communication. Less is more. Leave people wanting to come back for more.
* Culture: One of the best ways to connect with our community is to offer an experience they can't get anywhere else. Instead of copying the church down the street, decide who you are going to be and be it with excellence.
* Systems and strategies: Not the equivalent to programs and plans--these tend to be static, unbending, and slow to change. Systems and strategies are created by implementation of vision, and fostered by the driving DNA of the church.

Anyone who has a role in church leadership, from the senior pastor to the weekly volunteer would benefit from reading this book. I would suggest church staffs get together and make discussion of some of the ideas a part of their weekly staff meetings.

For the record, I did my first sitting with Killing Cockroaches with the paperback graciously given to me for review purposes by B&H Books. My second sitting was done with the Kindle version. I would recommend buying either version.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Tough to Rate This Book March 20, 2009

By S. Kennard

Format:Paperback

I have a hard time giving a rating for this book because it is different than most books. Actually, I'd classify it more as a "reference" book. It is better as a book that you utilize when you need a leadership topic. When you use it like that, it has great stories, illustrations and nuggets. Reading it all the way through is a little tedious and redundant.

So...My 3 stars is an average of two categories. 1 star for "read all the way through." 5 stars for "a great reference resource for leaders."

If you can get this in a format in which you can search (Kindle), the power of the book will come alive.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cockroaches bug me but Killing Cockroaches? Different story. March 19, 2009

By Kemberly Meyer

Format:Paperback

I love this book. It's easy to read in short bursts with profound, lasting impact. Tony has proven experience with effective leadership inside and outside the ministry environment; and he's found a way to share what he's learned in a practical, humorous and challenging way. This book helps all of us do a better job leading up, down, sideways and (most importantly) in.

As you read each individual entry, you'll find yourself laughing out loud, furrowing your brow, surprised by a revelation and impacted by the weight of the privilege we have ahead of us in the church today.

No matter what your role--volunteer, senior pastor, administrative assistant, ministry leader, artist, board member--this book can make you better. That is, if you have the guts to read it.