Customer Reviews

Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've enjoyed Ken Balnchards resources through the years, like the One Minute Manager, but I have to admit: I'm not a huge fan of the parable-only books. This book breaks from that tradition to provide a more standard learning format and is filled with amazingly valuable and life changing information.

I loved the five habits in the chapter titled "The Habits of a Servant Leader":

1) Solitude
2) Prayer
3) Study and application of Scripture
4) Accepting and responding to God's unconditional love
5) Involvement in supportive relationships

I think "accepting and responding to God's unconditional love" is a very big issue for many Christians today. Sometimes we forget that He loves us and cares for us - not the perfect us we'd like to be.

I think you'll enjoy this book, but you should know - as is obvious from the title - it certainly has a Christian slant to it. If this is fine with you - as it is with me, you'll love the book.

Tom Carpenter

After selling fistfuls of Ken Blanchard's co-authored runaway bestseller THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER when I ran a bookstore in the 1980s, I was curious to see what he had to say in LEAD LIKE JESUS. Since the wildly popular ONE MINUTE MANAGER, Blanchard had pumped out a prolific number of general market business books. After becoming a Christian, this one evinces how it affects his writing and his business/life philosophy.

Getting started: Blanchard and Phil Hodges encourage readers to ask themselves three key questions: Am I a leader? Am I willing to follow Jesus as my leadership role model? How do I lead like Jesus?

Perhaps this is a good time to define what the authors mean by "leader." Anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behavior or development of people toward accomplishing a goal in their personal or professional lives, you are taking on the role of a "leader," they write. In other words, you don't have to be in business to benefit from this book. You might be a parent, a teacher, a nurse, a pastor, a coach, or an adult child helping her aging parents. There are differences between being a "life leader" (such as a parent) and an organizational leader (a manager in a company).

Leaders are defined by how they use their influence, they say. If our instincts are self-promotion and self-protection, then we'll use our influence to fulfill these needs. (Self-interest, they believe, is the most difficult obstacle we face in leading like Jesus). Conversely, if we are driven by service and dedication to a cause or a relationship, then we will model and encourage these values in others. They look at four domains of leading like Jesus --- head, heart, hands and habits --- and carefully unpack each one.

For those business book readers who enjoy charts and diagrams, there are a few here that might appeal (although I didn't find them particularly useful). Occasionally there's a trite phrase that makes you wince ("By seeking to serve rather than be served as I lead others, I will make Jesus smile") or a very bad pun ("Altaring" Your Leadership Ego). But these weak points are few in an otherwise strong book.

The best moments are when the authors get practical rather than theoretical. Jesus welcomed disagreement and wasn't afraid of it. (Do you welcome feedback? Find someone who will tell you the truth!) Address your own credibility as an individual before trying to improve things at an organizational level. (Is your security based on what others think?) Have you planned for a successor in your job? (Does that seem threatening?) There's an excellent section on identifying pride and fear, and how it affects our ability to lead. Indeed, the examples of how pride and fear influence leadership are among the best parts of the book.

Also helpful: a practical chart showing the four learning stages (novice, apprentice, journeyman, and master/teacher) and obstacles to success in each. There's specific help; rather than just telling readers to get into an accountability group, the authors offer a specific model of what this would look like. Chapter end summaries, personal and fictional examples that flesh out the concepts, and invitations to reflect on various key points will aid in engaging more fully with and applying the material. ("List three things that are most likely to pull you off course.")

Both authors also state "rank-ordered values" for leading like Jesus. Honor God in everything you do. Build relationships based on trust and respect. Maintain integrity and excellence in programs and services. Practice responsible stewardship.

The book is just the tip of the leadership iceberg, so it seems. Blanchard and Hodges have co-founded the Center for FaithWalk Leadership to teach the concepts to churches and organizations. According to their publisher, there's also a Lead Like Jesus "movement" complete with a 2005 winter simulcast featuring leadership experts such as Laurie Beth Jones, Rick Warren, Dan Cathy, Don Soderquist, Bill Pollard, Mickey Blackwell and Rosey Grier.

This is a meaty book that should be studied over a period of time rather than skimmed at a single reading. The concepts, if applied, could change the way leaders view their work, their relationships and their lives.


