Launching a Leadership Revolution: Mastering the Five Levels of Influence [Paperback]

Chris Brady (Author), Orrin Woodward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2008

Sooner or later, we are all called upon to lead.


Whether at your job or in your home, in your community or in your church, one day you will need to step up and take control.


When that time comes, will you be ready?


With the help of this unique, step-by-step guide for attaining invaluable leadership skills, you can be. Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward will guide you through their essential, time-tested "Five Levels of Influence":


Learn: a leader must be able to learn from anyone


Perform: persevere through failure to find success


Lead: extend your abilities by expanding your team


Develop Leaders: learn to trust your people


Develop Leaders Who Develop Leaders: create a legacy.


These five principles are illustrated in detail as the book examines such classic leaders as Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin, Theodore Roosevelt, George Washington, and even Saint Paul. Following their examples, you can adapt these five steps to your own career and life, unlock the leader within you - and launch your own leadership revolution.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Brady and Woodward offer a detailed examination of what defines a leader, the qualities necessary to fulfilling the role and the common path previous leaders have traveled toward achieving personal greatness. Initially self-published, this effort follows up the duo's earlier bestselling effort, Leading the Consumer Rebellion. Contending that each of us has a natural wellspring of talent and ability buried within and will eventually be thrust into a moment requiring leadership skills, they lay the groundwork for being prepared to perform when that opportunity arises. The leadership concepts are strengthened by anecdotes like one involving the New England Patriot's quarterback Tom Brady, who led his team to three Super Bowl wins despite a resounding lack of confidence in his ability to do so. But quotes on leadership from sources as diverse as Mark Twain and golfer Tiger Woods, often three and four to a paragraph, can get distracting. The authors also occasionally get carried away with charting their concepts and awkward metaphors (e.g., driving against the traffic of mediocrity; avoiding the shoulder of frustration). But overall, this manual is one from which any potential leader—whether of a country, corporation or a small staff—could draw insight. (Oct. 22)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'The best book on mentoring available.' Bob McEwen, former Ohio Congressman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Business Plus; Reprint edition (October 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044669956X
• ISBN-13: 978-0446699563
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great perspective on leadership. October 31, 2007

By Gene Higgins

Format:Hardcover

Well written and easy to understand leadership principles with historical examples. Defines a clear progression of characteristics and instruction from Foundational Qualities to level 5 leadership skills. Points to the critical need for Leadership in our world today. Excellent guide to leadership development that can be built upon for a lifetime.

A huge thanks to the authors who embody and exemplify true leadership.....in real life and real time.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, THERE IS MUCH, MUCH MORE INSIDE October 28, 2007

By Jerry Lovelace

Format:Hardcover

I have read several books on leadership skills, principles, values and developement, and I have to say this is clearly one of the best. The author's have written in a way so it is easy to understand and follow, using a level/step approach, allowing the reader to measure where they are at, and grow to the next level. I have personally seen and heard both of the author's speak, and based on all the leadership books I have read, to me they are true level 5 servant leaders. I also found it very amazing that on top of this book being an excellent tool for leadership developement, the author's are making a donation equal to 100% of all the advances and royalties from this book. I am so impressed with the purpose and significance of not only this book, but the authors as well.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Leadership explained like never before October 31, 2007

By Steve Tenerovich

Format:Hardcover

Launching a Leadership Revolution is the best book on leadership principles that I have ever read. I have read dozens of books on leadership over the years and never read anything so easy to comprehend in my life.

I truly believe a leadership revolution is coming and this book will be leading the way. I highly recommend getting this book and don't just read it, study it. You will definitely come away from it a better leader in your job, church, community or any other aspect of your life you choose to practice the principles taught by Brady and Woodward.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Seller March 21, 2013

By Kevin Swedberg

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

There is a reason this book is a #1 best seller. It very neatly and succinctly lays out an explanation of what it means to be a leader and what it takes to become one. This book is used by the University system in my state as a business and leadership textbook. Its phenomenal.