--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby. Contact Cindy at phrelanzer@aol.com.

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.

Blanchard (author of The One Minute Manager) and Hodges have written a comprehensive and concise manual for all that desire to equip themselves to lead like Jesus and to follow His mandate to be servant leaders, rather than self-serving leaders.

The authors maintain that the world is in desperate need for the leadership role model that Jesus provides. We only need to look to the examples surrounding us to see abandoned values, betrayed trust, exploitation and manipulation by people in positions of power and influence to see this truth. They submit that, "It's not about you," that there is a better way--and that way is Jesus as a leadership model.

Lead Like Jesus: Lessons From the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Times provides clear-cut methods through Biblical stories, life-application examples and reflective questions that readers can incorporate into their lives. The methods will make a powerful impact in their own personal sphere of influence and in the world by being effective servant leaders.

Blanchard and Hodges maintain that we all are leaders, whether we are parents, teachers or even a business CEO. This book shows how to lead with the head, heart, hands and habits of Jesus.

Armchair Interviews says: By the time you finish reading you will have begun the journey to leading like Jesus. The book is powerful and we highly recommend it.

Finally I have found a book that departs thoroughly from the corporate model of leadership and embraces fully a unique Biblical model! Blanchard here goes deeper than just leading -- he speaks of being a leader and growing other leaders. Spirituality in this author's approach is vital -- it is not something that appears to be a mere overlay on a secular paradigm.

I love reading titles on leadership, but have long felt there was something much more than just a Christianized version of secular theory. Blanchard identifies and defines a uniquely Christian approach, and does so in a very clear, readable fashion. This volume is the best book on Christian leadership I have read to date!

I recently completed a reading critique of a book by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges titled, Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time. Here are a few of my observations:

What is the author's main purpose in writing this book?
The authors' main purpose in writing this book was to design "a tool to help [leaders] take God beyond the spiritual compartment of [their] private spiritual life and to give him free reign in all [their] daily actions and relationships, especially [their] leadership roles" (Blanchard and Hodges, xiv). Too many followers of Christ are content with gaining more understanding and not allowing that information to translate into a transformed perspective, accomplishment, or lifestyle. In other words, leaders cannot afford to compartmentalize their faith. Character and credibility demand that one be holistic in his message and methods. The way one treats his body will affect the way he challenges his organization which will in turn affect the way he mentors his own family. Too many disciples of Christ have deceived themselves into believing that they could control an area of their life and thus have avoided bringing that area under submission to Jesus. The Scriptures challenge the reader to, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

List two items of information this book provided of which you were not previously aware.
The authors' instruction concerning the head of a servant leader was extraordinarily helpful information. The section's emphasis was upon Jesus' personal purpose in life and ministry (Blanchard and Hodges, 106-110). They warned against the "tyranny of the `or'" and challenged one to instead embrace the perception of "both/and." Whatever vision a leader chooses to cast and implement, he must be sure that the direction will not only accomplish the desired goal but that it will simultaneously develop people along the way. Leaders can and should enjoy the results and the relationships (influence and integrity). Sometimes the focus tends to be on how best to send people instead of how best to serve them. Though Jesus did commission his first followers to go out and make other disciples, he also assured them that he would be with them until the end of the age (and even went as far as to empower them with the Holy Spirit). The natural tendency is to become so focused upon the sermon, strategy, or schedule that the people are lost in the process. One must be intentional in his relationships - acknowledging and responding to their stories, struggles, and dreams.

Another item of instruction that was appreciated was the teaching on the hands of a servant leader - specifically on transitioning one's attention from the call to the commission. A pastor must be purposeful in evaluating the leadership pipeline, commonly referred to as a discipleship strategy, in his church. A convert must be treated as a novice in Jesus Christ (Blanchard and Hodges, 126). The new believer needs fundamental instruction before he can progress along the spiritual journey. Along with that, he will also need someone devoted to his development (one to show him how to read his bible and to take the first step of water baptism). There comes a point where that disciple becomes an apprentice (Blanchard and Hodges, 130). He will need a small group where he will be encouraged, corrected, and protected from pride or confusion. This is where many of our new believers are tragically lost in the mix. If all goes well, he then will reach the place of a journeyman (Blanchard and Hodges, 132). He has now been connected to the love of Christ (novice), the life of the church (apprentice) and now must be connected to the needs of the world. The church has the responsibility and privilege of directing his attention to a place of ministry that best aligns with his gifts, talents, experiences, and passions. Finally, continuing on he will one day become a master or teacher. This is the life stage where he is to be entrusted with the opportunity of taking a novice of his own (Blanchard and Hodges, 135).

What was the most helpful part of this book and why?
The most helpful part of the book was the authors' instruction on the heart and importance of ensuring that one is growing in the image of a servant leader. The authors warned against the reality and danger of fear (Blanchard and Hodges, 53). Too often one can be caught up in basing his identity on his performance and in the approval of others that surround him. Fear of failure commonly stems from a fear of rejection. This fear separates a leader from God because of the shame that ensues. The fear also can separate a leader from others because he ceases to believe that his team would understand or accept him in his authentic state. Finally, fear can even drive him from who he truly is meant to be due to the fact that he could easily begin to develop the pattern of gravitating towards excuses instead of repentance (Blanchard and Hodges 59). One can settle for comparing himself to others which either gives him a false confidence or a general frustration of his present circumstances. This distorted perception of life commonly leads to mistakenly coming to expect disappointment and deceit (Blanchard and Hodges, 60). The bible warns that, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare." (Proverbs 29:25). The authors remind the reader to be careful to believe that only God is the "omniscient audience and authority for [one's] decisions" (Blanchard and Hodges, 63).

Copy one quotation from the book that seemed particularly important to you and interact in your own words with the portion you quoted.
One quotation from the book that was particularly important was, "Learning to lead like Jesus is more than an announcement; it is a commitment to lead in a different way" (Blanchard and Hodges, 19). According to the authors, this transformational journey of leading like Jesus begins with personal leadership (Blanchard and Hodges, 20-21). They challenged the reader to ask oneself two questions. One must ponder, "Whose am I?" Leaders must acknowledge that they are not the final authority or the primary audience in their ministry. One must never seek the approval or applause of his supervisor, his congregation, his peers, or even his spouse. Rather, his primary objective must be to celebrate God and to submit to his plans and purposes. With that in mind, the second question to be asked concerning perspective is, "Who am I?" At his own water baptism, "Jesus replied, `Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness'" (Matthew 3:15). A great leader of people must first learn to be a great follower of God. Following his baptism and inauguration into ministry, Jesus was quickly ushered into a season of temptation. In a similar way, each and every day will be full of moments where leaders will have to decide to either be about the Kingdom of Heaven or the empires of this world.

When I first picked up Lead Like Jesus I was reminded of my first exposure to The Training of the Tweleve by A.B. Bruce and The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman. But as I read this book I came to the realization that this book was different. It offered something more. Lead Like Jesus is an excellent book that details the servant leader's responsibilities, to himself or herself and then to their partnership relationship.

What I appreciate about this book is the Biblical foundation on which it is developed. It is done so with no apologies and as such provides, for those who desire to lead in the secular or sacred world a model that holds within it the potential for life changing impact. Practical ideas coupled with plans for implementation make this a user manual not just a book to sit on the shelf. Like Blanchard's other works, this one can be implemented "right off the shelf."

Lead Like Jesus is a handbook for anyone who desires to impact their world where they live, work and play. This book will likely become a classic that serves aspiring leaders for years to come. Timeless wisdom written in contemporary language.

Ken Blanchard's book, Lead Like Jesus, was like a good meal to me: a meat, two vegetables, satisfying but not noteworthy. Certainly there is nothing particularly harmful in the book (it is not like fast-food), but the "a-ha" moments were virtually non-existent for me. Now this is not necessarily a bad thing. In a world where much Christian literature is positively harmful for its lack of Scriptural faithfulness, a solid book like this that reminds us of core values is worth our attention.

Hands down the best book on leadership I have ever read. I go back to it often, as its instruction is right on!

This is a great guide for leaders of all forms. Definitely makes you take a closer look at the way you lead and the way you live. As I work to follow the ideas in this book, I find that I am a happier supervisor.