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The whole package October 23, 2007

By Scott A. Schrock

Format:Hardcover

This is certainly not the first or last book to take a crack at unwrapping the topic of leadership development, but I have to say, it is certainly the best I've read so far. Not a breeze-through, more of a textbook, but so through and specific. This is the kind of book I feel inclined to get into the hands of every developing leader I can find, it is that good. I have learned things that have changed my life and perspective in this book.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best new entry in years. January 14, 2010

By Oliver Demille VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

As a fan of leadership books, I try to read everything that comes out in this field. Unfortunately, reading hundreds of books on the same topic means there is seldom something really new--fresh, exciting, revolutionary that uplifts the entire genre. The last such surprise for me came several years ago in the writings of Steve Farber. But now, finally, comes another great addition to the leadership genre: Launching a Leadership Revolution by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward.

Their subtitle, "Mastering the Five Levels of Influence," sounds like typical management book fare, but it isn't. Each level is vital, well-taught and interesting, and together they form a truly revolutionary model for leadership. This is not exaggeration--this book is excellent! I rank it right along with the best of Drucker, Bennis, Blanchard, Gerber, Collins, Deming, and Farber. It is destined to be a classic.

Brady and Woodward teach that everyone will be called upon for leadership at some point in their life. They then turn leadership upon its head, noting that while many people seek leadership for the perceived benefits of power, control, or perks, the true life of a leader is actually built upon "giving power (empowering)...helping others fix problems...and serving others. Leaders lead for the joy of creating something bigger than themselves." This follows Greenleaf's tradition of servant leadership, but with a twist.

Launching a Leadership Revolution shines because it gets into the specific work of leadership. It outlines many pages of work leaders must do, and explains which work to focus on most. But the book seldom uses the word "work", instead preferring the active "working." Just the list of "working" items for leaders is worth more than the price of the book....

Maybe the best thing about this book is the authors' ability to take traditional, classic leadership basics and give them new, profound definitions! For example, the definition of learn goes from the old "a leader is always learning" to "a leader must be able to learn from anyone." Imagine the leadership revolution that would occur if top executives and government officials really did seek to learn from everyone!

Another example: The meaning of "perform" is transformed from "please your boss" or "improve the bottom line" to "persevere through failure to find success." This is the best definition of leadership performance I've ever read in print. And the book teaches the reader how to do it.

Likewise, the advice to develop others as leaders moves beyond all the clichés to become "learn to trust your people." It includes fitting them to be truly trustworthy. That's what leadership should be-- but seldom is even considered.

There are many other examples. This book is a revolution that builds on the best ideas and thinkers of the past by applying them in fresh new ways applicable to the information age.

We learn from case studies such as George Washington, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin and many others right along with contemporary needs and challenges. Above all, the book places leadership success squarely on the success of mentoring and gives excellent advice to mentors on how to help people bring out the leadership qualities inside them.

Everyone serious about Leadership Education will want to read this book, and apply the principles to our learning and mentoring. In truth, great leadership is simply using great influence for great things, and this book can help each of us do this. In these times of government bailouts and government "fixes", it is important to remember that the American Dream never was a government program. The American Dream was a leadership revolution, where regular people chose leadership and became leaders. This revolution is still needed today, perhaps more than ever before in history. Read more ›

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars LLR This Book Will Change the Future November 1, 2007

By Jason

Format:Hardcover

Simply that.

Those who choose to read this book have taken the first step toward a better future not only for themselves but for the USA and even the world.

Those who choose not to dismiss it as just another one of "those books" and who actually apply the lessons taught within have taken the second step in creating an amazing world for themselves and others.

What remains? Vigilance. Stay focused and continue to use the Leadership Ledger to improve yourself and this book will not fail you.

Read it often. Study it. Mark it up with notes and highlite it. Physically destroy it by reading it so often and you will find something new each time.

I have passed out 5 free copies of this to friends and relatives who have all enjoyed it as well. (And I paid the $24 each. Glad they went down in price as well.)

Final Note: It is my understanding that 100% of all the author's royalties for this version of the book will go to charity. This can be verified by the authors and possibly the publisher.